Santo Domingo

I will be staying at the jaquar Thursday. I spoke to owner Raphal.

He could no have been nicer. If rooms measure up he has my vote. I will give a report later.

[QUOTE=OldKool; 1176016]Once you tslk to raphl you will want to stay a jaguar. Heguy is as cool as can be.

Speaks enlgish ery fiendly.[/QUOTE]

After looking at both hotels I choose Jaguar. It's alot cheaper than my original hotel. What other advice you would give a person travelling to Santo Domingo solo?

[QUOTE=Amb832; 1176008]I will call both hotels. Hopefully they will have some rooms available.

BoricuaOnline who is the in pic wearing the blue? She from coppa bar?[/QUOTE]She is at Coppa I believe on weekends, not sure if she is there during the week. There are plenty of chicas there, the waiters there can help you. Be aware, they are expensive chicas, you can bargain but still a best bet is to visit a fixed price casa.

[QUOTE=Amb832;1176025]After looking at both hotels I choose Jaguar. It's alot cheaper than my original hotel. What other advice you would give a person travelling to Santo Domingo solo?[/QUOTE]Best rooms at Jaguar are upstairs I believe the cost is $55-$60. $45 rooms are smaller. They have excellent wi-fi. Bring your own soap-shampoo, they do not provide it. There is a Supermarket a block away, see the map.

If you take a taxi always ask the price before getting inside. The cost for intra city transfers should be between 120 to 200 pesos for larger distances. If you pay more they are ripping you off.

Always try to know what a girl can give you before taking it to your room. You hotel is multiple guest friendly so no need for a cabana or short term rent hotel.

Price in casas is from 1, 000 pesos (GBP, Playboy Palace) the casas near your hotel are mostly in the 3, 000-3, 500 price range. I believe you should visit 305 first if you walk from your hotel. GBP is a 150 pesos taxi ride, Playboy Palace a near 20 minute walk.

[QUOTE=Amb832;1176025]After looking at both hotels I choose Jaguar. It's alot cheaper than my original hotel. What other advice you would give a person travelling to Santo Domingo solo?[/QUOTE]Do NOT exchange Dollars for pesos with any guys who may approach you while walking around on Independencia or other streets, they offer great rates, but they will try and do a scam with the money and you will get ripped off. Franks on El Conde, Banks, and a few other exchange places are reputable. In zona colonial off of el conde, there is one corner where exchange guys stand. I have seen those guys chatting with Politur, so they are probably reputable. If some guy approaches you in the street offering a great exchange rate, just say no gracias and ignore him.

A few blocks from Jaguar hotel is the supermarket La Cadena, on Calle Cervantes one block north of Avenida Independencia. You can visit that supermarket and buy soda, beer, juice, chips, bottles of alcohol, etc. Prices are clearly marked at that supermarket, prices are good.

If you can, bring an unlocked GSM cell phone that uses sim cards and you can buy a sim card to use with Claro, with minutes included, for under 500 pesos (appx $13US) , on the second floor of the airport (SDQ airport, Las Americas International, Santo Domingo). Roaming charges to use your cell in the DR can be expensive. If you don't have an unlocked GSM cell phone, you can buy a cheap, new cell at Claro, for around 500 pesos or less, with minutes included.

Just about all ATM machines in DR charge a $5US fee and your bank may charge a $5US international service fee, so to withdraw money from an ATM may cost you $10US per transaction. The Banco Leon ATM would only let me withdraw 2000 pesos at a time, terrible, so I don't use their machines. Banco Popular let you withdraw 5000 pesos or more per transaction.

Many ATM machines (caja automatica) will only let you withdraw cash, only when you chose Spanish as the language for the transaction. Efectivo is cash, corriente or cheques is for checking accounts.

Some machines keep your card until the end of the transaction, try not to walk away from the machine with your card still in the machine, you will not get the card back (I have lost a few cards in DR by forgetting they are still in the machine and walking away).

Many businesses in Santo Domingo will take Dollars, so don't drive yourself nuts if you don't have pesos right away. Bring some one dollar bills, that you can use to tip various people who may help you.

If you are at some location and you need to take a taxi back to the Jaguar and the taxi driver doesn't know where it is located, you can always say take me to the Jaragua (Ha-rog-wa) , letter J is pronounced like an H. Jaragua is a large well known hotel and casino and you can walk from the Jaragua to the Jaguar, or carry the Hotel's business card, so a taxi driver can call the hotel and ask for directions.

Ezetop and Etopuponline are companies whereby you can add minutes to a cell phone using the internet and a credit or bank card. Otherwise you can buy cards for claro and orange at colmados and pharmacies or use kiosks that have started to appear in some pharmacies, you can add 60 pesos. 100 pesos. 250 pesos. 500 pesos in minutes to your DR cell.

A2B transfers probably has the best rates for a shared transfer from the airport into the city; [url]http://www.a2btransfers.com/[/url]

Girls House on Avenida Pasteur, next door to Satin Dolls and Sky High, generally has a bad reputation, beware if you decide to take some chica out of Girls House.

You don't have to buy a chica a drink in any casa you enter, if you like a chica you can offer to buy her a beer, you are not obligated. Baileys and other drinks in the casas can be expensive, it is up to you if you want to spend that money, it is not necessary.

When is the best day best time to go to the Coppa or any other club, disco, or any other monger spot. I would be there that weekend celebrating my 30th birthday.

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1176028]She is at Coppa I believe on weekends, not sure if she is there during the week. There are plenty of chicas there, the waiters there can help you. Be aware, they are expensive chicas, you can bargain but still a best bet is to visit a fixed price casa.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I almost forgot about the cell phone thing. I'll get a cheap phone before I leave.

What is there to do in Santo Domingo during the day?

Is there a beach near by.

[QUOTE=Jaosousa;1176038]Girls House on Avenida Pasteur, next door to Satin Dolls and Sky High, generally has a bad reputation, beware if you decide to take some chica out of Girls Home.[/QUOTE]I don't think I was going to this place, just curious. What's the bad reputation about that place?

I come on Monday, December 12 about 6 pm in the airport of Santo Domingo. Probably too late to take the last Caribe Tours bus at 7 pm to Puerto Plata.

Someone who arrives the same day in San Domingo? And direction to Puerto Plata? Maybe together we can share a cab?

Or

Someone know a hotel very close to the bus station Caribe Tours? For a short night's sleep. Not too expensive.

[QUOTE=PD3525; 1175916]Hey guys,

First time poster. I have traveled extensively around South America and a little bit of mongering is always part of the itinerary. I started when I was in the military and take at least one trip to South America every year. Although, I don't like to consider myself a mongerer, let's face facts. Anyways, A couple of questions:

A couple of questions about SD. I will be staying at the Jaguar. I speak fluent spanish.

1. Is there any one thing that's really different (or that I need to know) about SD than other latin countries when it comes to mongering?

2. Can you pay a hotel to use their pool for the day? If yes, can you recommend one that's close.

3. Can you recommend some day activities that are outdoorish? I usually like to snorkel etc. For example, last year I took a boat for the day to some islands off the coast of Cartagena.

4. For those who have stayed at the Jaguar, I called and spoke to Rafael. I sent him my itinerary. He said he would have someone pick me up at the airport. He also didn't take any credit card information. Is this the norm?

Also, thanks to Jaosousa for some great tips. Etc. Also, if anyone is there this time in August, let me know and maybe we can meet up for a drink.

PD[/QUOTE]There is a small somewhat dirty beach near D'Luis Parrilada restaurant on the malecon. I have never seen anyone enter the water from that small beach. When people in santo domingo want the beach, they go to boca chica or juan dolio. There is also a small beach between boca chica and juan dolio. Boca chica chica beach is about 30-35 minutes from santo domingo. Small buses run back and forth between santo domingo and boca chica, the small buses are called gua guas. You can ask someone at your hotel where to get the gua gua to playa boca chica.

There are some mangroves off the beach at boca chica, not bad for snorkeling, a panga type boat can take you from the beach to where the mangroves are, for snorkeling. Boca Chica beach is not the most scenic beach in DR. I prefer Juan Dolio during the week, the water gets deep fast and has waves. Juan Dolio is very quiet during the week. Boca Chica and Juan Dolio get crowded on the weekends.

Zona Colonial is nice in the daytime, pedestrian only street in zona colonial is called El Conde. Hotel Conde del Penalbe sits on El Conde in front of a park near the cathedral and has an outdoor cafe with tables and umbrellas, where you can sit, drink and watch the people walk by. Hard Rock is half a block away from there and also has an outdoor seating area in front, with tables with large umbrellas. A presidente beer at the hard rock cafe is about 212 pesos and you can pay with dollars, euros or pesos. Hard Rock on a Friday or Saturday night, oftentimes has some pretty chicas.

Bocanegro bar just up a side street from Hotel Conde del Penalbe, one night had a special event, I saw some fine, rich chicas going into that bar.

Best to try and limit your credit card use in the DR. Credit card fraud is a problem in DR. Seems credit card info is sold by some people in DR, and thereafter a clone of your card is made and purchases are then made in countries like Mexico and Germany.

Mastercard and Visa usually charge a fee to the merchants to process the transaction, so some merchants prefer people not use credit cards.

There are various museums and churches in zona colonial.

Some casas say they are open 24/7, I have entered some casas early in the day, usually the chicas are just waking up and are usually in pajamas with the hair net thing on their head (called a tuvi in DR or tubie).

[QUOTE=PD3525; 1175916]2. Can you pay a hotel to use their pool for the day? If yes, can you recommend one that's close.

PD[/QUOTE]El Embajador Hotel (The Ambassador) , has the best pool that I have used in santo domingo and is guest friendly, but is located far from the main mongering area. I read on the website for the Hotel Napolitano, that they offer the use of their pool for a fee. I have only seen their pool in photos. The pool at the Hilton is very shallow and almost useless for swimming, for doing laps. The pool at the Hotel Santo Domingo is not bad.

In zona colonial there are some hotels with pools, Hotel Dona Elvira has a medium size pool, Palacio Hotel has a small pool and Hotel Villa Colonial has a small in ground pool.

Body Shop Athletic has two gyms in Santo Domingo, their gym in the Naco neighborhood has a pool, [url]http://www.clubbodyshop.com/app/new/frontpage.aspx[/url]

Body Shop Athletic supposedly sells daily or short term memberships. Naco is a good neighborhood. There is an Olympic type park in Santo Domingo, not sure if they have a pool there.

[QUOTE=Rudy2; 1176068]I come on Monday, December 12 about 6 pm in the airport of Santo Domingo. Probably too late to take the last Caribe Tours bus at 7 pm to Puerto Plata.

Someone who arrives the same day in San Domingo? And direction to Puerto Plata? Maybe together we can share a cab?

Or

Someone know a hotel very close to the bus station Caribe Tours? For a short night's sleep. Not too expensive.[/QUOTE]Last bus to Santiago from Santo Domingo, with I believe the bus company Cibao Express on Avenida Kennedy, is at 10pm. I don't know the schedule for caribe tours or Metro to Puerto Plata.

One Caribe Tours bus station is on Avenida 27 de Febrero not far from zona colonial and not far from the Gazcue neighborhood, where there are numerous hotels. A decent hotel will cost $40 and up per night. Some hotel on El Conde in zona colonial has a sign on their door saying they have rooms for $20US. I never went into that hotel and don't remember the name.

Hotel Navarro runs about 1300 pesos (about $34US) , the last time I checked.

To save money you can do a shared transfer into santo domingo from the airport with A2B transfer, rate might be around $16US.

The taxi from hotel navarro to caribe tours bus station, should be less than 200 pesos.

Hotel Navarro is located on Avenida Independencia, near several other small hotels, several casas are located from 1/2 half block to two blocks from that hotel. Also some SWs still ply their trade near the hotel navarro at night and also on calle danae (calle danae intersects with independencia).

Some chicas from Foxys live at hotel navarro. Foxys is an expensive pay for play venue in santo domingo.

Playboy Palace is inexpensive and would be about a ten minute walk from the navarro. GBP depending on traffic, a ten minute or more taxi ride away.

[QUOTE=PD3525; 1175916]Hey guys,

4. For those who have stayed at the Jaguar, I called and spoke to Rafael. I sent him my itinerary. He said he would have someone pick me up at the airport. He also didn't take any credit card information. Is this the norm?

PD[/QUOTE]Rafael is a person you can trust. Some hotels as for example Riazor and Jaguar do not take credit card info for reservations. Just be sure to follow up on your reservation a couple of days before your trip to avoid any problem.

Somebody knows if Hotel Riparbella is girl friendly, because is cheap, have A / A and Wifi and is very close to Colonial Zone.

I will be in Santo Domingo since 29 July Until 13th August.

Thanks

Somebody knows if is the Riparbella Hotel girl friendly?

This is the web site: [url]http://www.hotelriparbella.com/pages/hotel.php[/url]

Thenks

Jaosousa, Thank you very kindly.

Perhaps you know this too? How long does a taxi take to drive from Santo Domingo Airport to the Caribe Tours bus station?

Last bus to puerto plata is at 7 pm. Last to santiago is at 8 hours.

I come, without delay, at 5. 30 pm in the airport of Santo Domingo.

Than, maybe I could get the last bus.

(Last bus to Santiago from Santo Domingo, with I believe the bus company Cibao Express on Avenida Kennedy, is at 10pm. I don't know the schedule for caribe tours or Metro to Puerto Plata.

One Caribe Tours bus station is on Avenida 27 de Febrero not far from zona colonial and not far from the Gazcue neighborhood, where there are numerous hotels. A decent hotel will cost $40 and up per night. Some hotel on El Conde in zona colonial has a sign on their door saying they have rooms for $20US. I never went into that hotel and don't remember the name.

Hotel Navarro runs about 1300 pesos (about $34US) , the last time I checked.

To save money you can do a shared transfer into santo domingo from the airport with A2B transfer, rate might be around $16US.

The taxi from hotel navarro to caribe tours bus station, should be less than 200 pesos.

Hotel Navarro is located on Avenida Independencia, near several other small hotels, several casas are located from 1/2 half block to two blocks from that hotel. Also some SWs still ply their trade near the hotel navarro at night and also on calle danae (calle danae intersects with independencia).

Some chicas from Foxys live at hotel navarro. Foxys is an expensive pay for play venue in santo domingo.

Playboy Palace is inexpensive and would be about a ten minute walk from the navarro. GBP depending on traffic, a ten minute or more taxi ride away.[/QUOTE])