General Info

See Ford's post today in the Santo Domingo thread for an illustration of credit card fraud.

The whole $1 bill thing I thought was more an urban myth. The posts pointing out how inadequate they are when you really need $1.50 or .75 is bang on. Since the local currency is in fact not the dollar at all, buying their currency at the hundreds of cambios is more useful advice.

Does anybody know when Carnival is?

What are the dates in SDQ and STI?

Go to [url]www.********[/url] or do a google search for carnival in santiago or go to a book store and look it up in a dominican republic travel book.I think it's in about a week or two but dont take my word on it.

[QUOTE=dstruggle]Does anybody know when Carnival is?

What are the dates in SDQ and STI?[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.dr-tourist.tv/pages/carnaval.html[/url]

Shows some video from Carnaval. Santiago is not one of the best places to experience Carnaval and neither is santo domingo.

La Vega is the biggest and best Carnaval and Bonao is coming on strong. I have heard that Constanza as well is trying to become famous for having a great carnaval.

Carnaval is usuually every sunday in february. In la vega they are also doing a special parade on 27 of february which is a monday I believe. February 27 is Dominican Independence day.

One of the first weekends in march they hold a big parade in santo domingo where carnaval groups from all over the DR come and parade down the malecon.

That link I supplied has video of carnaval from la vega, bonao, and the parade in santo domingo as well as a live concert in STI during carnaval.

I should add that in santo domingo there is usually a big parade on feb 27th as well but it is a VERY boring military parade. . . . .better off skipping it.

La Vega is a short gua gua ride from STI, so go to la vega for the day and return to STI in the evening to hang out at El Monumento where they usually have free outdoor concerts during carnaval.

Any info on La Romana and or Bayhibe? will be there in May? Anything at all will help. Thanks.

Boca Chica next weekend anyone. I am -------freezing in New York and a little brown sugar will be NICE

[QUOTE=Sluth]Boca Chica next weekend anyone. I am -------freezing in New York and a little brown sugar will be NICE[/QUOTE]


I will be there Weekend of Feb 24th. Please do post you report as soon you are back.

//Eric

I am planning my first visit to Sosua and Las Terrenas in March/April.

Reading your reports, I plan to book in Europa Hotel for a few days and then travel (bus ?) to Las Terrenas for another few days

Any suggestions on Chica friendly hotels in Las Terrenas?

Thanks

Wow, I see the elves have been at work here. I guess Travel Addict, Sabor, Ford and Prtyr2 have achieved a kind of immortality, since their names will appear on the front page in perpetuity.

But when will there be a "Places to Stay" thread, so we don't have to keep posting the same info for guys who are too lazy to search back three pages?

[QUOTE=Victor Lazlo]Wow, I see the elves have been at work here. I guess Travel Addict, Sabor, Ford and Prtyr2 have achieved a kind of immortality, since their names will appear on the front page in perpetuity.

But when will there be a "Places to Stay" thread, so we don't have to keep posting the same info for guys who are too lazy to search back three pages?[/QUOTE]


Huh? I am not sure what you are referring to?

[QUOTE=Prtyr2]Huh? I am not sure what you are referring to?[/QUOTE]


I think he's referring to the fact that Jackson has created a "locked" archived report section at the bottom of the DR board - and the last report in each section just happened to be submitted by us so are names are sort of forever "locked into" the front page of this board.

Victor, I think your idea is a good one! A "places to stay thread" would be a good idea and also I have been suggesting a "living in the DR" thread for some time as well.

Throwing around some prices of condos or villas that recently went up for sale or ideas on which ex-pat communities offer good safety and value for purchase - I thought would be a valuable resource as well.

cheers.............

[QUOTE=Ford]I think he's referring to the fact that Jackson has created a "locked" archived report section at the bottom of the DR board - and the last report in each section just happened to be submitted by us so are names are sort of forever "locked into" the front page of this board.

Victor, I think your idea is a good one! A "places to stay thread" would be a good idea and also I have been suggesting a "living in the DR" thread for some time as well.

Throwing around some prices of condos or villas that recently went up for sale or ideas on which ex-pat communities offer good safety and value for purchase - I thought would be a valuable resource as well.

cheers.............[/QUOTE]
I am in full support for a thread on living in the DR. Visiting the Dr and living there are two very different things. I personaly in the past few months have been setting up things to spend half of my time there in the DR and the other half here in the states. The expreience is fun but also very eye opening.

I have done my research on the Cuba board, but I figured I'd check here. I'd like to take a flight to Cuba through a third country. I've heard it has become a little risky traveling there from Mexico or Canada. Has anyone taken a flight from the DR to Cuba?

I'd like to combine a week in the DR with a week in Havana. I'd guess that the Dominican authorities are less likely to share their travel logs out of the DR to a third country with the US authorities.

Thanks for any info you can share.

Great post on cuba.Everything I wanted to know and more info than I've gotten from people who have gone....really appreciated.