Santo Domingo

[QUOTE=ILikeBigButts3;1592352]My Spanish is OK, I wouldn't go as far as good, though I'm trying to learn by chatting to chicas on whatsapp (heavily reliant on Itranslate on the Iphone though). But like I told most of them that I hadn't previously met before, It'll be far easier for me chatting to them in person than on whatsapp.

I'm British, so to me a car wash is literally a car wash, surely you're not referring to an actual car washes, or are they fronts as car washes? I think I will head to some hotels listed by other members (riazor or Asis and then once I have my bearings I may then head somewhere different. I may hire a car if need be but I feel 200 pesos to go anywhere within santo domingo is a fair price for the convenience but when I travel to santiago or Sosua I may hire a car then though I'm not sure how easy it is to navigate through these routes. One thing I am good it is not getting ripped off by taxis or anywhere for that matter and won't go looking for a taxi that speaks english. For example in my first trip to the DR, I arrived at santiago airport (It was pitch black by the taxi stand). There was only one taxi there, who already had a fare, he waited till a taxi he called up arrived though I didn't ask him too and my fare to Sosua from the airport was $50. Thanks for the link to the map, it will prove to be vitally important. 4000 pesos for two hours at home seems a little steep, and as I've read on the forum, many of these women it is said can be found in sosua one day for 1500 and 4000 in SD the next.[/QUOTE]Never stayed at razior but I heard its a good deal. Nice clean hotel, but everyone says the beds are too hard. I believe it comes with free breakfeast at monolos, the resturant next door. Monolos is a very expensive resturant if your just eating there. A block up the street is a dominican resturant / bakery that is very good. It is always packed and a very clean place. As far as the car washes, I've only been to one, puro car wash. Been there twice. Was quoted 5000 pesos for short term lmaooooo. More expensive than the casas and the women at the wash don't even look as good as the chicas in the casas. And the drinks are expensive at the car wash, I guess that's how they stay afloat. puro is a straight up car wash with a bar next to it thats on the same property. if you scroll this forum to around nov or dec of last year someone listed all the casas and car washes with their addresses. If your spanish is very limited maybe the car washes arent for you. Need good spanish, you can use your translator on your phone but after a while it gets old. I woulndt hire a car to go to sosua or santiago, I would take metro or caribe tours. Seems like the only thing that runs efficent in the dr is the bus system. 350 pesos will get you to sosua from sd. Take about 4-5 hours depending on traffic. Same time as taking a car. If you hire a dirver its $200 minium to get to sosua from sd. But if your from the uk you get a good exchage rate so everything will be a lot cheaper for you LOL.

[QUOTE=BoricuaOnline;1592611]She said she is in position to receive me in a few days.[/QUOTE]Is she at the jaguar apartments? LOL.

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1592615] Take about 4-5 hours depending on traffic. Same time as taking a car. If you hire a dirver its $200 minium to get to sosua from sd. But if your from the uk you get a good exchage rate so everything will be a lot cheaper for you LOL.[/QUOTE]Dude who was riding in the car with you Miss Daisy. It takes 3 to 3 1/2 in a car. I'll only traveled Juan Pablo II from SD and BC to Sosua. I think this time I will try the SD, ST, and Sosua- Duarte route. It it took us 2 hours to drive from ST to SD. It took 1 hour 15 to drive from ST to Sosua. Mr E said the new road took him 45 minutes to and 1 hour I think. I am thinking its going to take about the same 3 1/2 total. The Duarte route from SD to ST is more open, less cities, all hwy, no major turn and allot cheaper. Only 1 toll.

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1592615]Never stayed at razior but I heard its a good deal. Nice clean hotel, but everyone says the beds are too hard. I believe it comes with free breakfeast at monolos, the resturant next door. Monolos is a very expensive resturant if your just eating there. A block up the street is a dominican resturant / bakery that is very good. It is always packed and a very clean place. As far as the car washes, I've only been to one, puro car wash. Been there twice. Was quoted 5000 pesos for short term lmaooooo. More expensive than the casas and the women at the wash don't even look as good as the chicas in the casas. And the drinks are expensive at the car wash, I guess that's how they stay afloat. puro is a straight up car wash with a bar next to it thats on the same property. if you scroll this forum to around nov or dec of last year someone listed all the casas and car washes with their addresses. If your spanish is very limited maybe the car washes arent for you. Need good spanish, you can use your translator on your phone but after a while it gets old. I woulndt hire a car to go to sosua or santiago, I would take metro or caribe tours. Seems like the only thing that runs efficent in the dr is the bus system. 350 pesos will get you to sosua from sd. Take about 4-5 hours depending on traffic. Same time as taking a car. If you hire a dirver its $200 minium to get to sosua from sd. But if your from the uk you get a good exchage rate so everything will be a lot cheaper for you LOL.[/QUOTE]Well I'm having a chica come from Bani on Friday night, so there won't be much sleep for me (I hope) after having slept on a 10 hour flight to DR. Plus I hope to catch a 4 pm bus from punta cana to santo dom. This is a list of stops from [URL]espressobavaro.com[/URL] the bus company, can you tell me which is closest to the hotel riazor please: (I really don't want to spend a night in Punta Cana as it sounds awful).

Calle Consuelo (San Pedro de Macorís) en la autovia.

Shell de Boca Chica (junto al BHD).

Parada de Andrés Boca Chica (terminal de autobuses).

Aeropuerto (próximo al supermercado Olé) parada de taxis.

Autovia de Samaná.

Av. San Vicente de Paul.

Sabana Larga.

José Fabrea con 27 Feb.

México con José Martí.

Puente Juan Carlos.

Máximo Gómez (parada final).

Do you know if I can by a sim card at punta cana? As that would be helpful. I've already read Camaro's post on Santo Dom, was helpfull. Hopefully I can just name the places he's listed and taxis will know what I'm on about. One thing that confuses me a little (from his post) - He says that all bars have numbered tables with a waitress assigned to a few and if you pay a salida fee you can take them round your house for a couple hours or so. My guess is he was referring to car washes and not regular bars, as I'm starting to think there are none there now.

Troubleman69 thanks for the apollo taxi tip, and explaining what a car wash is, I felt rather silly asking. I learned some spanish at school, didn't practice any for a few years and I love me some latinas so I'm a very motivated student these days. Listening to demboy and dominican rap helps with the chicas. I seem to have a knack for languages as I also speak French and Arabic, and portuguese is next on the list. Unless the talent in SD is worthy of the extra pesos, or the nightlife I'll head to Sosua pronto.

I miss the days where £1 = $2, had a lot cheap holidays back then, it's £1= $1. 71 . We'll get there, fingers crossed LOL. And folks, once I'm there I'll be posting pics of chicas and a few reports.

[QUOTE=Soberano;1592490]Come on, man. Caters to men only. I mean, I could see if I said "has an all male staff. " But don't clubs like GBP and all the others cater to men only? That means there targeted clientele are men.[/QUOTE]My bad homey. I didn't know you meant practice dancing with chicks inside of a fuckhouse. The only dance I will be doing there is the horizontal shuffle.

[QUOTE=ILikeBigButts3;1592971] I've already read Camaro's post on Santo Dom, was helpfull. Hopefully I can just name the places he's listed and taxis will know what I'm on about. One thing that confuses me a little (from his post) - He says that all bars have numbered tables with a waitress assigned to a few and if you pay a salida fee you can take them round your house for a couple hours or so. My guess is he was referring to car washes and not regular bars, as I'm starting to think there are none there now.
.[/QUOTE]I made a separate section in my Santo Domingo report for PFP bars and a couple of those venues had tables with numbers and the waitresses and staff were available for take out with salida.

[QUOTE=ILikeBigButts3;1592971]Plus I hope to catch a 4 pm bus from punta cana to santo dom. This is a list of stops from [URL]espressobavaro.com[/URL] the bus company, can you tell me which is closest to the hotel riazor please:[/QUOTE]Shit. None of them. But if you twisted my arm I would have to say Puente Juan Carlos or Maximo Gomez. After looking at the website, if the Maximo Gomez stop is anywhere close to their office (which is listed as where you board the bus to go to Punta Cana) then that is definitely where you want to get off. From there it is very close. Not walking close, but 3 minutes taxi close. Says 600 meters on the map [url]https://maps.google.com.do/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Hotel+Riazor,+Santo+Domingo&daddr=expreso+b%C3%A1varo&hl=es&geocode=&aq=0&oq=hotel+ri&vps=1&sll=18.46579,-69.905126&sspn=0.011153,0.021136&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&ie=UTF8[/url]

[QUOTE=ILikeBigButts3;1592971]Do you know if I can by a sim card at punta cana?[/QUOTE]There is not a place inside of the airport. (Punta Cana Airport is really just a big hut. That is the only part you will see when you arrive. If you fly out of there you will be in a more modern part that was recently completed.) But when you leave the airport about 1 minute down the road you will see a plaza on the left called Punta Cana Village. Claro (cell phone company) is inside of that plaza. There is a Wendy's in the same plaza.

[QUOTE=Camaro1257;1593011]I made a separate section in my Santo Domingo report for PFP bars and a couple of those venues had tables with numbers and the waitresses and staff were available for take out with salida.[/QUOTE]I'll have a third read through your post and see if that helps.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1593015]Shit. None of them. But if you twisted my arm I would have to say Puente Juan Carlos or Maximo Gomez. After looking at the website, if the Maximo Gomez stop is anywhere close to their office (which is listed as where you board the bus to go to Punta Cana) then that is definitely where you want to get off. From there it is very close. Not walking close, but 3 minutes taxi close. Says 600 meters on the map [url]https://maps.google.com.do/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Hotel+Riazor,+Santo+Domingo&daddr=expreso+b%C3%A1varo&hl=es&geocode=&aq=0&oq=hotel+ri&vps=1&sll=18.46579,-69.905126&sspn=0.011153,0.021136&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&ie=UTF8[/url]

Thanks for looking into it, would have been helpful had I made it in time for the bus.

There is not a place inside of the airport. (Punta Cana Airport is really just a big hut. That is the only part you will see when you arrive. If you fly out of there you will be in a more modern part that was recently completed.) But when you leave the airport about 1 minute down the road you will see a plaza on the left called Punta Cana Village. Claro (cell phone company) is inside of that plaza. There is a Wendy's in the same plaza.[/QUOTE]Arrived today and the huts were nice, can definitely tell its all about gringo tourism at this airport.

flight- thomsom flight 50, the 787 dreamliner was nice, especially if you're into planes and stuff which i am. flight was due to leave at 10:30 instead left at 12 pm.

bus connection- was due to catch a bus to santo domingo from punta cana, but i missed it, and so followed some more unfortunate incidents.

taxi driver, i finally went through the last area (exit b) of the airport past the hire car stands. was approached by a guy with a taxi sign he was holding and replied yes to wanting a cab. i explained where i wanted to go and since we had 5 minutes to get there i didn't discuss money. he insisted we couldn't make it and we should go to higuey which he claimed was the next stop for the bavaro espress bus. we agree on $30, when we arrive i realise he's only taken me to bavaro which is the first stop where i wanted to go anyway and i'd catch a bus from there to higuey instead to catch another there to santo dom. i was pissed and shouted at him in front of everyone outside the bus terminal. i said i wasn't paying him $20 ofcourse we argued and he walked away, and i though well that's easy. he comes running back as i hop on the bus i chuck $20 at him and he leaves in a huff saying now you're going to pay me $30. the bus leaves slowly and unbeknownst to me is a police station literally hidden away to the side of this terminal, i peek and see the guy shouting at the cops to come grab me. policeman enters grabs me by the arm and leads me towards the police station after my bags were taken off the bus.

we then spent maybe an hour and a half at the station separately for the most part, with it ending with us both giving our accounts to a woman dressed normally (no uniform). she spoke decent english and after i explained it to her well, she called out the taxi man and said to him that he lied and i technically should decide what i want to pay him as he didn't take me where i wanted to go. i then said i'll have 10 bucks back from you then cause he wasted a lot of my time. i have maybe 40 bucks left in cash at this point to get to santo domingo, i do some quick math and give the lady 20 bucks cash in front of the guy and said "mira. espero que te gusta eso".

after all that nonsense i caught the two buses first was 120 pesos, the second 275 and the caught a cab to the hostial ziazor which is where i am now. the chica i was meant to meet said she wasn't coming as it was raining heavily (is this a dominican thing i don't know about, avoid travel when it rains? she says she'll come manana temprano (will post pics of her assets asap).

lastly since i got here around 10 or so, nowhere would exchange british pounds to pesos, not this hotel or the juagar casino which means i'm stuck in my room tonight.

[quote=ilikebigbutts3;1593472]flight- thomsom flight 50, the 787 dreamliner was nice, especially if you're into planes and stuff which i am. flight was due to leave at 10:30 instead left at 12 pm.

bus connection- was due to catch a bus to santo domingo from punta cana, but i missed it, and so followed some more unfortunate incidents.

taxi driver, i finally went through the last area (exit b) of the airport past the hire car stands. was approached by a guy with a taxi sign he was holding and replied yes to wanting a cab. i explained where i wanted to go and since we had 5 minutes to get there i didn't discuss money. he insisted we couldn't make it and we should go to higuey which he claimed was the next stop for the bavaro espress bus. we agree on $30, when we arrive i realise he's only taken me to bavaro which is the first stop where i wanted to go anyway and i'd catch a bus from there to higuey instead to catch another there to santo dom. i was pissed and shouted at him in front of everyone outside the bus terminal. i said i wasn't paying him $20 ofcourse we argued and he walked away, and i though well that's easy. he comes running back as i hop on the bus i chuck $20 at him and he leaves in a huff saying now you're going to pay me $30. the bus leaves slowly and unbeknownst to me is a police station literally hidden away to the side of this terminal, i peek and see the guy shouting at the cops to come grab me. policeman enters grabs me by the arm and leads me towards the police station after my bags were taken off the bus.

we then spent maybe an hour and a half at the station separately for the most part, with it ending with us both giving our accounts to a woman dressed normally (no uniform). she spoke decent english and after i explained it to her well, she called out the taxi man and said to him that he lied and i technically should decide what i want to pay him as he didn't take me where i wanted to go. i then said i'll have 10 bucks back from you then cause he wasted a lot of my time. i have maybe 40 bucks left in cash at this point to get to santo domingo, i do some quick math and give the lady 20 bucks cash in front of the guy and said "mira. espero que te gusta eso".

after all that nonsense i caught the two buses first was 120 pesos, the second 275 and the caught a cab to the hostial ziazor which is where i am now. the chica i was meant to meet said she wasn't coming as it was raining heavily (is this a dominican thing i don't know about, avoid travel when it rains? she says she'll come manana temprano (will post pics of her assets asap).

lastly since i got here around 10 or so, nowhere would exchange british pounds to pesos, not this hotel or the juagar casino which means i'm stuck in my room tonight.[/quote]as soon as you stepped off the plane you were already in police custody lol. not a good way to start your trip. you do not want to deal with the police at all. try to avoid situtations like this cause it will ruin your trip. sometimes it is best to let the extra $10-$20 go so you don't end up in a situtation where the police or worse can get involved. other than that have a good time!

[quote=ilikebigbutts3;1593472]he insisted we couldn't make it and we should go to higuey which he claimed was the next stop for the bavaro espress bus. we agree on $30, when we arrive i realise he's only taken me to bavaro which is the first stop where i wanted to go anyway and i'd catch a bus from there to higuey instead to catch another there to santo dom. i was pissed and shouted at him in front of everyone outside the bus terminal. i said i wasn't paying him $20 ofcourse we argued and he walked away, and i though well that's easy. he comes running back as i hop on the bus i chuck $20 at him and he leaves in a huff saying now you're going to pay me $30. the bus leaves slowly and unbeknownst to me is a police station literally hidden away to the side of this terminal, i peek and see the guy shouting at the cops to come grab me. policeman enters grabs me by the arm and leads me towards the police station after my bags were taken off the bus.

we then spent maybe an hour and a half at the station separately for the most part, with it ending with us both giving our accounts to a woman dressed normally (no uniform). she spoke decent english and after i explained it to her well, she called out the taxi man and said to him that he lied and i technically should decide what i want to pay him as he didn't take me where i wanted to go. i then said i'll have 10 bucks back from you then cause he wasted a lot of my time. i have maybe 40 bucks left in cash at this point to get to santo domingo, i do some quick math and give the lady 20 bucks cash in front of the guy and said "mira. espero que te gusta eso".[/quote]so if his plane would have dropped him off half way to dr for the same price would that have been okay too? i for one am happy that he didn't punk out and just allow himself to be ripped off. as he showed in the end, he had the money so that was not the issue. of course if he spent his entire trip making a habit of passing out money to everyone who tries to rip him off then money could very well become an issue and then his trip will be ruined. and one more story involving cops who treat foreigners fairly and are not out for a payoff.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1593842]So if his plane would have dropped him off half way to DR for the same price would that have been okay too? I for one am happy that he didn't punk out and just allow himself to be ripped off. As he showed in the end, he had the money so that was not the issue. Of course if he spent his entire trip making a habit of passing out money to everyone who tries to rip him off then money could very well become an issue and then his trip will be ruined. And one more story involving cops who treat foreigners fairly and are not out for a payoff.[/QUOTE]In fairness I did speak to a number of officers prior to that lady, whom initially all sided with the taxi driver which made me frustrated. I waited patiently, until I finally gestured and said arrest me or I'm going which prompted them to take me to the lady's office. Anyway it's all good really, here are some pics of the chica from bani:

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1593842]So if his plane would have dropped him off half way to DR for the same price would that have been okay too? I for one am happy that he didn't punk out and just allow himself to be ripped off. As he showed in the end, he had the money so that was not the issue. Of course if he spent his entire trip making a habit of passing out money to everyone who tries to rip him off then money could very well become an issue and then his trip will be ruined. And one more story involving cops who treat foreigners fairly and are not out for a payoff.[/QUOTE]Just another bunch of crap scams from the taxis down there. I have been very vocal on these boards about the taxis down there and there BS. As the last poster said it really can ruin a trip. I have tried it both ways, Arguing my point to the extent where the police come and I have also just given in and paid the scam price. There is no right answer. If you fight it out you waste time and energy. If you just pay it you are showing these rip off artists that they are right and they will continue to pull there scams on the next victim. Although not always feasable it is best to call a cab in advance use a service get the car number and color and price before getting in. However in this situation the guys plane was late he was trying to make a bus and had 5 minutes so calling and waiting is not always possible and this piece of shit taxi driver realized that and tried to take advantage of a tourist who doesn't really speak the language, was a first time visitor in a foreign land and was in a situation where he was desperate to get to where he had to get to.

[QUOTE=ILikeBigButts3;1594050]In fairness I did speak to a number of officers prior to that lady, whom initially all sided with the taxi driver which made me frustrated. I waited patiently, until I finally gestured and said arrest me or I'm going which prompted them to take me to the lady's office. Anyway it's all good really, here are some pics of the chica from bani:[/QUOTE]Nice pics, have fun. Is Riazor good? I haven't been there for about 3 years. I plan to thay there next Saturday.

Here we go again, it's almost a kind of stubbornness. Just in case it might help, I will repeat. Please agree on a fare and a destination in advance (in advance means before getting into the taxi and most important, before the driver begins moving the car). If you are not comfortable with your Spanish, have someone write your destination on a piece of paper and ask the driver to write down the fare on that piece of paper. That will go a long way toward preventing mischief and if you are unlucky enough to get involved with the police, that piece of paper can be helpful. Have fun!

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1593842]So if his plane would have dropped him off half way to DR for the same price would that have been okay too? I for one am happy that he didn't punk out and just allow himself to be ripped off. As he showed in the end, he had the money so that was not the issue. Of course if he spent his entire trip making a habit of passing out money to everyone who tries to rip him off then money could very well become an issue and then his trip will be ruined. And one more story involving cops who treat foreigners fairly and are not out for a payoff.[/QUOTE]