How much can you save by taking full advantage of this and other boards?

To start off with, join the frequent flyer clubs and get their credit cards. I think over the past 15 years I have taken about a dozen free trips.

The second big area would be changing your money, you may only save $5 or $10 a trip, but 100 trips later, that would be over $1,000.

There is that. Helpful little tips with chicas who u may repeat. Food spots. Publico vs taxi whewwww u could save some money there.

U could arrange for someone to pick u up at the airport and save a lil on cab fare.

I think once u read the board and make ur first trip u have a better idea of how to use all the information on the site. A better sense of what you believe you need.

Just my two cents

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Originally Posted by Dominican dave

There is that. Helpful little tips with chicas who u may repeat. Food spots. Publico vs taxi whewwww u could save some money there.

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many countries have shared taxis. A tourist taxi may run $10 - $40 vs a shared taxi which may run $1 or so.

I've saved money on the obvious CHICAS, as well as hotels, shared taxis with members just to name the basics while gaining some cool friends and invaluable information.

Last 2 times in Medellin I took a publico and then a regular taxi to Itagui(Mayorista) and it cost 50% less than a regular taxi does all the way from the airport..next time I go alone I'm going to take the bus and then a taxi and it should be even a little less expensive.
I know,I know.....all you high-rollers will start preaching about comfortability and the never ending "I'm on vaction,why am I worried about a couple of dollars"crap when for me....In Medellin a couple of dollars can mean an extra piece of pussy when you can get laid for ten bucks if you play your cards right.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::iconTU::iconTU::iconTU::iconTU:

If u do your research you can save tons of money on taxi's hotels etc. these
boards are very valuable. thanks to all that contribute.

It's not so much about "saving" money. Most of what I get from these boards allows me to get the most "bang for the buck", steering me in the direction of what it is I'm there for in the first place.

For example, back when I was first vacationing in St. Maarten I had no idea how many Chicas were there for the sole purpose of providing me with pleasure. Me and my buddies went to bars and pool halls to pick up drunken Gringas, went to strip clubs to feel up Eastern Euro strippers and scoured the beaches looking for freelancers. Then one day, one of the guys did a google search for "girls of St Maarten and came up with a site similar to this one with detailed info on the casas, prices and pictures. We headed to the first of our casa experiences there and never looked back.

We didn't spend any less money but our "bang for the buck" quotient went off the chart.

All I got was a Dquick Raw Dog T shirt... :mad::mad::mad:

I think the more important aspect is the general learning about how to handle youself and your money when in the third world. Saving a couple of bucks on a taxi ride or hotel is nice. Learning how to not be stupid in a different environment could save you a lot more than money.

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Originally Posted by ohmmmm

All I got was a Dquick Raw Dog T shirt... :mad::mad::mad:

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But is sure does look good!!!

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Originally Posted by TNT72

But is sure does look good!!!

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I will wear it with a proud smile...:corky:


I can tell you that I met a number of people that frequent other boards or come here on a recommendation of a friend and never really read the boards and they are so freaking stupid... Not in a demeaning way, but they all tend to make really boneheaded mistakes left and right....some of them very big mistakes. The guys that read the board tend to have a great time and avoid the pitfalls and seem much more confident and comfortable hanging out and doing their thing and having fun...

A better trip for your money. Friends you make, sharing outings. Biggest money saver is having an approximate price-guide for whores. Newbies who don't read up on the boards often pay more. Second biggest money saver is using public transport where appropriate instead of rip-off taxis. Tips to avoid trouble which could cost you big money or even worse, like sharing a cell with eight naked hoodlums. Finding the right hotel for your particular requirements.

I don't see a lot of value in recommendations of particular whores or restaurants. Firstly, there seems no consensus, and secondly both can change from trip to trip. And even warnings about bad examples of both seem to fall on deaf ears.

I cannot speak for other countries but, for a first-time visitor to the DR, investing in a one-month or three-month subscription to the Trip Reports on ISOC should be top of your list of holiday expenses.

You just dont know how much I take notes and venture out on what I have read on the board. I copy and paste some of the information in a private message to myself so that I can refer back to pieces of information when it is time for me to take a trip.

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Originally Posted by SrSuerte

I copy and paste some of the information in a private message to myself so that I can refer back to pieces of information when it is time for me to take a trip.

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Well done! Memory loss can be a bitch, but you seem to be coping bravely.

Of course there is always the danger of a power outage or battery failure, so you might consider tattooing a few trip reports onto yourself like that movie "Memento".

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Originally Posted by JDR

To start off with, join the frequent flyer clubs and get their credit cards. I think over the past 15 years I have taken about a dozen free trips.

The second big area would be changing your money, you may only save $5 or $10 a trip, but 100 trips later, that would be over $1,000.

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i started collecting aeroplan ff miles in 2007 :iconTU:and last year between me, my wife, my exwife and my kids i booked 4 trips to cuba, 3 trips to mexico, 2 inside thailand trips, and 5 north american trips all using ff miles :iconTU:

plus when i fly to asia i always pay with my credit card and thus get another 36,000 more ff miles each trip ( 16,000 for the trip and 16,000 for super elite bonus miles) to use for the short haul trips especially over the holidays when prices are super high:corky:

Im glad I found this board. 14 trips in 3 years to DR and after reading thru others reports I realized how little I have done. I was content with what I knew but now I want to explore and get more out of my travels.
Anyone who takes the time and reads thru and searches for info can get alot of knowledge. Newbie or Vet.

jmo, I could be wrong.