After reading through this thread I gotta throw my hats off to you guys who travel solo. Especially the guys who don't speak Spanish
After reading through this thread I gotta throw my hats off to you guys who travel solo. Especially the guys who don't speak Spanish
There are many guys who go solo, and their Spanish is horrible/non-existent. They have no complaints, and they go many times a year!
I actually know Mannie and have known him for several years. He is a tall guy who speaks English and last time I saw him he was working for Seacrets. Over the years he has always gone out of his way to be helpful to me is a nice enough guy.
Do I trust him 100%? definitely not.
When I see him over the years I have bought him a few beers while we were talking or wandering around. Once in particular during my first few trips I decided to walk around Los Charamicos and walked by his home during the day. He came outside and said hello to me as he typically does and asked what I was doing. When I said I was looking around in Los Charamicos as I wasnt that familiar with the place he said he and hour of free time and walked me around showing me some of the places while we had a few drinks and stopped for some lunch at a chicken place.
Definitely some useful information and as he lives there he knew a lot of people and introduced me to quite a few people.
One thing to keep in mind is this is in fact his job and he does deserve some type of payment if people use him for his services.
I have over my visits come to meet many of the tour guides who hang around Sosua and he is definitely a decent enough guy trying to earn a living with the skillset he has. He has never tried to scam me unlike a lot of the other tour guide guys looking to rip off anyone the first chance they get.
As states he does not have a car so this is an extra cost if you want to go outside of the area.
I have a guy I use for taking trips out of town as I do not like to drive or rent a car. I will ask him if I can give out his phone number. This guy speaks several languages including English and Spanish, is a local to Sosua who lives there, carries a gun , and has a vehicle. I met him several years ago on the beach where he still works when there is work. He actually currently works with Ari at stall #67 (one of the advertisers on this site). I pay him a standard $20 for an airport ride (they charge $25 now so I give this guy my business and save $5 on the ride).
We also will take night trips into Puerta Plata and other cities at about the same cost as a taxi for a short ride to Puerta Plata for an hour we can hang out with him all night if we choose to.
Typically we will pay for his gas, a drink or two and throw him 1500 pesos for a night out. Renting a car or taxi will cost about the same but without the commissions on things, including a guy to do translation if needed for anyone, and to keep an eye out for trouble and be able to deal with any problems before they happen if needed.For a group of 3 or 4 guys to do a night trip to POP visit some strip bars and local spots an extra $20-$30 on the bill to have a vehicle with a good driver, translator, and security all rolled into one makes it worthwhile in my opinion.
Jimmy owes me a dollar!
A "tour" guide is definitely not needed but just someone that knows the environment especially for non-spanish speaking visitors.
So people that want to visit Puerto Plata and not for shopping tour. But to look for chicas just PM me. I will go to all those places downtown and you will love it!
Greets
Last edited by The Exterminator; 01-21-2010 at 01:45 PM. Reason: an important word was missing
10 years Puerto Plata...
Always good to know another ex-pat monger that is willing to show a fellow around. I try and do the same if someone contacts me and tells me they will be in Santo Domingo, as does P2, Mr. Happy and the Dwolf.
I may take you up on your kind offer, I know a few spots in POP, from my time in Sosua, and plus Dominican Billy, and Weyland have also showed me around a bit. But I would love to find some of the places off the beaten path, that is truly what I like to see, I enjoy being in the place and being the one or one of the only gringos in site, all attention is on you, and I get a kick out of that.
By the way Mr. Exterminator, welcome to the site. I see that you don't have many posts, but with 10 yrs experience in Puerto Plata, maybe you can fill us in a little bit about that area, I know it will be welcome information.
Looking forward to seeing many more posts from you in the future.
I would have shown you a bit more but I couldn't get your ass out of El Consulador. Funny about that place. Thunderstar and I love it, you and Trib liked it, Shredder walked out in disgust after a while and FloridaSur never got pass the entrance once he felt his ears start bleeding. Dominican Billy goes there quite a bit but will only sit outside.
Bloody miss it Weyland. So so desperate for a holiday!
( Good news on the leg - Im starting to walk again - like an 80 year old granny - but walking is walking! )!
We will see you soon!
Dan & Jen
PS - I hope your looking for "the gap" for me!
This may not be the same Mannie that I was referring to. The Mannie I met was maybe at best 5'7" or so, I know this because I am 5'8" and he was shorter than me. I only hung out with Mannie one day but he came across as a straight up guy. Plus the Mannie I met actually worked for the city of Puerto Plata as a tour guide so he didn't want or ask me to give him any money.
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