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jlmabcde
06-25-2004, 05:54 PM
Myself and two of my best friends spent the first week of June in the DR. This report is just some of my observations and are my own opinions.
I should first start out with a little background info. We have all been to Thailand two times within the last two years. We are not experienced mongers by any means. We are all in our early thirties and are single professionals in the medical field. This was our first trip to the DR.
We flew out of JFK and paid $375 USD for roundtrip. We were originally scheduled to land in STI but the runway was being fixed so we had to land in POP. We only found out that we were going to land in POP after we were in the air about an hour or so. No problem...they said that there would be buses waiting to transport us to Santiago. It ended up being a BIG fiasco. We waited two hours to get on the bus and then on the way to Santiago, the bus driver stops two times....one to take a piss and the other because "it was time to eat"!! Welcome to the DR I said. There we sat for 30 minutes while the bus driver took a break. We ended up in Santiago late in the eve. and took a taxi to the Aloha Sol hotel. Great place...nice people. The rooms were comfortable and all I really needed was a place to take a shower at this point. After taking a shower, we ate at a restaurant about a block up from the Aloha Sol. The food was great....maybe a little pricey. I noticed that they had two menus. Immediately my thought was... "Oh, two menus, one for the locals and one for the travelers" I'm not sure if this is true....maybe someone else can help. It is definately believable. After dinner, we took a taxi over to Illusions. We grabbed a few beers and sat down. The ladies were very interested so I grabbed one and threw her into my friends lap. He smiled ear to ear and said "here we go"! Yep, that's what I wanted....LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED. We ended up having about three drinks before we decided to each take a girl home. I can't remember the specific price but I think it was around 3,000 pesos each. Tried to bargin but didn't get anywhere. The one I took was about an 8 and her name was "blondi". She had very curly blond hair...cute face. Back at the hotel, my one buddy took his girl to his room to get frisky. My other buddy and I ended up with both chicas in his room. We closed the door and I immediately striped naked. It was funny seeing thier eyes light up. Within minutes, all of us were on this little double bed doing the nasty. WHAT A BLAST. After an hour or so, or should I say, after blowing my nut, the girls got up and left. Wow, not sticking around? Ok, I'm tired anyway, so off to bed I go. NOTE: if you go to Illusions, just sip one drink, find the chica you want and either get out or take her to the back room. The prices are high. Also, I noticed some fellow in the club with a machine gun under his coat. Made me a little nervous. Has anyone else seen this?
The next day we took a taxi to Puerta Plata and stayed at the Lomar hotel which is located right next to the beach. This place was not as nice as the Aloha Sol and the air didn't blow cold enough for me. I like it cold! We ate at the outdoor restaurant next door....good food...I would eat there again, definately. In the evening, we ended up taking a taxi to a few bars nearby.....can't remember the names. Both of my friends hooked up immediately but I wasn't settled on a Chica yet. Somehow, by myself, I ended up at Crystals. I had pretty much to drink and it was about 1:30 in the morning. I was still feeling frisky so I took this tall black Chica back to my hotel room and she was great. It cost me 2,000 though.....I won't go back anytime soon.
We ended up in Sosua the following day after taking the bus from Puerta Plata. Met an American fellow from South Carolina while on the bus. He showed us a few bars upon arrival to Sosua and we ended up staying at the all inclusive "Sosua by the Sea".
Side note: I had originally planned on all of us staying at the "Palace". Unfortunately, I did not like the looks of this place from the outside.....looks like a dump. I lost my hundred dollar deposit but didn't really care. I did look at the rooms though and they looked great. I must say that John was straight up with us. I guess I'm just a little picky? I have heard many great things about the Palace.....It just wasn't for me.
Sosua by the Sea was great. The staff was friendly and the food was pretty darn good. Plus, I loved the outside bar.....and the pool. We ended up staying at Sosua by the Sea for the rest of our vacation. Every night, we went mongering and found PLENTY of hot Chicas. In Sosua, I never paid more than 1,000 for a Chica. There are plenty of places to drink/party....... ALL night if you want.
I personally, each night, picked up a Chica.....took her to the Cabana for an hour and booted her. Watch out for the Chicas who try to pick your pocket.....happened to me twice. They didn't succeed and I was really pissed off at the time. I kept my cool though...but it was tough. There are some desperate Chicas out there so watch out. I would be real careful bringing one back to my hotel.....if you stay at a Chica friendly hotel. You never know what you are going to run into. Some of them were great in bed....and some so so. If you want a GFE...you can have it....no problem. The trouble is trying to get rid of em! Remember, if you are a gringo, you are like a bullseye with a BIG dollar sign. I really got tired of saying "no gracias" to all of the moto's. It got old....fast.
One day, we rented some 250cc dirt bikes. I would only recommend doing this if you are an experieced rider. Since I have been riding since age 15, I felt comfortable. I currently have a harley at home and ride over 10,000 miles a year. The bikes were kinda shitty but did get us around a bit. We rode to Cabarete in the evening. The price for the bikes was 1500 for 24 hours. Never leave the key in the bike and park it behind a locked gate before going to bed. There are some pretty cool places in Cabarete......definately worth a visit.
While in Cabarete, I met this 21 yo bartender who was WAY HOT. I tried to ask her out but she didn't really say yes but didn't say no either. From reading other posts, I thought that all the Chicas were "for sale". Maybe I didn't go about it the right way or??? I guess some of the non-pro's might me off limits unless you spend time and money on them. Help me out here?
All total, I spent about $800 plus airfare. I chalked up six more babes to my list. I probably could have bargained harder at times but it just takes too much of my energy....plus we are dealing with a couple of dolllars here.....not a big deal for me at least. I will definately be back sometime soon. Hopefully real soon! I will learn more spanish....DEFINATELY.

Don Tomas
06-25-2004, 06:42 PM
I am headed for my second trip in a week but I did learn alot about the country...again just my opinion.


We waited two hours to get on the bus and then on the way to Santiago, the bus driver stops two times....one to take a piss and the other because "it was time to eat"!! Welcome to the DR I said. There we sat for 30 minutes while the bus driver took a break.

You mention later you weren't exactly on a budget, you should have gave him $20US (probably a week's wages) and tell him to have his dinner in Santiago. I know when I was down there I got picked up in a taxi outside the casino on the way to Caberete, I had just won $20,000RD so I gave the driver $500RD/$11US and told him where I wanted to go, everyone else complained but you know where he went first. 8)


After taking a shower, we ate at a restaurant about a block up from the Aloha Sol. The food was great....maybe a little pricey. I noticed that they had two menus. Immediately my thought was... "Oh, two menus, one for the locals and one for the travelers" I'm not sure if this is true....maybe someone else can help. It is definately believable.

I wouldn't doubt it but cannot confirm.


Also, I noticed some fellow in the club with a machine gun under his coat. Made me a little nervous. Has anyone else seen this?

I have seen people "packing" in the DR, I have seen worse in Chicago, I guess it's all about where you come from.



Somehow, by myself, I ended up at Crystals. I had pretty much to drink and it was about 1:30 in the morning. I was still feeling frisky so I took this tall black Chica back to my hotel room and she was great. It cost me 2,000 though.....I won't go back anytime soon.

Curious why didn't you like Crystals?


Side note: I had originally planned on all of us staying at the "Palace". Unfortunately, I did not like the looks of this place from the outside.....looks like a dump. I lost my hundred dollar deposit but didn't really care. I did look at the rooms though and they looked great. I must say that John was straight up with us. I guess I'm just a little picky? I have heard many great things about the Palace.....It just wasn't for me.

The Palace isn't perfect but in the DR all I ask for is it to be clean, electricity on, and the bed functional. The fact I can party with multiple guests in the room will mean I will stay there everytime I'm in Sosua.


While in Cabarete, I met this 21 yo bartender who was WAY HOT. I tried to ask her out but she didn't really say yes but didn't say no either. From reading other posts, I thought that all the Chicas were "for sale". Maybe I didn't go about it the right way or??? I guess some of the non-pro's might me off limits unless you spend time and money on them. Help me out here?

Not knowing Spanish well hurt of course, as for being "for sale" not every chica is, BUT in my opinion every working-class chica is available to fuck. Just might not be a straight cash transaction and ended up costing more.

Glad you had a great time and if you ever want to organize your own private orgy, you will want to consider the Palace. :lol:

jlmabcde
06-27-2004, 10:38 PM
Don,

Thanks for the reply. It's not that Crystals was a bad place....just thought it was somewhat out of the way and I had a much better time in Sosua (versus Puerta Plata)
I will definately visit the DR again. It was a BLAST!

Later, Jerry

RickRock
06-27-2004, 11:07 PM
When I read these reports I always feel that people are overpaying, but no one else seems to think so..

$1500 for a motorcycle for 1 dia? Coño! must be gringo price :D

Although I understand you about not wanting to waste the energy trying to bargain (I wish I had the amount of money for bargaining not to be an issue), but in latin culture you're considered a sucker if you don't.

Jimmydr
06-28-2004, 08:57 AM
When I read these reports I always feel that people are overpaying, but no one else seems to think so..

$1500 for a motorcycle for 1 dia? Coño! must be gringo price :D

Although I understand you about not wanting to waste the energy trying to bargain (I wish I had the amount of money for bargaining not to be an issue), but in latin culture you're considered a sucker if you don't.


I just saw that, Cars are usually that price?

RickRock
06-28-2004, 02:24 PM
I rent bikes rather frequently, theyve tried to tell me as much as $1000 for 24 hours but I've never payed more than $700RD.

jlmabcde
07-01-2004, 12:49 AM
These motocycles were not the average mopeds (they were 250 dirt motocross bikes).....but yes, we probably paid too much. Live and learn.

RickRock
07-01-2004, 06:29 PM
yes I was talking about motorcycles not passolas (motor-scooters) those are much cheaper.

BrooklynBeas
07-02-2004, 09:24 AM
leave the guy alone at least he only overpaid of a motorcycle and not the whores... he paid on average 1000 per chica which is good... as for the menu being a gringo menu and a resident menu going to others .. you are probably right ... La Roca (sosua-across the street from Maura Mai)has a members only menu which charges about 1/3 of the price of the regular gringo menu... they only give it to residents but i usually have no problem getting the menu because they sorta know me by now...
as for the flight going into pop instead of sti that was a good thing ... what you should have done was tell the bus driver to go fuck himself and stayed in sosua from day one...
as for you not liking the palace by looks from the outside well i felt the same way the first time i came down that rocky road turning off of pedro clisante... i was like where the fuck am i and what the fuck did i get myself into ... when i saw the shacks on the right side and saw the kids running around without shoes i felt like i just passed by Sally Struthers and was on my way to the hotel.. but once i got inside the palace i knew everything would be OK... everything was ok the first time i stayed there but then when i went back a month ago it was better then OK ... it was everything I can expect and want from the hotels in Sosua... you will not meet a better hotel owner and friend then John on the island... and when you do decide to go back to DR please dont look at it from the outside and surrounding areas just try it for urself even for a night or two... then report how you like it...

as for the guy in Crystals with the shotgun ... thats pretty normal for anyone who is a security guard in the DR to carry... also saw some other guys in the DR that werent guards with one... just dont start any trouble and noone would start with you... like most of the places throughout the world..

jlmabcde
07-02-2004, 06:36 PM
learned alot from my 1st trip. The first experience in a new environment can be a little nerve wracking if you know what I mean. You just really don't KNOW until you have personally experienced it (another country). I'm sure subsequent trips will be even better. Later, Jerry

RickRock
07-02-2004, 08:32 PM
my fault if i came off as a dick, i was just trying to point out the differences. You will get cheated in the DR in all aspects if you allow yourself to.

Don Tomas
07-02-2004, 08:46 PM
learned alot from my 1st trip. The first experience in a new environment can be a little nerve wracking if you know what I mean. You just really don't KNOW until you have personally experienced it (another country). I'm sure subsequent trips will be even better. Later, Jerry

Jerry I feel the same.

Before I had the pleasure of traveling outside of the US for one of two reasons. Business or School.

I lived in Germany for a year on a student exchange program, saw most of Europe during my time and always went local. Even had a few times with Americans with a translating book in hand asking me directions in a German.

Otherwise it was for work and free "tourist" time was non-existant (under 24 hours) back in the day when IT people weren't a dime a dozen. Use to carry my passport in my laptop bag 24/7. Was in Europe and SE Asia mostly. No never got to go to Thailand. :cry:

My first trip to the DR was my first real vacation outside of the US/Canada. It was a very over-whelming and thought I was dreaming most of the time. It's loud, crazy, and of course we all get drunk. It will be a few trips before I get settled.

Germany was easy, they speak better English then most Americans. :lol:

nomad
07-09-2004, 01:14 AM
You are correct. There are tourist menu's and locals menu's. Never over pay for anything. Renting a motorcycle, food, drinks or chicas. You instantly will lose their respect. You don't have to be an asshole about but be firm. You ought to here them laugh at how much "gringo's" pay. And you make it worse for the rest of us. Stop by the Palace or the Shark bar. Find one of us and we will clue you in. Always willing to help.

Nomad

RickRock
07-09-2004, 03:03 AM
My point exactly. My last time in Sosua a guy said to me "The motoconcho asked me for $500RD for a ride from my hotel to the bank to the codetel and back to the hotel, did I pay him to much" :shock: .. When it's me I tell them what I'm going to pay for their service (Puta, Motoconcho, Moto Rental, etc) , 9 times out of 10 if you ask how much they will give you a rediculous price quote and if you accept it nomad is exactly right youll be looked apon as an asshole for lack of a better term.

Peace

Jimmydr
07-09-2004, 12:32 PM
You are correct. There are tourist menu's and locals menu's. Never over pay for anything. Renting a motorcycle, food, drinks or chicas. You instantly will lose their respect. You don't have to be an asshole about but be firm. You ought to here them laugh at how much "gringo's" pay. And you make it worse for the rest of us. Stop by the Palace or the Shark bar. Find one of us and we will clue you in. Always willing to help.

Nomad

There is the third price menu and thats the pissed off monger menu. :D
I have given moto conches 5 pesos on occossion because they were assholes :twisted:

BrooklynBeas
07-09-2004, 02:16 PM
lmao... 5 pesos wow

i dont even carry change in the DR... i throw it in my suitcase or give it to a kid if i see one on the street...

i know the going rate for mid day motos are 10 pesos but i always give 20 cause im a big fuckin sport

Macky
07-09-2004, 04:34 PM
The good thing about knowing how much the going rate for anything is, is that we can offer that to begin with and then the dominican knows that we are aware of the right price and they are much less likely to try to bullshit us to begin with. That's why these forums are so important. I have met guys in Boca who just got there and who didn't know about the forums and they have said stuff like "how much is a lady here-- one hundred bucks, two hundred?"

Macky
07-09-2004, 04:42 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong but last year the moto guys usual rate was 20 in the day and 30 at night. Double if a chica is on board. If the driver actually drove slow and safe after I told him to do so I would tip him another 10 or 20. Shouldn't do that I know, but if he drove safe I felt he earned it, especially at 3AM. Don't know what they charge now, I'll find out soon enough, three weeks to go.

BrooklynBeas
07-09-2004, 05:08 PM
i have never had the balls to give 10 pesos to a moto... their gas prices have risen just like ours ... i give 20 daytime or nightime... with a chica on back ill throw in a extra 10 or 20 depending on who it is... i know a lot of them and if they are what i consider a friend in the DR way what the fuck is an extra 20 cents to me?

the_Jayman
07-09-2004, 05:41 PM
i have never had the balls to give 10 pesos to a moto... their gas prices have risen just like ours ... i give 20 daytime or nightime... with a chica on back ill throw in a extra 10 or 20 depending on who it is... i know a lot of them and if they are what i consider a friend in the DR way what the fuck is an extra 20 cents to me?

BrooklynBeas,

You're ruining it for all of us.

Just kidding. I was down in March and didn't know that the daytime moto rate is "supposed" to be 10 pesos and I gave 20 pesos day or night. (double with a chica on board)

I got yelled at twice by some butt-heads cause me paying an extra quarter was "ruining it for all of us"

BrooklynBeas
07-09-2004, 05:47 PM
fuck that ... these guys stay out there in the sun all day and beg you to put you cock in their ass for 40 cents... OK well not exactly in their ass but some of the bigger moto guys sit back a lil and may catch you at a bad time ... hahaha ... you know what i mean ... if its anything im bargaining in DR its for pussy not 20 cents here and there for a moto ride... except when they try to ask me for more then i flip on them for principle... i know what i gave is good so dont try and fuck me... my friend gave 100 pesos to this guy one night because he was hammered and wanted to get back to his hotel room safely... i screamed at him and he was like big fuckin deal its 2 bucks... and i was like well i gave him 50 cents ... sometimes its the principal...

Babyboy31
07-10-2004, 09:52 PM
Hmmm.....well i have spent some time taking motoconchos.....publicos and taxis. The going rate is the going rate, 10 pesos or 20 pesos. The motos having to opportunity will take advantage of us gringos. Don't worry it is not only us gringos, it is also the dominicans who get taken advantage of as well. I have seen dominicans get taken by both motos and publicos. I have sen the aftermath of dominicans robbed and almost killed and raped from taking a bandit publico.


So.....all I am saying is don't let them take advantage of you......it makes you a target for bigger things. You also do raise the bar for the rest of the gringos. There are some gringos who come here for the first time and do not know what the rate is....and they get taken by the motos for more than its worth.

So yes I am a proponent of paying the going rate. To do otherwise ruins the balance and the poor sob who gets off the plane for the first time.

RickRock
07-11-2004, 12:26 AM
I always pay 20 pesos day or night and my girl is with me 90% of the time.