Feedback, please

I've lived here 6 months and have learned a lot, so a year you would now a lot too if you get out and talk with people both Expats and locals.
6 days could be a bit short to find a place but maybe not? I would email an agent before you come and tell them what you are looking for.
I bought my house within 2 weeks of my vacay.

Volunteering and getting involved with activities can give you more info on living here.

It is hard to find a good paying job here so that would be your only concern unless you have great connections etc...

I'm sure many people on here know of good places to stay in pop and the places to avoid!

Good luck!

Just remember living here is not at all like vacations here!

6 days to find a place to live permanently sounds a little optimistic. Maybe not so much if you insist on staying close to POP but it is a diverse country. I'd allow for a little more time. You also need to be realistic about the income. Living here isn't as cheap as it might appear and if you need to earn an income you'll need language or tech skills that can't be done by a local. Good luck, we look forward hearing of your experience.

there are plenty of options in and around POP that fill your needs. i think that the only must is a positive attitude. you need to get into a mode where things do not happen fast go give yourself a bit more time to look around in case you do not find a place you like.

i know people who live off working online and some live very well indeed. i would start inquiring about that already, before you leave. after all, if you want an online job that can be done from any place on earth you may just as well start tomorrow

good luck

theres a lot of rental apartments there. try to hang around some people that are doing great and mingle

I will second what peep2 says IT IS NOT CHEAP TO LIVE HERE!!
Also people in POP will tell you that they may say there is 24/7 electricity but that is often not the case. Depending on where you chose to live of course.

Hello.

Interesting read. I wish you the best of luck. Gives me some ideas as to how to structure my own plan for relocation.

Can someone please tell me what "POP" means? I see it quite a bit on this forum.

Thanks.

wow $25-30 is CHEAP!! Good for you!!! We pay 600 pesos, i keep fearing the day they will install a meter!!! I will walk in darkness and sweat instead of using A/C ;-)

POP has several small, clean hotels at about 25 US a night. Find one you like, then take your time making your apt decision. Above all, practice your Spanish. That is the key to everything. K

Harleysrock said:

wow $25-30 is CHEAP!! Good for you!!! We pay 600 pesos, i keep fearing the day they will install a meter!!! I will walk in darkness and sweat instead of using A/C ;-)

Click to expand...

An elderly man i know showed my his electricity bill. Each month he has between 9500 and 12000peso. He uses AC on his bedroom every night, it is set to stay on 24 degrees.

Diametric said:

Hello,

After a few years of work and prep, I'm ready to follow the advice found here and make a 6-12 month move to DR! So, I'd like to explain my plan and have folks comment on how it sounds. If it sounds good, please let me know; if it sound as if my head is up my arse, likewise please let me know.

I am flying into POP on 10/1 and will be staying on an AI for 6 days. While there, I'd like to meet with rental agents and view as many properties as possible. Ideally, I'd like to find a place in that 6 day period, but if I need to rent an apart-hotel to hold me over until I can find a more permanent place, then so be it. Once I have a 6-12 month lease on an apartment, I'd like to spend that time getting to know the locals and plug into the expat community. Hopefully that 6-12 months will be enough time to put my finger on the pulse of POP and see if I can remain there permanently. I have enough money where I will not have to work for that first year so I can focus on really determining if it's a good fit.

My questions are:

1. How does my plan sound?
2. Can you recommend a rental/real-estate agent that is trustworthy?
3. Do you know of any rentals in the POP area yourself?
4. My requirements are a furnished studio or one bedroom that is safe and largely 24/7 electricity and not t oo far from the beach - bike or moto access is cool
5. Any specific neighborhoods come to mind? Which ones should I avoid?
6. Once in my place, what is the first thing I should check out as a resident?

That's about it. I know I've rather pummeled you folks with questions, but I'm committed at this point and I'd like to make a successful go at it. Any thoughts, feedback or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I'll get a chance to meet some of you soon!

Cheers,
-Dylan

Click to expand...

If you speak alittle of the language everything will be a different world. If you do not have understanding of the language you will most likely be befriended by a helpful "english" speaking motoconcho. He will do all he can to be your best friend so he can dump all his semi true problems over your head when you are ready to be squeezed for money.
Remember they are practicing the "friend" skill all day, every day. They know very well wich buttons to push to enter your wallet. Do not let this happen, do not take their phone number so you can "call" him if you need transport, this is a costly mistake. The better you know these drivers, the higher the price gets.
After a while you will find drivers 1 or maybe 2 you can stick to- but dont rush it. Give yourself a little time to see who fits your needs.

When you stops a moto, ask for the price BEFORE you starts to drive- they know when new meat are on the streets. If they say "no no no problem, you are my friend. Give me whatever you feel like"- Then ask again what the price are or you will find someother driver. Be polite but firm. After a while you know what the prices are around your place. You can also ask people what they pay,- ask in a colmado, maybe they have a useful tip or two.

You ask about location?! The first thing i always finds important is the distance between the mainroad and your home. It is very hot to walk in the sun with a couple of shoppingbags, and believe it or not after i while you get tired of paying money to a motoconcho for every little item you want to buy. Suddently things are not so cheap anymore when you need to calculate long transport costs into every little thing you need to be doing.

Noice: Dominicans are a lively people, they like music and to talk loud any time, anywhere. If yu have an apartment in the city core- prepare yourself for a headache, and a frustration over cars with loudspeakers wanting to buy old metal.Selling fruit, meat. etc. And also some has big speakers attached to the car and they drive around 24/7 with different messaging (no it doesnt matter if the speakers are broke, then they just turn the volume up even higher)

I see you are mentioning a stay for 6 to 12 months. For so short time i would highly reccomend staying in a tourist place. This so you can consentrate on important details instead for being frustrated over the "small" things that exist down here, and you do not notice as a tourist.
When you come down here you do not need a broker to help you find a place, you only need a weeks rent in a hotel to start with. So if you like it where you have been living for a wek- ask them how much they would like for a longtime rent. You can get some very very good price offers the way this island is today. It is a renters marked. Every hotel have rooms avaliable.
Ask around for month to month price. maybe 3months prices?! If you stay 6 months, the price is even better- but i would not recommend it the first week.
If you want to rent an apartment away froma tourist place, then you must remember:
You have to open and pay for the luz, included frustrating discussions with the emploees.
You have to do the same with cable tv.
Water bills, repair, security, and other unknown frustrating things that will surface when YOU DO NOT NEED THEM.
All of these problems go away if you start your new life in a apartment hotel where you just have to pay one bill alone.

Maybe you will like to live another place then POP ?!

Dont get tied up in a place you may not like.
----

Almost forgot, i always go into the bank to withdraw money, This is beacuse if something happen to your card inside the bank, you have less trouble. Outside everyone can attach these "skimmers" to copy your card and then access your money.

This last bit is just the way i do it. Others have possible other opionions around that.





Hope it gives you a couple of ideaswhat to be aware of down here.