There seem to have been a lot of people recently asking where is 'best' to live here. Apart from all the standard advice "try it out first', "don't buy straightaway", "learn Spanish", would it not be an idea to do a FACTUAL comparison between the different areas? I only know the south, have spent 2 days in the east, a few weeks in Barahona, and never ventured north of Santiago (beautiful I thought!). We could do something like beaches, house prices, nationalities, shopping, water sports etc, that was factual rather than opinions because if I was looking to come here now I wouldn't have a clue as everyone thinks their area is the best. For example Juan Dolio: good points - good beaches, caribbean sea so calm and good diving, but no windsurfing. Apartments on the beach from 200,000US$ up, apartments off the beach 60,000US$ up, houses 175,000US$ up. 2 golfcourses, 45 mins Santo Domingo, 25 mins airport (but no charter flights). Nearest charter flight airport 3 hours away (bad point when picking up friends who come to stay). Average restaurants (Bad point - no RIBS!!). Nearest town has 2 good supermarkets, good fruit and veg market and you can get most things there - 10 kms away. Not too many ex pats, mostly italian and some German and Canadian. A few US and even less British (shame). What do you think?
Matilda
Matilda