Need Some Help...

Frog17112

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Nov 20, 2007
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Thinking about moving to DR. I'm coming down over the X-Mas holidays for 12 days to visit and assess the situation. This is what I've read so far:

- one (actually two) can survive on about $2000 USD per month provided they've paid cash for their home.

- the crime rate in some areas are pretty high (eg, Cabaret)...but is it mostly robbery and home invasion or are their also rapes and murders?

- gyms seem to be in the area, finding a spin room doesn't seem to be an issue, cost is about $22 USD per month for membership.

- I don't want to work (kind of defeats the purpose of moving to a retirement location), so do I still need to become a resident?

Just a little concerned...
 
N

naturelover

Guest
there are several gyms and one spinning room in the area of sosua -cabarete

no idea about how much you can live on though
 

amparocorp

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Aug 11, 2002
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unless your brother in law is a colonel in the national police, it is advisable to get residency in order to get drivers license, car and insurance. if you do not drive it is possible to be here for years without contact with any type of authorities. but, if you are going to be here, and have any life, you have to drive, get good insurance. with the price of gas at 5$ plus a gallon, vehicles costing double, it is a big expense people often don't take into consideration. figure 500$ a month, cost of car, gas, ins. tires. if you want to drive, you better have all your paperwork in order, if not, and you get in a wreck, 500$ a month is gonna seem cheap..................and it only gotta be a small wreck.
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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Thinking about moving to DR. I'm coming down over the X-Mas holidays for 12 days to visit and assess the situation.

Why did you choose Christmas? You could find it is an atypical time, not to mention many businesses etc. going on hold for 2 weeks. It is a good idea to get your residencia whether you are working or not. Residencia makes you a legal alien. Illegals can be thrown out - unlikely if you're a gringo but happens to Haitians all the time.

Is a spin room the party headquarters of any of the political parties or a Casino?
 

quaqualita

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Feb 4, 2002
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- one (actually two) can survive on about $2000 USD per month provided they've paid cash for their home.
survive yes, live depends.
If you buy a house in a not so safe area, where you need good private security (about 500 USD), have high power costs (200-? USD), maid, gardener, phone, internet, garbige, cable TV, etc then you are down to about 1k USD. Still doable for 2, but if you want to go out and eat out once in a while, have a car, get sick, etc... it can get very tight.

- the crime rate in some areas are pretty high (eg, Cabaret)...but is it mostly robbery and home invasion or are their also rapes and murders?
There are safe areas in and around Cabarete and not so safe areas.
Rapes and murders did happen in the past, robberies and home invasions more often.

- gyms seem to be in the area, finding a spin room doesn't seem to be an issue, cost is about $22 USD per month for membership.
There is a good gym in Sosua, and a spinning studio is near Cabarete. Not sure, but I think the costs for the gym are even lower than 22 USD / month.

- I don't want to work (kind of defeats the purpose of moving to a retirement location), so do I still need to become a resident?
like mentioned before by others, you need residency when you want to drive legally, also if you want to buy a gun legally you need residency to get the licence.
 

london777

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Dec 22, 2005
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As I read it, the OP will have US$2000 per month for two persons after having bought their home (i.e. no rent to pay).

I hope that Amparocorp is incorrect in saying that it is necessary to drive to have any sort of life in the DR. I will be immigrating some time early next year and I have no intention of driving, both on cost and safety grounds, although I understand it would be necessary if one lived outside a town center.

As a Brit like Lambada, I too am intrigued as to what is a "spinning studio". It sounds like the venue for a New Labour briefing on TV.
 

Rocky

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Apr 4, 2002
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As a Brit like Lambada, I too am intrigued as to what is a "spinning studio". It sounds like the venue for a New Labour briefing on TV.
Spin Room - It?s the talk of the town! Our amazing psychodelic spin room with fluorescent lights and skyline murals on the wall. With 35 spin bikes and fantastic motivating music you will ride the fast calorie burner and shed unwanted kilos ? great weight loss program.

Re-creation Sunbury
 

Frog17112

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Nov 20, 2007
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Thanks!

Just got back from my Saturday morning spin class...wonderful as described by others in this thread. The feedback has been awesome. Yes, I thought $2000 USD seemed a little light especially with a car and other amenities but I thought I'd check to be sure. I want to make sure I've got the math right....obviously the more you make per month the better you'll live...comfortable by around $3000 USD per month or is $4000 closer to the right number? I've been to DR twice before but never over the holidays, this will be different. Looking forward to the trip.