DR no longer cheap?

[DominicanScotty]

Nice idea....

Got a quick suggestion. Maybe the folks on the ground could help us out.

How about creating a list of honest vendors (restaurants/bars/stores)? It would be a positive list, meaning it does not trash those establishments that are raping tourists. It only accentuates those vendors who value their clients and deserve to be visited. It would be a sticky for those coming to the DR. Good thing about the list is that it would be user-generated.

For instance:

Rocky's - Sosua - restaurant - unpretentious, friendly staff, good food, cheap prices, but long wait plan ahead

Shark Bar - Sosua - beach bar - unpretentious, gringo friendly, cheap prices, accomodating with food

PJ's - Sosua - restaurant - .......

etc.....


Those not on the list, well,.....not gonna say much about them. It would be negative or neutral. At least, for those who were interested in not being gouged, they would have a good reference for honest, reasonable vendors.

If one of the those vendors that do not make the list asks questions about it, politely tell them where they are failing, high prices, specifically-priced menus for locals that differ from tourist prices, miserable service, menus priced in dollars, etc.

Just a suggestion.

I was thinking of that as well. Let's see how it goes. You have a lot of people with too much time on their hands and only like to spread filth and rumor. No fun in spreading good news. However, yes it is a good idea if only it will work.

I have a couple of suggestions.

Carmines Comado: Center of Playa Sosua behind the NY Shark Bar. It is a great Dominican Restaurant at "Dominican" prices. Be ready to share a table with anyone because the food is that good during lunch time that this is the only way you can get a seat.

El Mangito: Just past Playa Dorada AI on the right hand side going in the direction towards POP. You will see a row of shops and then see the sign. It is down a set of stairs. The food, anything from lobster to chicken is excellent! Prices are reasonable.

 

[Lambada]

El Mangito seconded! Food very good, be prepared to wait if restaurant is full (they have 2 waiters whether full or empty!) & ALWAYS pay in pesos. They adopt a 'restaurant friendly' exchange rate if dollars are offered! (which is not the same as a 'client friendly' exchange rate!).

 

[Gringo]

A nice little place clean and priced right in Pto.Pta.

I was doing some Banking at the Scotia Bank around 12:30 and thought a nice Dominican lunch would be nice. Across the street from the Scoita Bank is a little place, I had Rice and Beans, Chicken, Salid and a large natural lemon drink all for 85.00 Pesos ($2.90)

Gringo

 

[stallion]

I was doing some Banking at the Scotia Bank around 12:30 and thought a nice Dominican lunch would be nice. Across the street from the Scoita Bank is a little place, I had Rice and Beans, Chicken, Salid and a large natural lemon drink all for 85.00 Pesos ($2.90)

Gringo

That is a good price for a meal.

 

[Worldcycler]

You are on a roll!

This is great info folks. Exactly the type of stuff I'm searching DR1 for. I'm taking notes. Special thanks for the POP/Sousa info. Makes me feel that I made the right choice not to do the AI thing anymore. Keep it coming!

 

[Armina]

I agree with you, and wonder what will make this turn around. When I left for home which is in the States in mid November I took a cab from Costambar to the Puerto Plata Airport. Used the same cab driver that I have used for many years. He used to charge 250 pesos, then 350 pesos, he charged me 1000.- pesos, divided by the exchange rate of that period it came to 36.- Dollars. That is very expensive I pay less at home for same mileage. I am returning to the DR mid January I wonder what it will cost me then.
Armina

 

[Malibook]

Time to find a new driver

I agree with you, and wonder what will make this turn around. When I left for home which is in the States in mid November I took a cab from Costambar to the Puerto Plata Airport. Used the same cab driver that I have used for many years. He used to charge 250 pesos, then 350 pesos, he charged me 1000.- pesos, divided by the exchange rate of that period it came to 36.- Dollars. That is very expensive I pay less at home for same mileage. I am returning to the DR mid January I wonder what it will cost me then.
Armina

1000 pesos from Costambar to the airport is a ripoff.
It seems like many people figure that since sales are down they must charge more but they don't realize that this will just make sales go down even more.

Last month, I paid 600 pesos to Playa Dorada taxis for 3 hours in Puerto Plata.
800 pesos for 3 hours in Sosua.
Taxis in town should be even less.

 

[DominicanScotty]

I agree with you, and wonder what will make this turn around. When I left for home which is in the States in mid November I took a cab from Costambar to the Puerto Plata Airport. Used the same cab driver that I have used for many years. He used to charge 250 pesos, then 350 pesos, he charged me 1000.- pesos, divided by the exchange rate of that period it came to 36.- Dollars. That is very expensive I pay less at home for same mileage. I am returning to the DR mid January I wonder what it will cost me then.
Armina

Hello Armina,

Yes, unfortunately...this poor guy has to put gasoline into that car or van he has. When the dollar went from 50-1 to 26-1 the prices of gas was about 103 pesos a gal (not an imperial gal either). The gas prices have come down a little but it is costing these guys a fortune to get around. Bargain with these guys. If they do not want to come down in their prices then they don't need your money. No way am I trying to defend some of these guys. Many are just taking advantage of a very bad situation. Many only think about today and not tomorrow.

 

[AnnaC]

Originally Posted by jerryme
I ate at Rocky's and the hamburger was very small, took about an hour to get and the prices weren't exactly the cheapest. Waitress was not very friendly either. I would not eat there again. It was a waste of time and money. This was at lunchtime.

I'm not a rib fan but I've always heard other people talk about Rocky's ribs. They are the best and the garlic mash potatoes are so delicious.I found all the meals very good and very reasonably priced. Experience new things get away from hamburgers.

 

[DominicanScotty]

A great little steakhouse

In Puerto Plata... as you are heading into town from east. You go into the big traffic circle and go around as if you are heading back towards Playa Dorada. Just as you start heading east again slow down because it comes up quickly on the right hand side. It is a small driveway..go slow or you will miss it and have to go around which is murder. However, this steakhouse (cannot recall the name) is well worth it. The food and service is excellent and the prices are very Dominican.

 

[DominicanScotty]

Rib nite at Rocky's

I'm not a rib fan but I've always heard other people talk about Rocky's ribs. They are the best and the garlic mash potatoes are so delicious.I found all the meals very good and very reasonably priced. Experience new things get away from hamburgers.

We all got together a couple of weeks ago and cleaned Rockys out of their ribs. Everyone was quite content with their ribs. Nobody had a hamburger by the way. But there was a novia or two present (yikes).

 

[DominicanScotty]

Actually, most Travel Reps. encourage people to travel around and spend money, it's just that they want you to use their services instead of someone elses.

Many of the merchants in Puerto Plata are insane.
Some of them are so ridiculous that they make the plaza at Playa Dorada look relatively cheap.
For example, lava stone necklace, they ask for 800 to 1200 pesos and the lowest they would go was 350.
Same necklace at the Playa Dorada Plaza is 250 on the ground floor and 2 for 200 on the upper floor.
Trying to get more and more profits from less and less sales is a sure way to go out of business.

I've had numerous meals at Barco's and Tam Tam on the malecon but they are definately not cheap.
Go to Maimon for some excellent food at good prices.

Thanks for this post. Remember that we as the consumer always have the power to simply walk away. If you believe that whatever it is that is being sold to you is too expensive then it probably is...walk away!

 

[toneloc24]

I'm not a rib fan but I've always heard other people talk about Rocky's ribs. They are the best and the garlic mash potatoes are so delicious.I found all the meals very good and very reasonably priced. Experience new things get away from hamburgers.

Is it possible to start this as a new thread, similar to the Exchange rate thread, where only pertinent info (standard prices, reviews, no gripes) are included?

I believe that a sticky would be a very good value-add to the site. There have been some good recommendations here for honest vendors. It would be wonderful if they weren't buried.

 

[Victor Laszlo]

Is it possible to start this as a new thread, similar to the Exchange rate thread, where only pertinent info (standard prices, reviews, no gripes) are included?

I believe that a sticky would be a very good value-add to the site. There have been some good recommendations here for honest vendors. It would be wonderful if they weren't buried.

Sounds good to me. :classic:

 

[Kiwicanuck]

A Dominican Scotty sounds very interesting

We all got together a couple of weeks ago and cleaned Rockys out of their ribs. Everyone was quite content with their ribs. Nobody had a hamburger by the way. But there was a novia or two present (yikes).

Have read a lot of your threads Scotty and with you being a regular at Rocky's I think I would have some in common with you. I was in Sosua for the last two weeks in November just gone. I did very well in learning a lot about what I need to know for more extended time there with the intent of seeing how I like it with maybe a permanent move at a later date. Is it possible to email you directly Scotty so I can try and work out some answers to some of my questions as I want to come back in late January and want to find out some things before then.

 

[Bartolomeo67]

Restaurant prices on my december trip

It's clear that the 'big spenders' or 'used-to-be big spenders' living in tourist areas are suffering most of the price increases, however it doesn't seem to be crisis for everyone:
last week I had dinner at Sosua's Waterfront restaurant; with the 26% taxes, I spent over 2000R$ on 1 x camarones, 1 x mero and a couple of glasses of wine: extremely pricey but then again it has always been one of the most expensive places in Sosua. My point is: the restaurant was FULL of people, partly with tourists, partly U.S. dominicans, partly residents. So why would they feel the need to lower the prices, there appear to be enough people around who pay the price.
Remember that you are also paying for the restaurant's outrageous electricity bills when you go eating out. The huge electricity bills were the reason why the famous Acuarela restaurant in POP closed down. Fixed costs of running the business were no longer bearable. Rafael Ramon is now a chef in an exclusive boutique hotel in Mexico.

On the other end of the scale, La Gaviota, dominican restaurant in the center of Sosua still only charges R$90 for their 'especial del dia' (pollo or res with rice and beans) and I have nothing to complain about the food nor the service. Il Mulino, the italian restaurant, and Rocky's, as mentionned before, also have very reasonable prices to eat out.

In Santiago's Plaza Internacional mall I paid R$190 for 2 regular pizzas with refrescos: that's less than half the price of what Pizza Hut charges here in Belgium. However Burger King in SD Bella Vista mall charged R$120 for a JR Whopper and a Coke, that's almost the same as over here.

Bartolomeo

 

[Lambada]

In Puerto Plata... as you are heading into town from east. You go into the big traffic circle and go around as if you are heading back towards Playa Dorada. Just as you start heading east again slow down because it comes up quickly on the right hand side. It is a small driveway..go slow or you will miss it and have to go around which is murder. However, this steakhouse (cannot recall the name) is well worth it. The food and service is excellent and the prices are very Dominican.

If you are talking about traffic circle, or roundabout, opposite baseball stadium, then name of steak restaurant is Parillada.

 

[stallion]

If you are talking about traffic circle, or roundabout, opposite baseball stadium, then name of steak restaurant is Parillada.

with the rising of the pesos, have prices decreased in the DR?

 

[Lambada]

I know of some places where prices have decreased, but don't know about this particular one, because I haven't been there in a while (I don't eat red meat any more!).

 

[DominicanScotty]

e mailing me

Have read a lot of your threads Scotty and with you being a regular at Rocky's I think I would have some in common with you. I was in Sosua for the last two weeks in November just gone. I did very well in learning a lot about what I need to know for more extended time there with the intent of seeing how I like it with maybe a permanent move at a later date. Is it possible to email you directly Scotty so I can try and work out some answers to some of my questions as I want to come back in late January and want to find out some things before then.

PM me and I will e mail you the address