Just got back from Santo Domingo

[shawn27]

I just got back from Santo Domingo. It was my second time there and I have mixed feelings about the trip. I did see poverty but not really that much begging on the streets. I did have a bunch of shoe shining boys coming up trying to clean my shoes. Prostitution was everywhere (including men,) and very visible.

Other than that it was just so relaxing! It was so cool to just walk around hearing the beats of merengue and bachata in the streets. I found myself staying at the colmado's just relaxing and having a great time dancing and drinking. Santo Domingo has so many cultural aspects to it as well. I did go to Boca Chica but I think I will go to Juan Dolio next time as there were way too many prostitutes there. I'll be back for Labor day weekend!!

 

[Kyle]

good deal. what hotel did you stay at ? i want to do a SD stay. i usually go to BC when i fly into SD.

 

[bigbird]

Did you take a guagua or a "big bus" to Boca Chica?

How much of Santo Domingo were you able to see? Santo Domingo is a very large city with so, so much to see and do.

 

[shawn27]

Hey Kyle, I stayed at the Duque de Wellington hotel. It is in Gazcue, and just a short walk from the bigger hotels with the casino's etc. Oh when you're in Santo Domingo go to Adrian Tropical to eat, the food is amazing plus the view is awesome!

 

[johnny]

I just got back from Santo Domingo. It was my second time there and I have mixed feelings about the trip. I did see poverty but not really that much begging on the streets. I did have a bunch of shoe shining boys coming up trying to clean my shoes. Prostitution was everywhere (including men,) and very visible.

Other than that it was just so relaxing! It was so cool to just walk around hearing the beats of merengue and bachata in the streets. I found myself staying at the colmado's just relaxing and having a great time dancing and drinking. Santo Domingo has so many cultural aspects to it as well. I did go to Boca Chica but I think I will go to Juan Dolio next time as there were way too many prostitutes there. I'll be back for Labor day weekend!!

where did you see so many prostitution in Santo Domingo?
I drive in SD for hours every day and I dont see any.
I know there are prostitutes in certain areas (Malecon, Ave. Duarte), but not everywhere as you say.
you say that you see male prostitutes. were you looking for one? how do you know they were prostitutes? In over 30 years Id never seen one. i must be blind.

 

[shawn27]

The Duque de Wellington is a well known gay/male prostitute hangout/hotel.

Yeah and the Duque is also very cheap. No I wasn't looking for prostitutes I was looking for a cheap hotel. Show me a hotel where you can pay $40 a night in Santo Domingo and I'll go to that one.

Doesn't matter if they have prostitutes there if you don't want their services then they won't bother you. Not sure why Duque has such a bad reputation, the staff is really nice and accomodating, one of them even drove us around and acted as a guide for us.

 

[shawn27]

The Duque de Wellington is a well known gay/male prostitute hangout/hotel.

And Johnny if you've never seen any type of prostitute in Santo Domingo then you ARE blind. I understand it's not the main part of the culture there but the DR certainly is a sex tourism destination.

 

[shawn27]

Oh ok sorry. I was just surprised to see male prostitutes; normally you envision a prostitute as being female. But if that hotel attracts certain clientele then it's not a surprise. I did see some families at the hotel as well... Again I am not bashing DR, as you saw I plan to go back. I love the culture there and the views are just unbelievable.

 

[Dj_iET]

And Johnny if you've never seen any type of prostitute in Santo Domingo then you ARE blind. I understand it's not the main part of the culture there but the DR certainly is a sex tourism destination.

I've heard the same thing.. i also heard its beautiful out there.. there is always good and bad to every city

 

[shawn27]

It is very beautiful, the best country in the Carribean to visit in my opinion. There is just so much to do in Santo Domingo!

 

[johnny]

And Johnny if you've never seen any type of prostitute in Santo Domingo then you ARE blind. I understand it's not the main part of the culture there but the DR certainly is a sex tourism destination.

I know there are some prostitutes in SD, what I mean is, that if you are not looking for that, you wont see them.
You said that there were prostitutes (including men) everywhere in SD and thats NOT true.
I invite you to drive all the main roads in SD to see for yourself that there is not prostitutes in the streets.
you were staying at a gay hotel, and that was the reason because you see some male hanging out around the hotel. (you will see that in NY, Miami, London or anywhere you go)

 

[pyratt]

Yeah and the Duque is also very cheap. No I wasn't looking for prostitutes I was looking for a cheap hotel. Show me a hotel where you can pay $40 a night in Santo Domingo and I'll go to that one.

Doesn't matter if they have prostitutes there if you don't want their services then they won't bother you. Not sure why Duque has such a bad reputation, the staff is really nice and accomodating, one of them even drove us around and acted as a guide for us.

Shawn27~if I didn't know better I'd say you're a lil sheltered...Prostitution, like drug dealing, spousal abuse, murder and a lot of other crimes is everywhere...

Hotels I remember being $40 (definately under $50) are Hotel Roma, Hotel Discovery & Abyta Hotel & Residence, all are in the general area of the Colonial Zone...the problem is a lot of "mongers" frequent these inexpensive (but nice) hotels so I'll warn you up front~you may see "guys-n-dolls" coming home with their dates

 

[shawn27]

Ok Johnny you said you have been going there for 30 years or so therefore you are older than me as I am 27. I didn't see any during the day but when I was going to different clubs at night then you certainly do see prostitutes. Again, it wasn't the whole experience but I'm not sure if you go out at night in SD b/c if you did you would see that kind of stuff going on.

I saw a lot of that in the colonial zone as well. But again I'm not bashing DR, there is prositution in the US, Europe everywhere as you said. And one last note I don't think Duque is a exclusive gay hotel, there were families staying there as well.

 

[shawn27]

Shawn27~if I didn't know better I'd say you're a lil sheltered...Prostitution, like drug dealing, spousal abuse, murder and a lot of other crimes is everywhere...

Hotels I remember being $40 (definately under $50) are Hotel Roma, Hotel Discovery & Abyta Hotel & Residence, all are in the general area of the Colonial Zone...the problem is a lot of "mongers" frequent these inexpensive (but nice) hotels so I'll warn you up front~you may see "guys-n-dolls" coming home with their dates

Thanks Pyratt. I suppose I am sheltered, I'm 27 and from a good family so I'm not used to seeing stuff like that. Just finished grad school and am traveling more but don't want to spend lots of money on hotels. Overall I didn't really care about the prostitutes because I just view hotels as a place to sleep, I don't take advantage of the facilities at hotels, etc. Thanks for mentioning those other options! BTW what do you mean by guys and dolls? Like older men with younger dominican women?

 

[greydread]

but when I was going to different clubs at night then you certainly do see prostitutes.

Okay so enough with the "guys and dolls" of the evening. What clubs did you hit and what was your impression of them? I agree on Adrian Tropical. They've got the best jugos and the best view but on a day when the sea is choppy one can end up with some sea in their jugo when sitting by the cliffs.

 

[shawn27]

Okay so enough with the "guys and dolls" of the evening. What clubs did you hit and what was your impression of them? I agree on Adrian Tropical. They've got the best jugos and the best view but on a day when the sea is choppy one can end up with some sea in their jugo when sitting by the cliffs.[/QU

They certainly do, I got the frechiza!!!! The best jugo imo. I went to this club that was in a cave, and went to the jaragua hotel and hung out in the casinos.. also it seems like the colmado's turn into mini outside clubs at night! It was so much fun, oh there were also little bars in the colonial zone that I visited as well.

It was an awesome trip.

 

[RacerX]

The Duque de Wellington is a well known gay/male prostitute hangout/hotel.

I didnt want to say anything but the Wellington used to be a premium place. Eh well times change dont they?

 

[shawn27]

I didnt want to say anything but the Wellington used to be a premium place. Eh well times change dont they?

So what do Dominicans think about El Duque? I think that it attracts that kind of business because they allow guests in the rooms, whereas most other hotels don't.

 

[jrhartley]

thank you for bringing it to our attention, some people would have you beleive it only happens in sosua or boca chica

 

[greydread]

So what do Dominicans think about El Duque? I think that it attracts that kind of business because they allow guests in the rooms, whereas most other hotels don't.

I don't think that's it. It's probably an ownership issue like almost every other type of business there. Actually most hotels don't care (except on the malecon) whether guests have visitors or not. I never heard of the term "guest friendly" until I came to the DR. Then I found out why.

Idunno, if I had a hotel and there was a high incidence of trouble between my guests and their guests I'd probably adopt a "no guest" policy as well. There seems to be more discord between the "guys and dolls" of the DR than just about anywhere else.

No. I think that the people who frequent "El Duque" probably have an "in-touch" community (no pun intended here) which endorses it as a place to do what they do in total acceptance where they might not be made to feel as welcome elsewhere.