I too choose to to stay 2 to 4 weeks to leverage air miles etc. For me and my fiance, $30 for room, $20 (for 2) for food is easy, food is much less if you eat in or cheap (with the locals) for a few days. So $50.00 a day on the Conde is easy...partying, would be on top of that.
- Thread starter ChrisNYC
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Santo Domingo On $100 A Day ?
Looks decent but am not loving the location. May be a good idea to check the pensions on calla danae in gazcue. Lots of stuff within walking distance and a few options for about 40 bucks.
Traffic is a nightmare and the wonderful metro they have only takes you part of the way. I've spent 30 minutes going up the hill from the poblado metro station to parque lleras. It takes 5 minutes normally.
I'm not knocking the city but I am usually an el centro rat. After 3 trips and 7 weeks mainly wandering the centro day and night I got tired of it. The chicas are cool and so are colombians in general but it was also depressing in some ways. Seeing people drink all day and all night gets old. I want to do other things and think happier thoughts.
The food was a deal breaker for me. I've never had latin food without spices until I came to colombia. I had no pleasure in eating which is a huge draw for me.
I've given it a lot of thought and I have decided to go ahead with a 3/4 week stay using SD as my base. This will happen in JAN probably.
Hopefully I will meet someone online prior to arriving. The country is beautiful so I hope to be able to do some hiking or ATV activities.
Thank you for all your responses and suggestions. I intend to do some more research.
If anyone needs help with SA or CA countries let me know...willing to help.
Hopefully I will meet someone online prior to arriving. The country is beautiful so I hope to be able to do some hiking or ATV activities.
Thank you for all your responses and suggestions. I intend to do some more research.
If anyone needs help with SA or CA countries let me know...willing to help.
you got to be kidding me. 100 USD or pesos a day? If what am reading is USD, then my question is: Do you have any idea how many people in this planet make that much money? You should be ashamed for posting some BS like that. That 's a disrespect to the tourism world.
USD. I'm sorry what is your rant referring to and why ? Not to cause undue stress on your heart or anything but did you know some guys spend $150/200 PER DAY on 2/3 weeks vacation ? It's called enjoying the fruits of your LABOR.
I doubt he's taking the cost of a hotel into his calculations. $100 a day is NOT a lot of money.
Correct. Hotel would already be paid for. $100 a day refers to expense money and a chica.
Dine well and have fun with every day, 'round the way' Chicas who have regular day jobs. There's a million of them...literally. They will show you where to get the best deals for the money for food and entertainment. Go on dates to the zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, etc. and there's always some cultural event going on around the weekends. Anybody who can't have a great time in Santo Domingo on $100US/day is doing it wrong. Don't count the Chica(s) as an expense. They will save you more than they cost you if you know what you're doing.
Chris has been around and he knows what he wants.
Maybe he isn`t attracted to the chicas he could score for free or maybe he isn`t into using and dumping them.
He likes to eat good food in decent restaurants and go to nice night clubs.
Living like a local is not everybody`s idea of a great vacation.
Just do you.
Maybe he isn`t attracted to the chicas he could score for free or maybe he isn`t into using and dumping them.
He likes to eat good food in decent restaurants and go to nice night clubs.
Living like a local is not everybody`s idea of a great vacation.
Just do you.
That (in bold) is an interesting assessment. Dating and enjoying the company of the opposite sex while on a month long stay doesn't necessarily involve any 'dumping' or 'using' of anyone. I've met friends of friends there, gone out, had good times and not so good times and never was there any 'using' or 'dumping' going on unless they were 'using' me to show them a good time while I enjoyed the pleasure of their company which is quite alright by me. Use me up! It's not like I showed up announcing the search for a bride. It's quite normal for guys and Chicas to just hang out sometimes, no guarrantees, expectations under control.
I have no doubt our OP will have a few $200 nights during a 30 day stay. I simply doubt that he'll want to roll like that every night. Maybe you know something about him that I don't. I can only speak from personnal experience. If I was there for a Month there would be a lot of days where I didn't spend 1,500 pesos. Some days I just want to read a book by the pool and that's free. The 1,500 pesos is for someone to turn the pages.
Greydread Bronxboy and Mailbook have all made valid remarks.
When I go on these trips I go with the intention to purchase a romp. I am not crazy about paying for companionship or having to pay double for daily expenses unless the situation calls for it.
If by chance I meet a local girl and we hit it off then it's a wonderful thing. If not it's nice to know I have the budget and services readily available to me. That is what I base a trip on.....a sure thing! Sosua was great in this regard but I'm done with it for now.
I would be walking around all day taking pictures checking out mercados eating in local places....getting a feel for the place. I am a new yorker that likes to explore different cultures. The whole dominican caribbean thing is extremely appealing to me. My knowledge of tipco music and bachata is above average for a guero como yo. Unfortunately I am not a big drinker...more of a cheech and chong dude (not in the DR for sure!) so endless night of boozing are of no interest to me. Hiking culture and being outdoors in the beautiful DR is what I am looking for. Add a chica a day to the mix and life is good. Lets not forget some hot tostones con sal.
The online dating thing is a great idea. Although my inspiration for online dating has weened over the past few years. I'd like to think I can handle face to face social interactions at this point
* There is a point where you have to weigh the positives/negatives when choosing a destination. A few years ago places were a lot cheaper to visit so it was a no brainer..."Yes, go there and you will have fun". These days you really need to do your homework. Whatever I decide to do I will be dropping a few grand on a trip like this. The question is what do you get for it and are you happy with what you get ?
This thread is not about you nor is my post.
I do not claim to know Chris but I think it is safe to say that he knows himself better than you.
Good for you but Chris is asking about ATV, good food at decent restaurants, drinking and partying at night clubs, and desirable ST chicas ("a sure thing").
That is exactly why we break our tails to earn the money we make. I've spent a few grand on 8 day trips to Aruba and St. Maarten and stayed in my time shares so there was no lodging cost involved. I had no regrets over the money spent but when I started leaning towards vacationing in the D.R. not only was it due to the fact that it was so much less expensive. There are trade offs which average that benefit out. It was the fact that when in the D.R. I find myself in a place with a firmly fixed identity to which I must acclimate. I put the work in and I get the enjoyment out. I've been going to the Netherland Antilles for decades and most of the people I knew there weren't even from there. I've been going to the D.R. for 6 years and I've met many people who are from there and have no desire to live anywhere else. That can make all the difference between travelling somewhere and travelling somewhere special to spend time with friends. At this point (and at my age) it's not even about the money.
This is easier said than done as these chicas are not hanging around the arrivals area of the airport just hoping to land a gringo and not everybody has a network established in town.
Why don`t you tell Chris where to find some nice sure thing chicas for a reasonable price as I have heard SD can be very expensive and such chicas can cost his whole day`s budget or more?
He'd better know himself better than I as I don't know him at all. I don't know where you got the idea that I thought the thread was 'about me'. The thread is merely relative to my experience and just like everyone else who commented herein I place my 2 pesos where I thought they fit.
Many of the same activities he's asked about (thank you for pointing them out) are some of the very same activities into which I have endeavored while staying in Santo Domingo and vicinity over the years and my point was simply that they can be experienced without breaking the bank....but thanks for your 2 pesos. It takes a village.
Only for the very lazy or the very stupid.
The guy will be in Santo Domingo for a Month for Pete's sake. He doesn't have to act like a weekend warrior looking to get a load off his chest. He will actually have the time to meet real people and get to know them. He sounds like he's going in with reasonable expectations and an affection for the people, culture and customs. This will separate him from the very lazy and the very stupid to which I referred above.
...and the old bull said: "No, Son. Let's walk down the hill...."
He is not a rookie traveller and it sounds like he expects and is prepared to pay for chicas.
I would assume this is based on his experiences.
You make it sound like being gringo is the only required attribute for swift success with the chicas.
Let`s say he does eventually establish some sort or network there, where should he go in the mean time for some sure thing hot chicas that won`t break the bank?