The North Coast. Why?

[JD Jones]

This is a completely serious question.

I constantly read complaints about living on the North coast. 99% I think are valid.

But why do you guys live on the north coast? Why don't you move to someplace else?

Serious answers only, please.

 

[windeguy]

I live on the north coast because when I moved here I was windsurfing frequently and bought and paid cash for my house and moved in the same day.

I live on the north coast because my wife prefers it to other parts of the DR despite being born in Jarabacoa.

I live on the north coast because I spent much of my life far from the ocean and like being close to the ocean.

I live on the north coast because it has varied terrain, unlike the Florida Flatness of the area near Bavaro/Punta Cana
I'd rather be in Florida than what that region has turned into.

I Hate Santo Domingo, so I would never live there.

I live on the north coast because I was able to cope with the issues of Edenorte and corrupt water company.

I live on the north coast because I would hate to be on an island and live inland in a place like Santiago.

Just off the top of my head.. Seriously

Oh, I picked Cabarete because it is VERY unlikely a hurricane will make land fall here. Almost forgot that.
The same cannot be said for the south and east shores of the DR.

 

[Northern Coast Diver]

Unlike others, I live on the North Coast because I love life here. The beautiful reefs in protected Sosua Bay. Living close to sea, with nearby mountains(30 min.), & great weather. I let others do all the hating.

 

[drstock]

I live on the North Coast and am in the process of trying to sell my place here but have no intention of moving to another area or country.

I have travelled to almost everywhere in the DR and have found nowhere I prefer to Cabarete for its combination of a good climate and being a good place to interact with the many friends I have made here.

This year I went to Colombia, which many people consider to be a good alternative to the DR. I visited the North Coast there, to Cartagena and Santa Marta, and apart from not enjoying the beaches, it was just too hot for me. I also visited Medellin, which while attractive, is just a crowded city in the middle of the country.

My major complaint about the North Coast of the DR is the ever-increasing traffic, which while bad, is not bad enough to make me consider leaving.

 

[ando1991]

North coast has beaches. It also has the airport. It is has city life, campo life and beach life. Everything is close by if something is needed. Life here feels like an extended vacation. However, home and condo prices are going up and will price people out.

 

[cavok]

I prefer the north coast because there'd be a lot more to complain just about anywhere else in the DR.

 

[tripp789]

We traveled quite a bit around the country before deciding on the NC. We love the ocean views, the restaurants and the large amount of expats that have settled here. We’ve made many friends here both among the expats and the locals.

Santo Domingo and Santiago are huge, dirty cities. Las Terrenas is already overcrowded IMO. Punta Cana has amenities, but no charm.
The only other place we’ve seen so far that is close to Cabarete is Bayahibe.

Next year we plan to travel to Barahona to see what it’s like.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Santo Domingo and Santiago are huge, dirty cities

Not only that but the crime factor. Too much development in PC, soon everyone will be packed in like sardines and paying through the nose. Cab is not such a fantastic place, but you get away from the Sosua putas and there are some mediocre food choices. The beach is super easy access and I have a 10 min ride to Playero. High season I could do without. I did Galeras for a year and it was too remote. Kind of reminded me of Stepford. Returned to Cabrera for almost 2 years but it's the same people, same scene for the past century. No easy access beaches and the food sucks. The main park is a meeting place for the town's lowest common denominator.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

Jamao is 11 miles from the north coast, 25 minutes to Cabarete. I have lived between Cabarete and Sosua and then for years in Sosua. Am in Jamao now for about 7-8 years.

I have no desire to return to Sosua or Cabarete other than going to the bank or EPS or the grocery store. It has become too crowded and too much traffic. It is almost easier to go on the new mountain speedway to Santiago to shop at Nacional or PriceSmart and Bellon, when necessary. The driving is better. In Santiage there is a bit more order to the driving and not so many crazy motos as Sosua and Cabarete. Last week it took e 30 minutes to go from Janets to the Belgium Bakery. That is nuts.

BUT- Jamo is no piece of cake. There are no ex-pats except for a few Germans and the Jehovah Witnesses. I know everyone, but have no real friends. There is no ATM here. As I mentioned, no bank. No real grocery store. And no restaurants. However I do have lovely natural mountain vistas. Clean air. Fresh fruit going on my trees. Sometimes vegetables in my garden. And space.

One of the biggest differences is the people. Once you are away from the tourist areas, the true Dominican culture shines. The people here are poor, but are the kindest, humblest, and caring people I have ever met. Sadly, they are uneducated.

And the bonus is that I can turn off the main road onto unpaved, steep, rocky mountain roads that take me to precious small communities where people live much like they did 100 years ago, cooking on fogons, traveling by burro or horse or on foot. They farm, and they only have one another, so they treat everyone with kindness and love because they are all family. They appreciate every little thing we do for them, every class, every visit. They help however they can. No need to even ask. They have their own rich culture that has never changed.

And all that makes the sacrifice of living here worthwhile. Or to say it another way, the rich life outweighs the difficulties and inconveniences.

Each person must live their own life, though, and everyone has different tastes. That is what makes the world go round, as they say. Diversity makes us more interesting. I like knowing those who have different preferences than me. There is always something new to learn and understand.

No one place is better than another. They are just all different.

 

[Big]

I visited Cab and Sosua often. No longer. I did enjoy the beach; however, the food is a C-. Sosua is dominated with boardwalk type food. Cab is not much better. I have never been able to figure out the parking situation in Cab either. S.D has everything I need except the beach. The traffic does not bother me as I mostly walk except at night. All the crime I hear about in S.D does not affect me. In reference to power, I cannot imagine living here without a generator in your tower or casa.

 

[SKY]

I visited Cab and Sosua often. No longer. I did enjoy the beach; however, the food is a C-. Sosua is dominated with boardwalk type food. Cab is not much better. I have never been able to figure out the parking situation in Cab either. S.D has everything I need except the beach. The traffic does not bother me as I mostly walk except at night. All the crime I hear about in S.D does not affect me. In reference to power, I cannot imagine living here without a generator in your tower or casa.

Next time you are in Cab try this place for Italian food. As good as any you can find in your area. Also the German restaurant near the Claro tower in Cab. If you don't know the area you have no clue......................Also Casa 21 in Sosua is no slouch either................

http://restaurantebliss.com/

 

[chico bill]

I live here because when I first came to visit this side of the island 13 years ago it was far prettier than Punta Cana and much nicer foliage and was calm laid back.
Sure Sosua was full of hookers but not so many fat aggressive ones as there are now.
But I'm seriously thinking of leaving.
The traffic has gotten so congested and aggressive drivers and the cost of living is equal to parts of the US. Sure utilities are less but fuel, food, car parts and shipping costs for online purchases offset that.
I like the weather 7 months of the year it is great.
But power and water is growing worse by the month.
If I did not have 5 rescues I'd probably have left for a place where the lake fishing is good.
Could never live in Santiago or Santo Domingo. Those places are not attractive and just insane for driving even if there are more amenities

 

[SKY]

I live here because when I first came to visit this side of the island 13 years ago it was far prettier than Punta Cana and much nicer foliage and was calm laid back.
Sure Sosua was full of hookers but not so many fat aggressive ones as there are now.
But I'm seriously thinking of leaving.
The traffic has gotten so congested and aggressive drivers and the cost of living is equal to parts of the US. Sure utilities are less but fuel, food, car parts and shipping costs for online purchases offset that.
I like the weather 7 months of the year it is great.
But power and water is growing worse by the month.
If I did not have 5 rescues I'd probably have left for a place where the lake fishing is good.
Could never live in Santiago or Santo Domingo. Those places are not attractive and just insane for driving even if there are more amenities

You need to check out Moncion. Up the mountain there. Also for fishing there is a place where you are not supposed to fish. I went many years ago with some locals that fish there all the time nonetheless. Every time you throw the line out you reel in a fish. Climate is cool there also. But no amenities..........

 

[Big]

Next time you are in Cab try this place for Italian food. As good as any you can find in your area. Also the German restaurant near the Claro tower in Cab. If you don't know the area you have no clue......................Also Casa 21 in Sosua is no slouch either................

http://restaurantebliss.com/

I have a clue because I have dined in both of those establishments on countless occasions. The majority of Sosua and Cab restaurants maybe ok for you, however they are not for me. I also like the restaurant in the Valero. As I have indicated, wings, burgers jerked chicken sandwiches or whatever they are called, pizza and tacos dominate the town. That is not my idea of dining.

 

[CFA123]

I’ve been a member since 2004 but was on the news mailing list and a lurker from pre-2000.

I think DR1 gives a bit of a skewed view of the north coast problems, with focus on the negative by a few members who bring up the same topics incessantly.

There are many people, myself among them, who while recognizing some of the negative issues simply work around them and enjoy the heck out of what the north coast offers.

DR1 itself has had a tone change over the years from the only website where information on a variety of Dominican topics was shared, and was made up of not only an online community, but many who knew each other in real life. While that still exists, that community has gotten smaller.

Problems were always discussed, but with humorous responses and an eye toward having fun dealing with the problems encountered… think Robert, Rocky, Hillbilly, Ginny, Matilda and many many others as great examples of this attitude.

Computer tips, jobs, travel, real estate, girls, sankies, gossip, news, charities, immigration, hotel advice, food, shopping, automobiles… many things… used to be shared and discussed with much light hearted banter.

That sense of positivity, community, and advice on daily living and travel has been replaced in many ways by Groups on Facebook.

Groups such as Everything Sosua, Everything Cabarete, Jobs Cabarete & Sosua and others. Then there are the YouTube vids and blogs for mongers, and Facebook pages for women desperately in love with a hotel worker and wanting someone to tell them that it can work.

People on those sites are excited about the DR, motivated, living their daily lives. There’s much less complaining. There is talk about restaurant openings, charities, music events, arts & craft shows, dinner specials, travel and lodging advice, taxis, etc.

If you want positivity, check out those sites and you’ll see why many of us (myself included after 20+ years) are happy to call the north coast home.

 

[windeguy]

I’ve been a member since 2004 but was on the news mailing list and a lurker from pre-2000.

I think DR1 gives a bit of a skewed view of the north coast problems, with focus on the negative by a few members who bring up the same topics incessantly.

Human nature to point out flaws and not what is normal.

There are many people, myself among them, who while recognizing some of the negative issues simply work around them and enjoy the heck out of what the north coast offers.

I work around them, but reserve the right to complain. Especially about the morons who manage the electric and water companies.

DR1 itself has had a tone change over the years from the only website where information on a variety of Dominican topics was shared, and was made up of not only an online community, but many who knew each other in real life. While that still exists, that community has gotten smaller.

The style of moderation has driven most people away from DR1.

Problems were always discussed, but with humorous responses and an eye toward having fun dealing with the problems encountered… think Robert, Rocky, Hillbilly, Ginny, Matilda and many many others as great examples of this attitude.

Yep.

Computer tips, jobs, travel, real estate, girls, sankies, gossip, news, charities, immigration, hotel advice, food, shopping, automobiles… many things… used to be shared and discussed with much light hearted banter.

That sense of positivity, community, and advice on daily living and travel has been replaced in many ways by Groups on Facebook.

Groups such as Everything Sosua, Everything Cabarete, Jobs Cabarete & Sosua and others. Then there are the YouTube vids and blogs for mongers, and Facebook pages for women desperately in love with a hotel worker and wanting someone to tell them that it can work.

People on those sites are excited about the DR, motivated, living their daily lives. There’s much less complaining. There is talk about restaurant openings, charities, music events, arts & craft shows, dinner specials, travel and lodging advice, taxis, etc.

If you want positivity, check out those sites and you’ll see why many of us (myself included after 20+ years) are happy to call the north coast home.

Completely true. DR1's owner should think about all the above and why people have left the forum.

 

[Meemselle]

I love the North Coast. It is beautiful, accessible, and has great restaurants and supermarkets. My only complaints---and they are not really complaints, more like frustrations---are things that would be issues anywhere in this country. Although I am truly a city person, I would never live in Santo Domingo, despite the advantages of movies and a functioning Jewish community and better clothes shoppping, etc. It is too noisy, too hot, too far from a decent beach, and a complete mess when it comes to things like zoning and livability. I've lived here 14 years and I wouldn't live anywhere BUT the North Coast.

 

[malko]

All depends what you call the North Coast.

In the " mountains" here. Why ? That's where my wife built her house.🤣🤣
Now, it turns out that it is green, very green( a requirement, nothing more depressive than dusty, arrid, landscape ).
Also, very low density, which is good---- people suck. You would have to pay me ---- literally---- to live in an apartment in the DR.

That said, if I could afford 950 square meters of a house with 20 thousand + square meters of land in the Alps, I might consider moving.
There again, there would be a bunch of rules and regulations, so maybe I wouldn't, even if I could.

So, for the time being, you are all stuck with me 👹👹

 

[RDKNIGHT]

I still in punta cana because i love to golf and love the beaches but you are right its getting crowded ... but no way in hell am I go back to NYC

 

[bob saunders]

The north coast is nice but a day at the beach every couple of months is fine for us. We prefer to swim in the river and there are lots of secluded swimming spots with unpolluted water a little or no people. Went to one today on the way to the base of Pico Duarte. Only my wife and I swimming and a mule eating grass. Bonus of freshly roasted coffee and a bunch of free veggies.