Info on La Union

alicious · #1 05-12-2008, 10:01 AM

I've been informed by a Dominican friend of an apparent really good (and really cheap) rental available in La Union. The person who recommended it is an older gentleman I have known for years, and he has lived quite extensively abroad, he lived in the apartment I used to rent in POP, so he wouldn't recommend something below my living standard.

But I would like to hear from ppl here what you know and/or think of La Union as a place to live?

I remember seeing the sign for La Union a few times, but know nothing about it.

The most is know is that I think it's a small area either before or after Sosua? lol.

Can anyone give me some comments on the area??

Safety? Proximity to POP, Sosua, Cabarete? Doesn't matter to me if there are only Dominicans or Spanish speakers around me....since I am fluent, but more so enquiring as to the type of area it is. Is it far from the beach? Is it easy to access using public transportation?

Thanks in advance!!

alicious · #2 05-12-2008, 10:56 AM

Street name where apartment is, is something like Peatonal....

If that makes any difference?

DavidZ · #3 05-12-2008, 11:06 AM

La Union is basically across the highway from POP airport, a few meters in the direction of Sosua. They have recently (thanks to the upcoming elections, I assume) repaved all, or most of the roads inside the community and rehabbed a children's park in front. This is sort of a public housing development, with some nicer areas towards the back of the project, and now, the new Public Housing Project, (Villa Liberacion?), where they moved the residents of El Tablon.

Most people living there go to Sosua for the beach, although I assume there are some smaller out-of the way beaches nearby (Cangrejo?). There's plenty of local transportation right in front of the community to take you to Puerto Plata, Sosua, and beyond in either direction, but none to speak of within the community (except moto conchos). I believe Dominicans make up about 90-95% of the residents. As for safety, I've never heard it being any better or worse than most Dominican neighborhoods, but most females I know that live there don't like walking around at night (again, probably the same in most neighborhoods...)

Kyle · #4 05-12-2008, 11:25 AM

i know a few girls that live over in La Union that work at the airport. they hate it...

Rocky · #5 05-12-2008, 12:31 PM

It can be quite noisy and certainly far from everything and anything.
If you have to go into Sosua everyday, consider the cost of the transport, when calculating the value of a low rental there.
Sometimes paying more rent and being closer, can be cheaper in the long run, not to mention the convenience and time factor.

DavidZ · #6 05-12-2008, 01:21 PM

...what Rocky said! And so you know, there are plenty of apartments for rent in or near the center of Sosua...I'm sure you can find something of equal "quality" and with a similar level of relative safety, that when you factor in it's location, may be a better deal..if you spend most of your time in Sosua...the same can be said for Puerto Plata.

Rattus_Rattus · #7 05-12-2008, 06:22 PM

The problem i had while living there, must be the never ending battle, when all the neighbours kept stealing my electricity. Every ******* day&night.!

Still having high blood pressure just thinking about it....

alicious · #8 05-12-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidZ

There's plenty of local transportation right in front of the community to take you to Puerto Plata, Sosua, and beyond in either direction, but none to speak of within the community (except moto conchos). I believe Dominicans make up about 90-95% of the residents. As for safety, I've never heard it being any better or worse than most Dominican neighborhoods, but most females I know that live there don't like walking around at night (again, probably the same in most neighborhoods...)

Thanks for the info...it is very much appreciated.

I generally only use motoconchos for transport anyways, so that's not a problem.

How much is a motoconcho, carro publico or guagua going to cost from La Union - Sosua, La Union - Cabarete and La Union - POP...say parque central-ish? Approx how long would it take to make those trips?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle

i know a few girls that live over in La Union that work at the airport. they hate it...

Why do they hate it? Any particular reasons? Are they locals or foreigners?

Rocky - Do you mean noisier than the general Dominican neighbourhood? From what? Do you mean because it's so close to the airport?

The price difference between this rental and even one of the cheaper ones in Cabarete or Sosua is about 12,000RD pesos....I doubt I would run up that much in transportation costs..

And this of course, does not have a pool which I really wanted..but I don't think a pool is necessarily worth the different in 12,000 Pesos....

Rattus - How did you get them to stop stealing the electricity?..I've heard horror stories about that from some ppl!! Can you check it every evening to make sure no one is hooked up?? Besides that did you enjoy living in La Union?

I was told there is even a very decent supermarcado...would you agree?

Rocky · #9 05-12-2008, 09:18 PM

I can't say if it's that much nosier that other equivalent Dominican neighbourhoods, but as they are all piled in like a can of sardines, the chances are greater of you living near someone who insists on playing his music at high volumes everyday.
I couldn't take it.
I'd go live on a beach in a tent with nothing, before living in those conditions, but that's just me.
There are thousands of people living there who don't seem to mind.
And no, the POP airport noise would not be much of a problem, if you can even hear the airplanes over the loud music.

sylindr · #10 05-12-2008, 10:55 PM

i visit there a lot, my boyfriends parents live there. their street is NOT noisy at all...it is a very nice neighborhood. the young people tend to hang out on the street along the highway where the only bar and pool tables are. i would live there for sure. but only if you speak spanish!