as the world turns

[Yachtmaster]

looking4info, I enjoy reading your posts. Seems like everyone's DR experiences are quite different, although we all seem to come together here on DR1. Enjoy it and stay safe.

[Tom F.]

I am really enjoying reading it. Why do you have to be so critical? Just stop reading if it bothers yo so much. This guy is brave. Too much drinking for me. He is sort of like a Peace Corps volunteer on his own with a little bit of money in his pocket. Wait until he learns Spanish, the real fun will begin then.

[looking4info]

well glad some are enjoying lots of views on the post.

hope it might give some out there a different perspective on the safety here too.trip not well planned at all but been a adventure.not that i haven't been more cautious than usual. but really not been any different that other islands i have been to down here.
i assume it will change when im in 1 spot all the time and learn spanish. but definatly a place i like so far.

Think Punta Cana may be my last stop here. Things came up back home may need to leave. will keep posting tell i leave

[looking4info]

Originally Posted by TOOBER_SDQ

Although I cringe everytime I read about the OP handing out 500 pesos in the street so easily, especially when he options for cheap 25 Dollar hotel rooms.

um well I am more eager to toss a hard working guy (not begging for it) a few extra pesos than someone that has realistate and collects rent. im not here to live like a king. and I too hustled the streets were i come from. school wasnt my way not saying my way was the best way but it was my way.

[TOOBER_SDQ]

It was just some advice on how to stretch a buck.

YachtMaster also offers some really good advice.

Have fun and be careful.

[looking4info]

OK report from Punta Cana

posting this one while I'm here cause my mindset has changed and this trip is over.

time to go to back to get to Punta Cana didn't have good access to the net 1 little caffe that didn't really want to hang out in. so go to the bus stop talk to a guy with pretty good English try to get me to take a taxi 70usd was like the 80 pesos so chose the bus. figuring i have this system down pretty good at this point. get to La Romana and at the bus stop. try to talk to someone was very difficult there one guy say there is a express 80 pesos to Punta Cana. Nice bus TV reclining chairs aw nice bus. get to Higuey everyone is getting off what the hell he said Punta Cana there he is with my bag point down the road to another bus stop. OK go there get on next bus. Get to a little village and alot are getting of ask if this is Punta Cana guy says no. OK off we go again driving thew this beautiful area all tree lined roads see a few hotel names i recognize thinking OK I'll just get off in town. Um well we drive by the sign that has all the hotel names i recognized and the driver gets to a spot flips around and stop at the stop heading back tell me here go. um um there is nothing here try to find were town is (we don't understand one another) finally 1 guy understands a little and off we go again. we go done the road I seen all the hotel names thinking OK cool we got it he drops me in front of 1 and down the road he goes.

thinking man this town is way to rich for me all the hotels look like there on ranches. go walking down the long road thinking what this gunna cost me. the security guy at the gate calls for a cart to come get me. go to check in the guy says 125 a night with free wifi OK cool (I'll just stay here tonight and search the web about this town) whats that in pesos tell me like 4400 reach in to my pocket i have 4800 OK cool then he want my card no no i say you don't need my card i payed cash. after a minute i find out that they need my card for other charges in the hotel oh shoot thought it was AI. OK go sit in the lobby search the web for a bit find a hotel that looks OK. go up ask the guy for cab OK sir go out he will be down 40usd (aw man my pocket cash is low and that ridiculous) OK what ever I'm tired lost and I'm in rich mans land.

then some hotel guy specking good English comes and talks to me and now the hotel decided they will drive me for 40 bucks. we talk for a bit and i tell him I'm looking for a city central or what not. he tells me so much i don't understand half of what he says takes me to some marina we walk down its just a place to the super rich to park there yachts. OK OK lets go. now were are haggling on price again cause i wanted to look around a bit tells me 30usd more. NO WAY your crazy it was 70usd from bayahibe. we talk for a bit more he calls his boss a few times or so he say thats who's on the phone 5-10mins of this and discussing the different place in town and his suggestions of were to stay. he calls again and then tells me ya we can go check a few places and its 40usd flat lets go.

after driving back the bus took me all the to that little town i asked if it was Punta Cana.
we pass it heading north we drive by were i was going to stay then we get to a little town area drive threw and stop at some hotel go in (thinking whole time I'm in rich mans land) and right to reception tell um i need rates and he goes to get the book some chica offer me a beer or what ever NONO just need rates she tells me its free I know Iknow (I am VERY annoyed at this by now 6hrs in) 275usd a night no way lets go. next hotel 200usd grrrrrrrrrr tell the driver I'm sick of wasting your time run me to bercelo i know there rates and its on your way back. hes like we can keep looking don't worry. I tell him just take me were ever he wants. next hotel 175usd grrrrr next hotel 105usd yes this will work driver says go look around (VERY ANNOYED and tired) na this is fine.1500 pesos and off he went.

OK have to use my card but probably be safer here than other parts of the island.(first time since i arrived) Loved this hotel if i was on a want to be a king with my queen spending spree. one of the nicest AI i have been in. as for a single guy drinker smoker this place sucks cont feel your not welcome buying smokes getting cash from card all very difficult to do in this hotel (NH real arena BTW) lots people that speak English nice have met a few interesting people (mostly locals) but really this place has soured my experience to DR should have listened to Debbie from Australia and skipped this town. now only have my trip to the airport and flight home left so assume from here it will be very typical trip home.



Conclusion
I loved the Island not really much different from the other places in the Caribbean i have been to. defiantly will be getting more prepared for a life down here like a Spanish class or 3. didn't feel any more unsafe than any other places around the Caribbean. people were like most other places in the Caribbean. so with the residency laws and what not I will defiantly keep this a place I am very interested in moving to and buying or starting a business. time to go home and prepare some more.

[looking4info]

oh and ya the money thing was good advise heres what I did for all that

i put 5000 in my small pocket 2000 in diffrent change in my man pocket. found if you know your roll you can grab the bill you need and not ever pull your wad out. ( but this didn't concern me that much couse many locals had bigger wads than mine) and rest of my pesos in my bags, some were. in the hotel room I never had my room cleaned, stached my cash in the freezer or some were. laptop allways was around my neck, (when busing it) wallet in front pocket (never use my wallet for my cash) spare un activated credit cards in diffrent bags and places. thanks for all the posts on being safe in the DR. im sure i will be back

[Reidy620]

Originally Posted by looking4info

oh and ya the money thing was good advise heres what I did for all that

Originally Posted by looking4info

i put 5000 in my small pocket 2000 in diffrent change in my man pocket. found if you know your roll you can grab the bill you need and not ever pull your wad out. ( but this didn't concern me that much couse many locals had bigger wads than mine) and rest of my pesos in my bags, some were. in the hotel room I never had my room cleaned, stached my cash in the freezer or some were. laptop allways was around my neck, (when busing it) wallet in front pocket (never use my wallet for my cash) spare un activated credit cards in diffrent bags and places. thanks for all the posts on being safe in the DR. im sure i will be back

Am enjoying and trying to follow your reports but, (perhaps it's me), am struggling with some of the spelling and long sentences ...

Just wondering, what's your native language if not Spanish or English?

Regards
Reidy

[looking4info]

lol ya should proof read more never wrote this much on a forum to date. definetly need to proof read more. oh and english btw
its done now so

P.S. should give more than 5 minutes to edit Robert ( and yes i should proof read before i post but forgot )



Google Toolbar has a spell check which picks up errors as you type; FYI.

Gregg
Mod.

[Reidy620]

[P.S. should give more than 5 minutes to edit Robert ( and yes i should proof read before i post but forget )[/QUOTE]

What you can do is write your message in Word or some WYSIWYG editor. Then you can spell check & "tweek" before you copy and paste it into your message negating the need for constant 'edits' before your time runs out.

Regards
Reidy