New members of the Dominican Republic forum, introduce yourself here — 3rd quarter of 2015

Hi I am new, retire in 3 years at age 50. looking into DR, maybe stay there 90 days a year.

Stonepony welcome.  Have you been here before?  What makes you want to spend time here?


Bob K

Welcome to the forums.  Read lots and  then ask your questions....   90 days a year here.... makes you a snowbird....

THANKS BOB.

You are welcome. We look forward to your questions

Bob K

Thanks Bob K for your comments.

I'm new to the forum...hey there.I visited Sosua 2 weeks ago.fell in LOVE

Welcome. Why not tell us a bit about yourself.

Bob K

Welcome to the forums. There is a story here.....

Dingo El Gringo here,
I have lived in Puerto Plata for almost 4 years, and love it.  Can answer most any questions about life here. It is cheap, for sure if you like fresh food instead of having to buy USA products. 
I pay less than $200 USD for renting a 3 bedroom house in the city. etc...

Wanted to reply having spent some time in Las Terrenas...NOT an expert on it of course not...just a small point of view.  We did not make it to any other towns really....But we have enjoyed the Las Terrenas experience for what it is.  The beaches we have visited Punta Popi (hope I spelled that right) and Playa Bonita had very calm water, believe that perhaps there is a coral reef keeping the waves away? Playa Bonita was more quiet without the coral underfoot we experienced at the other beach.  Punta Popi (again hope spelled it correctly) had alot of windsurfers there if that is your thing and scuba diving too... I found just as many Italians as French there...Alot of small eateries with the appropriate flags flags going to tell you who owned it.  There are alot of excursion groups operating out of the town for diving, hiking and other things. There seems to be some decent places to eat in town along the beach along with some fairly decent hotels and what looks like maybe condos too. The driving is crazy and we often prayed it wasn't our last trip.  The drivers for the most part seem to know how to maneuver around but there are a few seemed all male that must get ahead no matter the cost or have to do wheelies.... We found almost none that spoke any English if your wondering and don't speak the language. I do well enough so didn't have issues but on occasion I did wish for either an English speaking person or just a few more vocabulary words in espanol.... If you have ANY other Las Terrenas questions I'd be happy to do my best to answer them for you....And again I can only give you our perspective, yours may be totally different....Best!

My name is Marca.I've considered lving abroad for several hears now.It's always been a dream i want to actualize some day.I visited DR last month and the peoe,food,weather,beaches,music,...it was awesome.My friends and I rented a villa in Sosua (Casa Linda)and it was gorgeous.I'm so bored with my life.im bored with the usual tired,complacent,scared  to live people that I'm around daily.I'm a cosmetologist,esthetician (skincare specialist)and makeup artist.I also have timeshare sales experience.My less adventurous friends think it's a sure for me to want to live on a beautiful island, meet new people,swim in the ocean,eat fresh fish and fruit and lay in the sun. Intohmmm.I've been checking into different hotels like Hard Rock and Six Sense spa in Pu ta Cana.I'mtrying to stay encouraged about being able to work there.Any insight? Suggestions are appreciated

DingoElGringo welcome to the forum.  We look forward to your contributions.

Bob K

Fromblahtomuah! welcome to the forum.  You will find living here is vastly different that being here on vacation. Before you consider uprooting yourself you need to spend a month or two here living not as a tourist but as a local.

You will also find work hard to get and the pay is very low.  The average salary is below $300 a MONTH.

Read all the various threads on this forum and then please come back with questions. 

Again welcome

Bob K

Welcome all to the forums!   Bob is right living here is very different then vacation.  That said -  well sometimes you need to do your homework and then jump in with both feet!!!!   

Read read read the various threads, do searches,  read some more.  THEN ask specific questions in the appropriate threads.  NO thread that matches, well darn it open your own thread!     

WE love the feedback, thanks for posting. One little request - post in the appropriate thread.  WE like to keep this thread  for just new members.    I will move anything off topic to its appropriate thread.

And Bob you are doing a great job honey..... 

Wide awake this morning.  Three cups of Induban so far

Bob K

None so far Bob..... Waiting on my coffee now. Been up for hours though....

Hi all,

My name is Ariston and my wife is Elizabeth. I retired last year. Beth, also an accountant still works part-time and started doing travel business last year. I like arnis (Filipino martial arts) and Beth love dancing. We were thinking of going home to the Philippines but our all inclusive visit to Punta Cana in August 2015 have us seriously thinking about retiring in DR. We haven't decided exactly where and when yet (maybe within 1-3 years) but like the Punta Cana/Bavaro areas for the beach. The main reasons we want to retire in the DR is affordability, weather, nice people and convenience for family visits between DR & US. We have 2 sons; one married with 2 beautiful 7 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl. Also, I have 8 siblings in CA - bay area.  I'm glad of coming across the Expat.com. The comments are very informative and I found the members to be very responsive and helpful. I'll continue reading and will be asking questions soon. Tagalog; national language of the Philippines has similarities in Spanish. I'm very motivated and started learning Spanish via doulingo. Muchas gracias in advance for all your help!

Regards,

Aris

Welcome Aris and Elizabeth!!! You are going about this the right way,  take your time, read and ask questions!  We are motivated to help whenever we can!  Siempre a su orden......LOL

Aris and Elizabeth welcome to the forum.  There is a ton of information here for you to read. So read, read and then read some more AND feel free to ask any questions that come up

Remember living here is vastly different than vacationing here.  You need to come for a couple of months and not as tourists to see if the DR fits for  you.  You will also find that the PC is one of the most expensive places to live here because it is basically all geared to the tourist.  Very little of the "real" DR can be experienced there.

Bob K

There is more than One beach in the DR. Explore as many as you can before making a major decision.  The DR is much more than a tourist area. See, feel, smell & taste the island.  All the worlds sea side tourist destinations are interchangeable.  Get plunked down in any of them & it would be hard to know where you are.  If that is your bag, go for it.  If not explore the island & be amazed at the diversity of topography, people & culture.  Life should be an adventure, not a continuation of a st0ltifing existence.  Good hunting & remember it is easier to drag a deer out of the woods if you pull it by the antlers!  (A little homily of mine.)  The joy in life is not what you have, but in who you are!    Lest I forget, welcome.

Planner & Bob,

Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice! With your replies, I looked at the DR map and noted that La Romana is located at the Caribean sea, has an airport nearby and fairly close to the PC international airport. Have been looking at houses/condos at PC but now started looking at La Romana as we may be able to get more bang for our buck and also allow us more opportunities to interact with the locals/expats to truly experience/enjoy RD life. Having a little problem because real estate listing in La Romana is fewer compared to PC. We saw a lot of new things going up at PC. Could this be due to tourism being a top revenue source and the government focusing in developing PC being a top tourist destination in the Caribean? I'm reading and learning a lot. Muchas gracias.

Aris

Did I mention something that was inappropriate for this thread?

Great advice as usual!  Have been reading the blog for a couple of days and found your comments very interesting; some very thought provoking. I mean this as a compliment and if I miss the message, will come back to you for elaboration. Muchas gracias, Gypsy!

Muah - no you didn't honey.

La Romana is less tourist and less expensive. Only tourist targeted and expensive are posted on the internet.  Ready to find a place - boots on the ground is how to do it. But I can help....

La Romana will be a better choice for what you are looking for.  Also I might suggest you visit the north coast as well.

Bob K

YEAH!  I'm on the list for posting!  Does that mean I'm no longer a newbie??

Nope its available to everyone.

Right...I was just proud to see us listed with the heavy hitters! 

Awesome!!!! 

Was that a comment about my waist line?????? 

Bob K

  I don't know...I've never seen your waistline...but, I will definitely come to Caberete-Sosua with my measuring tape!

If I were to go to Sosua with a measuring tape it would be to use it on a thousand brown babes in town. Without even that I fall in love a dozen times whenever I am there.

Brodie,  Bob being   a doctor, I'm sure that Bob is trim & fit.  He knows the health dangers of being over weight and the lack of exercise.  So, bring a short tape !!!

You guys crack me up

Bob K

Bob, funny yes, but sad if you aren't fit & trim.  I can say that because I'm 5' 10".... 160lbs. .... with a BMI of 24.  I hope that you are taking care of yourself.

I do try but not at your level.

Bob K

Bob, It isn't a level, it's a life-style.  It wasn't always so.   6 years ago was 226 ibs , out of shape & lazy.  Had a wake up call, ( broken ribs, punctured lung).  It sure made me think.  ( wasn't drinking when the slip & fall down the stairs occurred). 20 days in the hospital (POP private )  Trying ain't doing !!!    Peanut sauce:  Hoisin sauce, cayenne & peanut butter.  Oh, by the way, Bob, Tuesday had a Trans-utheral prostatic resection, or as they cll it here, a "roto-rooter job".  Tis no fun at all !!!    I know that the op. sp. ain't correct.

Good luck and did you have your surgery here in the DR.

Yes it is all about life style. 

Bob K