Opinions on your biggest fears about moving to DR

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat24 June 2022 19:47:45

200

So I decided to list my biggest fears about my upcoming relocation to DR. Hoping someone has a counter answer to alleviate some of my concerns? Here it goes and please tell it to me straight out

I promise not to get offended lol. Mind you this is when I am out in my rural property. The city apartment I am not too concern about.

1. Electrical blackouts (was thinking I get a generator and Inversol

2. Buying transportation verses shipping it out there ( will surely miss my convertible Audi

3. Getting used to the noise level ( I will adapt while in the city) is it tolerable to most?

4. Crime (mainly my wife's fear but yet a concern)

5. Water ( water system and filters)

6. Where to get my Gold Peak Ice tea. ( Big concern!)

7.The heat ( I am such a wuss to heat! I may have been an Eskimo in another life)

8. Traffic Traffic Traffic ( 27 de Febrero OMG!)

9. Money transfer from US to DR

10. Would love to be beach front somewhere away from tourist areas ( any pointers? anywhere around the country)

Well there you have it. Have at it, No judging! LOL

Regardless I am heading out there!

Thanks in advance!

DRVisitor Serial expat

Member since 20 December 2019

DRVisitorSerial expat24 June 2022 20:04:20

763

3. Depends on where you live

4. Same as #3

7. Santo Domingo and other areas will be warmer than by the beach

8. Stay away from Santo Domingo

9. Not an issue as long as you stay under 10k

10. I bought a place in Cap Cana area and have not regret though do not live full time in the area

Profe Agayu Active member

Member since 30 March 2022

Profe AgayuActive member24 June 2022 20:05:23

1. Electrical blackouts (was thinking I get a generator and Inversol

- Unfortunately, this is true for much of the country so a generator or inverter is necessary.

2. Buying transportation verses shipping it out there ( will surely miss my convertible Audi

- No experience with shipping, but buying here is a possibility.

3. Getting used to the noise level ( I will adapt while in the city) is it tolerable to most?

- It's the norm in the city and population centers so people are accustomed to it so maybe you can adapt too.

4. Crime (mainly my wife's fear but yet a concern)

- Honestly, it's reasonably safe in tourist areas and small towns. However, your wife's concern is the concern of most Dominicans, especially Dominican women. My advice is be alert and take the necessary steps to mitigate risks.

5. Water ( water system and filters)

- I buy jugs of drinking water every few days. The tap water is not drinkable but safe for showers, dishwasher, etc.

6. Where to get my Gold Peak Ice tea. ( Big concern!)

- PriceSmart is a wholesale store like Costco that carries a lot of US product being that is a US company. However, I am not sure about that particular product.

7.The heat ( I am such a wuss to heat! I may have been an Eskimo in another life)

- People get accustomed to the heat but I recommend buying air conditioning.

8. Traffic Traffic Traffic ( 27 de Febrero OMG!)

- I live in Santo Domingo and it is as bad as DC rush hour so it is very annoying.

9. Money transfer from US to DR

- I use Ria Money Transfer for the most part to transfer from US accounts to Dominican accounts. $3 per transaction. Sometimes, I use Remitly as an alternate.

10. Would love to be beach front somewhere away from tourist areas ( any pointers? anywhere around the country)

- Someone else can help you here...Best of luck!

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest24 June 2022 20:27:23

1. In the coming years it should get better once all these new supplies get on line - I hope. You appear to need an a/c so you will need quite a big generator of the order of 7KVA to run those ac's at start up. the battery invertor gives you security of lights and comms. Edesur have been surprisingly good for me in the campo.

2. Buy here. Contact 'cruffman' better known as Mike and tell him what you want.

3. Ear plugs if you are light sleepers, but the best thing is to get to know your neighbourhood at all hours prior to moving in.

4. Think positive. You are probably going to be moving to an area with lower crime compared overall to the country you are coming from. Certainly less gun crime. Adapt and don't show your wealth. Crimes here are generally opportunist rather than planned. Have a security plan.

5. The 5 gallon drinking water bottles cost about 30 pesos for a refill so drinking water solved. buy a sediment and carbon filter and if you want a UV filter too and you can buy such sets cheaply online from Amazon or here from Unidos at small cost and any plumber can fit and you can periodically change the filters.

6. Amazon is your friend with a Dominican courier address in Miami. As a Brit I must have my 'dark' tea so it works for me.

7. You will have to and will adapt to the heat. It is only going to get hotter in the coming years.

8. Don't spend much time in Santo Domingo! you will get it after a few months of the tapons.

9. For others to advise.

10.For starters look beyond the south, east and north coast near Puerto Plata. Samana is pricey so look west. There are still good options if you are willing to explore. Another thread......

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat24 June 2022 20:28:44

200

Great info guys! Thank you Profe the money transfer i never heard of those companies but will look into the, I have been using Xoom but its kind've a hassle at times. Thanks again for the advise!

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert24 June 2022 20:53:29

17621

All manageable except stupid traffic. 🤣

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat24 June 2022 21:08:06

200

@planner You are not kidding you have to have the patience of a nun to drive around Santo Domingo, to me that 27 De Febrero will test your sanity! lol I will get some practices in by driving around Southern California freeways before I head out there ! lol

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert24 June 2022 21:21:13

17621

And never ever drive in SD on a Friday, or payday, or when it's raining or when it's a full moon!!!! 🤣🤣

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat24 June 2022 21:34:41

526

We have found traffic very bearable in SD on holidays. If we plan to travel to SD we generally try to schedule on holidays. Seriously. :0)

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

ddmcgheeDominican Republic Expert24 June 2022 21:49:09

#10

1904

And never ever drive in SD on a Friday, or payday, or when it's raining or when it's a full moon!!!! 🤣🤣
- @planner

Or days that end in Y

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat24 June 2022 22:16:51

#11

200

All good answers! LOL

Ok here is something I do not think I have seen here. Has anyone been pulled over or stopped by the police? Best approach? Has anyone received a ticket of any sort? I know its usually about how much they want lol but that is not always the case I know. Any experience anyone can share? I have seen a lot of road blocks at night.

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest24 June 2022 23:09:00

#12

Digisett officers are the ones who pull you over for driving infractions. They have been very professional in my experience asking for license, insurance and matricula. Loads of them evident these days on main highways with radar guns. Never been asked for a propina from Digisett nor Amet before them. The last request from PN for a propina was at least 6 years ago.

Havent been stopped by PN for several years except for random road block gun checks but those are not permitted anymore. But I am sure the joint patrols are now stopping suspects in the barrios of cities and large towns but few expats will see this except in the media.

Tripp789 Contributor

Member since 28 April 2018

Tripp789Contributor24 June 2022 23:18:21

#13

175

We were pulled over twice three years ago going and leaving SD. Our lack of Spanish saved us the first time as the frustrated officer just gave up, but the second one (PN) on the toll road to LT got us for 20 USD.

Honestly we were over the limit. Since then I have stayed mostly legal (with the help of Waze) and have not been stopped for speed. We do occasionally get pulled to the side for random checks, but no money is exchanged.

polo1club Serial expat

Member since 10 June 2022

polo1clubSerial expat24 June 2022 23:27:25

#14

200

Very good feedback. I know it happens now and then. I was pulled over once on a visit in SD because the rental SUV was brand new with temp plates. But the police men was very nice checked the registration and car rental agreement and ended it with a have a nice day. But I have heard of shake downs in the pass from other people. Lennox did you say they have stopped the gun check along the roads now?? I did not know that. That is refreshing in a way, because I am sure it feels uneasy if you are not doing anything to just get pulled over.

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest24 June 2022 23:56:08

#15

The police chief who was appointed a few months ago banned random road checks by PN.

Basically PN should not be stopping you unless you are a crime suspect. PN should not stop you for normal traffic infractions. If they do it is a scam and respond accordingly.

Digisett have brown or green uniforms with green bikes or green and white trucks. PN are in grey normally. Dark blue is Dicrim or the Dncd - serious crimes and drugs and usually heavily armed.

Garcia111 Member

Member since 14 June 2022

Garcia111Member25 June 2022 11:19:38

#16

@DRVisitor hi! Just bought a place in cap cana. Would like any info I can get. I love DR but I don’t know much about how things work in the country/area

AlaPlaya Active member

Member since 07 January 2021

AlaPlayaActive member25 June 2022 21:18:58

#17

Very good feedback. I know it happens now and then. I was pulled over once on a visit in SD because the rental SUV was brand new with temp plates. But the police men was very nice checked the registration and car rental agreement and ended it with a have a nice day. But I have heard of shake downs in the pass from other people. Lennox did you say they have stopped the gun check along the roads now?? I did not know that. That is refreshing in a way, because I am sure it feels uneasy if you are not doing anything to just get pulled over.
- @polo1club

Pulled over several times. Especially when driving between Barahona and Pedernales (9 times in one weekend I think). What I have found to work best is to only speak English, use the most gringa sounding accent I can do, and when I do say a word in Spanish, I make it sound particularly bad.

Only once have they had someone capable of speaking English. And during another stop, one of the officers held up his google translate and asked me to speak into it. That's easy, just speak quickly, and it doesn't get it correct. Usually they get frustrated, give me some kind of warning and wish me well.

Only shakedown I've experienced was in Las Terrenas, where they wanted money for a "hamburguesa y coca-cola." Took every bit of self-restraint I had not to mouth back in Spanish.

WillieWeb ViP

Member since 13 December 2018

WillieWebViP25 June 2022 21:36:22

#18

1660

Polo

If you are getting residency - you are allowed to bring a car if less than 5 yrs old.

The discount you get on that will pay for your residency....

DRVisitor Serial expat

Member since 20 December 2019

DRVisitorSerial expat25 June 2022 22:20:19

#19

763

@Garcia111

Open a new thread and ask away

Solar39 Active member

Member since 05 October 2020

Solar39Active member13 August 2022 15:42:36

#20

Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Las Terrenas. - Street safety

How safe is it in those areas. will be there in Sept and would like to know if I should avoid based on crime. How safe are they, or is it as safe as any US/Canadian City?

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert13 August 2022 16:28:12

#21

17621

Like most areas there are very safe areas and areas to avoid!

There are areas that become very unsafe at night but during the day are fine.

Crime here is less than many other countries.

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat13 August 2022 16:38:56

#22

526

Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Las Terrenas. - Street safety

How safe is it in those areas. will be there in Sept and would like to know if I should avoid based on crime. How safe are they, or is it as safe as any US/Canadian City?
- @Solar39

Your biggest worry would be getting run over by a motor vehicle, not crime.

Solar39 Active member

Member since 05 October 2020

Solar39Active member13 August 2022 16:55:11

#23

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Also, for your honest opinion.

Steverino7777 Serial expat

Member since 01 February 2019

Steverino7777Serial expat13 August 2022 18:06:22

#24

254

When I arrived in La Romana 5 years ago, i found that many expats were advising me that crime was rampant and that expats were targets due to the wealth gap. 5 years later, I have not experienced a single incident and feel more relaxed.

Driving is the bigger adjustment you will make. Be prepared for the crazy commutes and the bending or disregard of traffic rules.

Karin1 Serial expat

Member since 02 June 2021

Karin1Serial expat13 August 2022 18:37:00

#25

354

I am in Punta Cana so its a tourist town. Someone tried to rob me walking home in daytime (followed by 2 women on motorcycles). I got away because I was paying attention. I have been pulled over by police a few times. First time in 2019. I figured out they wanted to take me to jail because I could not show the ownership papers of the car I was driving. I kept saying "mi esposo" and "nuevo auto". It was a new car and my husband didnt tell me where the papers were. They told me to give them money. I gave money and they said MORE so I gave more and then they let me go. I believe it was $50 usd in total.

Since then I am better prepared. ALways have the car papers, not just a drivers license. I have a working phone always with data plan and backkup power so I can always speak with them through google translate or use a few spanish words I know. Just show your drivers license, and ownership papers, insurance. They are always nice and wave me on. This is a big improvement from the first time which seems to have changed now.