Mark Mclaurin
American expat in Dominican Republic
Forum posts
44
Contacts
1
About me
American
Registration: 27 February 2023
MAPFRE Salud by Mark Mclaurin
Hey All- i’m finally gonna break down and buy some Dominican health insurance and a lot of my friends have been recommending this map free Salud, which seems to have a pretty reasonable price for its premium coverage- has anyone had any ...
How was that ? Read More
MAPFRE Salud
Hey All- i’m finally gonna break down and buy some Dominican health insurance and a lot of my friends have been recommending this map free Salud, which seems to have a pretty reasonable price for its premium coverage- has anyone had any ... Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana by Conifer
no respect for personal space.no order, everyone cuts in linepeople look you up and down to judge you based on appearance.no smileno seeking to understandif they can cheat you off of 50 pesos at the market, they willno one follows instructionsyou ...
@Karin1 agree 1000% Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana by Conifer
no respect for personal space.no order, everyone cuts in linepeople look you up and down to judge you based on appearance.no smileno seeking to understandif they can cheat you off of 50 pesos at the market, they willno one follows instructionsyou ...
@planner the issue is the only country getting bashed is the DR- where all of us CHOOSE to be ! its one thing to complain about traffic or slow customer service, its quite another to label a whole country rude and disrespectful ! Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana[B]OT by RockyM
[Post under review]
@planner I say this respectfully because I have learned so much from you in this group, but this post is not just about drivers. It’s about trashing Dominicans in general for being rude and disrespectful and the point that I’m making is ... Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana[B]OT by RockyM
[Post under review]
[Post under review] Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana[B]OT by RockyM
[Post under review]
@Papito NL agree with you 1000% Read More
Rude & Disrespectful Folks in Punta Cana[B]OT by RockyM
[Post under review]
I completely agree and honestly driving here is insane. And I get frustrated with some of the Piss poor customer service here as anybody The point I’m making is that for you Americans to come here and complain about rude people when around the ... Read More
DHL versus FedEx by Mark Mclaurin
Maybe someone can help me my job had to send me a computer and they sent it through FedEx which charge me custom fees which was fine. I went to the FedEx office and paid it and they gave me my package. It took a few extra days but I was OK with ...
@planner- if that is true then how is it that when they shipped my computer the first time and it was through Federal Express I went to Federal Express and paid the cuatoms fee and my package was already there at the fedex place- they released it ... Read More
DHL versus FedEx
Maybe someone can help me my job had to send me a computer and they sent it through FedEx which charge me custom fees which was fine. I went to the FedEx office and paid it and they gave me my package. It took a few extra days but I was OK with ... Read More
Customs ?!?! by Mark Mclaurin
Help !! My job fedexed me a new laptop but it’s been held in Customs for some strange reason for over a week and I have had endless emails from FedEx AND Customs asking for my passport which I have sent multiple times. Now TODAY someone calls ...
FFS ! so if I would’ve flown home and put it in my bag and brought it back here it’s free, but if I have it shipped to me, I have to pay an 18% tax ? To be honest I would be happy to pay the 18% tax. My problem is I’ve now been ... Read More
Customs ?!?!
Help !! My job fedexed me a new laptop but it’s been held in Customs for some strange reason for over a week and I have had endless emails from FedEx AND Customs asking for my passport which I have sent multiple times. Now TODAY someone calls ... Read More
Is leaving the DR for the day sufficient to restart tourist visa? by brodies2013
I know this topic has been done to death. But, I want to know what the solution is to the 30-day limit. We can prove 1k net rental income for the last 5 years (more if we don't stick to the 5 year rule), we have additional income from our ...
@planner Actually- just last week i paid my overstay fee and proceeded to my gate to check in and my flight was canceled so I exited back out through customs and went back to my hotel. Then I left again on Sunday and came back on Monday and it had ... Read More
If so many ex-pats are complaining about… by ondami
If ex-pats are complaining about: the driving in DR, the bottled water in DR, the intent device in Dr, the slower pace of life in DR, etc., etc., etc., then how come they moved there in the first place and how come they stay?I am confused by these ...
@birdltnot sure what land you were talking about but I have not seen a permeation of despair. If anything that describes the United States more than it does the Dominican republic. Read More
Storm Alerts by Dlaromana
Can someone tell me what the storm alerts mean. For example, right now:The Emergency Operations Center (COE) increased the number of provinces on alert to 26. The provinces on red alert are Elías Piña, San Juan, Baoruco, Azua, ...
@Fredthey actually dont mean the exact same thing from country to country and you didnt just pick dominica out of the clear blue- you clearly thought it referred to the DR and rather just admit your error you want to double down on the snark ! Read More
Storm Alerts by Dlaromana
Can someone tell me what the storm alerts mean. For example, right now:The Emergency Operations Center (COE) increased the number of provinces on alert to 26. The provinces on red alert are Elías Piña, San Juan, Baoruco, Azua, ...
Thats for the country of Dominica, not the Dominican Republic- maybe you could use google a bit more yourself !!! Read More
Visa Extension by bsander5573bs
How to extend your visa in DR/Punta Cana
Yeah- I’ve never tried to do it in advance. I always just pay at the airport and I’ve never had a problem. Read More
ferry from florida to the DR? by MGarrison
Are there any ferry boats from Florida to the DR that we can take? We are looking for all kinds of ideas. If they do Ferry, it could be a semi painless way for us to permanently move to the DR. We have less than 3 years!! Cannot wait... we will be ...
Im sorry but this thread is hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂 Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic[B] by Mark Mclaurin
@T.DRRRthats inherently classist and patently untrue, anywhere !
So if I say……in my experience all gringos and white expats are lecherous sexual predators- is that statement not offensive because I prefaced it with “in my experience” ? Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic[B] by Mark Mclaurin
@T.DRRRthats inherently classist and patently untrue, anywhere !
I appreciate the offer but I have no interest in any further dialogue with folks with that mentality- I call it out and keep it moving ! It’s better for my mental ! Lol Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic[B] by Mark Mclaurin
@T.DRRRthats inherently classist and patently untrue, anywhere !
@T.DRRRplanner has asked us to stick to the topic so that’s what I’m going to do but I will leave it with the final comment that you and your friends mentality is probably the reason why you’ve had such a rough experience with ... Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic[B] by Mark Mclaurin
@T.DRRRthats inherently classist and patently untrue, anywhere !
@cruffmanthats a pretty disgusting generalization about an entire nation of people- in gods name- if that’s what you believe to be true about Dominicans, why would you ever move here or visit here or participate in a message board about here ? Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic
@T.DRRRthats inherently classist and patently untrue, anywhere ! Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When you move to the Dominican Republic, you may find that the pace of life is different from what you're used to. Shop opening times, working hours, sleep cycles and variations in sunlight can all have an effect on your life in ...
Lol! Exactly !! Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When you move to the Dominican Republic, you may find that the pace of life is different from what you're used to. Shop opening times, working hours, sleep cycles and variations in sunlight can all have an effect on your life in ...
@Papito NL exactly- but what you describe is true of every country in the world. There’s nothing inherently, more dishonest about Dominicans and theres certainly nothing more inherently untrustworthy among poor Dominicans versus wealthy ... Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When you move to the Dominican Republic, you may find that the pace of life is different from what you're used to. Shop opening times, working hours, sleep cycles and variations in sunlight can all have an effect on your life in ...
Every word of that is just as true in the USA- there’s nothing uniquely Dominican about being betrayed by people you trust and there’s certainly no tie in to trustworthiness that correlates with your “class” or education or ... Read More
US products not available in Dominican Republic by paula82pl
Hello, I live in the US and I'm working on a college assignment where I have to come up with an idea what product (or service) I can start selling in DR that is not present there yet. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!Thank you.
@paula82pl If you want to make money, open a good Deli w/ potatoes and macaroni salad, can’t find any of the cold cuts you would find back home -@Tippjyummmm !!! Good thought ! I’d kill for a good ... Read More
Adapting to the pace of life in Dominican Republic by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When you move to the Dominican Republic, you may find that the pace of life is different from what you're used to. Shop opening times, working hours, sleep cycles and variations in sunlight can all have an effect on your life in ...
I think this captures a lot of the essence of living here, but I must confess I am a little uncomfortable, with some of the classism displayed here as if people with less education or of lesser means are somehow inherently more dishonest or to be ... Read More
US products not available in Dominican Republic by paula82pl
Hello, I live in the US and I'm working on a college assignment where I have to come up with an idea what product (or service) I can start selling in DR that is not present there yet. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!Thank you.
Authentic American Soul Food ! In all honesty, in my experience there’s not much in the US that CANT be found in the DR if you look hard enough…… Read More
US Customs by expat975320
I am returning to the usa next Wednesday the 28th.I will have been in the Dominican Republic for 4 months I realize I have to pay a small fine for over staying my visa about $80 US at the airport in Santo Domingo. My question is should I anticipate ...
@expat975320 no- I overstay all the time- once you pay the fine no one mentions it again- the US doesn’t care….. Read More
Drink spiking experiences? by emerald788
Has anybody had problems in bars with their drinks being spiked, maybe by dishonest bartenders who want you to spend more or have other agendas?As I am relatively new to the DR, I wanted to get an idea from more experienced members of how common the ...
That’s never happened to me or anyone I know here…. Read More
Why is Janinecrenshaw banned
Probably better to inbox an admin….. Read More
Mail Forwarding companies? by crabelramble
I'm looking for current info on mail-forwarding companies and a primer on what needs to be done to use them. I've searched but came up empty. Is there already a topic that has that info?
Will do ! The laptop is 2500 I don’t wanna pay 400 in tax lol Read More
Mail Forwarding companies? by crabelramble
I'm looking for current info on mail-forwarding companies and a primer on what needs to be done to use them. I've searched but came up empty. Is there already a topic that has that info?
@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56 you are amazingly helpful- thank you, Sir ! Read More
Mail Forwarding companies? by crabelramble
I'm looking for current info on mail-forwarding companies and a primer on what needs to be done to use them. I've searched but came up empty. Is there already a topic that has that info?
@planner thanks ! I guess what I was asking was if it gets shipped to Miami and I am going to be in Miami anyway can I pick it up from there or does it have to be to be shipped to Santo Domingo? It’s a new laptop so I’d rather not have ... Read More
Mail Forwarding companies? by crabelramble
I'm looking for current info on mail-forwarding companies and a primer on what needs to be done to use them. I've searched but came up empty. Is there already a topic that has that info?
This is amazing ! If I use MBE- for instance and I order a laptop- can I get it from the Miami address of MBE or does it HAvE to be shipped to SDQ - Read More
Working remote in the dom rep by tcantey
I wanted to ask are there any precautions working a remote us job while in the Dominican Republic
Practically, if I haven’t officially moved here but when I’m here I work remotely what’s the difference - I’m still paying my American taxes and I have an American address Read More
To rent an apartment in Santo Domingo by scs4834
Hello everyone, I decided that I would rent an apartment or house in Santo Domingo este. I visit usually three times a year for at least three weeks. I have no problem with a rental agreement for one year. The process is daunting, I have spoken to ...
I’m with you I’ve been doing airbnb for six months if u find a good agent please pass him on- I’m not ready to buy just an agent for rent a good place Read More
Residencia - 2020 - How to get it done. by planner
Its time for a new thread laying out how to apply for residencia! Our resident lawyer, Lishali, will assist us. Lets break it down into sections: 1. Who qualifies 2. First step in your home country. 3. What you need and how to apply for your ...
@planner can you say a bit more about how you expect the upcoming elections to change everything is one party considerably more pro immigration than the other ? Is the disparity great enough so that if I plan to do it in 2 to 3 years I need to do it ... Read More
TRT in the DR by Mark Mclaurin
Help !!! I’m on testosterone replacement therapy and I have an American prescription for my cream but I need to get a refill here because I stayed longer than I thought I would- any ideas ???
@Liam H amazing ! I’ll message him ! Read More
TRT in the DR by Mark Mclaurin
Help !!! I’m on testosterone replacement therapy and I have an American prescription for my cream but I need to get a refill here because I stayed longer than I thought I would- any ideas ???
@planner thank you so much for your help ! I’ll try it ! Read More
TRT in the DR by Mark Mclaurin
Help !!! I’m on testosterone replacement therapy and I have an American prescription for my cream but I need to get a refill here because I stayed longer than I thought I would- any ideas ???
Thanks so much ! I’m in Santo Domingo ! Read More
TRT in the DR
Help !!! I’m on testosterone replacement therapy and I have an American prescription for my cream but I need to get a refill here because I stayed longer than I thought I would- any ideas ??? Read More