Hola! I just joined. I am a widowed female looking to retire in Las Terrenas, DR. Originally from Santure, PR, I moved to NYC when I was young and have spent a lot of time in very rural settings. I still have family in PR, but think I would prefer to retire to the DR. My Spanish is rusty, but I will be brushing up. I am looking for feedback from anyone familiar with the lifestyle in PR and/or DR. I am leaning toward the DR because PR has so many socio-economic issues and an uncertain future. The healthcare is not the best, either. I have friends and relatives from the DR and it seems there are a lot of similarities in the lifestyle. My attraction is not just the climate, beaches and tropical rainforests, but also the food, dress, music, dance and some cultural/historical overlap. That is mi alma y corazon. I want a quieter lifestyle with access to some good places to eat, shops/boutiques, some art and sports (hiking, cycling, kayaking, maybe refresh my HobieCat skills.) I am familiar and ok with bad roads, crazy drivers, shoddy internet, spotty electric/water service and hurricanes. I plan to keep a house on the mainland to escape to for Cat 4+ storms.
I am torn between a FINCA because I would love the privacy, views (hills/mountains), cafe colada on the terrace, fresh fruit and to raise chickens. I wonder about the safety of the relative isolation? I have 3 large Mastiff guard dogs. Can I have guns in the DR? I wonder about access to town (don't expect much from roads) and internet. I plan on a backup power (solar) system, bottled gas and water and I am ok with that. On the other end of the spectrum, I am comparing to a gated beach community. Presumably for the safety, on-site security, and better utilities, plus access to town (bicycle in for shopping? Is it safe?) Obviously, in a gated community, the lifestyle would be different... more "luxuries" like better utilities, while chickens would be out and possibly the dogs, as well.
I welcome thoughts and feedback from ExPats living in Las Terrenas, but please be specific, as I am pretty familiar with the generic differences and challenges of island living vs the "cushy" USA lifestyle. I've not yet been to the DR and will probably wait until after hurricane season to make my first trip down. I am somewhat familiar with life in PR, however - personal experience is dated, but I do go back to visit family.
New Member Intro & Seeking Info
Welcome to DR. In this forum you will definitively find important information. Check the threads related to the information you want to get.
Enjoy the country and the people.
Welcome to the forum!
My husband and I moved to LT full time last month. We have a condo in a gated beach development on Playa Bonita that is great for short term stays! We love having the ease of the apartment, multiple pools to choose from, a gorgeous beach just a 2 minute walk from our door, and a variety of restaurants in walking distance. But it's about a 20 minute scooter ride into town.
We're about to move into a rental villa in the Abra Grande neighborhood. It's a few minute scooter ride from Playa Punta Popy. It's much closer to town, but we won't have the pools - just a small private Jacuzzi.
For the long term, we're building a home in the Coson Lomas. It will be farther from town, but we'll have imported our car by then, so we won't be relying just on scooters! The view and the breeze in the hills is our end game!
While we've only moved her recently, we've spent a considerable about of time here over the past 3 years. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about Las Terrenas!
Thanks for the info DDMCGHEE,
Please advise the licensing requirements to drive a scooter ?
Hmmm...I'm not sure about that! We were not asked for a driver's license when we purchased the scooters and rode them away! I'm not sure what is required here. We will continue using our US driver's licenses at least until we get residency.
Articles to help you in your expat project in Las Terrenas
Just like anywhere else in the world, people in the Dominican Republic want to find love, their significant other ...
Here is some useful information on the Dominican society and lifestyle that will guide you if you are planning to ...
The people of the Dominican Republic come from a combination of the Spanish colonists, African slaves, and the ...
If you are looking for a job in the Dominican Republic (DR), here are some tips and suggestions. Job hunting can ...
If you are moving to the Dominican Republic, one of your primary concerns is likely to be the healthcare system ...
What is driving like in the Dominican Republic and how do you obtain a driving licence? Find out all about it in ...
