Dominican Republic – Caribbean Paradise 11/2002

[Guest JimSFO]

We just got back from the Dom Rep and I wanted to post our experiences for those who may be considering a trip there (I went with a friend from work who had been to the Dom Rep many times, I was the virgin). My recommendation: GO! Go as soon as possible. I am ready to go back and even though I promised myself I wouldn’t do any more traveling this winter (I travel for a living 8 months out of the year), I will break my pledge and go back. It was just too great.

 

First of all, many thanks to those who posted to this board about the Dom Rep in the past there was quite a bit of helpful information. I had never experienced anything like this before and it really helped having read others experiences.

 

Upon arrival exchange your money. The best exchange rate I saw was at the money exchange inside the airport, before you get to immigration control on the right side. In the US they would have given us RD$18 for US$1, at most banks on the island they were offering between RD$18 and RD$20.70 for US$1. I used the ATM once and with the $7 in fees that Wells Fargo Bank charged the rate ended up being RD$18 per US$1. Save you receipt from the airport bank and you can exchange up to 30% of the money you originally exchange back to US$ without any further fees.

 

The one bit of advise I didn’t follow (I had read about it in a travel guide) was not to take a rental car. What a mistake. Driving in the Dom Rep is a nightmare. The street signs are difficult to see/find and the conditions of the road horrible. We ran over a rock which poked a hole in the oil pan. I have AMEX insurance and supplemental travel insurance, but I now have to hassle the paperwork. No fun and not worth it. If you’re in the Puerto Plata area look for a taxi driver named Raul (el pequeño), cell 809-885-7138. He is honest, has a beautiful car and is very sweet.

 

We were originally planning on going to the Amigos resort in Cabarete, the islands first gay all-inclusive resort. It closed about a month before our trip. According to the rumors going around the manager, Ray Modesto is being sought by the Dominican and US police. We decided to go to Cabarete anyway because there were a few casinos around and we like to play. The beaches were beautiful, but it wasn’t especially gay. I read in a website about a couple of resorts which were supposed to be gay or gay friendly, but these were filled with hetero Euro couples. I think we spotted one other gay couple in 3 days. We had fun with days on the beach and nights in the Casino. We stayed at the Villa Taina which was a modern 3 star hotel on the beach with nice pool, wind surfing school, bar and restaurant. Club Natural was recommended to me by a Dominican. 6 private Villas with their own beach. Spa amenities. La Otra Cosa, a French restaurant is the best one there. Cabarete was very restful. Since our car broke we took taxis and we had our taxi driver Raul take us back to Santo Domingo.

 

In Santo Domingo we stayed in the Zona Colonial on the El Conde in the Mercure Hotel. Also a three star hotel. Modern, comfortable (no luxury here) and the perfect location. After arriving we took a walk and my friend saw boys everywhere. I don’t have any experience picking up guys off of the street and didn’t really believe that all of those boys were available. I guess I am a little timid. He immediately hooked up with one and took him back to the hotel for a quickie. US$30 and everyone was happy.

 

The next night we went looking for the bars. We don’t usually go out to bars, especially when nothing really starts until 11pm. We have to get up very early for work and it is really hard to change, even during vacation. As we went looking for the bars the first night we had a twink following us (many, many twinks hanging out on El Conde). We walked around town for about an hour and this kid (16 years old I would guess) was usually standing there every time we turned a corner. We found out later this was the little brother of a bartender at PK2.

 

PK2 was the only bar we went to. Club Aire (Mercedes 313, across from a big church) and PK2 (Jose Reyes 10) are in the Zona Colonia and both just two cross-streets off of El Conde down opposite directions of Calle José Reyes. Taxi not necessary. If you stay at the Duke of Wellington, the boys are hanging around the front door waiting for you (we checked it out one day), but you have to take a taxi nights because the neighborhood is a little scary. We showed up at 10:30 pm the first night at PK2 and surprised the staff because we were so early. The owner’s name is Albert, a Spaniard who has been in the Dom. Rep. Since March 2002. He was an invaluable source of information and has a great sense of humor. He is the queen of his domain. The bar it self is a little small, but they have a dance floor and have shows (drag and strippers) Thurs through Sunday. This is the only bar open 7 days a week, though. Upstairs there is a video room and a dark room. We were there off season so it wasn’t very crowded which suited us just fine because there were a lot of buggerones to choose from. The first night there Albert hooked us up with a taxi driver named Freddy to take us to the beach the next day.

 

Freddy is more than just a taxi driver though. He claims to know boys and men from all over the capital city. Basically we could put in an order with him and he would bring out a couple for us to choose from. I told him he should get a catalog and he said he is working on a website. He offered to be tour guide, pimp and body guard and the next time we go we will probably call him from the airport (cell: 809-323-5955). My ATT cell phone worked just fine in Cabarete as well as in Santo Domingo.

 

That night at the bar I had jokingly mentioned that my friend was a big size queen (of course it is no joke, he is truly the great size queen I have ever come across). The next night Albert told us that he had someone my friend might be interested in. To me he was cute and tall, but I would never have expected that he had anything special. My friend later told me that he had the biggest dick he had ever seen in his life (and he has seen a lot of them in his 70 years). He is now obsessed and we will be returning soon. I have seen pictures of some of the men he has been with and the gigantic cocks they had, so I am also a little more than curious. He said it got fully erect, too.

 

I am now back to my Spanish lessons, because you really need to speak some Spanish there. The boys don’t. The educational system there is just for the affluent. Of course, this is probably the reason so many Dominican men are aware of their bi-sexual sides.

 

I thought I would be going to Brazil on my next trip, but Brazil has been put off indefinately in favor of the Dom Rep. Dominicans are amazingly beautiful men. The country is definately third world and that takes some getting used to but I am more than ready for a return trip.

[kjun]

Many thanks for the information. The best and most thorough I've seen on Dominica.

[trilingual]

Thanks, Jim. Great information. Combined with the earlier posts, this gives us a pretty good picture of what to expect in the D.R. I've always wanted to go, and this just boosts things higher on my list. Not that I'll ever forsake Brazil, but a bit of a change is always welcome! If you like the kind of guys you met in the D.R. (size and all!) you'll also love Brazil. My guess is that you'll find the Brazilian guys to be a bit more mellow and low-key compared to the Brazilians. There's something about Hispanic culture that's a bit harder-edged. Of course, there are plenty of delightful guys in the D.R. and elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world, but the style is a little different from Brazil.

 

Anyway, I can't wait to go and compare for myself! Thanks again!

[Guest domrepboy1]

:-) Hi, thanks for the info about the Domrep. I wanted to know a few things.

 

1. Do they have Dueqe de Wellington Safes (electronic safes) because if you take a boy to your room an electronic safe (without a key which can be found) is good?

 

Can you recomend that hotel?

 

2. What does a boy want for a complete day of escorting?

 

3. Is Viagra free availabe or do I need a receipt from a doctor?

 

thanks a lot for your appreciated help:P