INTRODUCTION

I'm probably not the most qualified to write a guide on Santo Domingo, but seeing that I've never seen one written, I thought putting a small one together would be helpful. I've been to the Dominican Republic six times since 2003, with stops in Santo Domingo on five of those trips. I recently wrote similar guides on Santiago and Sosua, Dominican Republic.

ABOUT SANTO DOMINGO

The two most popular hobbying destinations in the Dominican Republic are Sosua to the north and Santo Domingo to the south. Santo Domingo is a large city and has a much larger selection of venues and available ladies, but is also more expensive. Sosua is a small town with a nice beach and everything in walking distance, and is also the preferred destination for most dedicated DR hobbyists. Santiago is a city located between the two that has a few hobbying options, but in my opinion lags behind the other two cities overall.

GETTING THERE

Santo Domingo is the capital and the largest city in the Dominican Republic. Flights into their international airport (SDQ) should be fairly easy to find. From the airport to the city you'll need to take a taxi for approximately $40 USD or 1500 Dominican Peses (DOP) unless you rent a car.

QUICK FACTS

PASSPORT/VISA: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after date of departure. Tourist cards are issued for the US, Canada, Australia and most EU countries for 30 days for $10 USD. The card may be extended to 90 days by paying $20 USD on departure. I found at least one website online claiming US citizens do not need to buy tourist cards, but I can confirm that I was directed to purchase one. If you do not have the card with you when you reach the front of the immigration line, they will send you back to purchase it.

ELECTRICITY: 110 volts AC at 60 Hz with standard two-prong US-style outlets.

WEATHER: Rainy season runs from May to October, but may extend to December on the north coast. August and September constitute hurricane season. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year from 81°F to 87°F for most of the country.

CURRENCY: Dominican Peso. As of this writing the exchange rate is $1 USD to 40.04 DOP. I usually check at http://www.xe.com. ATMS should be fairly easy to find in commerical areas throughout the city and inside the casinos. Try to use the larger bank ATMs when you need to withdraw more than 8000-10000 DOP, the smaller banks usually have smaller tranaction or daily limits. If you bring US dollars, the exchange rates are usually fairly good in my opinion compared to other countries.

TRANSPORTATION: Years ago more hobbyists used to consider car rentals a viable option, but recently that trend seems to have decreased due to increased hassles with traffic and cops seeking bribes. I've never tried renting here, so I can't offer any tips.

If you are staying in the Gazcue district where most hobbyists stay, you'll have quite a few options that are within walking distance. Beyond that and you'll need to take a cab. ALWAYS get an exact quote or make sure the driver understands how much you are willing to pay. Too many of the taxi drivers in the Dominican Republic are bottom feeders and will attempt to overcharge you if given the opportunity.

LODGING

There are plenty of hotels to stay in, but you'll definitely want to make sure the one you choose is guest friendly, and from my understanding, quite a few aren't. Some of the casino hotels and more upscale hotels, such as the Hotel Jaragua, are known for NOT being guest-friendly or charge a fee. I've listed a few that are guest-friendly and popular among the DR hobbyists.

These hotels are all located in the Gazcue district.

Hostal Riazor (CH Link): Surprisingly, the most well-known and popular of the guest-friendly Santo Domingo hotels does not have it's own web site. Fortunately, contact information for Riazor can easily be found with a Google Search. Rooms here are in the $60-$70 USD range. They are located at Avenida Independencia #457. Phone number is 809-685-5566.

Hotel Mystik (CH Link): http://hotelmystik.com/ - Hotel Mystik is located at Pasteur #23, conveniently next to three take-out brothels and fairly close to several others. Rooms start at $55 USD. They supposedly used to offer rooms by the hour, but I don't know if this is still available. It looks like a regular hotel.

Jaguar Apart Studios (CH Link): http://jaguarapartahotel.com/ - The Jaguar Apart Studios are located in an unmarked building at Hermanos Deligne #59, a couple blocks north of Avenida Independencia. Rooms start at $45 USD. The area, lobby, and staff look a little sketchy, but they have a good reputation. Rooms come with a fridge and stove.

P4P ESTABLISHMENTS

The pay for play action is mainly centered near the intersection of Pasteur and Avenida Independencia. Other establishments are scatttered throughout the city. Although some of them may be walked to from the Gazcue district, taxis are highly recommended.

Some bars have recently closed, I will briefly mention these in case you were looking for information on them. They are: Bar 360, La Parada Night Club, Lapsus, and Playboy Palace,

Prices quoted seem to be generally set, but if you are comfortable with negotiating, go for it. You may be able to bring down the price, extend the time, or both. I also rounded down the hours for some places for simplicity. Some brothels, clubs may be open later than shown here on busy nights and weekends, although there may also be a talent drop off during that time period.

These first four brothels, Club 305, The Girls House, Satin Dolls, Sky High Club, and Venecia Hotel are all located within a block of one another.

Club 305 (CH Link)
Avenida Independencia 305
Mon-Sun Evenings
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
Club 305 has had some pretty nice talent on the times I've visited. Although options in the day are available by walking to the back, this is mostly an evening venue. There is low lighting in here so be careful when choosing. The onsite room is uncomfortable with couches that are too small for sex. Take your lady back to your room.

The Girls House (CH Link)
Avenida Pasteur
24/7
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
The Girls House is one of the larger brothels with a large lineup of ladies. They are open 24 hours a day and may offer daytime specials to entice you to come in. The reputation of this place is mixed, but in my opinion they have some of the best looking talent in Santo Domingo. Onsite is available but I have never tried it, the safe bet is to takeout.

Satin Dolls (CH Link)
Avenida Pasteur
Mon-Sun Evenings
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
Of the four Pasteur area brothels, Satin Dolls is the smallest with the lowest level of talent. Surprisingly, I've seen this place busier than the others on several occasions, so they must be doing something right. I've found an attractive lady here in the past, but this place, unlike the others, was a bust on my last visit to Santo Domingo. I do not know if onsite service is available here.

Sky High Club (CH Link)
Avenida Pasteur
Mon-Sun Evenings
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
Although The Girls House and Venecia Hotel also have poles for dancing, Sky High Club is the only one of the four that has regular shows and appears most like a strip club. The lineup is medium in size with some attractive ladies. The onsite rooms are big enough but have uncomfortable couches. Take out service is recommended.

Venecia Hotel (CH Link)
Avenida Pasteur
Mon-Sun Evenings
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
The Venecia Hotel is the newest of the Pasteur area brothels and supposedly the new location for the Lapsus club that closed down. On my visit in October they had a sign stating such. The size and level of talent here was comparable to The Girls House, perhaps at times better and at times worse depending on the night. I do not know if onsite service is available here. The Venecia Hotel is an evening venue.

Casa Teresa (CH Link)
Jose Ortega y Gasset #71
Mon-Sun: 7pm-3:30am
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
Casa Teresa used to be known for having some of the best looking ladies in Santo Domingo, but I've been unimpressed in my last several visits. It once was one of my favorite stops, but from now on I might only visit after I've gone through my top choices at the Pasteur clubs.If the brothel was closer it would be a place to visit more regularly, but it's about a 200 DOP cab ride each way.

Casa Azul (CH Link)
Paraguay #230
Mon-Sun: 12pm-3:30am/Possibly 24hrs
Standard short time rate: ??? < 3500 DOP
This residential brothel has a variety of names, but it's probably best known as Casa Azul. The current business card identified it as Diamond Princess. It's also known to some of the cab drivers as Casa Rosada or Pablitos. The casa is about 2 blocks from Casa Teresa, but I've been told repeatedly it's a very bad area to walk around. That hasn't stopped me, but you're probably better off heeding that advice. In my last few visits, there were only several ladies available, but at least one worth considering. On those visits I walked out for better options elsewhere. The rate here is lower than most of the other brothels, but I forgot to take note of it last time I was there.

Casa de Modelos (CH Link)
Calle Fray Vicente Beltran 16
24/7
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
Casa de Modelos is a well-known residential brothel. I've seen anywhere from several to about 15 ladies in the times I've visited. There has always been at least one attractive lady. All that said, I've had more bad experiences here than elsewhere and have been unhappy with the attitudes of the management. I've been reluctant to return and avoided the place completely on my last visit. The visit before that I was quoted 3500 DOP by a lady then 4000 DOP by the guy taking the money. He accepted 3500 DOP but I think he overcharged me for the drinks. I was already annoyed with him before the overcharging so that really brought down my opinion of the place.

GBP (CH Link)
Avenida 27 de Febrero 238, 2nd Floor
Days & Early Evenings
Standard short time rate: 1000 DOP for 1 lady, 1500 DOP for 2 ladies
GBP is short for Gimnasio Bar Privado, a day and early evening brothel. This is one of the more popular places among the Dominican Republic regulars for a decent lineup at bargain prices. Actually, decent might be generous, personally I thought the lineup was a little below my standards, but I've also only been once. The lobby here is very small and gets crowded quickly, plus they only sell soft drinks. The onsite rooms are fairly roomy but don't have a bed, only a matress, couch or other furniture to have sex on. It's questionable how often or how thorough the place is cleaned. I had a good experience here, but I have not been looking forward to returning.

The Baby Dolls (CH Link)
Paseo Presidente Billini
Mon-Sun 8am-2am
Standard short time rate: 3500 DOP
I haven't heard or seen much spoken or written about this place, but I like it. It's the place I would recommend next after the Pasteur clubs. The lineup is medium in size with anywhere from 8-15 ladies, but in my opinion they are better looking on average than most other places. They seem to have some kind of standard here. I think this is the one brothel where I could say I didn't see someone that I would consider ugly. Having this option available during the daytime is another plus.

Foxy's Gentlemen's Club (CH Link)
Paseo Presidente Billini
Mon-Sun 8pm-1am
Standard Short Time Rate: ??? 4000+ DOP
Foxy's does not have a very good reputation. It's supposed to be an upscale strip club, but the better strippers tend to work at Doll House. When I was in here only a few ladies were working, but one was very attractive. Onsite was 4000-5000 DOP, but I think closer to the latter. Takeout is closer to $200 USD from what I've read and heard. Supposedly the strip clubs are staffed with workers from other countries, but I did not speak with enough of them to confirm. From what I saw, none of the strippers from either of the two upscale strip clubs were worth the additional cost in my opinion. One nice thing is that you can walk in without paying a cover, at least I was able the times I visited. You might want to confirm if that is a concern for you.

Doll House Gentlemen's Club (CH Link)
George Washington 557
Mon-Sun Evenings
Standard Takeout Rate: $200 USD
Doll House's reputation is only slightly better than Foxy's, mostly because they have a larger club, a larger lineup of ladies, and generally a higher standard in looks. Unfortunately, the rate here is higher than anyplace else since they don't have a short time option (as far as I know) but unjustified for the quality of looks that I've personally seen. Like Foxy's, this strip club is supposedly staffed with ladies from other countries, but I did not speak with enough of them to confirm. You do have to pay a cover in the range of 400 DOP to get in, but you get two drink tickets for that. I would say to avoid this place unless you have the cash to spend freely and are set on finding the top talent in Santo Domingo. (Although that might be debatable)

Supposedly there are a number of other casas more targeted towards locals spread throughout Santo Domingo, but I'm currently aware of only one. I was introduced Executive Palace by a cab driver and it worked out well. In general, I do not like and do not trust the cab drivers in Santo Domingo, so if you go this route, try to find a cab driver you feel comfortable with, or better yet, one that is recommended by others.

Executive Palace (CH Link)
Calle Marginal Norte Nol 6, Alma Rosa II, Sto. Dgo. Este
Mon-Sun
Standard short time rate: 2000 DOP
This residential brothel for locals is located farther away than any of the others from the Gazcue district but the cab driver that took me only charged me 200 DOP each way. I believe he also got a cut from the house. I was skeptical of what the lineup would look like, and on average it was worse than the 3500 DOP places, but I found two I thought were attractive. The session quality was a little less than desired, but I think the place deserves further research. I hope to return here and possible other casas like this on my next trip to Santo Domingo. I visited in the evening, but I think they are open in the daytime. You may want to call before visiting in the day unless a cab driver can confirm they are open in the daytime for you.

CONCLUSION

Santo Domingo has more P4P options than any other city in the Dominican Republic. The ones I've provided are only a partial listing of the more popular and better known places. I wouldn't really recommend trying any others until you've exhausted this list unless you are able to find confirmed reports of the quality of the locations. Besides the hobby, there's not really a lot to do here. If you want a little beach getaway, Boca Chica is a fairly short bus ride away and they have a place called Casa Iraisa for P4P fun. Most hobbyists will head to Sosua on the North coast which has beach and water activities as well as a lively P4P scene with a few brothels and many freelancers in bars and discos. For more information on other cities, consult my other guides.

Thanks for reading! Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Vladimir
vladrasputin@hotmail.com

Just spent a couple nights in S. Domingo after a week in Sosua. I had a great time in both places. I thought the quality of girls at the places on Pasteur was very good (though expensive compared to Sosua).

I agree that most mongers would prefer the North Coast as S. Domingo has no beach to speak of and isn{t a particularly attractive city. However, if you{re a Bachata and-or Salsa enthusiast, Avenida Venezuela is excellent. I went there on Saturday night and had a great time dancing in Euphoria and El Aguila. I only recommend this if you aren{t easily scared as you are in a very rough area and you will stick out. But a very good time for the adventurous.

Also, I stayed at Mystik and if you don{t need luxury, it{s hard to beat at $55-night for a small room with AC, a safe and a fridge. Perfect location for the Pasteur clubs as well as the Malecon.

Agree with the Mystik preference. I updated the individual topics but I thought I'd also mention it in this guide.

Mystik
Pros: Better lit and more populated area. Right next to Pasteur clubs, no paying for cabs to bring ladies back from Pasteur clubs, 24 hour mini stall to buy simple snacks, drinks, condoms, etc...
Cons: Wifi routers regularly need to be requested reset, rooms not as nice

Jaguar Apart Hotel
Pros: Nicer rooms, better wifi, 24 restaurant nearby
Cons: Always need to pay cabs to bring ladies back, poorly lit and sketchier looking area, need to walk farther to buy things like condoms

Hostal Riazor
Pros: Same as Jaguar but better lit out front and appears more secure
Cons: Always need cabs and slightly more expensive