UncleBuck
Canadian expat in Dominican Republic
Forum posts
537
About me
Canadian
Lives in Sosua/Caberete
Speaks English and very poor Spanish.
Registration: 06 June 2017
Activity
Construction costs - Campo of Puerto Plata by yc24
Hi all! I'm curious to know how much it would cost to build a home in a campo in Puerto Plata. It's very rural. The land has already been attained. I appreciate your input.Thanks.
The problem is, there are too many variables for us to factor in to give you an answer. Are you building a tin shack? A bare concrete structure? A foam panel home? A poured concrete and foam structure? A traditional ... Read More
Challenges to hearing/speaking local Spanish by wondering9
I have been thinking about this ever since I got here -- how successfully getting around in Spanish is not just a question of ......vocabulary (including country-specific terms that even native speakers have trouble with)...grammar...rapid ...
Agreed, the hardest part of living here is not knowing what you don't know. And then try to solve it with garbage Spanish, while you're flustered and haven't practiced the words beforehand, and as you said, trying to interpret a completely ... Read More
restaurant Spanish by wondering9
I had a nice restaurant meal yesterday and while I was trying to pay the waitress kept saying "fiscal?" Once I took out my credit card and she saw it, everything went smoothly, but I'm still curious what "fiscal" means in that particular context. ...
"Fiscal", usually "Factura Fiscal" (Tax Invoice), also "Comprobante" (Tax Voucher) are what are referred to as receipts you would use for your Dominican business. You would need to give them your RNC number, the registration number of your ... Read More
Starting New Business in DR by gainkeeper
How user friendly is DR to foreigners starting a new business? You've seen people selling products at busy intersections. I'd like to start a business selling vape products at stop lights. People selling the products for me could earn a good income. ...
That business model seems like the fastest way to get your product and money stolen from the "employees". Honestly, opening up a beach bar has more chance for success! Nothing about your idea is legal. Most of these vendors are independents, ... Read More
USD CONVERSION TO RD Pesos by motorcitysssnake
My bank sucks for conversion of USD to DO Pesos. Where in LT can I convert usd to pesos and get a favorable rate without waiting for an extended time?
I use this website. It lists all of the banks, but not Santa Cruz for some reason. I believe Caribe Express or Western Union may offer better rates, but it would depend on how much you're converting and how far away they are to make it ... Read More
Tap water do's and don't's by wondering9
Another newbie question! this about what to do while Airbnb-ing (not, eg, about installing a home system).Just how hard-core do you have to be about tap water safety?Does it differ in different parts of the country?Is it safe if boiled? (Can you use ...
And I am a bit different, again. I preface this with saying in the 2 homes I've owned, I've had a whole home purification system installed and always recommend them. But, in the rentals I've lived in and in hotels, I do brush my teeth and rinse ... Read More
Can you deposit a US check into a Dominican bank account? by wondering9
I'm hoping it won't come to this, but I might end up receiving a paper check at the last minute before I leave the US. Is a Dominican bank likely to accept it as a deposit?I imagine there would be a long hold on the funds, which would be OK in this ...
Just to add my experiences, yes, I've deposited a US$ check into my dollar account here from one of my customers. It cleared his account in the States in about 3 days, showed up as a balance in my account here right after, but was not part of the ... Read More
Ministerio de Relacioned Exteriores visit by Slin1953
Hi allI will be in Santo Domingo June 9th to turn in my application for visa/residency I am planning to represent my self How can I get an appointment for the Ministerio De Relaciones ExterioresIf somebody been thru the processed please just let ...
@Slin1953 This is the second post I've seen where you mention submitting your paperwork to the wrong Government Agency. No offense intended, but are you SURE you want to do this by yourself? A lawyer for the initial Residency is worth their ... Read More
Quarantine for pet bird in Dominican Republic by muggo
Greetings:My husband and I are planning to visit the Dominican Republic shortly with our pet parrot. We are familiarizing ourselves with all the governmental regulations and find that quarantine is mandatory.Can anyone tell us what the quarantine ...
Check out the resources on this thread from a couple of years ago. I have no idea if any of it is current or applicable./en/forum/central-america/dominican-republic/926313-bringing-a-parrot.html Read More
Santiago vs. Puerto Plata by wondering9
So if my goal was to spend a couple of months exploring the north coast, using public transportation rather than a private car, which in your opinion would make a better base, Santiago or Puerto Plata? I know Santiago is inland, but it seems to be ...
My opinion, and it is only an opinion, is this: If you are thinking of exploring the North Coast, it makes sense to be based there. Santiago is nice, and likely less expensive than Puerto Plata, but much busier and crowded. You'd still have to ... Read More
Insurance over 65 by planner
This has been discussed multiple times here on the forums. Its fairly easy to get coverage under age 65 but almost nothing available over 65. Well now there is! I have a group package available to expats for anyone from age 50 and up to ...
I replied with the answer in your other post. Read More
No Insurance costs by sharonnickerson
I am trying to find the message from the person who wrote about having to pay the hospital bill because their mom had no insurance at the time of her death after treatment
/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1094329This is the thread I think you're looking for. Read More
Part-Time Domestic Help Rules by KaiserS
I have a question about DR government rules regarding Part-Time domestic help. I had a part-time maid who worked a few hours per day, once a week, at her own convenience, and sometimes only a couple of times a month. At the end of the month she ...
The best way, not what the laws say, but the best way, is to just pay them as if they were employees. I guarantee you, if you don't, even though they are not entitled to the severance or Christmas pay legally, you will be taken to court and you ... Read More
Looking to purchase a property in Punta Cana by tliew1
Hi all.My name is Teck. We currently reside in Ontario Canada. On our last trip we started to talk to an owner of a 10 unit apartment building that a friend lives in. The owner wants to sell his building and property and my wife and I are interested ...
@tliew1 At the risk of sounding jaded, which I promise you I'm not, DON'T. Don't even entertain the idea. Punta Cana is NOT the Dominican Republic, it is a giant tourist area. But, it is still the DR for rentals. Unless you have a huge appetite ... Read More
My Personal Experience with the Naturalization Process in the DR by Profe Agayu
First, it is a must to point out that I love the Dominican Republic! This country, with all its good and not so good, is one of my favorite places to be. However, this place gets a bad rep, especially when dealing with services, specifically legal ...
When you say "Naturalization", do you mean Temporary Residency, Permanent Residency, Citizenship, or are you part Dominican getting Citizenship? It is a term used by many, oftentimes for many different things. Read More