Welcome to Sosua Sanctuary

This  one bedroom/one bathroom first floor apartment is fully secure in a  gated community in El Batey, Sosua.  The apartment is centrally located  just off Calle Pedro Clisante and is a few minutes walk to the beach.

There  is WiFi in the common area, and we have reliable private WiFi in the  unit with speeds over 10MB/s download and 1.5 MB/s upload.  This isn’t  shared WiFi for the whole building, it’s private WiFi for this unit. High speed internet in Sosua isn’t cheap, and there are several places that offer WiFi; however, in those places you’ll be lucky to text and email. At my place you can stream content and have full connectivity. With over 10MB/s (speeds can exceed 30MB/s at times), you will be able to function as if you were at home. Whether you need to catch up on work  (God forbid) or just want to download videos and content, the WiFi  speeds in the unit will be faster than most of what you’ll find in Sosua.

We  have cold A/C and instant Hot Water and everything you will need for  nice weekend, week or month or more away in the DR and ELECTRICITY is  INCLUDED.  Seems strange to have to say that, but some rentals in the DR  will charge you extra for the electricity you use by reading the meter  at check in and check out.  

In  addition we have backup generator that allows for the appliances and  electrical outlets to continue running even if the power on the street  fails.  It's not uncommon for the power to go out for minutes or even  hours at a time, and so we have installed a backup battery generator  that will provide between 5-8 hours of uninterrupted emergency power to  keep the WiFi, fans, refrigerator and the lights on. Please note that  because of the power usage, the A/C unit and instant hot water heater  will not work during an outage, but you will not be left in the dark.  

While  power failure in the DR isn't an everyday event, it can happen for brief periods of time. The backup generator makes it so that you are not  impacted by temporary outages.  Finally, the generator is powered by  rechargeable batteries so there is no noise when it kicks on.  

You  will find iPhone/iPad/Android charging cables and plugs available for  your use in the unit as well as an international power adapter for visitors from the UK and Europe.  The DR uses US type plus, so if you are traveling from North America, you have nothing to worry about. You  are welcome to use the chargers and adapters, just put them back where  you found them so they are available for the next guest.

The apartment is the perfect size for an individual or a couple.  No kids or pets please.

If you would like to rent for more than 29 consecutive days, please feel free to make multiple reservations.  For example if you’d like to rent  for 45 days, you can make a 29 day reservation and then consecutive 16 day reservation.

Guest access

Guest  access to the condo is via the front gate.  You will be given a key FOB  that opens the gate and keys for the unit.  You will have access to the  common area including the pool just outside of the unit.  We are visitor friendly, but we ask that while you are in the common areas you be mindful that there are others that live in the complex.  As with any place you would visit, use common sense, and you'll have a great time.

When  you arrive, I’ll have my assistant meet you to give you access to the  apartment.  Unfortunately we can not accommodate arrivals after 8PM, and  check-in is generally at 2pm; however, early check-in may be available  if the unit is unoccupied the night before or the current renter has  checked out early.  Checkout is at 10am, but again we may have  flexibility based upon the schedule.  

If  you like to guarantee early check-in or late check-out, simply book the  night before or after. You’ll find that we are pretty laid back and easy to work with, so if you need special accommodation, please just ask, and we will do our best. 

My goal is to have you enjoy your trip to the DR to the fullest, and come back often to our beautiful island.

Interaction with guests

When  you arrive you'll be met by my assistant who lives a block away. She  will get you set up and will be available in the event that there are any problems.

There  is a one time cleaning fee that is included in the AIRBNB fee for after  you check out to make the place comfortable for our next guests. Additional cleaning service is weekly and is INCLUDED in the the rate. Should you desire more frequent cleaning/towel service, it is available for US$ 20 or RD$ 1000 per cleaning. This is my cost, and I don’t make any money on the cleaning fees. Simply let my assistant know when you  want cleaning and she will schedule a time.

My assistant and I are available via the AIRBNB app or WhatsApp as well if you have any concerns.

Other things to note

Shopping,  dining, bars, clubs, beaches and entertainment are just a few things  that are just around the corner.  The walk from the apartment to the  beach down Pedro Clisante is a colorful introduction to the DR culture  and you will find virtually anything you need from the mini mart around  the corner.  From local food to international restaurants (Italian,  Chinese and a British Pub to name a few), you can enjoy a diverse  cuisine.  Once you get to the end of Pedro Clisante, there are a stretch  of local shops that lead up to the beach.

On  Playa Sosua, the shopping continues with dozens of dining and retail  establishments located right on the beach.  If you are looking for a  quieter beach experience, head over to Playa Alicia at the end of Calle  Dr. Rosen.  At the end of the day, the party shifts to Pedro Clisante  where you can safely walk around all night.  As with any place you would  visit, use common sense, and you'll have a great time.

The  town is relatively small and easily walkable. You can also get around  using the motoconcho, where you are basically hitching a ride on the  back of someone's motorcycle. The price within the El Batey area of  Sosua is 50 pesos, though you will certainly be quoted more if you ask  them firsthand. Simply tell the driver where you want to go, hop on, and  hand the driver the exact fare when you arrive at your destination and  walk away. The motoconcho drivers are everywhere and will actively  solicit you for a ride. Do not hop a concho while you are inebriated. 

The  cheapest way to move between Sosua and the surrounding cities and towns  of Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Rio San Juan, as well as the tourist  resorts in between, is by guagua (Caribbean Spanish slang for bus),  which are small mini-vans operating on the main highway between Puerto  Plata and Rio San Juan. At peak hours they pass every five or ten  minutes. Short distances (i.e., Sosua to Cabarete) should cost no more  than 20 pesos to Cabarete, to 30 pesos to Puerto Plata. They will pack  in up to twenty-five people per mini-van (this is not an exaggeration!),  with passengers almost in each other's laps. You may even have  someone's cage of roosters deposited on your lap.  

If  you'd like a less colorful option, tourist taxis are plentiful but expensive when compared to the guagua or motoconchos in Sosua. Should  you arrive by bus from Santiago, tourist taxi from Caribe Tours bus  station to El Batey is around 150 pesos. A taxi from Sosua to Puerto Plata airport will charge $25US for the car; however, many taxi drivers will attempt quote $25US per person, so be aware. 

The  nearest taxi stand is at the corner of Calle Pedro Clisante and Calle Dr. Rosin, however, finding a taxi or motoconch anywhere along Pedro Clisante is easy to do.  You  will pay about $15US from Sosua to Cabarete; however, if you wish to be  adventerous, you can take a guagua for about 20 pesos per person.  Guaguas run through the main road (Rt. 5), which is about 1 block south  of Pedro Clisante. You have to flag them down so they will stop for you.  

There  are car/moped rental places just around the corner (to the right) on Pedro  Clisante.  There are other car rental locations as well, so shop around.  You can, and should, negotiate the rate. The longer you rent the better  the price. If you rent in town from a local company you may be required  to surrender your passport. It should be safe, but in the event of an  accident do not count on your insurance or credit card company to bail  you out. You will be required to pay the damages in full, in cash before  your passport is returned. If you try to get around the process of  paying you may find yourself dealing with the local police or judge,  which may end up costing you more, and is not recommended. 

If  you prefer to deal with the more reputable International chains simply  stop by the Puerto Plata airport. An economy car may be rented for US$30  per day. Check with your credit card company first to see what coverage  they provide because this price is not inclusive of insurance. You may  be required to purchase Third Party Liability insurance even if your  credit card offers it.  One way to avoid this is to have a letter from  the credit card company that states that the credit card insurance will  cover third party liability. Local insurance is expensive so most simply  rely on the coverage provided by their credit card. Remember, insurance  is extremely important since drivers in this country a bit more crazy  than in Europe or the States.