El Oso's trip notes from September 1-10 (Pirates Week 2014)

[MrGrizBear]

Readjusting to home life. No chica next to me when I woke up. No one to make breakfast for me when I got out of bed. No one to do my laundry for me. And I wonder why I came home (LOL!)

Spent 10 wonderful days at the villas. 14 total chicas were a part of my stay during that time, though never more than 12 were on-site at once.
Chicas included: Albania, BeeBee, Carmen, Ciely, Claudia, Issa, Jenny, Karina, Loraina, Maria, Mia, Michelle, Stephanie & Yosie
And while not all were to my taste for pardees, all were fun to have around in the large group setting. All treated me well. And there was no drama with themselves or other guests during the visit.

Other activities during the 10 days included a group dinner at Bailey's in Sosua (15 people, drinks & dinner for only $300 total); The Waterfalls excursion; A BBQ at the villa; Several Pool parties; and a big dance fiesta complements of the chicas for my final night.

Other guests were present also ... probably the busiest transition of guests coming and going I've seen from previous trips ... 6 total, I made seven. No more than 5 at one time.

I should mention that Bart is the new villa Chef, and he did a great job of keeping us fed to keep our energy levels up for all of the activities.

Took a few pictures ... posted some of them to the Gallery here (must login in to follow link & see photos): gallery/album.php?album_id=115

Again the trip was a lot of fun. The chicas were great. The other guests all got along. Fun was had by all.

Another guest and I who left on the 10th, took it upon ourselves to thank the chicas by giving them each $25 for a trip to the Salon ... (only cost us $150 each) which the chicas all greatly appreciated. An easy and inexpensive way to help the chicas remember us while we are away. They never forget kind acts.

Well, back to the laundry. Oso, signing out.

[crazzed]

its nice to see faces to the names......thanks oso

[GRANDEJ]

I like your idea of giving them a tip to go to the salon.

[bomba]

Be careful tipping cash to the girls, even though you tell them it's for the trip to the salon, you never know where that money's going. Papa Chulo gets most of it.
It's the same way when you go to the casino. You give a girl money to play the slots. Some of the girls will play, the other girls will pocket the money. Then you say to yourself, hey... I gave you that money so you could gamble not put in your pocket. But that's the problem with giving cash, once it's in their hands they do what they want with it.
That's why I never give cash tips. Gifts that are given to the girls, are for the girls and they keep them. To me personally, giving cash is like throwing it away.

[MrGrizBear]

While I understand your point Bomba ... I respectfully disagree. I believe small cash gifts ... whether given for a trip to the salon or time at the casino ... even if they just put it in their pocket, is fine with me. If I worried about how much they gave to their chulos (local boyfriends), I'd worry about the cash I gave them for pardee hours as well. Small cash gifts are fine in my opinion, and I'll continue to consider that option each time I travel to the island. When I do go to the casino and take 1-2 chicas with me, I also usually give them $20-40 each ... and tell them, IF they want to play, only play with what I gave them ... and if they don't want to play, put it away. Chulos aren't the only ones chicas share their cash with, several also have kids at home, which is also why they grab up the chocolates so quickly - they take some home to share with the ninos & ninas. (which is why the Halloween sized/individually wrapped chocolates and candies are the best to share).

With that said, I do have a hard and fast rule about my cash & chicas ... "my cash only goes to the island when I do". Funds never get sent between trips. Sending/giving chicas money when you aren't there ... is how I define "throwing it away".

[bomba]

Don't misunderstand... I still give the girls money when we all go to the casino. Whether they gamble it or pocket, once the cash hits there hands it is theirs to do with as they please.
And yes, many have children to care for. And many also help to pay for rent, electricity and food for their parents, with whom they live.
But that is here nor there. We all know it is a business and the girls are there to make money.
But I will not tip the girls cash for any reason.
Whether you choose to respect it or not... MWVDR does have a no tipping policy.

[MrGrizBear]

For anyone "confused" by the comments that both Bomba and I have posted ... here is the full text regarding "tipping" for the website FAQ ...

"At MyWildVacations, our policy is no tipping. Our women are well paid for what they do, most can and do earn several times the wages of an average Dominican Republic. Many of our women are trained professionals who simply choose the companion / GFE industry because of its very rewarding nature.

While no tipping is our policy, in the end, guests are left to decide how and if they will respect it. Therefore we suggest our guests show some limited form of appreciation to a woman who treats them well. This does not have to be in the form of cash, but might include a nice dinner, some gambling money ($20 or $30 at the casino) or some small gift (perfume, a hairdo, anything that makes her happy, because if you make her happy, we assure you she will act in kind!). Please note that you are NEVER under any obligation to provide any form of gifts or tips, and our employees NEVER ask for a tip of any kind.

Some of our repeat guests have found there are small items they can bring that can get them a lot of mileage. Items such as makeup, lighters, perfume, or some nice lacy things which can be inexpensive in North America, but very expensive and desirable in Dominican Republic. With a little research, there is a lot one can do."

------------
My personal interpretation of that is "No Tipping Required". It is not necessary or required here. No one ever needs to feel like they need or must tip. However, some, like me still do, especially for the staff (not the chicas) that provides support during the visit, like the cooks, maids, driver & security - which I do at the end of my visit.

The salon tip provide for each of all the girls is rare for me. I may do that for 1 or 2 on a trip. And if they go with me on an all-day excursion or to the casino, I may give them some cash $20-40 since they missed possible pardee hours. But it's never required ... and I do it only because I want to, not because I have to.

[bomba]

Oso, re-reading these posts I guess I sounded a little harsh and it was not meant to be. I guess sometimes my opinions can come across as a little strong.
It is every guests right to do as they choose. The "no tipping policy" is a request, not a rule. So if I made it sound as though you are wrong to tip cash, you are not and I apologize. But the reason the request is there, is so guests do not start giving cash tips and then the girls start to expect cash tips. I was just trying to let the new guys know that when they give a cash tip, that money may end up being used for something else other than what it was meant for.

[magnum]

Number one. Is that each girl / companion is at the villas as a INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. They only take home what the guests give them . Directly or indirectly.

So when the money is in their hands they can do with it as they wish. The no tipping policy is a recommendation. Not a hard and fast rule (we have only few rules

here ) Only three in fact. .... They are 1) no minors 2) no drugs 3) and no violence.

I like that both of you, Bomba and Oso, make very good points . And both of you are "correct" in some respects. I really like the idea of a small "tip" for the salon.

The guests can emphasize that is what it is intended for. And see if it is used that way. AND the guests ultimately benefit from that also. BEAUTIFUL CJICAS that

are not afraid to go in the pool because of HAIR issues. They all want to be beautiful for our guests.

I also like Oso's idea "my money only goes to the island when I go with it". No Western Union abuses.

[Pica]

Well, I just want to reiterate Capt. Uno's motto..."Yo soy el regalo!" That said I also reiterate... NO WESTERN UNION!!! If you want to tip for extra good service it will definitely reward in future too! But I am with Bomba on one thing is that some will come to expect it. I have had this happen to me more than once. And neither of them have been seen at the villas since! There are too many waiting at the gait!!! Oso has the main thing right imho, small cash in hand and NO WESTERN UNION!!! T and Indiana will definitely steer any newbies right with these issues, so just don't be afraid to voice any concerns to them. But now I think we're getting a little too inside baseball for some, but it is definitely a concern for the new guys. So, just get the fuck down there and find out for yourselves all you fence sitters...they're waiting for YOU RIGHT NOW!!!


Fish On! Pica Out!

[GRANDEJ]

I like the idea of giving the ladies a salon tip, but sometimes it depends upon how friendly they are.
Generally I don't tip them, but when one or two has been quite special, I will.
I do believe in tipping Joel, the driver, Carmen and Bart, the cooks and the lady that cleans.
They work hard for us and do a good job and are always very pleasant.
Joel's rates are really cheap. If you were to rent a taxi, it would cost a lot more than what Joel is paid and that is why I tip him…plus he has a family and is such a great guy.
It is especially nice to have Bart at MWV as he is fluent in English and can help us at times to explain certain things.

I really love this pardee hour.
There have been ladies with whom I'm not very interested, but bringing them to a pardee with one I like, I've found I liked them better than I thought.
I do try to give all the ladies work, but again it is your vacation...you decide what you want to do.