Comments on: dominican republic currency?

By: mcleanz5

mcleanz5 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

We go every 2 years and all we ever take is our american dollars and our debit card. If you take a debit card call the 1-800 number on the back and let them know you will be there and give them your dates. If the bank sees a number of uses in another country they might put a hold on your card,if you don't let them know ahead of time.

By: Happy Feet

Happy Feet — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Lesley,
You need to take some dollars to pay entrance visa 10us/p.p. and some dollars to pay the most urgent things. After arrival you can take money (pesos) with your credit card from a cashier ATM/ATH and get the local currency. Don't change money in hotels or in the streets (to bad rate or to dangerous)
You better pay your excursions with Travelers cheques and buy your souvenirs with the local currency (Pesos Dominicanos) The rate today is 1 us = 33,80 pesos.
Enjoy it!

By: xxyoitsstevoxx

xxyoitsstevoxx — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

take dollars. they have all american money and they pay you back the change in US dollars

By: s351chic82

s351chic82 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

It really depends on where you are in DR. If you are on a resort I hear its fine to use US$. When I go we go to Santo Domingo to see family where they obviously dont want $$'s. Word of advice.. definately keep current on the rates because they change all the time and street hustlers/airports etc will rape you in exchange. Last time I went in dec 2006 it was about 32-33 pesos per $. The air port was offering just over 20. The Worst!
There is a $10 us fee to enter at the airport.

Side story: When we went in 2006 we had to go to some cathedral in the middle of nowhere and everytime we drove thru a town and were bombarded by children throwing wet sponges on the windshield and then "cleaning" it off for a couple pesos. After giving a few here and there we were out of pesos and when we were sponged yet again myhusband gave the boy one US dollar and he was the most grateful kid on the face of the earth. To him it was the equivelent of cleaning 6-10 cars.

Be careful not to flash your money. Remember DR is a 3rd world country..

By: Some_Guy_in_Ithaca_NY

Some_Guy_in_Ithaca_NY — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Money changing is very easy in the DR and availble at any bank. Just don't do it in the hotel since they will charge a much higher rate than a bank or street corner for that matter. The rate has been around 32 pesos to a dollar for years and varies only a little bit.

Most tourist areas have ATMs and you can use your card there. Any place that does not accept pesos will likely accept Credit Cards.

Try to avoid walking around with a lot of cash outside of the hotels. There really is no reason to have more than about 1000 pesos at night($30). In areas where there are local women(like discos in Sosua), be careful of female pickpockets. They usually work in pairs. Don't keep all your money in one place and don't flash it around. Use the same common sense you would have in any other city.