Anyone been to the Dominican Republic

Cheetah Designs said:
I travel in feb. I know I need to get a visa, is it best to get one before I arrive? My girlfriend has dual nationality (American), will she need a visa also?
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I think you pay when you get there... About $15 I think (or that is what it was)

There is always a big queue as everyone has to buy it... Watch out for the Germans! They never queue!
 
When I booked the hotel it mentioned local taxes of $10 when you arrive and $20 when you leave. I take it that this is in addition to the tourist card on arrival.

Just thinking how many dollars to get. What's the tipping etiquette there? Given that I am all inclusive for 7 nights, how much should I take in cash? (Obviously i will have a credit card in addition to this)
 
Cheetah Designs said:
When I booked the hotel it mentioned local taxes of $10 when you arrive and $20 when you leave. I take it that this is in addition to the tourist card on arrival.

Just thinking how many dollars to get. What's the tipping etiquette there? Given that I am all inclusive for 7 nights, how much should I take in cash? (Obviously i will have a credit card in addition to this)
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the $10 on arrival is for the tourist card

I take $100 in $1 notes for tipping for a week, this seems to be what most do, a bit for taxi/bus driver, $2-3 for bellman,

leaves about $12-13 a day which I would prob split,$2 maid, $5 meals, $5 bar/drinks


above that you only need money for excusrsions/shopping/casino etc, this can be for nothing to whatever you want, I normally take about $500 but if you don't go to casino I doubt you would need that much
 
sbi5ar said:
I think you pay when you get there... About $15 I think (or that is what it was)

There is always a big queue as everyone has to buy it... Watch out for the Germans! They never queue!
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you can get the card in advance but it doesn't get you past the queue at punta cana, I have never known it take above 10 mins

hardly ever seen a German in DR, mostly Canadians and Brits
 
[TW]Fox;23479954 said:
If you just want to stay in the resort why go all that way? You will get the same experience for less money, or a better place for the same money, in southern Europe. If you are not leaving the hotel gates it won't matter where you are as long as the weather is good.
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the weather is much better in DR in Feb that any of Europe and the resorts are much better
 
You buy a visa when you get there $10 into the country and $20 out of the country.

This answers your second question yes they prefer the US Dollar to their own Dominican currency.

We are going for our third time in April to the Gran Bahia Ambar in Bavaro just up from Punta Cana. It's adult only 5 star! It'll be our second trip there.

The resort is huge with plenty of entertainment going in 24/7.

Really no need to even go out your resort. It is quite run down outside the walls of the resort and not recommended that you venture out alone.

We have paid £3200 for 14 nights.
 
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Used to go there on oil tankers in the 80's and 90's. Santo Domingo and Rio Haina. I remember cheap rum, cheaper whores and grinding poverty everywhere. Anything else you need to know?
 
Went to Sosua a few years ago. Lovely place.

Not sure why people are so scared of the locals. Went into the main town quite a few times and drank with the natives. Really welcoming people.
 
PinkFloyd said:
That's useful to know. We're all inclusive, but I guess tipping in US dollars could work well then? :)

Heading out week tomorrow :D
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I'd check about the tipping, the hotel we were in we were told not to tip the staff, even by the staff themselves. The bar staff actively refused tips and the maids never took the money but always left a little gift themselves.
 
We went twice and stayed at The Hamaca in the South and Victoria in the North (or vice versa). We enjoyed it, food was good, I liked the people, (in my opinion some of the prettiest girls on the planet), private beach at the Hamaca but the Germans were reserving sun beds at 8pm the evening before.

I brushed up on my schoolboy Spanish by buying the Teach Yourself Spanish books and tapes. That was an asset, the locals appreciated that I was trying (very trying the wife says).

Evening entertainment absolute dross. Just miming to Prince (who's he), Michael Jackson (who was he) etc. Only on one evening at Victoria Hotel did they have a live act, a family from Ecuador where the whole family played traditional instruments, sang danced etc, on that night the entertainment area was packed. Perhaps the management didn't want the area packed especially as we were on All Inclusive Packages. We prefer Kenya and Goa. Kenya is visa on arrival, Goa a pain in the bum. Kenya has elections in the near future so we're NOT going this spring time.

Happy Holiday
 
Morba said:
I'd check about the tipping, the hotel we were in we were told not to tip the staff, even by the staff themselves. The bar staff actively refused tips and the maids never took the money but always left a little gift themselves.
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Really....they make more money from the tips than their wage?

I'm surprised to hear that actually.

We always tip in Dollars. Only tip when you feel that member of staff has made you feel special. There were a certain few that stood out to us who we tipped regularly. Cleaners we tipped every few days with 5 dollars or something like that.
 
MattHep said:
Really....they make more money from the tips than their wage?

I'm surprised to hear that actually.

We always tip in Dollars. Only tip when you feel that member of staff has made you feel special. There were a certain few that stood out to us who we tipped regularly. Cleaners we tipped every few days with 5 dollars or something like that.
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Yeah it surprised us, we were expecting to tip and happily do. However the staff were fantastic and after first refusale we didnt offer again, where as the Americans were always holding a note out for attention at the bars but we were served first most of the time.

We were told that it was known for staff to be mugged when leaving the resort for their tip money in the past. Sad but understandable given the style of life people had outside of the resorts!
 
Rotty said:
the $10 on arrival is for the tourist card

I take $100 in $1 notes for tipping for a week, this seems to be what most do, a bit for taxi/bus driver, $2-3 for bellman,

leaves about $12-13 a day which I would prob split,$2 maid, $5 meals, $5 bar/drinks
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Yeah we won't leave the resort so Ill just get $200, leaving $140 for tips for the week should be enough. Annoying as it means ill have to carry around money for tips :/
 
Can only echo about leaving the resort. When they are all guarded by armed personnel at the gates. We got hassled when we went to the main town and generally felt unsafe. Go to Asia e.g. Thailand same hot sticky weather without the same poverty. Other end of DM is Haiti where their stable diet a few years back was mud pies. Better places to go IMO
 
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thepharcyde said:
Can only echo about leaving the resort. When they are all guarded by armed personnel at the gates. We got hassled when we went to the main town and generally felt unsafe. Go to Asia e.g. Thailand same hot sticky weather without the same poverty. Other end of DM is Haiti where their stable diet a few years back was mud pies. Better places to go IMO
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Better places if you actually want to go outside of the resort I'd agree, but some of the resorts are fantastic for the money.
 
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