7DaysinParadise

Travel => Dominican Republic => Topic started by: Bulldog on May 06, 2005, 11:54:00 PM

Title: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 06, 2005, 11:54:00 PM
What is the best to take down with you,
 
 Canadian
 or
 American
 
 Or Bananas  :b:    :b:  (kidding)  
 
 
 Thanks
 Bulldog...
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Sandy on May 07, 2005, 12:08:00 AM
American.  We brought cash (you really don't need alot) and put the excursions and duty free on VIsa.  I'm sure there are ATMs somewhere, really can't help you there.
 
 I like the idea of bananas though,   lol   :)
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 07, 2005, 12:11:00 AM
Do the take all three major cards..?
 
 Master Card
 American Express
 and as you said VISA
 
 Your info is helping me so much Sandy..
 
    :D  
 Bulldog
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Sandy on May 07, 2005, 12:20:00 AM
I believe they take all 3.  Knowing me, I used American Express for the airmiles, lol.  
 
 And before I forget, people say never play Keno in the Casinos...they think they are rigged.  We just played slots once in awhile in the evenings.  Go in with a sense of humor, some of those slot machines are old,  lol
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: flopnfly on May 07, 2005, 03:59:00 PM
Take US$, you'll get a better exchange rate.
 
 Put what you can on your credit card, and exchange what you need into pesos for shopping, you'll get better prices.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 07, 2005, 04:30:00 PM
Thank You Heather..  :D
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: SharonAnn on May 07, 2005, 07:27:00 PM
I went to the currency exchange at the mall and got Dominican pesos before we left.  We didn't need to change any money when we were down there  but as I recall, US$ exchange rate was much, much better than Canadian.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 07, 2005, 08:17:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by SharonAnn:
  I went to the currency exchange at the mall and got Dominican pesos before we left.  
I didn't know you could get them here...so you must be able to get a better rate here...then there..?
 
 Bulldog
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: flopnfly on May 07, 2005, 08:26:00 PM
I didn't know you could get them here either.     :confused:
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: SharonAnn on May 07, 2005, 09:05:00 PM
It's no problem getting Domincan Pesos here anywhere there is currency exchange. I went to the one at Fairview Mall in Kitchener. It was a much better exchange rate than the hotel in Puerto Plata was offering although the exchange on the US dollar was very fair.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Gambitt on May 07, 2005, 10:06:00 PM
LoL... Cuban Convertible Pesos are about the only "currency" that you Can't get outside the home country.
 
 I know you can now even buy Russian Rubles on the open market.  (bring your own garbage bag, if you buy more than $20 worth)  :p
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 09, 2005, 12:26:00 AM
Thanks Sandy...
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 09, 2005, 03:12:00 PM
How about getting the DR MONEY in Toronto..?
 
 DOP
 
 Bulldog  :D
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: huskypup on May 09, 2005, 04:10:00 PM
Bulldog
 
 when we went to DR last year we used American Dollars as the exchange rate was better, plus we found that it got confusing as the prices were all in dollars, so you were having to work it out in peso's before you bought anything and then Im sure we were twindelled a few times.
 
 stick to dollars.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 09, 2005, 05:55:00 PM
Thanks Husky...
 
 Just wanted to bring a few with us..just in case...was going to bring mostly US money !
 
 Bulldog...  :D
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: SharonAnn on May 09, 2005, 09:07:00 PM
When we were at Iberostar Costa Dorado in 2003 everything was paid in Dominion Pesos.  All the shops at the resort was in Pesos and so were the excusions.  You had to exchange your money at reception if you only had US or Canadian.  As I recall, Canadian dollars took quite a beating on the exchange there.  US was pretty good.  We took enough pesos for spending though.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: flopnfly on May 09, 2005, 09:22:00 PM
Most of the shops in DR have the prices in both US and pesos.  I used to always pay in US $ until I went with my sister one time and she uses pesos.  She was consistently getting better prices from the vendors, the resort gift shops were set prices.  
 
 There is usually a foreign exchange booth on every corner in every little town with a chalk board outside with the rates of exchange.  They aren't all the same so shop around.  The Canadian dollar isn't as good as the US for changing.  
 
 You don't have to change your money into pesos, everybody will accept US, it's up to you.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Sandy on May 09, 2005, 09:25:00 PM
Is that in Puerto Plata, SharonAnn?  We never used pesos at all in Punta Cana, almost everything was priced in American dollars.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: flopnfly on May 09, 2005, 09:31:00 PM
I was talking about Puerta Plata and Bayahibe, I haven't been to Punta Cana yet.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: SharonAnn on May 09, 2005, 09:55:00 PM
Yes, I was at Iberostar in Puerto Plata.  I've never been to Punta Cana.  There were vendors at the far ends of the beach in either direction but not in front of any of the resorts.  As I recall, they would quote you prices in Pesos or US dollars.  Pesos was always the better deal.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Sandy on May 09, 2005, 11:18:00 PM
ok, thanks guys...good info for future trips...I haven't been to puerto plata yet.  The beach doesn't sound fantastic but the towns interest me.
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 10, 2005, 12:44:00 AM
Well then ...I will just bring US and get it exchanged down there if need be...  :D  
 
 Bulldog...  :s:
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 19, 2005, 05:14:00 PM
OKAY ...so I wanted to have some Pesos to go away with...not all money, mostly was going to take US money
 
 So I phoned around and found
 
 Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange - Fairview Mall
 416-502-0436
 1800 Sheppard Ave E Toronto
 
 And called and got a price for $202.00 Canadian and
  we would get 4000.00 Pesos (19.80) not great
 compared to the 22.72 on the conversions site.
 
 But I was going to do it so the lady had to order it in and I went there to get it and she didn't get the 4000.00 she only got 3760.00 so I said okay..but now she wanted $214.00 CND (17.57)...I said no thanks and walked away..
 
 So don't go to Thomas Cooks to exchange money as they really do rip you off big time..
 
 Thanks..  ;)
Title: Re: MONEY $$$$$$$$$$ in the DR
Post by: Bulldog on May 31, 2005, 07:01:00 PM
It turns out that US is the only money you need...and Credit cards for Excursions...
 
 The peso exchange got as high as 20-1 for US and 22-1 for Canadian..
 
 But like others said US is all you will need..
 
 Bulldog  :s: