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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Anyone been to Dominican Republic recently?

31 replies

busybeeee222 · 06/12/2022 08:43

I am going to punta cana in dominican Republic soon. I just wanted some advice regarding money and trips etc.

Is it best to take USD there or is or fine to take pounds to change there?

Should i take some of their dominican pesos with me too? Or just change there?

Are there any trips you recommend? Also is it better to pay cash or on credit card? If card do you know if charges apply?

I have heard some people feel unsafe there, although some people say they feel fine to walk around outside of the resort etc, just wondering how others have found it.

OP posts:
Ivyblu · 06/12/2022 09:03

Hi have you picked your hotel? I stayed at here in 2019. It was fantastic! I think it looks like the hotel is merged now. The people were lovely and the service was excellent I met a lot of friendly Candian people and people from New York. I never go back to the same place twice buy here I most definitely would.

I took Domician pesos, I did a boat trip and a buggy tour it was fantastic OP. Definitely safe I went by myself and my DS who was 4 at the time.

www.tui.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=050245&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports%5B%5D=MAN&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=07-05-2023&pkg=1176952604/3/491/7&tra_o=1247071180/4337110&tra_i=1247071381/4337111&units%5B%5D=001451:DESTINATION&packageId=050245DOPC002116834176000001683417600000TOM14816840224000001684108800000TOM149DD011176952604/3/491/7&index=9&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&bb=AI&room=&isVilla=false&searchType=search&durationCode=7115&rmpc=1|2|0|0|0|&rmtp=DD01&rmbb=AI&fc=n&greatDealDiscount=0&bb=AI&price=pp

UrsulaPandress · 06/12/2022 09:03

I was only saying last night, I wonder how the Dominican Republic is faring with all the shit going on next door.

Original poster
busybeeee222 · 07/12/2022 21:30

Thank you for the reply :) glad to hear you felt safe there.

I have already booked my hotel which looks lovely, so I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks relaxing

OP posts:
DashDotCom · 07/12/2022 22:36

Weve been twice since 2018, took dollars both times no issues! Most things were priced in dollars and pesos at the hotel though so sure either would be ok!

LaLaLouella · 07/12/2022 22:37

Take Imodium, lots of it....

Ivyblu · 07/12/2022 22:39

Sounds great hope you have a good hol update us

KaySam · 11/12/2022 19:19

We went a few years back went on a trip to Saona island, It was all inclusive on the boats there and back along with the island it was a bbq all inclusive too.

momager1 · 16/12/2022 22:00

I have been to the dominican republic over 50 times. we were there in august and october this year. We actually fly one month from today for another vacation there..and we retire there full time in May ! it is my fav place in the world.

neptunanna · 29/12/2022 12:13

@momager1 what is it that attracts you to the Dom Rep? Wondering about booking a holiday there for this August. Any tips on where to stay?

momager1 · 29/12/2022 13:27

@neptunanna well for us, after travelling many places, we found the DR a very economical place, and the people are lovely. The weather is great year round including hurricane season (yes it does rain..but rare for more than a day and more likely quick rain then sun again) Where to stay? depends on what is important to you. If you have small kids and like to snorkle in calm waters, then south coast (La Romana, Bayahibe, Dominicus) In this area we have always enjoyed Iberostar hacienda dominicus AI. If you are young and very active, caberete or sosua on the north coast (puerto plata area) is great for kite surfing and lots of nightlife off resort. Its been 15 years since we have been there so not sure on resorts there anymore. If you are looking for a fly and flop...gorgeous beaches, better AI (most newer) Some really good close by excursions , then Punta Cana. This is our fav and where we will be in just over 2 weeks now. We will be at Luxury Ambar Bahia Principe for our 18th time and our kids and grandmonsters will be at the sister resort Esmeralda (that we can visit..they cannot visit us as it is adults only) the home that we now own is in Cortecito , right on the beach about 15 minutes from the Punta Cana airport and we look forward to starting retirement there in May

momager1 · 29/12/2022 13:30

just to add. @neptunanna If you decide on punta cana feel free to PM me. We have been to over 20 resorts in that area

Everydaywheniwakeup · 29/12/2022 13:33

I went a few years ago and at that time, staff said they preferred tips in dollars. I don't recall feeling unsafe, but it wasn't the right holiday for me in other ways, so I wouldn't go back. It was very beautiful though!

momager1 · 29/12/2022 14:29

Please remember.. do not tip staff in any coin other than pesos. There is no way to exchange coin there. Sometimes at the airport, or in some bars you will find some of the staff ask you to change their coins for dollar bills. I always have some extra on me as I know each time I leave at the airport, the washroom attendants will be asking for help changing the coin.

Mrsmch123 · 29/12/2022 22:42

I love the Dominican. Had 10 trips there and would go again in an instant if I didn't have to restle my toddler on a plane for 9 hours😂
we always took American dollars. I never felt unsafe at all in all the visits. We have never gotten sick either. We had our wedding there and one of the babies in the party came out in a really bad rash. Her parents took her to the on-site doctor who gave her creams and a bath wash and sent them to a hospital to be checked over to be sure. The doctor at the hotel refused to take any money for seeing the baby. Honestly they are lovely people.

Namefortodayandtomorrow · 30/12/2022 11:16

We were considering a holiday in Punta Cana for next summer but I’m worried about the seaweed problem in the Caribbean. Does anyone know if DR has an issue with it?

momager1 · 30/12/2022 11:36

@Namefortodayandtomorrow Punta Cana has been affected for the last couple of years with the sargassum as well. Most of the islands that are in the atlantic ocean have some issues with it. It is not all the time. In August when we were there it was pretty bad, whilst in October when we were there it was non issue. We will be there again in two weeks and expect it to be clear as it usually is in January. Punta Cana is actually atlantic , but the south of the Island (la romana area) is carribbean sea and has very little at any time of the year. There are some lovely resorts there and it is only about 40 min on the coral highway from Punta Cana , so still close enough to do many of the tours if you wanted to. It also is the area that all saona island tours depart from and most of the snorkling is. Punta cana is very pool for snorkling as the reefs are far off shore and the bottom is pure sand so not alot of fish, just those little silver fish. That being said , we bought our home in Punta Cana as we love the ex pat community and the more touristy feel , where la romana is quieter and the dominicus area has more of an italian flair to it.

KaySam · 30/12/2022 11:37

We didn’t see much when we went to Punta Cana,had massive problems with it in tulum (Mexico ) huge piles of stinking sewed on the beach.

momager1 · 30/12/2022 11:41

@Namefortodayandtomorrow i will attach beach in august and beach in october

Anyone been to Dominican Republic recently?
Anyone been to Dominican Republic recently?
momager1 · 30/12/2022 11:44

as you can see it can vary greatly. It is still my fav place in the world. HOWEVER I have been going 3 x a year min for almost 20 years and in a few months will live there full time, so a bad week with seaweed is not the end of the world for us. If I was having a rare vacation it would be pretty upsetting to not be able to use the beach. Thus if I was having just a rare vacation I would opt for la romana area

Namefortodayandtomorrow · 31/12/2022 03:14

Thanks very much momager1. Very helpful! Enjoy your new retirement home.

momager1 · 31/12/2022 20:45

I will be there in two weeks and I will take yet another picture of the same lifeguard hut so you can see a January photo as well

momager1 · 27/01/2023 19:09

Just returned from my trip. Unfortunately i did not get a chance to take a picture of the beach as I was constantly forgetting my phone in the hotel :( We were very busy , as we had a lawyer appt and a bank appt and I purchased some new furniture for our condo as it was ugly and not very comfortable to our paying guests! The beach, was PRISTINE for the few hours I spent on it. Now back in snowy canada working on our dogs exit certificates and packing stuff for the shipping container. Roll on May when we are moving into our condo!!!

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 22/02/2023 17:49

Is it bad every august? I’ll be there this August and will be gutted if it’s so bad. @momager1

KaySam · 22/02/2023 19:08

Thisisnotmyname2022 · 22/02/2023 17:49

Is it bad every august? I’ll be there this August and will be gutted if it’s so bad. @momager1

We went a few years back (in august) the weather was gorgeous everyday,it rained heavily one evening but the next day was lovely again

momager1 · 22/02/2023 19:20

it really is gorgeous weather in august. However all over the carribean sargusseum has been an issue for many years now. The resorts generally do their best to clean it off the beach. I am sitting in my house in canada right now..surrounded by boxes that are being picked up by a shipping company next week... April 9 is our move to DR day!!!

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