General Info

If you are not worried about a few dollars like you say then why wouldn't you use the airport exchanges? They will probably cost you less than using an ATM card anyway. And airport exchange places are not always a total ripoff. It all depends on your destination. For instance the ones in the Philippines give a rate that is even better than the posted interbank exchange. The ones in Thailand come pretty damn close to that rate as well and there are no fees.

[QUOTE=Score77;1256866]I have been to SD many times and never had a problam. I get my Pesos from the machines in the Casinos or Hotels. I find the rates very competitive. I don't worry about a few dollars. I never use the airport exchanges. That is a total ripoff. Going next week to SD.[/QUOTE]

Anyone heard of or been to Gents Resort? Please report.

Thanks

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1256945]If you are not worried about a few dollars like you say then why wouldn't you use the airport exchanges? They will probably cost you less than using an ATM card anyway. And airport exchange places are not always a total ripoff. It all depends on your destination. For instance the ones in the Philippines give a rate that is even better than the posted interbank exchange. The ones in Thailand come pretty damn close to that rate as well and there are no fees.[/QUOTE]In the DR the change bureaus INSIDE the airport are ripoffs like the ones inside airports in the US, and they charge about 15% over the normal rate of exchange. Thus everything you buy with those pesos costs about 15% more. The banks on the OUTSIDE concourses at DR airports are fine and offer a fair rate of exchange.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1257345]In the DR the change bureaus INSIDE the airport are ripoffs like the ones inside airports in the US, and they charge about 15% over the normal rate of exchange. Thus everything you buy with those pesos costs about 15% more. The banks on the OUTSIDE concourses at DR airports are fine and offer a fair rate of exchange.[/QUOTE]With a few thousand pesos and when you return there will be no problem with getting from the airport to your destination.

About a year ago before the Piano Bar was closed down, they had a few hot chicas working there.

I know Waleska, but I am looking for a light skin chica about 5'6' 100lbs very thin with a cute face and cute small butt that worked there.

Very good looking. Has anybody seen her around any of the casas or strip joints in the area?

I am going down this weekend for 6 days and would like to see her. I know they move around, but the real hot ones stand out.

[QUOTE=Riky Rapido;1257424]With a few thousand pesos and when you return there will be no problem with getting from the airport to your destination.[/QUOTE]This is true, and here is another little tip that can save you a few dollars. Use the Banco Popular ATMs because you can get 10, 000 pesos at one time and always withdraw the maximum because the ATM charges a fixed fee of 112 (US$3) pesos per go, so if you just withdraw 1000 pesos, you will be paying an 11% surcharge, but if you get 10, 000 pesos, only 1%.

Jetblue has a few promotions ongoing. True Blue Points can be used for flights, using 25% less points, book flights by March 16, 2011. Buy True Blue Points and receive up to a 50% bonus (buy 20k points, receive 10k points as a bonus).

JFK to SDQ currently around 5300 points going and $33US in taxes and fees. Returning flight about 7200 points and $63US in taxes and fees. For an extra $25US each way, you can sit in one of the first four rows (which have more room).

My last trip I flew American Airlines, Boeing 777. The overhead bins on that Boeing could not fit 2 carry-on bags that most people were traveling with. On that AA, Boeing 777, there is a remote control / telephone built into the top part of the armrest, not very comfortable to rest an arm on that control (and possibly change the channel or the volume). Individual air vents not easy to reach and the Boeing 777 was a bumpy ride each way.

The Jetblue Airbus A320, bigger seats, overhead bins seem bigger and in my experience the flights were smooth.

AA has fares from New York to Santo Domingo starting around $330US, Delta sometimes matches that fare, Jetblue around $378US.

Jetblue shows Buenos Aries and Rio de Janeiro as destinations (using its partner airlines). Jetblue flies into San Jose, Costa Rica and Bogota, Colombia.

[QUOTE=Bogiemaker;1256802]As mentioned in previous threads, the [B]Banco Popular[/B] Will normally only work if you use the Spanish language menus. Using my ATM card I have been able to get up to 10, 000 peso at a time at Banco Popular. I have not tried to get more than that at one time. When in the States, I use the Spanish menus in order to learn the correct buttons to push while in the DR.[/QUOTE]I have taken 20, 000 pesos from Banco Popular in one transaction, of course your home bank should allow that much too. (I used English menu - last year)

Anyone know of any good resorts in Juan dolio. I don't want to spend over $100 a night if I can help it.

[quote=frannie;1257719]this is true, and here is another little tip that can save you a few dollars. use the banco popular atms because you can get 10, 000 pesos at one time and always withdraw the maximum because the atm charges a fixed fee of 112 (us$3) pesos per go, so if you just withdraw 1000 pesos, you will be paying an 11% surcharge, but if you get 10, 000 pesos, only 1%.[/quote]my experience is that there is no rhyme or reason as to the withdrawal limit at any given banks atm's. it just depends on the location, progreso in sosua will give up to 30, 000 pesos per tranrep001ion whereas in pto pta it is only 5000. it seems the limit is higher in a tourist town unless it is a private (non bank) atm in which case the limit is very low to force you to make multiple withdrawals and pay higher fees. (ie atm at playero in sosua).

Has anyone ever took delta to the dr? They have a deal on a ticket. How does delta compare to connential or American?

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1260265]Has anyone ever took delta to the dr? They have a deal on a ticket. How does delta compare to connential or American?[/QUOTE]I flew twice on Delta to santo domingo, no problems. It was a while ago, so I don't remember much about the aircraft. Delta, AA and Jetblue from New York to Santo Domingo, compete, sometimes AA is cheaper, sometimes Delta is cheaper, sometimes Jetblue. I would fly Delta again.

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1260265]Has anyone ever took delta to the dr? They have a deal on a ticket. How does delta compare to connential or American?[/QUOTE]I have flown all over the world on every major airline a zillion times and with the exception of Spirit (I won't fly with them) my last thought is which airline. Price, connections, layovers and departure / arrival times are my priorities because those are the things YOU control in choosing a flight. You can have a shitty or great flight on any airline on any given trip regardless of airline and my experience has not shown one airline to be worse than another with the exception of Spirit, they just plain suck. This of course is just my opinion but I have done a shitload of flying for both business and pleasure.

But to answer your question Grandnash I have flown Delta twice to the DR without any issues.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1260285]Price, connections, layovers and departure / arrival times are my priorities because those are the things YOU control in choosing a flight. You can have a shitty or great flight on any airline on any given trip regardless of airline and my experience has not shown one airline to be worse than another.[/QUOTE]If I may add something to that (and to somewhat contradict Manizales) , the US airlines (all) suck big time. Of course, having traveled much on Singapore Airlines, I am biased and think it is the top dog (other Asian ones like Cathay is good too!) in that the probability of their flights sucking is extremely low. If I can help it, I would fly Lufthansa, or KLM (part of Delta now) , getting out of the US. I avoid BA like the plague these days because of Heathrow. But I guess to go to the DR, one does not have those choices.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1260347]If I may add something to that (and to somewhat contradict Manizales) , the US airlines (all) suck big time. Of course, having traveled much on Singapore Airlines, I am biased and think it is the top dog (other Asian ones like Cathay is good too!) in that the probability of their flights sucking is extremely low. If I can help it, I would fly Lufthansa, or KLM (part of Delta now) , getting out of the US. I avoid BA like the plague these days because of Heathrow. But I guess to go to the DR, one does not have those choices.[/QUOTE]Skytraxx, airline and airport reviews and ranking; [url]http://www.airlinequality.com/[/url]

Singapore Airlines and Cathay, two of five airlines with a 5 star ranking.

BA, Jetblue, Lufthansa have a 4 star ranking.

AA, Continental, Delta, KLM get a 3 star ranking.