General Info

Ok, I've read these post about using the ATM in the DR and I have found this to be the best route to take. If you are going to the DR and there is a Bank of America in your city or town please, open an account with Bank of America and deposit the money you will use on your trip. Bank of America and Scotia Bank (a Canadian Bank that operates here in the DR) are partner banks and you can withdraw money from the Scotia Bank ATMs here with no fee. (None, 0) If you use any other ATM machine in the DR you will be charged a fee by that bank and a fee by your bank. These fees are usually about $5.00 on both ends.

Also, Scotia Bank gives you close to the daily exchange rate on your money. You probably only lose a peso here and there.

This has always worked for me and I hope this info helps you on your trip to the DR.

[QUOTE=Negro562]Ok, I've read these post about using the ATM in the DR and I have found this to be the best route to take. If you are going to the DR and there is a Bank of America in your city or town please, open an account with Bank of America and deposit the money you will use on your trip. Bank of America and Scotia Bank (a Canadian Bank that operates here in the DR) are partner banks and you can withdraw money from the Scotia Bank ATMs here with no fee. (None, 0) If you use any other ATM machine in the DR you will be charged a fee by that bank and a fee by your bank. These fees are usually about $5.00 on both ends.

Also, Scotia Bank gives you close to the daily exchange rate on your money. You probably only lose a peso here and there.

This has always worked for me and I hope this info helps you on your trip to the DR.[/QUOTE]Good info concerning the $$ part of it sounds like it fits for any country but the concern about ATM eating the card have not had that happen to me as yet so today I ordered a back up

Now my question I don't hear too much about exchanging at the $$ at the exchange places granted I only have a 3 week stay and since my bank is not bank or america and I don't want to start a account it seems I could exchange $500. 00 once I hit town, and live off that for the stay and hit the ATM at the end of my stay if needed

Mongering is not high on my list and the $500. 00 is just a number I use it would also save me looking over my shoulder except for that one big exchange which I usually make with the taxi waiting before I hit my condo.

Now I also hear about the crappy exchange rate at the airport with this amount how much are really talking about me losing from the exchange booths in town?

Also I read the report about $50. 00 I usually bring new $100. 00 is there a problem with big bills

Thanks,

Nowrath

[QUOTE=Rodeo9112]Another cheap way out would be to catch a Spirit airlines or other low cost carrier to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, then the flights are cheaper. For instance, my October flight from MIA is costing me $285! I also wouldn't discount flying into Santo Domingo and driving to POP or Sosua...especially if you travel with a wingman. The 3-4 hour drive isn't that bad and its all highway and the roads are good with a nice view of the countryside...of course, if you're not the type that is comfortable in unfamiliar situations, it may not be for you. It also detracts from your mongering time on both ends of your trip. Of course, if you plan in an overnight in Santo Domingo on each end, you get a totally different mongering experience!

Rodeo[/QUOTE]We have tried that, but you have to look at, we are flying from NewYork 1, and 2 the cost of gas in DR right now is higher than the States.

Some of you might be familiar with the History of DR.

But DR was discovered by columbus. Columbus never set foot on the United States soil. Santa Domingo was the first European City there. throughout Columbus travels he sought Gold on the Island & could not find any.

Most Europeans slaughtered and used the Indians there as slaves. A lot of them died from disease. That was when they started bringing Africans on the little island. Columbus Frustrated that he could not find gold in DR. He called one city Puerto Plata which means Silver mountain.

Pretty soon all the Indians were completely wiped out by the 16th century. And the Majority of the population there were Africans.

Dominican Republic tried to burn and re write their history books about where they came from and don't consider themselves Afro Dominicans. As you will find today a lot of Dominicans like to refer to themselves as Indians.
Also racially by skin shade.

If you travel to DR during Columbus day you can view Columbus bones they have a ceremony every year.

[QUOTE=Nowrath]Good info concerning the $$ part of it sounds like it fits for any country but the concern about ATM eating the card have not had that happen to me as yet so today I ordered a back up

Now my question I don't hear too much about exchanging at the $$ at the exchange places granted I only have a 3 week stay and since my bank is not bank or america and I don't want to start a account it seems I could exchange $500. 00 once I hit town, and live off that for the stay and hit the ATM at the end of my stay if needed

Mongering is not high on my list and the $500. 00 is just a number I use it would also save me looking over my shoulder except for that one big exchange which I usually make with the taxi waiting before I hit my condo.

Now I also hear about the crappy exchange rate at the airport with this amount how much are really talking about me losing from the exchange booths in town?

Also I read the report about $50. 00 I usually bring new $100. 00 is there a problem with big bills

Thanks,

Nowrath[/QUOTE]

I have no idea where you will be during your stay in the DR. I don't do Sosua that often because I don't really care for that city. However, in response to your question and concerns, if I were in your shoes I would not exchange my money at the airport because they give the worst rate in the country. I would not exchange my money in the airport in the states either because their bad rate is probably worst than the terrible rate that you will get when you hit the airport in the DR.

If I were in your shoes, I would arrive here and eat the ass fucking that the taxi driver is going to give you, to reach your destination, in US dollars. Probably going to hit you for $20 or $30 depending on where you are going. After that I would go somewhere and check the internet and see what the current exchange rate is. (I usually use yahoo financial because it is pretty right on.) After that go out and check a few places that exchange money and see how close you can get to the real daily rate. In Santiago I have found that most places give you that rate. I don't know about Sosua and Puerto Plata because I don't go there that much.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T TRY EXCHANGING MONEY WITH THE DUDES STANDING OUT ON THE STREETS WITH THE BIG WADS OF CASH. A lot of the time they will give you some counterfit and I know that will mess up your whole trip.

I hope I was able to help.

The best place to exchange money in RD is Western Union, in Santo Domingo the main office of WU is in Abraham Lincoln street.

The exchange rate of casa de cambio is in the main newspapers (Listin Diario, Hoy or Ultima Noticia). Normally on the front page or the first page of business section (dinero, negocios). Actually 35, 5 RD$/$ At Caribe Tour and Western Union they change also, look or ask at the rates there. I made good experiences at Banco Hipotecario Dominicano (BHD). Caribe Tours in Sosua doesn't exchange money! So you must exchange at the bank. At Playa Sosua there is a man who makes exchange, I don't remember his name but everybody knows him. At Costambar go to Jenny Supermarket and change with the boss. Good rates.

Some one actually mentioned Western Union. Whomever you are you have no clue. Western Union gives the worst exchange rate on the island. They also steal money. That is the reason that everyone the sends money through them has to pay extra to send the money in US dollars and exchange it elsewhere.

So, please. Do not take that advice. This person has no clue.

[QUOTE=Negro562]Some one actually mentioned Western Union. Whomever you are you have no clue. Western Union gives the worst exchange rate on the island. They also steal money. That is the reason that everyone the sends money through them has to pay extra to send the money in US dollars and exchange it elsewhere.

So, please. Do not take that advice. This person has no clue.[/QUOTE]Its my personal view, and I have 4 yrs doing this. If you wanna go with the banks go for it, but wu have better rates that them, if you wanna go with the "Casa de cambios" that is your riks then.

The "safe" way is WU. There your not going to get your wallet stolen by a "carterista".

PS: sorry for the broken eanglish LOL

Are you serious man, western union? They are pure thieves. I can't believe anybody still uses them. In the states it is only poor migrants and undocumented workers that use them to send money back home and they got robbed doing it.

[QUOTE=Looking For Eden]Are you serious man, western union? They are pure thieves. I can't believe anybody still uses them. In the states it is only poor migrants and undocumented workers that use them to send money back home and they got robbed doing it.[/QUOTE]

I think that guy must work for Western Union and he is trying to keep the stealing happening.

Back when I was in the DR in June WU had the best rate and came highly recommended by the more experienced mongers whom I was with. At the time WU was giving 34 to 1 whereas everyone else was giving 33.

There are many places to change money in sosua. I walk around and ask at the little cambios (change booths) there are many. Sometimes I get a better deal from the guys standing on the corners, near what used to be Pluto's bar and the small grocery store. Usually earlier in the week the rates are better, I have seen the rates drop a few points on the weekends. Airport rates suck as do most hotel rates. Like most things in the Dominican Republic you can negotiate. I will say that so and so has a better rate, with the guys in the streets and at the small cambios and sometimes they match or better that rate. Depends on how much you are exchanging, usually when you exchange a large amount you can negotiate a better rate. I changed money twice with western union in Santo Domingo and they asked me for identification, I was carrying my passport, so it was no problem. Just something to consider if you use Western Union, they asked me for I. D. In Santo Domingo. In Sosua I am friendly with a large guy who stands on the corner, changing money. His rates are not always the best, never had a problem with him. In Sosua, in about a 15 minute walk you can visit about 10 different places that change money, I ask around and change money with whomever offers the best rate. Usually a few points difference. In Santo Domingo I tried to change money with some guy in the street on Independencia near Pastuer, but the guy was crazy, he gave me a good rate, I gave him 200 dollars he gave me like 6800 pesos, but he wouldn't leave the side of my car, he just kept yabbering about something, eventually I said forget it and drove away. I have changed money in the street in the zona colonial and in santiago, no problems.

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A good source of information as to how the exchange rate is going at the various Cambios around DR is to check out this website.

http://www.oanda.com

Seems it is pretty steady at around 34.8 pesos to the US dollar right now.

To all of you mongerers in the DR at the moment, what is the weather like and what is weather forcast for the next few days. Here in the US NOAA states that the tropical depression is slow moving and causing flooding in PR and DR, so any field reports will be appreciated.

Also, how is this storm affecting the mongering games?

Cheers

A158