Currency exchange

aimeek420

Is anyone exchanging American money into the currency of their honeymoon destination? We didn't when we went to Cancun on vacation last year, but we're going to PuntaCana for our honeymoon, which is a little farther away. Not sure what to do, let me know what you think!

Olexa1979

Hey there!! that is where Im going on my honeymoon - the best thing to take are travelers checks - and the US is widely accepted there - big note though that when you go through there immigration and get a visitors card they only accept $10USD - and this comes from the Hard Rock Hotel who will be picking us up at the airport.  Have a great wedding and Honeymoon - where are you going to be staying??

aimeek420

Thanks for the head's up about the visitor card, I assume that is per person? We're staying at Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe.

Olexa1979

No Problem!!  Yes it is $10USD per person!!  Have a great time    When will you be in the DR??

amyelise25

In my opinion (I travel at least twice a year to either Europe or the Caribbean), travelers checks are unnecessary and burdensome.  In most of the Caribbean countries I have been to the US dollar works just fine.  If you want to get local currency, find an ATM.  They shouldn't be hard to find at the airport, around the shopping areas, or at your hotel.  You will get the best rates out of an ATM versus exchanging money at one of the airport kiosks, at the hotel, or at other exchange places.  But you have the peace of mind to know that you can always exchange money if necessary.

Another route if you really want to be a planner, is to exchange money in advance of the trip at your local bank.  They usually need a week for this "order".  When I did this last year there was a $7 fee at my bank.  My mother has some deal where she doesn't get charged anything.  Other banks could charge more.  I only did this because I knew that I coudln't use the dollar at my destination and I was arriving there really late and didn't want to mess with looking for an ATM when I was exhausted. 

Anothe tip is to take lots of dollar bills with you for tipping.  I found this to be true in all the Carribbean/Mexican places I have been to.