How to be safer in the DR - Compilation of tips by DR1 Members - Page 9

ustilagor · #81 12-18-2006, 04:33 PM

thanks again....yeah was wondering about the comfort level of a next to the body belt (might be a bit uncomfortable) our passports are a very great concern to me as are the ATM card and credit cards...losing a few dollars is not as much of a concern...I like the extra pocket inside the front of the pants idea...great idea that is...so sounds like you would recommend having travelers checks also...had heard might have trouble cashing them...but reading in here doesn't sound like that is really a problem...thanks

ustilagor · #82 12-19-2006, 02:30 PM

well just got back from a trip to AAA office here in Tampa bought a kinda neato pouch thingie that goes inside of pants and clips to top of pants or belt...will be hidden and out of sight (hopefully) just didn't like the idea of a money belt wrapped around me on bare skin under my shirt, so it is kinda like the pouch you told me you sewed in front of trousers...thanks for the idea...got some travelers checks and some cash so ready to head down that way tomorrow....looking forward to my visit...again thanks for all the useful information everyone has contributed to this thread...will let you know how things went when I get back...

Me_again · #83 12-19-2006, 04:23 PM

Have a good one ...

Lambada · #84 12-19-2006, 05:52 PM

About 7 years ago I was returning home to the DR from a visit to UK and was transporting quite a bit of cash and travel cheques (easily changeable here btw) so I wore 2 next to the skin body belts both of which bulged. It was OK leaving UK because a sweater over the top just made me look pregnant (at 56 as I was then!). Course by the time I landed here I looked both pregnant and hot but I was travelling alone so the discomfort was outweighed by the necessity. Had I had fewer stacks of TCs in the body belts they would have been quite comfortable. But they do make you perspire in warm climates.

ustilagor · #85 12-29-2006, 11:05 AM

back from my trip...spent 8 days in Santo Domingo...carried my money/travelers checks around in the little pouch I bought at AAA...I was staying with a person who visits the DR on a regular basis and knows their way around the area I was staying so felt safe with them going with me. I could not find a bank in the the area I was in who would cash my travelers checks but was told if I went to a more tourist type area probably could have cashed them. I ran low on money last few days and just went to an ATM in the area with the person with me to kinda watch my back. Was the day afer christmas and tho the banks were crowded the ATM machine was not and I withdrew 300 USD and was only charged $1 fee which is actually less than most ATM machines here in the USA. The exchange rate was the same as the exchange rate I had been getting for my USD 33.2. The instructions at the ATM were in spanish and english. The ATM was outside a Banco Popular bank. I never felt threatened or unsafe during my trip and I traveled around in local taxis BUT the drivers were known to the person I was staying with.

dv8 · #86 12-29-2006, 11:25 AM

my mum is an oldish person, vertically challenged and little heavy around tummy, you will not see her running after the thief.
her financial tactics is:
when carrying large amounts of money have your bag stuck firmly under your arm. in the bag have all feminine rubbish. in your hand have a worn out plastic shopping bag in which place a bag of sticky sweets, few used hankies and harlequin book with an envelope as a book mark. in said envelope carry the cash you want to pay into the bank. while walking swing the plastic bag carelessly.
it has always worked for her. i don't know if it would work here as well...

paladino · #87 01-04-2007, 05:23 PM

Just back from Cabarete where I had to use an ATM. The ATM stated on the screen that it could not complete my transaction yet I was charged $62 USD on my statement. The next ATM I went to worked fine. Now I have to challenge the improper charge and will surely loose because all bastard bankers claim that ATM cannot malfunction like that. I recommend only using ATMs at bank locations so that you can bitch at someone if ripped off not to mention that many bank locations have 24 hr. security on site for added protection.

paladino · #88 01-04-2007, 06:09 PM

I have travelled a bit in some very shabby places in Latin America and I will share advice for Gringo travellers in Latin America.

TOPICS
Language
Caching Cash
Prepare To Be Robbed
Protect That Passport
Watch Everything, Look at No One
Dress Down, NO JEWELRY
Be Ready To Pay & Move On Quickly
Watch That Back

1) Learn the language, simple grammar & 500 vocabulary words of Spanish can get you to Tierra del Fuego and back easily.
2) Always seperate your cash into min. two locations: what is necessary on hand for the day and keep the rest in safety box at hotel and if no safety box available put into a small pouch and stuff in your briefs, inside pocket, fanny pack or your wife's panties.
3) If walking a lot always carry a fake-out wallet readily available to quickly turn over with $20 of local currency in small bills & maybe some expired credit cards in it to satisfy a potential robber. Keep real money and CCs inside your pants or in travel wallet hidden under your shirt. Plan ahead, be smart. Think like a criminal. If robbed, immediately give them the fake-out wallet and let them run away.
4) Never carry your Passport on your person if not entirely necessary, carry your tourist card or a homeland ID like drivers license or other ID instead when going out to dinner, partying, etc. though there are places where you must use a Passport like at a Money Exchange, CAMBIO, or when purchasing something expensive with a credit card. I like to have a second photocopy wadded up on my person as this can make a shop keeper happy usually. Always put a clear photocopy of your passport inside your luggage and leave it for the unthinkable. If you loose or get robbed of your Passport, a photocopy of your Passport can grease the wheels at the Embassy and save you day(s) of waiting for replacement. Also having pre-made, set of 2, duplicate passport photos already on hand with the photocopy can get your Passport replaced in a matter of a two hours versus having to locate a place to get new passport photos taken which could mean a day or two if a weekend. Embassies usually will not furnish you with Passport photos. That may have changed a bit in this digital age.
5) Watch everything when walking but ignore eye contact and keep moving when someone approaches you unrequested. Don't let them touch you or your person which means your family as well. Touch from strangers means you are going to get pocketpicked or worse. The international language of 'Keep your hands off of me!' is the same all over the world.
6) Dress down, dress simple, never carry exposed wallet, purse, camera or anything of value. Unseen is unknown. NEVER WEAR FLASHY JEWELRY! GUYS, ALWAYS KEEP WALLET IN FRONT POCKET, NEVER THE BACK POCKET.
7) When rousting about town on foot or in taxis, try keeping about $20 worth of local currency in small bills and coins readily available in front pocket for quick transactions and exact change as this will prevent you from having to pull out your wallet and expose your larger cache of bills to unforseeables or gettting into an argument with a taxi driver over him not having change for the fare. If travelling by taxi get your approximate change ready before the taxi stops and pay the taxi driver the exact fare, plus may tip, before exiting the vehicle and then move on so that they cannot change the fare on you. FYI: Always get the driver to agree to fare up front unless there is a working meter in the taxi which is almost NEVER in Latin America.
8) If you do stop to look at a shop window, cafe menu, movie poster, trinket shop, try to put your ass towards the nearest wall and look around to see where others are in respect to you and your family. Watch your fellow travellers or family members' backs and make sure they are watching yours. Pickpockets and theives prefer to sneak up on you PERIOD!
9) When travelling with others, train them ahead of time on the above so everybody travels smart. Criminals are looking for a weak link, don't be one.

Hope this helps others as it has served my well over the years.

Pal

Kyle · #89 01-05-2007, 07:09 AM

good advice...never had a problem but this is nice to know..

KeithF · #90 01-07-2007, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paladino

Just back from Cabarete where I had to use an ATM. The ATM stated on the screen that it could not complete my transaction yet I was charged $62 USD on my statement. The next ATM I went to worked fine. Now I have to challenge the improper charge and will surely loose because all bastard bankers claim that ATM cannot malfunction like that. I recommend only using ATMs at bank locations so that you can bitch at someone if ripped off not to mention that many bank locations have 24 hr. security on site for added protection.

For future reference, which was the dodgy ATM?