Dollar or Peso

[Butch]

As a visiting tourist, is it better to use dollars or Pesos for my 9 day stay.

[badpiece33]

Pesos is the way to go my friend otherwise you will get a bad exchange rate.

[Butch]

cool, thanks

[amparocorp]

be careful where you trade dollars for pesos, could be a very bad exchange rate.

[TnDR]

Originally Posted by Butch

As a visiting tourist, is it better to use dollars or Pesos for my 9 day stay.

Just got back last night- PESO is the way to go! US dollars will be accepted, but you make out using pesos. See ya on the scene.

[sascha]

i took a bit of both when i arrived in SD but definitely relied on my ATM/debit card and just withdrew in pesos. you do have to watch for getting dooped on the exchange so i found that using my ATM card was the best option.

[srbanning]

how many pecos do you get for one dollar us. sharon

[GringoCArlos]

Look in the "Living" section, the first thread is "today's Exchange Rate" and go to the last post. Folks give the rate and place where they exchanged money, and it is usually current. If the rate is fluctuating much, the posts will be more frequent. Today is running about 34.00 or so to the US$$, but depending where, this might vary by .20 up or down....

And P.S. - the airports are usually the WORST, followed closely by any A.I. hotel. There is a casa de cambio in most pueblos and neighborhoods, and they all take cash, at usually a fair rate if they are established. It's the guys in the street to be wary of - shortchanging you or trying to pass a bad bill or two... and ALWAYS count your money in front of them again, even if they just got done counting it (and usually very fast) - if they are trying to pull a fast one, you will get what you are owed. They will always give you an adding machine tape or show you their calculator showing the amount they are supposed to be giving you.

[Arrica]

I seriously doubt there is much benefit changing in the street in the DR - except been openly cheated of your money. As always beware of the higher exchange rate that may be offered, they are extremely good at double counting -folding the bills in half, so you think that you get a large wad of bills but in fact you get only half - or small bills that are stuffed in the centre of the wad with a few larger bills up front etc etc. Don't do it unless you want to be tricked -and if you do, count, and recount until you are absolutely sure that you get the right amount - and recount again if the vendor insists of counting them for you again - always be the last to count the bills (and even then some may be false) - go to the casa de cambio, better safe than sorry

[DAKRA]

I think that everyone will agree that Pesos are the best way while in the Dominican Republic.

Yes, they all accept dollars, but most do NOT have change for your dollars. Lets say you buy something and the cost is like $15 dollars and you give the vendor a Twenty dollar bill - Forget about getting change or if you do get change in pesos, you will get back a lot less.....

Play it safe! - Use pesos whenever possible. - If you are in Santo Domingo, the Atlantis World Casino (Hotel Intercontinental) will exchange 34 to the dollar.