Gifts to bring for locals

[Timex]

Sorry my brain was on shutdown, go-home, mode. when I wrote the 1st post.

For the 19 year old.

Portable CD player.
The real small one that hangs around your neck, or fits in your purse, and comes with the rechargable batteries and charger.
Regular batteries are VERY exspensive here!
The CD walkman's, are SOOOOOO expensive here.
1 that goes for about $ 80. back in the U.S., will go for 2 to 3 times that amount here.
Teens love their music.

Thanks
Tim H.

[Dominican Babe]

Some 2 months ago we had a thread on just this subject - I think MommaC started it - & there were numerous "Packages" suggested.

The thread is called "It's about time......." and you'll find it in the General Forum. It's full of great ideas which you will find very useful.

[Musicqueen]

Ok...I'm bringing a couple of "care packages"...what's the deal in costums once you're at the airport?
I've never brought anything other than my clothes before...never been asked to open my suitcase when I arrived...only once, leaving from POP did they confiscate my hair setting spray and some gel in a spray bottle...
I need advice here...I'm a "chicken" when it comes to dealing with things like this...
Of course, I could always flash my sweet innocent smile at them Dominicans...seems to work eveytime!
Let me know!

[Hillbilly]

Just bring what you want. But do not exagerate-like 80 pair of panty hose or 5 dozen nylon panties.. A few of anything will be fine. No 30" TVs or huge Boomboxes....No 150 CD collection of Miami Nice 98.5 FM music. Just be cool and bring what you want.

Chocolate is always appreciated..

HB

[Musicqueen]

Would the chocolate be for the kids or for you, HB?

[BushBaby]

Check the archives MusicQueen, "She that must be Obeyed" has the first option on all chocolates brought into this country - I am always asking friends to bring that (& pipe tobacco for me) down!!

Antone wanting help distributing their "Gifts" to the local barrios in the Puerto Plata area, just let me know & I will pick you up from your hotel, drive you to a house for the general distribution, & then back to your hotel (or town) afterwards.

Re customs - don't worry about bringing general stuff in, you won't get stopped for that. Generally speaking, if you look what you are, A TOURIST, you won't get stopped for a search. Just walk towards the exit chatting fervently to your partner or friend & you will be outside in the sun in moments!! If you DO get stopped, everything is for your own holiday use anyway!!!!! Yes, a little bit of confidence & a B I G smile go a long way to getting you through un-checked too!! - Grahame.

[tondra]

Grahame, I will take you up on your offer of "distribution services" in Puerto Plata. I plan to bring a care package each for a local school and free clinic. We have an organization here who may be able to give me more than just the "normal" contribution for the medical clinic. They said something about syringes, but I wonder if that might not be a little risky. What do you think? I don't want to get in a tangle at customs.

Feel free to email or PM me with how to contact you when I arrrive (Feb. 18-25) and what day during that time would be most convenient for you.

Thanks a bunch for the offer!

Tondra

[tondra]

Oh, I forgot to ask you, Grahame........what kind of tobacco do you want me to bring down for you? A small repayment for your generous offer.

Tondra

[Meredith]

Two years ago, I brought three large suitcases of medical supplies to the D.R., including many boxes of syringes. I got by no problem, but that was before 9/11. You may have some troubles if your bags get searched, but the worst that can happen is they get confiscated. There is no harm in trying!

[CaribbeanGeorge]

For the kids i agree on the flashy things like optic fiber glow keychains, they are inexpensive and there are none here, around 1.50 us.
For the 19 year old, bring her the thiniest phone, cellulars drive dominicans crazy !