Getting in/out of DR

[arenteria]

Okay, I've got 2 weeks before my soon to be wife and I travel to the DR for our honeymoon and after reading some of the posts I'm concerned with getting in and out of the country. We're traveling on our birth certificates and drivers licenses and we're flying into and out of Santo Domingo. What should I expect with customs and how do I make the process easier on us?

Nothing would suck more than to have to get into it with a customs officer and bribes aren't happening. We've barely got enough for the honeymoon after all the expense from the wedding! Thanks for your insight.

[Ken]

Tourists are usually allowed to go right through. I wouldn't worry about it. If you were bringing into electronics and computers, etc., then you might have trouble. But I presume you and your wife will be bringing only the things needed to enjoy your vacation.

[ricktoronto]

Originally posted by arenteria


Nothing would suck more than to have to get into it with a customs officer and bribes aren't happening. We've barely got enough for the honeymoon after all the expense from the wedding! Thanks for your insight.

I just left today and the arrival was as usual, wordless stamping of the pasport and tourist card (try to get this ahead of time at the airport) and then I bypassed customs again by going to Banco Reservas for pesos. Even without this sneaky routine most if not all non-Dominicans were going out of the exit past customs like poop through a goose anyway and that is likely to be your experience.

One thing that is odd some visitors from NJ told me that in the case of the female 1/2 they actually stamped her birth certificate with an entry stamp. My B/C is wallet size so I cannot imagine how many times they could successfully do this.

This was at SDQ if you are travelling on a charter to LRM or PUJ they don't hassle charter types at all I don't think. Too many non-Spanish speaking gringos to bother with even a meagre attempt at a propina request since the tourists for the most part wouldn't have a clue what was being requested of them.

[arenteria]

With everything else going on the last thing I wanted to worry about was customs.

[Tony C]

Do yourself a favor.

Get a Passport!

[ricktoronto]

Originally posted by Tony C
Do yourself a favor.

Get a Passport!

Could not agree more. At some point I can see this becoming the rule anyway and it is the best ID while traveling bar none.

[m65swede]

Originally posted by Tony C
Do yourself a favor.

Get a Passport!

Tony C and ricktoronto are absolutely correct. Keep in mind that a passport not only allows you easy entry/exit to/from the DR, but also allows you easy re-entry to your home country.

Swede

[XanaduRanch]

Don't worry. Be Happy! :: groan:: Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I have had many friends visit here from the U.S. with just a B.C. Not a problem at all. There are sites on the web to get copies of your B.C. from any state in the Union at like $10 each. Get two or three copies, let 'em stamp the hell out of it and throw it away when you're done. The way the U.S. is giving everone a rectal exam looking for either a) tourists or b) small children with illegal G.I.Joe figurines or c) elderly women with knitting needles the B.C. is preferable to a passport.

[Jan]

And with a passport you don't get your birthcertificate all buggered up!
Its a little easier with a passport and if you ever want to do business here you either need a passport of cedula. Its not hard to get one and when I got my first one I fealt oh so special! jejej

[XanaduRanch]

In the U.S. it's actually easier to get a valid copy of the B.C. than a passport. So they "bugger" it up. You throw it away. It's only $5-$10. Who cares. And they can't track where you go and when either.