9/22/03 - 10/2/03

[Wooglin]

I will be at the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus from 9/22/03 - 10/2/03 and notice that the weather is picted to be showers everyday I am there. www.weather.com says LaRomana will be 30-40% chance of rain the whole time I am there.

Now, I read that and get kind of mad....however, I know that I have read on plenty of boards, that this means that you'll see the occasional morning/evening shower.

Can anyone give me a little info on this? Can I expect rain all the time, or just periodically? I am not real sure how the weather works down there.

Can't wait to get there! Thanks in advance.

[ricktoronto]

30-40% . If that's what they said.

Those are usually POP figures, e.g. there is a 30% chance it wil rain vs. 305 of the day it will be rainings.

Typically rain is gully washers all at once then it stops and then restarts or not, or lingers with overhead cloud. But the sort of all day Vancouver rain you don't get as much.

[Rachael]

I will be making my fifth trip to the D.R. on Friday (Can't wait) and have always seen the same weather predictions. When I was there in March, not one drip, day or night. Also on one other trip, at around 9:00 p.m. it would rain for about a half an hour. Have never lost a day to rain. Hope my luck still holds, don't worry about the weather, go and have fun, you couldn't change it even if you wanted to.

[Escott]

I will follow you down on Wednesday. Of the 100 days I have spent in the DR in the last year rain is NOT an issue no matter what the weather man says.

They usually cant find their elbow.

Scott

[Jan]

Havne't heard that term in a while.
But don't worry. The rain falls. The rain stops. Run in the rain. Get cooled off. Enjoy the vacation no matter the weather. Theres usually always sun after the rain.

[Wooglin]

Thanks everyone for the input! I really can't wait to get down there, I have heard nothing but good things.

Any suggestions on excursions, please let me know. I have read about doon-buggy and snorkeling tours as well as swimming with the dolphins.

This will be my honeymoon, so we'd love to get off the resort and see some of the culture as well as do some different things. We really want to do some nice snorkeling.

Thanks again!

[XanaduRanch]

Originally posted by Escott
I will follow you down on Wednesday. Of the 100 days I have spent in the DR in the last year rain is NOT an issue no matter what the weather man says. They usually cant find their elbow.

Scott, I know where my elbow is. I also know the exact locations of several anatomical locations where I think you should consider sticking that remark.

It is possible to forecast afternoons, or evenings when those storms will be a possibility if you watch the waves moving in from the east in Hurricane season, and cold fronts approaching from the northwest the rest of the year. But for those dumb websites, it's easier just to add 30%-40% chance of rain to the forecast because that's so vague as to be meaningless.

Anyway, like everybody said, the sun is out here 99% of the time. When it does storm it's usually gone in 1/2 hour. Only a few days a year where it rains all day for a few days. Usually in February-March-April. And even then it's not like rain up north. The raindrops are warm! It's fun sitting on the beach at your favorite bar with the warm tropical rain coming down and imbibing on your favorite alcoholic refreshment.

Stop worrying, and have fun!

Tom (aka XR)

[Wooglin]

Can anyone tell me the currency that I will be using when I am down there and what the current exchange rate is?

Do you suggest I change money at the airport, or can I make purchases with dollars and credit cards?

[AnnaC]

Currency of the DR is pesos. Right now 32 to 1 US dollar. It's been suggested that you only change a small about at the airport. The exchange houses will give you a better rate then the airport. Credit cards are fine.

[Wooglin]

Thanks for the info!

With my wedding, work, part-time schooling...etc., I just about forgot about this...kind of important information to know, don't you think?

Thanks again!