1st time to punta cana

[plink]

Hi all, jsut found this site. Can anyone tell me if there is a government website for the DR that will tell me entry requirements,etc.? planning 1st trip @ the end of aug. sort of a last minute thing and I want to make sure I am prepared.
thanks for any help you can give me.
Patty

[Dolores]

See entry requirements at http://dr1.com/travel/prepare/documentation.shtml

Also check out more information on traveling to the dr on the travel section of dr1.

http://dr1.com/travel/index.shtml

[plink]

Dolores, thank you. now maybe a dumb question but where do you purchase the yourist card? is that something that you get at the DR airport?
also, some of the hotel sites I have been viewing say that you need to dress for dinner. and they require that you don't wear sleveless tops. is that true? can women wear capris?
thanks again
patty

[Hlywud]

$10 US, supplied by Canadian tour operators, if you are flying in from elsewhere most time you have to purchase at the airport.
Bring a pen to fill out. turn into immigration and they give you the bottom half which you need when you leave.
Also your will pay a $20 US departure tax when exiting the country

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by plink

Hi all, jsut found this site. Can anyone tell me if there is a government website for the DR that will tell me entry requirements,etc.? planning 1st trip @ the end of aug. sort of a last minute thing and I want to make sure I am prepared.
thanks for any help you can give me.
Patty

6 weeks from now. Hell, I've gone Saturday after deciding to go on the Thursday before.

Have $10 US ready (in case you don't get one from the airline) , the tourist card is in Spanish and English both. You should have a passport but an ORIGINAL birth certificate and your drivers license will do. Ask the airline if the departure tax is in the ticket price - it is on AA for example and not usually on say Air Transat.

[plink]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

6 weeks from now. Hell, I've gone Saturday after deciding to go on the Thursday before.

Have $10 US ready (in case you don't get one from the airline) , the tourist card is in Spanish and English both. You should have a passport but an ORIGINAL birth certificate and your drivers license will do. Ask the airline if the departure tax is in the ticket price - it is on AA for example and not usually on say Air Transat.

Thanks Rick?
you don't understand for us that is short notice...it takes my hubby about that long to buy a car or a major purchase..LOL
anyway we have been to Aruba 2 x and have absolutely loved it there and did not want to be disappointed in this trip. we never needed a tourist card there just birth cert. don't want to make any mistakes that causes any delays at the airport. we have booked through apple so this is probably the $10 extra she was telling us about that was not covered in the booking price.
thanks for the help!!!

[BigCity27]

Originally Posted by Hlywud

Bring a pen to fill out.

Don't even worry about filling it out. Before I'd just write my first name on it, but the past 4 trips I've just bought it and taken it over to them

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by plink

Thanks Rick?
you don't understand for us that is short notice...it takes my hubby about that long to buy a car or a major purchase..LOL
anyway we have been to Aruba 2 x and have absolutely loved it there and did not want to be disappointed in this trip. we never needed a tourist card there just birth cert. don't want to make any mistakes that causes any delays at the airport. we have booked through apple so this is probably the $10 extra she was telling us about that was not covered in the booking price.
thanks for the help!!!

The tourist card is in essence the replacement for a visa obtained in advance (which some DR visitors need, not you). It is, simply put , a cheap-a_s_s method of making hard currency, cheap-assified more so recently by reducing the # of days you can stay from 90 to 15, so they can charge a tax on leaving of a measly 60 cents.

Most countries other than USA , UK, Canada and Mexico charge for them - Chile charges you (US: $100, Canada $55) for a one time stamp , Nicaragua $7 per entry, etc. taxes, pure and simple. And really there is probably some fee in a US arrival in teh taxes on your ticket also.

DO NOT lose the bottom 1/2. Keep a colour copy of your passport page with the photo ( and maybe the entry stamp and tourist card after you arrive, in black and white) with you when walking about and never carry the original passport , leave that in the safe in your room until you go and keep the 1/2 of the tourist card with it.

You will probably get a one per family customs card on the plane as well, it amazingly enough is free. I put the name Knute Rockne on mine and then sneak past customs and throw it away.