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 | Dominican Republic Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 63 |  |
 making jewelry to sell to
tourist at Amber Museum by jodssmile
We ended up just getting prorated at home by our travel agent.
They did not do very good job of explaining the places we saw. I was glad to see the Rum factory, The Amber Museum, and Fort Felipe.
Our tour guide did not sit where we could ask questions (he was in front closed off area of bus). Then gave little explaination of anywhere we went.
Would recommend seeing the city sites-but not with Prieto Tours if possible!
Take a different company tour.
If you do take this tour, do so just to see the fort and rum factory, no more. Leave a Comment
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 by quartinb
paintings are very "eye ketchy". and i bought one.
and bring one is a very good experience when yu have to argue the best price for it and try to achive the best price... be prepared to a "hard fight" with local vendors!
i´ll be back!
ask the price.
offer 1/3.
and buy for half.
in the end yu still feel like yu 've donne a good bargain.
and i garantee, so do they.... Leave a Comment
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 Beach by micas_pt
Hotels usually refer in their brochures "private beach". It means that locals don't go to the beach to sunbath, but apparently it doesn’t apply to sales persons. Sometimes it can be a little bit annoying, but there's no harm in it, they are only trying to make a living. Leave a Comment
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 somewhere in Sosua by chicabonita
Make as much trips as possible to see many other place on the island!!!
Lots of other beautiful places can be visited. Leave a Comment
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 Me and local Dominicans
braiding Tiffeny's hair by fairy_dust
Haggle the price if you want your hair braided at the beach.
If you get to know some friendly locals outside the beach and touristy areas, they might do it for free. Leave a Comment
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Folks inside compounds are taught to fear what is outside the grounds.
This is a ploy to control 100% of your tourist dollars!
They don'y even want you to buy tours from outside agents...so they create fear tactics to keep you from even talking to outside "locals"
You really miss the true joys of travel, when staying in a "staged controled environment".
The growth of All Inclusives is probably why I can stay oceanfront, at a "mom and pop" local hotel or guest house, for as little as $10 a night!
So can you...if you choose to travel independently! Leave a Comment
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Be aware of the cost of a taxi from the hotels to any location. For this example I will use Punta Cana.
My husband and I stayed in Punta Cana for a week, we needed to get to the town of Higuey which is the closest town one hour away.
The taxi driver quoted us 65 USD return, his big "seller" was the fact it was air-conditioned, and safer.
NOTE: Travel on the local bus (gua-gua) to Higuey cost us about 4 USD for two of us return. It is SAFE to travel on the local buses which are run by a specific company. There is a driver and a person who collects the money on the gua-gua and they both wear uniforms and are quite respectful. The ride is bumpy but it is a great way of mixing with the locals.
If you do have to take a taxi, gather up a group and SHARE the taxi. That makes plain economic sense.
You can rent a car but be aware driving in the towns itself are crazy. There are a lot of mopeds or scooters and it seems that traffic signs are not readily obeyed. Leave a Comment
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At the airport, those friendly people waiting to take your bags don't take no for an answer, both when trying to take your bags to carry them, & when trying to get a tip! Now I'm not against tipping at all, I realise alot of them rely on that for money - but give me a chance to get my money out first - 'tip, tip', lol :)
Have some Dominican currency at the ready!
Just let them take your bags - it's a whole lot easier than saying no! Plus...it is hard work in that heat.....so I was going to tip...he just didn't give me a chance before he started asking!!!
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If you go shopping at the Dominican Republic be carefull with the prices. Don't pay too much! Also be carefull with people who try to steel from the tourists, there aren't many people who do that but you do have them. Just like you probably have them all over the world. Most Dominicans are very friendly, and helpfull, but there is a very little group Dominicans who try to become friends with the tourists, and steel their money or something else. The 'good' Dominicans will warn you for these 'bad' Dominicans, because they get really upsad when someone is trying to steel something from their friends. You can trust most of the Dominicans for 100%, and you will also notice yourself when someone is trying to steel something from you. Leave a Comment
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 by datdanigirl
Additionally, outside the marketplace are reps for the watersports such as parasailing, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. If you book through these guys you can negotiate price and duration of trip, and get more for your dollar. Booking through the tour operators (Apple, Turinter, etc.) at the resort can cost you up to $20 more per person. Leave a Comment
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