| Tips and photos of Dominican Republic tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Dominican Republic locals. Map |
 | Dominican Republic Tourist Traps | Tips 11 - 20 of 63 |  |
If you must hail a taxi be sure to do it away from a "tourist hotel" and negotiate the price beforehand. The prices vary so greatly from one taxi driver to the next it is enough to make a person crazy. Usually you can work out a deal, but one guy tried to charge us $20 USD for a 2 km drive. That is way more expensive than any cab ride I've ever heard of!
Additionally, they may try to con you by bringing up the exchange rate and saying that your ride usually costs, for example, $10 USD but because the exchange rate has gone up you need to pay them 380 Dominican Pesos.
Obviously, a taxi fare does not change with the currency exchange. I always tried to pay with pesos, since my USD supply was limited, but most drivers want USD.
Always negotiate the fare up front!
The best way to travel long distances are the economical, frequent and clean public buses. Try Metro or Caribe Tours. Leave a Comment
|
 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
|
 | |  |
 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
|
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
|
Do NOT if you can avoid purchasing any alcohol or coffee on the hotel premises, be it the stores or the sellers on the beach.
If you plan a trip into ANY of the cities, do go into the GROCERY store and purchase these items there. The prices in the groceries are fixed, so both locals and tourists pay the same price.
We bought 2 bottles of rum in the grocery that cost us close to 4 USD Total.
At the hotels it cost us 8 USD per bottle of rum. We saved 12 USD. Leave a Comment
|
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
|
| | |
 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
|
I consider myself a fairly aware traveler, but even the best of us get taken advantage of at times. This occurred in Boca Chica on Duarte St. The day before I had gone to a birthday party and was befriended by a nice Dominican man who could speak English. He showed me how to play Dominoes, etc. and I bought him a couple beers. The next day, he saw me in a souvineer shop on Duarte St. in Boca Chica, where little Beach Bars have sitting areas out back in the sand. So, this guy lured me over to his Beach Bar where he worked and insisted I have a drink. I didn't really want a drink, but since I had played dominoes with the guy the day before, I thought this can't be a trap. Then the Dominican man pressed me hard to buy him a drink and I was starting to get leery, asking the price of the drinks as they arrived, but the bartender insisted I run a tab. Since I was in a hurry, I asked to pay the tab. They charged me $12 U.S. Dollars for 2 Presidente beers and the other guy a small Cuban Libre. However, I had only only 1 beer. So, they added an extra drink to my bill. When I complained about the mischarge and the high bill, the bartender clapped his hands twice like a Sultan and I found myself surrounded by 5 tough Dominican men. So, it was either pay the bill or get beat up. I was lured into the beach bar by the man that I'd befriended at a party the day before on the other side of town. Therefore, you can't trust anyone. When I yelled at the man that had duped me, he said "Sorry man, you are a gringo. I got to make a living anyway I can." This is a true story and hope that others will not be easily taken advantage by con scam artists. Even the small scale ones.
If you do decide to go to the Beach bar, insist on paying first. Do not, I repeat - do not let the bars run a tab on you. They will pretend to be very accomodating and nice, then when you get the bill, you will be paying for drinks that you did not order and paying at a stiff price. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
The locals will try and fool you when buying amber ( a popular stone). Sometimes it's not real. Leave a Comment
|
 Oh Oh to much souvenirs by UmfufuLeave a Comment
|
More Dominican Republic Tips |
More Dominican Republic Travel Deals Dominican Republic Hotels
$89 Save 45% Off Plus $200 Credit 72 Hr Sale, Book Dominican Today! Santo Domingo Hotel
See why we're the best value Fall Specials from $80 pn Newark NJ Hotel
Minutes from Manhattan. Save 75% Over NYC Hotels in Downtown Newark! Sponsored Links
|
