Dominican Republic Tourist Traps

 
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  •   Tourist Traps
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  • A seal
      A seal
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  • Caribbean Market
      Caribbean Market
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  • Vendor Area
      Vendor Area
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  • Resort Casino...Most Vegas tables can be found
      Resort Casino...Most Vegas tables can be...
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Hair braiding

by fairy_dust

Sometimes, locals on the beach will offer to braid your hair for money. Someone offered to braid hair extentions into my hair (I had short hair at the time) with beads for 600 pesos, but I didn't do it. It's possible to haggle the price, but sometimes if you get to know some local people outside the beach, they might braid your hair for free. 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.

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All Inclusives are limiting for seeing the Country

by oldhippy

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!

Alcohol and Coffee Shopping

by Calor

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.

Modes of Transportation

by Calor

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...

Sosua

by chicabonita

During my stay in 1995 I spent with friends a weekend in Sosua. I remember Sosua as the most terrible place on the entire Island. It was very touristic with these terrible German beer bars at the beach. Don't want to imagine how Sosua looks nowaday. And a question what I really asked myself several times: Why is everywhere rubbish in the streets? Not only in Sosua! Make as much trips as possible to see many other place on the island!!! Lots of other beautiful places can be visited.

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Duarte St., Boca Chica -Beach Drinks

by kingofdice

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...

VENDORS ARE NO FOOLS

by acohiba

WHEREVER YOU GO ON THE ISLAND YOU WILL FIND THAT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT THE VENDORS WILL TRY TO SELL YOU ARE THE SAME THROUGHOUT. IF YOU REALLY WANT SOMETHING BE PATIENT IN BUYING IT. IF THE PRICE ISN'T RIGHT FOR YOU SIMPLY WALK AWAY BECAUSE THEY'LL EITHER COME CHASING YOU TO BUY IT OR YOU WILL FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE YOU CAN BUY IT FOR YOUR PRICE.

Do be careful on the beach if...

by rachel_sun

Do be careful on the beach if people try and sell you something,always ask a price before saying yes.I was forced onto a horse ,even though i kept saying no,then taken up the beach a couple of times and then the bloke said£20 please.When i refused,he became abit narsty.

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One of the nice things about...

by datdanigirl

One of the nice things about the resorts in Punta Cana is that there are no vendors on the beach at your hotel. If you want to shop, you go to the little marketplaces along the beach, between various properties. There is one between the Barcelo Bavaro Palace and the Melia Caribe/Tropicale. At the marketplace there are 10-20 vendors all selling exactly the same items! Four types of vendors: Artwork, t-shirts and wraps, trinkets and sculptures, and liquor/tobacco. So they compete with each other for price.. all tell you they'll give you the 'best price', 'cheapie cheapie' etc. Nothing is marked, and all prices they quote are at least double as a rule. Most likely you can buy it for a third. Get several items from one vendor and it's definitely a third. Additionally, outside the marketplace are reps for the watersports such as parasailing, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. If you book...

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If you go shopping at the...

by DianaenVera

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.

Tourist Attractions in Dominican Republic

Top 3 Hotels in Dominican Republic

Playa Esmeralda Beach Resort  Dominican Republic

 2 Reviews and 41 Opinions  This all-inslusive resort was fabulous, as all-inclusives go. Kinda like being on a cruise. If lying... 

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Hotel Atarazana  Santo Domingo

 1 Review and 132 Opinions  I stayed here on a recent business trip in the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo. This 6 room hotel... 

 Hotels in Santo Domingo

Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana  Punta Cana

 7 Reviews and 660 Opinions  The only good things about our stay at the Gran Bahia Principe were the beautiful beaches and the... 

 Hotels in Punta Cana

413 Hotels in Dominican Republic
 
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Reviews and photos of Dominican Republic attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Dominican Republic sightseeing.

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Tourist Traps: Cities in Dominican Republic
  1. Punta Cana Tourist Traps
  2. Santo Domingo Tourist Traps
  3. Punta Cana Tourist Traps
  4. La Romana Tourist Traps
  5. Cabarete Tourist Traps
  6. Sosúa Tourist Traps
  7. Santiago de los Caballeros Tourist Traps
  8. Bayahibe Tourist Traps
  9. Boca Chica Tourist Traps
  10. Bávaro Tourist Traps
  11. Las Galeras Tourist Traps
  12. Cayo Levantado Tourist Traps
  13. Isla Saona Tourist Traps
  14. Higüey Tourist Traps

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Popular Regions in Dominican Republic

Provincia de La Altagracia Tourist Traps  Provincia de Puerto Plata Tourist Traps  Distrito Nacional Tourist Traps  Provincia de La Romana Tourist Traps  Provincia de Samaná Tourist Traps  Provincia de Santiago Tourist Traps  Provincia de San Pedro de Macorís Tourist Traps  Provincia de La Vega Tourist Traps 

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Questions and Answers

fitzy7 profile photo

Q:  Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice of trip ideas from Punta Cana. I have had a tough time finding appropriate information... 

grandmaR profile photo

A: I don't know what time of year you are talking about - I have been to the DR two or three times in January, but not to Punta Cana. I've been twice by cruise ship to... 

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