Booked for Dominican Republic- A couple of Q's

Miró

Many, many thanks to everyone for all the info...tis much appreciated :T

Just a couple more thoughts...is the 'dress code thingy' casual all the time...want to travel as light as possible? (well try!!!)

And any tips for surviving a 10 hour flight? Never done a long-haul flight before!

pattycake

The US dollar is certainly king in the DR. We have not even bothered to change to local currency for the past few years. We tip the room maid say $5 the first day and a couple of dollars every other day after that. We were rewarded with beautiful towel and flower arrangements. We always leave all our toiletries behind together with stuff like nail varnish. One year, we gave the lad who dusted off our sunbeds each day a T-shirt and he was ridiculously thrilled. Makes you feel humble knowing how little they have.

The strong rum is known as Dominican gasoline! Says it all.

Most of the hotels we have stayed at are mostly populated with north Americans, either US or Canadians. Also a good sprinkling of Puerto Ricans. Last year there were also Russians in our hotel. Very few Brits though. We have stayed at the Sirenis Cocotal in the first few months of it opening. At that time, there were only about 200 guests in a huge hotel so we practically had the pool to ourselves. The beach is fabulous.

Regarding what clothes you will need Miro, I am the expert here!!!! You will only wear swimwear all day every day. You just need a couple of cover-ups, sarongs plus shorts and vests in the day, plus flip flops. At night I like to dress up a bit and this usually involves linen trousers (a couple of pairs in different colours) and then I have 7 or 8 different strappy tops which mix and match my pants. A smart pair of sandals and I'm good to go.

Beach towels are usually provided in the hotel. A nice clean one each day so you can save a bit of suitcase room there. As I have said in an earlier post, take all toiletries (inc suncream) plus any medication even if you do not think you will need it. Also, take enough to books if you are a reader. There is usually a place to leave your old paperbacks and pick up another one in the hotel.

The flight out is usually fine. You are going on vacation and feel excited. There are films to watch and time goes quite quickly. Coming back is a bummer. You fly overnight and arrive back in the UK first thing in the morning although your body clock thinks it is 4 am and your holiday is over. I think of the flight as a necessary evil and it is worth it when your get there.

Hope all this helps. I can just rabbit on for hours about the DR, It is one of my favourite subjects. Talking about it is almost as good as being there, but not quite.:j

MrsE_2

pinkcandyflossprincess wrote: »

there is a juicy black market for currency in the D.R , the exchange rate is very favourable but obviously illegal, never think they cant use dollars over there, worth a lot more than the peso!
x

So for leaving small tips is it best to leave a dollar or the DR peso equivalent?

pattycake

I think they are grateful for cash whatever it is. One school of thought says that life is easier for a maid who receives the local currency but personally we do not even change to pesos these days.

I have certainly never known any member of staff turn their nose up at a couple of dollars!

stephb34

When we went to cuba which i presume is pretty much the same thing as Dom Rep. Because we had plenty of luggage allowance i let my then 5 year old take all her clothes and what she didnt wear i gave away to the bar staff, cleaner etc well basically anyone who had a daughter the same size as mine which meant loads more to them than money as their clothes were so expensive out there. One man told me he used to go to the £ shop before he went on hols and stock up on items for the workers ie gardening gloves and tools for the gardener, tights for the ladies and toiletries for all.
If you need small notes for tips any travel agents can get you 1$ bills if you order them in advance.