Re: Can you buy US$ with Dominican pesos? - Yes.
You can always buy US Dollars with Dominican pesos. You may not be able to do it directly at the Casino. There is a spread between the buy and sell rate of course, so it may be more profitable to not have to buy US Dollars.
You will see signs at many exchange houses (cambios) that advertise "We sell US Dollars". Most take in various international currencies all day long, selling Dominican pesos. Often, they run out of pesos on any given day. They are more than happy to sell US Dollars, the most common foreign currency, which keeps them in business for the day.
In the USA, you can buy US Dollars with pesos at the Miami, JFK, San Juan, and Newark airports and most major cities have banks and exchange houses that will purchase international currencies but you will get a better rate if you do it at an exchange house or bank in the DR before you leave.
I was told at one time that you have to retain a receipt showing that you started with at least as many US Dollars as you want to purchase but I've never seen it required. There also has been a myth spread around that once you have converted your money to Dominican pesos, you are stuck with Dominican pesos, or that Dominican pesos cannot be sold outside of the country. Both these are false.
Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM