Hi, I'm Canadian too and have a place in Cabarete. I carry some US cash when I go down there but I mainly use ATMs to get the interbank rate versus the rate plus commission. Your home bank will charge a one time transaction fee to your account. I get charged CAD 5.00 for each transaction so when I withdraw at the ATM I get as much as I can in the one transaction, usually 10,000. pesos. It is the cheapest and least confusing method of getting your money. The US cash I bring is very minimal - for paying the taxi and tipping. If there is a problem with your withdrawal, like double billing, your home bank will trace it back to the bank and have your account credited with the inappropriate deduction. I have been going down there for 8 years.