quickest method thru customs

J

jmarc

New member
Jan 21, 2011
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I hear it can take 2 hours to go thru customs. I am arriving from the U.S. Wed late morning. I heard there is a new pre paid travel visa. Not sure where this can be purchased in the states. Are we allowed to tip an employee that can point us to a quicker path? Not sure if we can just do carry on. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
John
 
F

Frank the Tank

Gold
May 12, 2005
8,564
271
83
What airport? You just need to purchase a $10 tourist card. You will see that before you get online to get your passport stamped. I have never heard of it taking 2 hours to get through customs.
 
Z

zoomzx11

Gold
Jan 21, 2006
8,367
842
113
Untrue

Customs is a breeze in the DR. Its 5 minutes or less. Just make sure you fill out the forms they give you on the plane before you go thru customs. Bring a pen.
 
B

Bryanell

Bronze
Aug 9, 2005
694
83
48
jmarc said:
I hear it can take 2 hours to go thru customs. I am arriving from the U.S. Wed late morning. I heard there is a new pre paid travel visa. Not sure where this can be purchased in the states. Are we allowed to tip an employee that can point us to a quicker path? Not sure if we can just do carry on. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
John
Click to expand...

John,
The only time-consumers in the exit process at SDQ, are:
1. Standing in line to buy your tourist card, and
2. Waiting for your luggage to come out on the carousel.

I've never done the first, but the second has taken me up to one hour on occasion...so the real answers are:

1. Buy your tourist card in advance of your trip at the nearest Dominican consular office and
2. Don't bring checked luggage
Otherwise, it's just a question of luck.
Good Luck!!
Bryan
 
E

Ezequiel

Bronze
Jun 4, 2008
1,801
81
48
jmarc said:
I hear it can take 2 hours to go thru customs. I am arriving from the U.S. Wed late morning. I heard there is a new pre paid travel visa. Not sure where this can be purchased in the states. Are we allowed to tip an employee that can point us to a quicker path? Not sure if we can just do carry on. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
John
Click to expand...

You heard wrong! Have you seen the seize of the DR airports? Only if the airline lose your suitcases you can wait 2 hours.

Not even the worst airport I've ever gone through (Miami) I've not waited 2 hours going through customs.
 
Robert

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
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dr1.com
I never been in the airport any longer than 45-60mins. Usually I'm out of there within 30-45 mins at SDQ, thats with checked luggage and a couple of flights landing.
 
D

dropshort

Member
May 18, 2008
281
2
18
Arrival Time matters

Immigration and Customs is very good and efficient. However if your plane land just after 5 or 6 other aircraft it will take a while. 2 - 3:30 PM is not a good time to land because there are so many other aircraft arriving at the same time. On one occassion I basically bought my Toruist Card and walked through Immigration and Customs. It was 3 AM and there were only 4 people on the plane. I was the only Tourist. The other three were residents. Immigration was laughing so hard they could hardly work.

SDQ is a great airport. Go to flightstats.com and determine when to fly or at least get an idea of what it is going to be like. Also check the aircraft type. If the other two plans on the ground are 747`s it will take a while.

DS
 
K

Kimmir

New member
Mar 7, 2007
81
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I agree I have been through there dozens of times and never had it take more than 10 minutes tops.
 
I

irateskateboards

New member
Oct 4, 2006
374
14
0
Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
bring a pen.try to bring just a carry on.dont forget your tourist card.you get it from the line on the right side of the room before the customs line.in 5 years traveling here i've never waited more than 15 minutes from the time time i left the airplane to exiting the front doors of the airport.25 minutes and i'm eating chuleta and frito en casa.
 
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