The best way to get Dollars...

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Aquaria

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Jul 20, 2013
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I am in Bavaro and need American dollars to pay my rent, and I would like to avoid paying too much in exchange rates. For all my other expenses I just use the ATM:s and get pesos directly with my Swedish credit cards, but for dollars that is not possible. Someone told me that I will get the best rates if I go to a casino with my credit card, anybody knows if that is true? Otherwise, can I go to a bank and get dollars from my cards? Or do I have to get pesos first and then change?

I can choose to pay my rent in pesos, but since the owners want dollars, I would have to pay their exchange rate in that case...

How do you do?
 
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MJSantoDomingo

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Apr 13, 2011
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Others may have more options - but one thing you could do is go online and send it to yourself by Western Union as USD. Depending on which payment option you select, the cost will not be much (though some options are expensive, so look before you select). Then pick up the money as USD at Western Union location.
 
Luperon

Luperon

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Jun 28, 2004
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From tourists or expats needing pesos.
 
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Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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yahoomail.com
Find an Expat who has a long term relationship with a "Casa de Cambio", have them take you there and vouch for you, then cash a check on your bank.
If you live here, you NEED to have that kind of relationship anyway.
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mcbc

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The casino option will cost you...If I remember well, Hard Rock will charge 7% and the Tower casino 5% fees. I would suggest you change pesos in one of the many cambio places...rates are pretty fair usually.
 
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SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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Go to Vimenca near the gas station in Fruisa. Tell them you want Dollars. I have taken Dollars for Pesos a few times there in a pinch. I guess you will use a Card though, so just go to the girls on the right where they change money and inquire.

Forget about Casinos or banks.
 
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skynet

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Aug 25, 2013
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I like the western union idea, was going to suggest that as well...its certainly cheap enough. should be the best way to do it besides walking into a bank which would cost you much more...


Anthony
 
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robbie

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Aug 3, 2006
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skynet said:
I like the western union idea, was going to suggest that as well...its certainly cheap enough. should be the best way to do it besides walking into a bank which would cost you much more...


Anthony
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Western union can be pricey too, first they charge you any exchange rate, then the fee. Maybe not so bad from the US but canada I pay exchange to US dollars and the fee. Ie, 300 costs me right now, crappy exchange rate, about 70.00 for 300.
 
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skynet

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Aug 25, 2013
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Yes, something is odd there, they have their rates posted on their main site...It would also better serve the OP which i forgot to mention, open an account with WU..its just a log in, but you also get a discount card..They will ship it to you or just tell them you have one and it can be looked up..

I had a chat session just 2 weeks ago, was offered this discount which helped me to save on the transaction, so it works very well, get your and then see what your true cost will be before making a decision on what service to go with..

Anthony


robbie said:
Western union can be pricey too, first they charge you any exchange rate, then the fee. Maybe not so bad from the US but canada I pay exchange to US dollars and the fee. Ie, 300 costs me right now, crappy exchange rate, about 70.00 for 300.
Click to expand...
 
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SKY

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Forget Western Union. They will take your Dollars and give you Pesos in the DR at a bad rate. You will not get Dollars here from W.U.
 
A

Aquaria

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Jul 20, 2013
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Thank you for your answers! I doesn't seem that easy... I will check with the Casa de Cambio here, and also ask at Vimenca, to see what they will charge me.

Merry Christmas to you all!
 
Tamborista

Tamborista

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rubio_higuey said:
Banco Santa Cruz has one of the lowest spreads between buy/sell. Also Banco Leon has quite good sell rate.
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That does not solve The OP's problem going from Swedish Krona to USD locally.

In the absence of an RD/SEK swap locally, I am guessing that the most cost efficient way is a Swedish ATM card, pull out RD Pesos, and BUY USD from a cambista. PAYPAL debit may be more cost effective?
 
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MJSantoDomingo

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Apr 13, 2011
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SKY said:
Forget Western Union. They will take your Dollars and give you Pesos in the DR at a bad rate. You will not get Dollars here from W.U.
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With Western Union, you do have the option to send as USD or as Pesos. The sender needs to select the option to send as USD. Western Union/vimenca will give USD in the DR.
Money gram also allows sending as USD, but that option must be sent for delivery to home address (and I do not trust a driver knowing how much and where USD are going to).
 
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SKY

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MJSantoDomingo said:
With Western Union, you do have the option to send as USD or as Pesos. The sender needs to select the option to send as USD. Western Union/vimenca will give USD in the DR.
Money gram also allows sending as USD, but that option must be sent for delivery to home address (and I do not trust a driver knowing how much and where USD are going to).
Click to expand...

I have heard this before but I never was able to receive Dollars or do I know anyone that has. Would like to hear from someone that did this and got Dollars.
 
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MJSantoDomingo

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Apr 13, 2011
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SKY said:
I have heard this before but I never was able to receive Dollars or do I know anyone that has. Would like to hear from someone that did this and got Dollars.
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I put this suggestion in because I have actually done it, for both rent purposes and to send cash to my wife when I am working in the US. I send it as USD and they pick it up as USD. Then, in the case of my wife, she will then take the USD and exchange it at the good exchange rate in the DR, that way it only cost the WU fee. Usually it is only $8 to send $1000-1500. And if you sign up for the rewards program, you can do a free transfer after getting 150 points.
 
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zoomzx11

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Jan 21, 2006
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Do the WU thing often. Tell them clearly its dollars for dollars. They like to screw you on the dollars to pesos exchange rate so check your receipt. Sad to say but I have done it a lot. Wife loves to send money to her gigantic family. For a regular thing the best way by far is the change money house Ccccccccc mentioned
 
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Aquaria

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Jul 20, 2013
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For me it wouldn't be dollars for dollars, since my account is in Swedish kronor. But when I am counting it is not that bad after all. It looks like the dollar is getting stronger compared to Swedish krona now, but the peso is getting weaker. So at this moment I will get my dollars cheaper if I go to an ATM and get pesos, and then buy dollars at the Casa de Cambio, than I would if I did the exchange in Sweden directly between krona and dollar... But before I do that I will check the bank and the Vimenca. Just to be sure.

Thanks!
 
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Jaime809

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Aug 23, 2012
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SKY said:
I have heard this before but I never was able to receive Dollars or do I know anyone that has. Would like to hear from someone that did this and got Dollars.
Click to expand...

I paid my rent in Bavaro for 3 months in US$ on both ends via Western Union online.
 
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