jrshd9 said:
I know it's been asked before so when you blast p, please be gentle. How much cash needed for a two week stay and how should it be broken up, US RSD Traveler checks??
Thanks
For All Inclusive not a lot other than trips and taxis and shopping (outside the resort if you want to pay a decent price and haggle, BTW).
Non AI and assuming you pay the hotel with VISA, then meals are about RD$100 each ($4-5) not a lot different frankly between breakfast, lunch or dinner, depends how you eat , beers are RD$30 ($1.5-2) and if you don't pay with VISA a hotel may be $30-$50 US plus ITBIS 12% a day. A bottle of good rum is RD$80 ($4).
Use US$ AMEX travelers checks and prepare to show ID at the cambio though if you frequent the smae one eventually they don't bother with ID - I actually use a photocopy of my passport as the real McCoy stays locked up.
If they have a GOOD safe in the room then you can take all cash if you want and lock it up otherwise a few hundred $ in US and the rest in TC's and go every day or 2 to get pesos. I would NOT buy RD$ travelers check (if they exist) for 2 reasons, I have never seen them and maybe cambios may not want to cash them and the peso is too volatile and buying them ahead you could be overpaying for them. Also if you don't spend them all what use are they when you get home? None.
I carry all excess cash in an inside the trousers money pouch - not a money belt but a pouch that hangs from the belt, between the inside of the pants and your thigh. Invisible practically.
Put the cash, ID and travelers checks in a Ziploc bag first so they don't get sweaty. Keep all change, keys, etc. out and you can even go though the metal detector and they won't set it off as it is all paper/plastic.
Magellans sells them online and most travel shops do too.