US$2500!!!!!
Let me tell you....if you use your head, with US$2500 at the rate of $28 pesos to a dollar you will have as much as a Dominican senator earns in month. $70,000 pesos will make you the queen of the hill, even with four hungry kids. Santiago is much cheaper than Santo Domingo and if you stick to the basics and stay away from the fanciest of restaurants, you will do just fine and invite the rest of the family.
Your family will probably drive you around to places, so you may just have to pay for the gas. But if they really love you and have the means, they may not ask you for it.
Try to convince them to take you to a river outing for a cookout. Or to the beach bringing in your own food to cook. That should be cheap and fun. There are water playgrounds in Santiago and lots of fast food.
Stay away from paying for rooms at resorts for friends and family. That can run you a big bill, even for you and children. But if you do it alone with the kids for a weekend, with the all inclusive, you should do fine.
Stay away from troubled family with debts and financial problems. You may get hit for a loan, which will probably be paid when we finally pay for the Baninter fraud in 2050. Beware of family members who may have a medical problem and need a prescription. Or a niece who needs the inscription for next semester at the university. These are very old tricks used by family to use you. The money will end up at a betting parlor, beauty salon, nails, tattoos and tight jeans.
TW