Like kampinge, we use bank-to-bank transfers for larger amounts.
To send monthly expenses for our house in DR [electricity, caretaker, dog food, etc] we use a service in a local store in Atlantic City. These places are in all latino neighborhoods, usually have a sign that says 'envio dinero' or similar in the window. We give them cash in the morning, and in the afternoon of the same day someone delivers cash [in dollars] right to the recipient's door. Cost is about 2% of what you send, so if we send $300 it's $6.
The only time we had a problem with them is when we had to send $3000 quickly, so I went to the bank and took out cash. When we brought it in, they wanted proof of where we got the money. Apparently there is a limit to what you can send without proof, if I remember correctly it was either $2000 or $2500. In the end, they sent it for us because the owner of the store knows Mr. AE and vouched for him.
