Dominican resort rates vs Tourist resort rates

[Unit5]

Hi All,

Just curious if anyone knows if the resort rates are different? I gave my Dominican girlfriend a number of a resort to call to find out the rate, but she has only data!! Her friends and family can't help. I just don't know how they get anything done down there!

fyi- I called that same number from Canada, but of course they would not admit that to a tourist...I will be down next week and decided I would try to negotiate a price for her at the resort....

Your feedback is welcome as usual.

 

[keepcoming]

Several resorts offer a "local" discount. Your girlfriend (even though she only has data) would be the best option to get information on what resorts offer the local rates. Possibly some members on the North Coast will have more information.

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

I can tell you that I have experienced different prices for Tourists and Dominicans here in the Dominican Republic.
My travel partner...she would tell me...wait in the car...
And come back with room rates that were so low I could not believe it.
Not just rooms, but national parks, entrance into clubs...you name it she could get them for far less than I could.

 

[dulce]

The rates are negotiable for Dominicans and residents of the DR. I always got very low rates when I lived there. I would go to or directly call the resort I was interested in to get the discounts. Day passes also. If they were not familiar with me, I would have to give proof of residence. A rent receipt was acceptable.

 

[bob saunders]

There are also local travel agencies that Dominicans book through.

 

[cavok]

For 50 to 100 pesos, your girlfriend can put minutes on the phone and call.

 

[Unit5]

For 50 to 100 pesos, your girlfriend can put minutes on the phone and call.

OMG...she makes it seem impossible!

 

[reilleyp]

The local colmado charged my guests about $3.50 for their first beers. Next time they went it was about $3. When they told her that they were guests of mine, they dropped the price to $2.

 

[CristoRey]

The local colmado charged my guests about $3.50 for their first beers. Next time they went it was about $3. When they told her that they were guests of mine, they dropped the price to $2.

I had a similar experience when staying down in Gazcue several years ago. Hotel staff told me to make sure I told the colmado across the street I was a guest of the hotel so they didn't over charge me.

I've never been to a resort in this country, not my crowd however if I ever do decide to stay at one I'll be sure to have a local book my reservation.

 

[william webster]

Not just hotels, as you read above

A cedula goes a looong way in these cases

 

[Buffness]

Just curious if anyone knows if the resort rates are different?

Yes , they are .

Tourist vs. Local prices are very common …and sometimes openly advertised in PC ….anywhere from the top resorts and hotels …to tickets …to your local colomado …mechanic and even…your barber…

’Tourist price’ aka “gringo tax“ is baked into the mentality in DR …and why not ? …price discrimination is legal everywhere after all …no ?. 🤷

The only frustration comes , say , if you’ve lived here for years ..and you still get charged tourist prices …but that’s on you….figure it out. When it comes to Dominican prices , Miesposa always tells me to ..” step aside mi amor “ …and I always..do 😬😁

Our good …Italian - Dominican friend used to complain to us about how his barber always charged him 500 pesos for a hair cut …and 150-200 pesos for everyone else. He sent us a text last week …from Atlanta …saying that he had to pay $35 USD for a haircut because it was the cheapest he could find …and his DR barber was so much better …so we told him ….” bring your DR barbero a béisbol t-shirt when you come back to enjoy your 500 peso haircut”. 🤷

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

500 DOP for a haircut?
I would have found another barber.
Market price for a haircut is 200 DOP
I always tip 50 DOP
Now in the new shopping centers the prices are higher 500 DOP for a haircut.
I understand they have increased overhead.
But the cut is not any better than my regular barbers.
Up north I get jacked for 300 DOP and tip 50 DOP.
Or I pay 400 and don't tip.

 

[MariaRubia]

Hotels are usually locked into contracts which force them to publish the same rates everywhere online. The hotel booking sites like Hotels.com have robots that check that hotels are not offering deals which undercut them. But these rules only apply to rates online, so if you call or if you walk in or email you will normally be offered a better deal. Especially since the normal commission paid to agencies or booking sites is about 15%, so if you book direct you can get at least some of that as a saving.

 

[NanSanPedro]

500 DOP for a haircut?
I would have found another barber.
Market price for a haircut is 200 DOP
I always tip 50 DOP
Now in the new shopping centers the prices are higher 500 DOP for a haircut.
I understand they have increased overhead.
But the cut is not any better than my regular barbers.
Up north I get jacked for 300 DOP and tip 50 DOP.
Or I pay 400 and don't tip.

My barber charges 250 for gringo hair, 200 for Haitiano/Dominicano. I tipped 150 last Monday. He's my neighbor and a single dad. He lives in his barbershop in a 8 foot by 8 foot room with a sink and toilet but no shower.

 

[JD Jones]

My guy in San Cris has an entire price list for all of the services he offers and sends it out regularly to all of his clients via whatsapp.

 

[Unit5]

one more thing, based on Cavok's post (#6) I asked my GF to call 809-320-1000 (iberostar costa dorada pop). She tells me that she has tried several times, but there's no answer ( yesterday). I try and immediately have my call answered. Would one of you folks in the DR be able to call that number for me to confirm (if possible) ?

 

[cavok]

Just called - works fine. They answered immediately.

 

[Unit5]

Just called - works fine. They answered immediately.

appreciate that cavok.

 

[iaminthedr2014]

Hi All,

Just curious if anyone knows if the resort rates are different? I gave my Dominican girlfriend a number of a resort to call to find out the rate, but she has only data!! Her friends and family can't help. I just don't know how they get anything done down there!

fyi- I called that same number from Canada, but of course they would not admit that to a tourist...I will be down next week and decided I would try to negotiate a price for her at the resort....

Your feedback is welcome as usual.

GO ON selloffvacations.com or expedia.ca / select hotels-stays / pay in Canadian
search Puerto Plata / San Felipe / Sosua

 

[NALs]

Tourist price’ aka “gringo tax“ is baked into the mentality in DR …and why not ? …price discrimination is legal everywhere after all …no ?. 🤷

That's common in tourists areas around the world. For example, in Florida anyone showing proof of residence in the state (such as a driver's license) gets an additional percentage off at places like Walt Disney World in Orlando. That's a special rate for Florida residents only and it isn't automatic, you have to ask for it.