Ocean World is owned by foreigners if I'm not mistaken and the dominicano price is also a huge rip off for 5 mediocre shows that haven't been changed in the past 10 years. I wonder how a tourist feels that paid USD60, maybe an American wouldn't mind but a stingy European must be upset, I was, and I 'only' paid 6000 for all 6 of us.
- Thread starter oldschool
- Start date
dominican vs gringo price
Mmmh I kind of agree with the OP.
Scams ( the small kind like gringo prices ), really are very, very present in the dr.
And not only in the touristy areas, as the quoter suggested.
I would add that the so called gringo tax is probably more of a "wealthy" tax.
Twice recently in the queue for buying fresh fish at maimon "paradas ", the guy who weighs the fish applied it.
First time to a couple of tourists/expacts, they were buying cottora ( ?) and the guy said something like 300 pesos / lb ( cant really recall, but seemes very expensive.
I was in a bad day and didnt want to argue/banter, so I gave a loud pero ven aqua ! and started to walk off. The tourists went off to pay ( u pay at a diffrent place ) and the fish guy called out to me......and sold me my cottora at the usal price.
I wasnt surprised or anything, proof that the gringo price is part of every day life.
Second time, more recently, maybe 2 weeks ago. Same set up. Except the guys in front of me were youngish-30-something-false swiss watches-and plastic gold chains- dominicans.
The fish guy just smiled at me and said ja tu sabes.......
So lets call it the wealthy tax from now on
Scams ( the small kind like gringo prices ), really are very, very present in the dr.
And not only in the touristy areas, as the quoter suggested.
I would add that the so called gringo tax is probably more of a "wealthy" tax.
Twice recently in the queue for buying fresh fish at maimon "paradas ", the guy who weighs the fish applied it.
First time to a couple of tourists/expacts, they were buying cottora ( ?) and the guy said something like 300 pesos / lb ( cant really recall, but seemes very expensive.
I was in a bad day and didnt want to argue/banter, so I gave a loud pero ven aqua ! and started to walk off. The tourists went off to pay ( u pay at a diffrent place ) and the fish guy called out to me......and sold me my cottora at the usal price.
I wasnt surprised or anything, proof that the gringo price is part of every day life.
Second time, more recently, maybe 2 weeks ago. Same set up. Except the guys in front of me were youngish-30-something-false swiss watches-and plastic gold chains- dominicans.
The fish guy just smiled at me and said ja tu sabes.......
So lets call it the wealthy tax from now on
another example Malko
I get my ice at the bottom of my hill... a colmado.
The owner is the head of the local barrio association... I always contribute a man to the clean up days.
Ice is 40 pesos... to me and the others
His son once charged me 45.... the old man refunded me my 5 pesos.
The 45 price is for passers by.... 40 for locals
Happens all the time, everywhere here in RD - fact of life
I get my ice at the bottom of my hill... a colmado.
The owner is the head of the local barrio association... I always contribute a man to the clean up days.
Ice is 40 pesos... to me and the others
His son once charged me 45.... the old man refunded me my 5 pesos.
The 45 price is for passers by.... 40 for locals
Happens all the time, everywhere here in RD - fact of life
In state college fee and out of state college fees! Guess which one a foreigner pays???
I know in some coast towns in the Netherlands in the summer locals don't pay when the get groceries (in some stores), but it's written down and they pay weekly / monthly the local price for the products. Tourists (mostly Germans...:devious pay cash and the tourist price. That's not only here.
My opinion: if you didn't take the time and effort to learn the language of the country you live in, don't complain to pay the special price. Do you speak the language, be assertive enough to say something when you're being ripped off.
pay cash and the tourist price. That's not only here. My opinion: if you didn't take the time and effort to learn the language of the country you live in, don't complain to pay the special price. Do you speak the language, be assertive enough to say something when you're being ripped off.
Florida residents do have discount fees to most parks; and yes, you have to show an id or FL driver's license. Basically, it's the same situation you're describing here but stating doesn't happen there.
You also say that everyone pays the same for all rides, but I've been to Universal and Sea World and didn't pay per ride. Is that how how Disney Works? By the way, my best friend took her kid and she didn't pay per rides either.Has this changed?
What you call gringo price, is not "gringo" because it happens to locals too. It can happen to anyone who looks 1)like they have money, 2) naive, pariguayo or soft spoken, or 3) like they lack tigueraje, or 4)Anyone who is not used to bargaining.
That was point about the price of my local colmado.
He's on the main road (north coast #5)
all the 'drive by's pay 45 pesos, those living within a stone's throw pay 40.
you scratch my back I'll scratch yours.
Ski resorts
All the locals pay less... way less
I used to need a copy of my deed/title to qualify
He's on the main road (north coast #5)
all the 'drive by's pay 45 pesos, those living within a stone's throw pay 40.
you scratch my back I'll scratch yours.
Ski resorts
All the locals pay less... way less
I used to need a copy of my deed/title to qualify
Tourist pay tourist price. Locals pay local price. This only becomes a problem when the seller assumes someone
who lives here is a tourist. Happens to me all the time. I simply explain to them I am not visiting, I live here and I am not
paying more. This works about 75% of the time.
For those who refuse to budge on the price I usually engage them in a conversation
by asking if they go to church, read the bible and believe in god. Then I politely ask if they can please show me where in
the bible it says the gringo must pay more? Then I smile and give the item back.
I don?t do the tourist trail but if I did, I?d expect to be charged tourist prices.
who lives here is a tourist. Happens to me all the time. I simply explain to them I am not visiting, I live here and I am not
paying more. This works about 75% of the time.
For those who refuse to budge on the price I usually engage them in a conversation
by asking if they go to church, read the bible and believe in god. Then I politely ask if they can please show me where in
the bible it says the gringo must pay more? Then I smile and give the item back.
I don?t do the tourist trail but if I did, I?d expect to be charged tourist prices.
Even off the tourist track, Cristo, you need to hunt for right price.
e.g. Beer..... many guys are 100 pesos and others are a bit more.
Varies, colmado to colmado..... pick your spots - as you point out
e.g. Beer..... many guys are 100 pesos and others are a bit more.
Varies, colmado to colmado..... pick your spots - as you point out
I live in a barrio. I pay 60 pesos for breakfast, 10 for coffee, 50 for a haircut and 550 pesos a week for rent.
I could go lower on the rent if I wanted to share a bathroom but I prefer a little privacy when bathing. Prices
in this country are determined by how much they think you are worth. If you trick them into thinking you are
worthless... I think you get the my point.
Probably to see the statue of Liberty. I don't know, but they should.
It is a national monument, and New York does not set the price.
http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/fees.htm $17 to go up into the crown, Ellis Island is $25 more
It is a national monument, and New York does not set the price.
http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/fees.htm $17 to go up into the crown, Ellis Island is $25 more
So true. As a Dominican living abroad when visiting the DR, if I'm caught speaking english en el mercado, prices go up!
hahaha
very true , I suspect.
we have no tourists (of any significant amount) here but I bet there is a scale.
The auto cash registers ring most things up
and one local mercado lady yells it out to all in hearing distance
that she has one price for all and she obeys the line.... no line jumping....
She's the shrewd one... currying favor with the non-Doms - they spend more.
It's working for her.
Ha, no, I'd swear it said 'caught speaking Spanish', I'm getting old I guess.
well, if we have accomplished anything here -
let's hope we have dispelled the myth that only in RD is there a discriminatory pricing scale.
It seems there are 'special prices' everywhere for locals.... from what we read here.
I take from this that RD is no different from any other country, state or province in the world.
It may be a bit more subtle -- but it's the same game
let's hope we have dispelled the myth that only in RD is there a discriminatory pricing scale.
It seems there are 'special prices' everywhere for locals.... from what we read here.
I take from this that RD is no different from any other country, state or province in the world.
It may be a bit more subtle -- but it's the same game