- Thread starter MariaRubia
- Start date
US$6 for a small bottle of water in Punta Cana airport
Yeah but from 15 pesos to 350 pesos is a bit of an overkill. That's more than 20x. I've never at another airport seen (I can confirm there's something similar at POP) such a high markup for any products as here in the DR. Yes, airports are generally more expensive, but it normally ranges between like 2-5x the normal price and not 20x...
The cost to build, maintain, and service airports is through the roof. The owners of the airports want to quickly recoup investment costs. They lease concessions areas to whoever is willing to pay the high costs. The concessionaires will charge high prices for the products or services they provide to cover their rents, sales commissions to airport, overhead costs, service/supply costs, and wages, to make a fair profit. Because the concessionaires clientele are a captive audience at the airport the concessionaires charge whatever the market will bear.
So, plan ahead if you want water at the airport.
Regards,
PJT
But that's precisely the problem. You can plan ahead as much as you like but you can't get a drop of water past security.
Made close to 3 million playing poker the night before my return trip home. Wound up a millionaire for close to a year before returning to Colombia.
A rumored trick is to freeze the water in the bottle and insulate it before arriving at the airport. There is no injunction for ice.
Regards,
PJT
Update. I was at PUJ last night and Wendy's have water for $3 a bottle. A small presidente is RD$420 and a Wendy's combo is US$14.
A Wendy's combo at PC Village starts at 350 rd for a single. About $6.35 . This is 3 minutes from the Airport.
A friend of mine and his wife had two Bloody Mary's at a bar/restaurant in MIA. Doubles. The bill with tax and tip came to $120. He showed me the receipt.
I think there's a water fountain on the wall in the departure lounge where the restrooms are. At least, there used to be.
The idea that drinking from a water fountain is unsafe is unfounded. On some of them the water pressure is so low that people put their mouths on the spigot. I do avoid those.
That is an old road warrior workaround.
Those that fly frequently are generally met with exorbitant airport pricing on everything.
First, the road warriors pioneered the use of bringing an empty water bottle into the airport and filling it from a water fountain. As the pandemic hit and water fountains were taken down or rendered inoperative, they resorted to an old trick of bringing in frozen bottles of water to circumvent the "prohibited liquid" ban.
Adding to your useful information, for travelers seeking to avoid further exorbitant airport charges, many buy a small soft-sided cooler and buy their favorite sandwiches etc., to pack inside their carryon luggage.................and to keep everything cool for long flights with multiple plane changes.................frozen water bottles to keep everything cool and eventually provide refreshment.
One caveat, food does not work well if flying into the US (Customs prohibitions)..................but coming into the DR....................I have brought in numerous "gotta haves" for people using the soft sided cooler/frozen water bottle method.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Then one is found and can't get excited yet, you have to press the button to see if water actually comes out. lol
