Money in Punta Cana

[Bride Loving CJ]

This may be a wierd question but what kind of money do they use in Punta Cana?

 

Also, people keep telling me that there is not much to do once you get off the resort. Is that true? Is it like baron, rural land when you leave the resort and are the resorts that far apart? Can you walk to other resorts or other places? People say it's really isolated. Is that true? We've never been and I'm not sure what to plan for people to do. Or if WE should plan anything at all for them.

 

Please Help!

 

[MilitaryMrs.s-to be]

Theres lots to do. Don't worry you and your guests will have a great time!! And they accept American money. Thats all I ever use there.

[Bride Loving CJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MilitaryMrs.s-to be Theres lots to do. Don't worry you and your guests will have a great time!! And they accept American money. Thats all I ever use there.

Thanks so much! I am super nervous about having my DW there and having never been there. We just kind of did a "spin the globe" move to decide which island. We had not gone to any of them so any island would be a new experience for us! I had some friends to go to Punta Cana last year so at least the name was familiar.

The fact that they take American cash calms my fears greatly! Thanks.

Also, thanks for still being on the forum even though you are married! It's great to get information from Brides-to-be but far more valuable to get insight from someone who has already been there.

As for the "what to do" question, I sort of feel like it'll just be an on-your-own kind of weekend, aside from the ceremony and reception, because I only have like 5 people coming.

[MilitaryMrs.s-to be]

You've never been? OMG!! I love it there, I would move tomorrow if I could!! Its beautiful, the people are sooo nice! The beach is to die for! Don't worry, everything will turn out just the way you hoped for. Mine was more then I ever thought it could be

[jessyg20]

Bride Loving CJ-

Punta Cana is beautiful, you're guests will first only want to get in their bathing suites and enjoy the beach and pool, with a cocktails of course. Let them know bartenders love US Dollars!!!!!

You can always organize a group with an excursion agency to do some activities, if you have enough people negotiate to have you or your hubby/hubby to be go for free (heh heh we did). We did one group excursion, the buggy ride. It's a few hours but it was fun. They take you to a ranch where you're given a buggy (go kart lol), then you're taken to a natrual spring water cave, then you go to a beach where you get to watch the sunset. It was amazing!

Then you will have the crazy moments like the picture below, after the wedding and partying, 2am, no body, well the party people, didn't want to stop, so what better thing to do, go to the beach! lol

My intentions were to stay dry and enjoy my wedding night with my husband, but we decided to go for it!

[elizabethrodriguez314]

hello, their money is called peso. one dollar = 37 pesos....

[elizabethrodriguez314]

and they have tons of things to do out side the resort... but i find sooo much in the resort that i never want to leave=)

[richarsd]

You can use US dollars or Dominican Pesos...you can usually convert your money at resort lobbies. Although US money is widely accepted, they prefer their own pesos for tips simply because they're not as traceable...meaning if you tip someone in US money, it's kinda obvious they got it through tips because only tourists use it. Most of the resorts will cut into the servers and maids tips and take a large percentage of it. If you give them pesos, they can just claim it as their own money and pocket it all (which is the intention is it not when you give someone a tip?). Also, they have to convert US dollars at the bank and the bank also takes a cut so again they lose even more. So if you want to tip in US money that's ok, just keep in mind that when you give them $1, they might get 25 cents. If you're shopping or whatnot, then using either currency doesn't make much difference.

 

As for things to do, there's tons!! I've been to Punta Cana twice and love it! The resorts always have lots going on if you're not the type to just spent 7 days on the beach. There's lots of companies that offer excursions to Saona Island on a catamaran, the jeep safari with bavaro Runners, historic tours of Santo Domingo, etc. Not sure what vacation carrier you've booked with (ex: Apple vacations, etc.) but they always have big info binders in the resort lobbies that list all of the extra excursions you can do or you can just arrnage it yourself...someone at the front desk could probably help. There's also some restaurants and shopping areas just beyond the resort compund...don't be too worried about going to explore them in the daytime as long as you stick to the main street. Higuey is the nearest town but it's like a 30 minute bus ride away from most resorts...I've never been there and have heard it's a bit sketchy so I think it's better to stick to the tourist areas.

[Bride Loving CJ]

Thanks!! I was thinking that I would try to do something outside the resort like go to the jellyfish restaurant but I don't really think I will be able to afford anything extra so I just hope there is enough to do at the resort to keep us busy. I don't want my guess to feel like we are being cheap because we didn't plan anything outside the resort but that's 1 of the reasons we did a DW in the first place because we didn't have a lot of money to splurge with.
 

Originally Posted by elizabethrodriguez314 

and they have tons of things to do out side the resort... but i find sooo much in the resort that i never want to leave=)

[Bride Loving CJ]

Thanks! I sure hope so. I am so nervous. My TA just quit the agency and I think it's because she got married so she didn't need to work there anymore if you know what I mean. She is the one who recommended the nh-Royal Arena and it makes me wonder if she only persuaded me to have it there because that is where she had here's two weeks ago.
 

Originally Posted by MilitaryMrs.s-to be 

You've never been? OMG!! I love it there, I would move tomorrow if I could!! Its beautiful, the people are sooo nice! The beach is to die for! Don't worry, everything will turn out just the way you hoped for. Mine was more then I ever thought it could be