Banking & Communications
1. The Peso
The Dominican peso is divided into 100 centavos, with notes of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000. The last two are often impossible to change, especially in rural areas. There are 1, 5, 10, and 25 peso coins in everyday use. The peso’s exchange rate against the US dollar and other currencies fluctuates widely, and there is an official rate announced daily in newspapers.
2. Using US Dollars
In tourist areas and all-inclusive hotels, prices are often quoted in US dollars, which are preferred to pesos. In more remote places, however, the peso is still the preferred currency.
3. Banks & ATMs
There are some foreign-owned and many local banks, all of which will change dollars at the official rate, though queuing at the counter can be a lengthy business. Opening hours are normally 8:30am–4pm, Monday to Friday. Major banks such as the Banco Popular, Banco León, and Banco de Reservas operate ATMs, which accept cards such as MasterCard and Visa.
4. Bureaux de Change
Casas de cambio offer more or less the same rates as banks and will cash traveler’s checks. They also have longer opening hours than banks.
5. Credit Cards
The major cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and tourist oriented stores, but not in out-of-the-way places or corner stores. Check the slip before signing and make sure that you are not charged in US dollars if you think you are paying in pesos. Credit cards can also be used for cash advances at certain banks, but this will involve at least 5 percent commission. There have been several incidents of the central credit card center copying cards, so try and use cash if possible.
6. Telephones
Public phones are plentiful and normally reliable, operated by several private companies. It’s a good idea to buy a phone card (Claro) for between US $1 and US $6, which allows you to make cheap international calls. Avoid making calls from hotel rooms as these can be quite expensive.
7. Phone Codes
Calls made within the Dominican Republic require a 10-digit number which includes a 3-digit area code (809, 829, or 849). Long-distance calls and calls to cell phones require a prefix of 1. To call outside the country, dial 011 followed by the country code. To call the Dominican Republic from the United Kingdom dial 001, then the 10-digit number. From the US and Canada dial only the 1, then the 10-digit number (as for long distance calls within the country).
8. Charges
Phone charges can vary enormously, from exorbitant hotel rates to cheaper calls made from a phone center, where the operator dials for you and you sit in a booth. Calls between different towns and districts are charged at the same rate as those to the US. It is much cheaper in all cases to call before 8am, after midnight, or on Sundays.
9. Mail
Mail is slow, and you should not use street mail boxes. Special delivery (entrega especial) services are available at big post offices, but even these are unreliable. It is better to use an international courier company.
10. Internet
Internet services have expanded and improved dramatically but are still often victims of power cuts and technical problems. The main tourist areas now have a plethora of Internet cafés, and you are normally charged by the hour. Despite all the problems, email is still the best way of keeping in touch.
