Budget Tips
1. Low-Season Travel
You can save a good deal of money by visiting between June and mid-December. This is the hurricane season, so prices are lower for hotels and car rental, and sometimes for airfares.
2. Street Food
Food prepared at street stalls and beach grills, or in colmados, is usually an excellent bargain. Often a plate of barbecued chicken or pork served with rice, black beans, and plátanos will cost less than $5. Some of the best street fare is at Playa Piñones. Make sure your meal has been freshly cooked and hasn’t been sitting out in the sun for too long.
3. Haggling
Most street stalls and souvenir stores mark up prices beyond what may be reasonable for crafts, necklaces, and other souvenirs. Haggling over a fair price is an accepted way of doing business, and essential to getting a good bargain. Expect to negotiate a reduction of 10–20 per cent of the asking price.
4. Avoid Tourist Stores
Shops and souvenir stores in hotels and tourist-oriented malls are often overpriced. Unless the quality is exceptional, you’re much better off buying souvenirs at crafts markets. General items, such as toiletries, will be cheaper at neighborhood colmados.
5. Public Transport
Públicos and guaguas are a fraction of the price of hiring a car or using taxis, and offer visitors the advantage of getting to mingle with locals. Although not as comfortable as taking your own transport, they are usually reliable and will get you to your destination very inexpensively.
6. Package Tours
Package tours can offer tremendous value and are usually far less expensive than booking airfares, hotels, and perhaps car rental separately yourself. Unlike on escorted group tours, you travel independently on a package tour and can often choose from several all-inclusive options at different prices to suit your budget.
7. Phone Cards
Most hotels charge exorbitant rates for calls made from guest rooms. You can save a considerable amount of money by buying a prepaid phone card in various denominations for use in public phones and sometimes even in hotel rooms. These are available in shops, supermarkets, and drugstores.
8. All-Inclusives
If you plan to spend most of your time at the beach and are not interested in dining around or exploring far and wide, consider checking into an all-inclusive resort hotel. These properties charge a single rate that includes your accommodation, meals, entertainment, and use of the hotel’s facilities. Exactly what is included can vary from hotel to hotel, so check the fine print before making your choice.
9. Happy Hours
Many bars and restaurants offer an early-evening happy hour, usually between 6pm and 8pm, when cocktails and other drinks are sold at half price, sometimes accompanied by complimentary snacks. Also look for other specials, such as “Ladies Night,” when women receive half-price drinks, two-for-ones, and even free admission to nightclubs.
10. Special Discounts
Surf the Internet for travel discounts. Many airlines and tour companies offer last minute price reductions, but this may mean you have to leave at short notice. Some museums offer free or discounted entry on certain days. And look for promotional specials, frequently offered by newly opened shops, bars, and restaurants.
