Are they still asking for tips at POP?

**psriches** · 10-27-2004, 05:53 PM

I arrived at POP last week and it seemed like I was gonna get the old tip bullshit by customs. So I started fumbling through my carry-on pretending to look for my suitcase keys. I begin to hold up his line so he waves me through. lol

**mack10** · 10-27-2004, 08:29 PM

after reading the stuff on this thread, I was a little leery of what to expect. I just followed a lady in as if I was with her and not by myself. Had no problem.

**papi0170** · 12-04-2004, 10:50 AM

Hey Guys!
Read this about corruption at airports in Dr (Las Americas and Punta Cana)

Troops from PUJ and AILA transferred
The military contingents based at Punta Cana and Las Americas airports were removed by the Ministry of the Armed Forces after the filing of complaints of extortion and bribery by passengers. The removal of personnel includes everyone from the lowest recruit to the highest official based in Punta Cana. The order also includes the members of the tourism police force (Politur), the National Police (PN) and other security forces. Armed Forces Minister Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez signed the order at the request of AERODOM, the consortium that runs the Punta Cana and Las Americas terminals. General Rafael Ramirez Ferreiras, the chief of the military intelligence services, carried out the directive at the Las Americas Airport. He first talked to Carlos Cota Lama, the government liaison at the airport who had warned of the extortionists and bribers. Customs Department Director Manuel Cocco had also requested the removal of the military presence at the airports. Most of the complaints centered around military personnel who had extorted dollars from passengers in exchange for swift passage through the Customs area.

**Malibook** · 12-04-2004, 02:22 PM

I have been to PP 5 times and never experienced nor seen any of this shit you guys describe.

How the hell would they even know you have anything since you pick up your luggage after going through customs?

**Don Tomas** · 12-04-2004, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Malibook

I have been to PP 5 times and never experienced nor seen any of this shit you guys describe.

How the hell would they even know you have anything since you pick up your luggage after going through customs?

You pickup your luggage after going through Immigration (tourist visa/passport stamped), after there you go to the baggage carousel and pickup your luggage and then you pass through customs (long metal tables lined up) right before exiting the door.

**domfan** · 12-04-2004, 03:29 PM

my dominican wife - with a swiss passport - just came back from connecticut via JFK. she had some of my preferred sausages in her luggage. she handed the official 3 (TRHEE!!!, well YOU dont have the looks of my wife!) $, the guy let her pass. next customer was thourouhgly filzed.

**Malibook** · 12-04-2004, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Don Tomas

You pickup your luggage after going through Immigration (tourist visa/passport stamped), after there you go to the baggage carousel and pickup your luggage and then you pass through customs (long metal tables lined up) right before exiting the door.

I have never seen any customs agents there.

All I see there is the porters.

Everybody just picks up their luggage and goes straight out the door every time I have been.

**domfan** · 12-04-2004, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Malibook

Originally Posted by Don Tomas

You pickup your luggage after going through Immigration (tourist visa/passport stamped), after there you go to the baggage carousel and pickup your luggage and then you pass through customs (long metal tables lined up) right before exiting the door.

I have never seen any customs agents there.

All I see there is the porters.

Everybody just picks up their luggage and goes straight out the door every time I have been.

i dont know, WHEN your last visit was, but now, yes there are customs agents after the caroussell, and, yes, they DO search your luggage.

**Malibook** · 12-04-2004, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by domfan

i dont know, WHEN your last visit was, but now, yes there are customs agents after the caroussell, and, yes, they DO search your luggage.

My last trip was 4 weeks ago.

People have been talking about this for quite some time.
It's not like it is something new.

I am curious why I have never seen this yet others seem to indicate that it is normal. :?

**jd_mine** · 12-04-2004, 07:05 PM

I sometimes fly on charters and they have a tendency to just wave those passengers through. Plus when I arrived in the hurricane last September they clearly didn't feel like working: one guy for the whole plane, almost everyone was waved through again....

**Malibook** · 12-04-2004, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by jd_mine

I sometimes fly on charters and they have a tendency to just wave those passengers through.

I was thinking this could be the reason.

I have always flown charter and it seems like the vast majority of passengers have a bus waiting for them to take them to the resorts.

I can understand why they wouldn't want to cause so many people so much delay and hassle.
Plus it is a bunch of people going to various resorts compared to people visiting their novias and families.

**vagabond** · 12-05-2004, 01:34 PM

I always flies Martinair from Amsterdam, and there is always customs officers searching the luggages there.

**Mister NYC** · 02-13-2005, 03:35 PM

The tiered tax surcharge chart is located directly in front of each custom's officials booth facing you as you walk towards it. It is only 150 pesos if you stay longer than 15 days and under 3 months. The punk told me I had to pay $10USD initially until when I questioned him and asked to see the chart. It pays to ask.

**psriches** · 02-13-2005, 03:44 PM

And some are still asking for tips......

**gmalet** · 02-13-2005, 04:59 PM

I take 3 different prescription meds. Would it be OK to put all three in one bottle? Do they check meds?

**psriches** · 02-13-2005, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by gmalet

I take 3 different prescription meds. Would it be OK to put all three in one bottle? Do they check meds?

no problem with MEDS..

**Macky** · 02-14-2005, 09:12 PM

When I was departuring last time they tried to hustle all passengers for 20$ US for a 'departure tax' - I just stood my ground and said no - my ticket is all inclusive (which it is) and they said I couldn't leave - then I put on a mean look and said MY ticket is all inclusive (I didn't have a dime on me except a few danish kroners).

I guess size _is_ important after all as I'm not just called Big Dane for fun - the three airport police-gangsters backed off

This was infront of about 150 europeans trying to pool money together so they could leave - lol.

My guess is that they try to get as much cash as they can without making a fuzz - when they see someone who wont back down and he is right they know when to back off to avoid a scene that will ruin their little setup.

**D_W_** · 03-13-2005, 11:21 PM

They're still asking...I give them a $5 or $10 spot. I always bring plenty of rubbers, batteries, camera, boom box. I don't want them touching my shit. Usually that's enough for my whole crew. 6-8 of us just get waved through.

**Dark Knight** · 03-25-2005, 08:01 PM

I'll be damned. This was one thing I kinda agonized over (I'd rather give extra cash to women than some a-hole guy in a customs blazer, just a principle), but I was by myself and cruised right through. I had lots of condoms, vitamin V, another prescription medicine, camera, etc. etc. Customs guy said, kinda weakly "tip? tip?". I didn't bother to answer, grabbed my stuff and went out to the cabs. I was lucky or they were lazy? One thing I did *not* do was smile.

Anyway, point/question is...since prescriptions were in my name, no illegal drugs, etc., how is some Gomez going to seriously detain me for a bribe? I guess if it turns into a non-trivial pissing match and I have to be escorted out of the area, I will pay, but very reluctantly. As said above, these guys make OK money.