Money exchange in sosua

[giacomo]

Since I am arriving on a sunday afternoon, I am wondering what will be open for money exchange without paying a premium.

I was reading the banco popular rate is fine (36), but travel agency on the main street is slightly better (37) (I could find the thread back with the name of it just yet).

Any suggestions ? and recent rate experience ? I really don't want to exchange money here before heading out if I can help it , so the sunday hours are important.

[giacomo]

I have gotten some of the best exchange rates in CR at the casinos ! Any experiences like that in DR ?

[Cuba Libre]

You will not get 36 anywhere in Sosua right now, the highest rate is Banco Santa Cruz, RD35.90. Where did you see RD37, YAHOO!

You can get RD35.50 on the weekend, if you shop around.

Try the cambios next to Happy Bar, between Classicos and the beach, and around the corner, there are over 10 cambios and most are competitive.

[yayow]

Some of the worse exchange rates can be found at the casinos in D.R.

Actually just using the atm, for what you need on Sunday would be fine, in D.R. they dispense only in pesos, and the rates are comparable, and sometimes better than what you will find on the street. Just know how much you want to take out and know the exchange rate before hand. For example when you get to the machine and you punch in 300, you are only getting 300 pesos, which is about $10.00 U.S. So before going to the atm, know your rates, and also let your bank at home know you will be travelling and possibly using your card in another country, so they don't snatch your card, when they see a request from another country.

[eastcoastallstar]

I check the yahoo currency exchange rate while I'm in town, it will give you an approximate rate, then when I hit town, I go to western union and see what they are offering. I usually exchange at WU. Then later on if you know the rates you can haggle with the street guys. Carry a cell with a calculator, figure out what your supposed to get, have them give you the money first!!! Then hand over your money.

[Beads]

I like using the ATM or PayPal debit cards. I end up even with the currency conversion fees getting a good rate. You can also walk to Charamicos and see the posted rate over by Caribe tours and haggle with the other cambios or street guys with that number.

If your changing in more than $100USD I tend to stay away from the street guys just from hearing about counterfeit bills. I have never gotten one but heard the stories and seen all the counterfeit money checkers all over town so they must see a good deal of them to invest in machines to check for them.

[balcoach]

best place in town... cambio just past EL FLOW walking toward Classico's.
Can always get a good rate. Go in and tell them what you have and want, they usually go along with you.

Best rate in town is in the street, across from bon ice cream... have a few "dope boys" cleaning money up there. but like beads says, you might get some bogus bills there.

Be decisive about what rate you want, and if you don't get it, walk away.

Good spot for rate... www.xe.com (http://www.xe.com) use this minus .20/.25 and u can usually get this all day long .

And if you really want the best rate... go to the spot charamicos, but unless your changing $1000+ its not worth crying over the tenth of the rate.. and the atm rates you get, are usually eaten up with fees!

Love Peace & Chicken Grease

[giacomo]

Great info thanks! I just read 37 in one of the posts here, while 36 is what it says on the official exchange rate pages. I am not worried about the difference on anything between 35.50 to 36, but I looked up Travelex (the usual international airport exchange place) and the will give you less than 30 ! Not a real surprise since I always avoid travelex, other than for maybe an occasional $100 to have on hand.

Curious about the counterfeit bills... do the girls know how to check them? Do you know how to check them? If I were a chica I would be quite worried about getting paid in counterfeit bills :(

[voltage69]

my first trip, i didnt go near the street guys. after that.. i almost always used them if i was heading out in that direction. never had a problem with their money being counterfeit. sometimes when i thought i was running low on cash i would use the atm but theres a 5 dollar fee for each transaction.. so i make sure i take out a good 10,000 pesos to disperse the fee a little and come out with a decent rate.
if youre in the us and you run into 7-11 3 times in a week and take out 100 bucks each time.. youre paying 4.50 in fees anyway. the extra 50 cents isnt gonna make me or break me to know that the cash is available when needed.

[Downtown]

There's a short Dominican hombre who walks around the beach a lot. If you check in at Siempre Sol, Herman will tell you who he is, as I have no name. One thing I will say is that he packs some serious heat in his belt because he carries a 2-3 inch wide wad of bills! His rates are competitive.

I agree the best place on the strip is a couple of doors down from El Flow. Also, if you know where the laundramat is on Dr Rosen, check with Luis at the car rental place next door. He always gives me a great rate.

[Summit]

There's a short Dominican hombre who walks around the beach a lot. If you check in at Siempre Sol, Herman will tell you who he is, as I have no name. One thing I will say is that he packs some serious heat in his belt because he carries a 2-3 inch wide wad of bills! His rates are competitive.
That's Mapelo 809-491-3024. Usually about the best rate around and he will often come to where you are.

[lonesoul]

Since I am arriving on a sunday afternoon, I am wondering what will be open for money exchange without paying a premium.

I was reading the banco popular rate is fine (36), but travel agency on the main street is slightly better (37) (I could find the thread back with the name of it just yet).

Any suggestions ? and recent rate experience ? I really don't want to exchange money here before heading out if I can help it , so the sunday hours are important.
Try the change near french laundry

[Hemp]

I change all my cash at the playero supermercado (main super market in town) or the ATM in there. there always at the market exchange rate and a little better.