Travelling to a different country always requires you to find out what you are going to need when you’re there. We often worry about the weather, about if it is going to rain a lot or if we need any vaccines before leaving, but sometimes we overlook something as important as knowing what currency is used in that country.
What is the currency of the Dominican Republic?
The official currency of the Dominican Republic since 2010 is the Dominican peso. Formerly it was known as the “gold peso” or “Dominican gold peso”, but from that year on, its official name and symbol “RD$” were established in the country’s constitution.
Coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 Dominican pesos are currently in circulation. As for the banknotes, you can find denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 Dominican pesos.
When you enter a store in the country, you’ll see the price set next to the Dominican Peso (DOP) code.
Where to exchange my money in Punta Cana?
The different means of transport that are available today allow us to travel from one side of the planet to the other in a matter of hours. This flow of tourists has caused a certain type of business to proliferate in city centres that we hardly used to see. We’re talking about bureau de change offices.
A bureau de change is an office that exchanges money from the currency of one country to the currency of another country, in what is known as a currency exchange.
Although we see it as a currency exchange, what these offices really do is buy and sell money. Therefore, when we visit them we’ll see several indicators that reflect the purchase and sale value of said currencies.
Once you understand how they work, you just have to find one to exchange your money. These are the most touristy areas where you’ll find them:
In the airport
The first place to exchange money that you’ll find in the Dominican Republic will definitely be at the Punta Cana international airport. But if you don’t want to spend more time at the airport than necessary, you’ll be able to find exchange offices in many places in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic later on.
On the city streets
The main urban centres, such as Santo Domingo, have several of these exchange offices scattered around the centre, especially in the colonial city, which is the historic centre of the first settlement that gave rise to the city and has the most monuments in the country. Thus, if you decide to visit the capital city, you can exchange currency here, as well as in any of the other major cities such as Santiago de los Caballeros or in places like Puerto Plata.
At hotels
Most hotels in Punta Cana offer currency exchange services for their guests, which is especially convenient for those who prefer to handle this without leaving their accommodation. In many cases, this service is managed directly at the front desk or in designated areas within the hotel.
In the Playa Bávaro area, resorts of the Lopesan Hotel Group offer these types of facilities. Accommodations such as Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino, Lopesan Caoba Lagoon, Lopesan Splash Cove, and Lopesan Serenity Bay make it easy to exchange currency within the resort itself, allowing travelers to manage their payments more comfortably during their stay in Punta Cana.
In shopping areas
Currency exchange is conducive to shopping, therefore, you’ll find exchange offices in busy shopping areas. Thus, if you want to buy things in places like The Boulevard, you can exchange currencies without having to go somewhere else beforehand.
Recommendations when exchanging money in Punta Cana
Some aspects that you have to take into account are the exchange rates. The exchange rate for the Dominican peso with the euro is around €1 = 52 Dominican pesos. With respect to the dollar, the approximate exchange rate is $1 = 45.5 Dominican pesos.
You’ll see that, in many places, especially the most touristy areas, the dollar is accepted as payment, but it’s best to exchange dollars or euros for Dominican pesos to get the best exchange rate.
As you’ve seen, you can exchange your money directly at exchange offices that are scattered around the city or at the hotels. However, it’s important to note that entering the country has a fee of $10 per person. This fee is often included in tourist packages. If you have booked one, your provider will be able to tell you if this aspect is already covered. If you have organised the trip on your own, you will have to pay it upon arrival at the airport.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to arrive in the country with $10 in Dominican pesos for each person travelling with you. This way you can pay the fee directly and in the most convenient way without causing any setback or delay in the start to your holidays in paradise.
At the end of the day, exchange offices are businesses that offer a service, for which they charge a small commission for making the exchange. When exchanging currency, keep in mind that operations with larger amounts tend to have lower commissions. Therefore, it’s preferable to exchange one big lump sum instead of several small amounts for the best end result.
Now that you have currency exchange on your mind, we recommend taking a look at our complete guide to tourism in Punta Cana, so that your next holiday is as perfect as you had imagined.
