Those that do travel to the Dominican know that it’s an amazing country. There’s a lot to appreciate about the country’s place in the history books, as its capital, Santo Domingo (and its excellent resorts), is the oldest known settlement in the Americas, having been established in 1496. It also has a cathedral built by the son of Christopher Columbus; 500 years later, it’s still standing.
But the country has one of the highest crime rates of any nation in the Caribbean, and as a result, merchants in the hospitality industry have marked down the prices of vacation packages so severely they’re almost giving those incentives away.
Scuttlebutt of that sort is still likely to scare off a sizable percentage of otherwise interested vacationers.
The Dominican Republic is filled with all-inclusive resorts.
The hotels here are often $500 less than similar offerings in the Bahamas or Jamaica.
That said, those who aren’t alarmed by the headlines can find a lot of vacation bargains, especially all-inclusive packages. Deals offered by Sunwing
One of the cheapest resort packages was for Bellevue Dominican Bay in Santo Domingo, overlooking Boca Chica Beach. A seven-night stay at this facility, which boasts two pools and tropical gardens, was as low as $650 US per person plus tax. On the other end of the budgetary spectrum, the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Resort on the southern tip of the island, which features all the diving you can take in as well as world-class cuisine, was available as a seven-day package for less than $1,000 US per person plus tax.
Getting around any of the cities, expenditures won’t be much of a drain on your budget. The cost of living is so low that an American choosing to reside in the country could do so rather comfortably for less than $1,000 a month. The exchange rate also suits most foreign travelers nicely, with the peso worth about two cents on the U.S. dollar.
Punta Cana Is The Place To Be In The Dominican Republic
The cheapest times to see Punta Cana are between April and November.
Generally, Punta Cana is more affordable for vacationers versus remote parts of the Dominican Republic.
One of the best (and cheapest) places to visit while in the Dominican Republic is Punta Cana. Because this city is more popular than others in the country, visitors will find the cost of hotels and attractions will be cheaper at various times throughout the year. Like any Caribbean island, visiting tourist hubs like the Dominican Republic during off-season times can be a gold mine for savings.
Many honeymooners also come to resorts in Punta Cana, so that’s an idea.
Notably, the cheapest time to come see Punta Cana is in the off-season months of April through November. Hurricane season, although not usually scary in this area, brings less demand for hotels, flights, and experiences in Punta Cana, meaning lower daily prices. Therefore, as a way to save money, it’s a good idea to check the pricing for these months. The Dominican Republic can become incredibly busy and expensive during peak holiday travel, like Christmas, New Year, and spring break. If possible, try and get out here during the summer or fall. These day trips from Punta Cana might also be a fun way to see the country.
The Statistics Don’t Jibe With News Reports
Six million people visit the Dominican Republic each year.
Most tourism to the country takes place in Punta Cana.
More than six million tourists annually visit the Dominican Republic (mostly to Punta Cana), nearly half of them Americans.
Hospitality polls released by the government also revealed that 99 percent of Americans and 94 percent of Canadians said they would visit the Dominican Republic again (and particularly the cheap holiday zone of Punta Cana). In terms of service provided, 94 percent of Americans and 97 percent of Canadians rated hospitality as excellent.
It’s Safe If You’re Careful (Just Like Everywhere Else)
The Dominican Republic is considered a very safe country for tourists.
Try to practice caution and street smarts here (and everywhere) when traveling.
Putting things into perspective and more recent events notwithstanding, the government still declared that the country was safe for visitors – including the Punta Cana area. But the report advised that tourists still take the same precautions they would normally follow at any foreign destination.
It might be wise to ask the resort staff about the quality of security. And once at your destination, be wary of people walking suspiciously in the hallway near your suite. Ensure your valuables are in a safe place, or better still, if they’re not essential for the trip, leave them at home.
Around town, find out about the seedier places in the area and avoid them, especially at night. More severe crimes are usually committed by gangs, most of them dealing in the drug trade. Others may approach resort guests as part of initiating a scam; should that happen, politely refuse and move on.
Those deals, indicative of how affordable the Dominican Republic has been of late, however, may have turned a corner. In February, tourism figures released by the federal government revealed that revenues between 2012 and 2019 registered at $50.6 billion.
The biggest revenue generation took place in 2019 at roughly 7.7 billion U.S., a 1.7 percent increase from the total reported the previous year. Putting a little government spin on the numbers, the feds also declared that the 2019 total reflected a 64.3 percent increase over the 2012 total revenue figure of $4.7 billion.
The Cost Of Living Is Lower In The Dominican Republic
The cost of living in the Dominican Republic is far less than in the United States.
Many people from the US have moved here to save money.
The Dominican Republic is a developing country with a low income per capita (that is part of the reason why the Dominican Republic is so cheap). Therefore, visitors can expect most services in the country to be comparatively cheap with the United States. According to Numbeo.com, the average monthly net salary after tax in the Dominican Republic is around $385 (for comparison, it’s around $4,230 in the United States).
For a person living in the Dominican Republic, one can expect expenses of around $605 without rent (although that can vary massively depending on lifestyle). This may be higher for Punta Cana (even though Punta Cana is a cheap holiday destination).
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around $7.30 (although the range is from $2.75 to $15.00), and a meal for two people with a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant is $40 (ranging from $25 to $92). A McMeal is around $7.30. Restaurants in tourist areas can be expected to be much more expensive than those in more local places away from tourists. Travelers might be easy to find a great roadside meal for a couple of dollars if they are happy to dine at the informal restaurants and street food in the country away from Punta Cana. There are a number of tours that get tourists away from Punta Cana to see the “real” Dominican Republic.
A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $505 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment in the city center is around $925.
