The Basics of Getting On The Ground In The Dominican Republic
As the door on the airplane pops open on the tarmac in Punta Cana, the warm, tropical air wafts throughout the cabin. You know the ocean is near, and if you listen closely you can hear the palms rustling in the distance. In the near future, you’ll be whisked away to your Caribbean condo you’ve pre-booked with the team at Go Punta Cana Real Estate. Wow, what a dream! The Caribbean Is Calling…Welcome to Paradise.
When traveling to Punta Cana, you’ll be flying in to the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). Interestingly enough, the Punta Cana Airport is one of the very few privately owned international airports in the entire world – being part of Grupo Punta Cana. PUJ receives direct flights from a multitude of airports around the world, and its’ spectacular cana-roofed terminals and amazing VIP areas are a sight to be seen. Of note, when arriving to the airport, you’ll want to have some US dollars on hand. While the DR uses Dominican Pesos for their currency, the airport itself has defaulted to the more standardized US currency. For example, when passing through their customs/entry point, you’ll actually be required to purchase your temporary visa – a small fee in US dollars.
Once exiting the airport, like any major tourist destination, you’ll be inundated with the eager taxi driver to bring you to your destination. Use your savvy here, as you may wish to actually rent a car prior to your arrival and organize a pick up from the rental agency (additionally there are rental car booths set up near the exit of the airport). This can save you some money in the long run if you do desire to drive around a bit and see the sights whilst vacationing in the area.
We’ve covered the basics about the Punta Cana Airport, now let’s discuss what to do prior to departing to the Dominican Republic. Again, please be sure you’ve pre-booked your vacation property with Go Punta Cana, as the reservations come in quickly – especially during high season (December through May).
Before you leave for the DR, just a reminder to pack light, but appropriately. It’s quite warm in the DR during the day, but along the coast in the evenings you’ll often get a nice breeze. Maybe a wind breaker or a sweatshirt wouldn’t hurt. As there are many nice restaurants and clubs to frequent in the area, you may want to consider evening wear. Some establishments have dress codes. One of the reasons we recommend packing light but appropriately, is because you never know when an airline may misplace or delay your luggage – nothing worse than a vacation without your stuff! Of Note, when passing through customs, be aware that electronic items are in high demand here at a premium price – so bring your personal items only. Furthermore, just a reminder that if you DO wish to use credit cards/debit cards here (there’s plenty of cash exchanges in the Bavaro area), let your bank know you’ll be traveling.
