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Among the most geographically diverse countries in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic relies considerably on tourism. Despite this, using a credit card in the Dominican Republic might present some roadblocks, and cash remains king in the everyday functioning of the country’s economy.
You’ll be able to use Visa or Mastercard in large hotels, shops, and restaurants across more populated cities such as Santiago de los Caballeros and Santo Domingo Oeste as well as around popular tourist resorts. You may have problems using your card when you travel to remote areas of the country.
Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted across the Dominican Republic in main tourist areas and cities. Some large hotels and shops accept American Express cards.
| Merchant acceptance | ATM acceptance | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa |  High | High |
| Mastercard | High | High |
| American Express |  Medium | High |
| Discover | High |  Low |
Most American credit cards come with overseas transaction fees that you need to pay every time you use your card outside of the country. Transactions made outside of the US can also attract currency conversion fees.
Depending on the card you use, you’ll typically pay 2% to 3% of every international transaction as fees. You can avoid this fee easily by getting a card with no overseas transaction fees. Some of your options include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the USAA® Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card.
If a local business gives you the choice of getting your card swiped in pesos or US dollars, it is best that you opt for the latter. When you’re out of the US and pay for a purchase in US dollars, the transaction becomes subject to dynamic currency conversion. If this happens, you might end up with a less-than-favorable exchange rate and also a currency conversion fee.
Before embarking on your vacation in the Dominican Republic, take a look at your credit card. Does it charge foreign transaction fees? If so, consider these cards that won’t leave you paying a fee each time you make a purchase abroad.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
★★★★★
| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $95 |
|
Purchase APR 15.99% to 22.99% variable |
|
Balance transfer APR 15.99% to 22.99% variable |
|
Rewards 5x points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases |
|
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. |
American Express® Gold Card
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $250 |
|
Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR |
|
Balance transfer APR N/A |
|
Rewards 4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points), 3x points on directly-booked flights and 1x points on other eligible purchases |
|
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months |
The Platinum Card® from American Express
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
|---|
|
Minimum credit score 670 |
|
Annual fee $695 |
|
Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR |
|
Balance transfer APR N/A |
|
Rewards 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other eligible purchases |
|
Welcome offer 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months |
Compare even more credit cards
ATMs are easy to find in Santo Domingo and around tourist resorts in towns such as Punta Cana, La Romana, and Puerto Plata. Most banks in the Dominican Republic are members of the Cirrus, PLUS, and Maestro networks, so you’ll be able to use your American credit and debit cards. If you plan to travel to remote areas, carry adequate cash because ATMs can be hard or near impossible to find. Remember that ATMs in the Dominican Republic usually have daily withdrawal limits of 5,000 or 10,000 pesos.
Several businesses in the Dominican Republic have moved to using chip card readers. Fortunately, you can still use your magstripe card because chip card readers come with the capability to process both types of cards. Besides, your chip card comes with a magstripe, so you can use it at older terminals as well. Several businesses follow extra precautions to avoid fraudulent transactions. For instance, you may need to show some form of identification and you might need to sign a receipt even if you’ve entered your PIN.
Yes, you can use your chip-and-signature card in the Dominican Republic. If the person handling the card reader does not know how to use your card, mention that hitting the ‘enter’ button when the machine asks for the PIN generally processes the payment. Once the payment goes through, you’ll need to sign a receipt.
Using a magstripe card will present no problems other than those that involve security. Chip cards offer enhanced safety when compared to their magstripe counterparts, so consider upgrading if you haven’t already.
You need to be extra careful when using your credit or debit card in the Dominican Republic. Several travelers prefer using cash over cards only because of this aspect.
Crime levels in the Dominican Republic are high, with instances of pickpocketing, bag snatching and violence fairly common. There have been several reports of tourists being robbed at gunpoint in Santo Domingo’s residential areas, even during daytime. Remain extra vigilant if you’re in a remote area, especially after dark. Don’t leave your wallet, bag, or any other possession unattended in a restaurant or a bar.
Almost all hotels in the country list their prices in US dollars, and you’ll find that most shops, restaurants, and cab drivers accept Dominican pesos as well as US dollars. Don’t be surprised if you come by hotels and businesses that quote prices only in US dollars because tourists are their primary source of revenue. Since businesses have to pay their banks fees for every transaction, some businesses encourage customers to pay in cash. This may work in your favor as making payments in cash gives you the opportunity to bargain just about everywhere.
Prevalence of US dollars around tourist resorts and zones is common, although the exchange rate you get can leave considerable room for improvement. Consider traveling with US cash broken up in small denominations such as $1 and $5 as you’ll find it convenient when making small purchases and tipping.
Follow a few simple measures so you can use your credit cards in the Dominican Republic when possible.
Answer these simple questions and you’ll avoid the most commonly associated problems with using credit cards in the Dominican Republic.
After you’ve taken the required measures, there’s no reason why you can’t handle your monetary dealing in the Dominican Republic without problems.
See more guides on using a credit card in other countries.
Using a credit card to get cash is best left for emergencies. While you’ll need to pay a cash advance fee, the APR you’ll pay for a cash advance will, in all likelihood, be higher than your card’s purchase APR. Besides, you’ll need to start paying interest from the date of the transaction. The corresponding table will give you some indication of the costs associated with an overseas cash advance.
Credit cards are widely accepted in the Dominican Republic, especially Mastercard and Visa. Some large establishments may accept American Express and Discover. But make sure to carry some cash with you as well.
If you don’t have a travel card already, consider applying for one to earn rewards on your travel purchases and save money on foreign transaction fees.
Images: Shutterstock
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