The monetary unit of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. Most banks in the main towns have ATMs that dispense pesos. Go to the big banks like Banco Popular, BanReservas, ScotiaBank, and Banco León. Always choose an ATM in a well-populated and safe part of town.

Items marked in stores are priced in pesos, but you can always ask if they’ll take your currency. Before you do this, you should know the daily exchange rate, which is published in the newspaper every day. Because the exchange rate fluctuates frequently, the prices presented in this book are in U.S. dollars. A recent example of an exchange rate is US$1–RD$35.13. In general, it is best to exchange your money in the large commercial banks as opposed to with the moneychangers who approach you.

Although debit cards are becoming more common, it is still primarily a paper money exchange. Credit cards are widely accepted in bigger venues, especially where tourists go. Traveler’s checks are almost obsolete but can be exchanged at almost any bank or exchange booth. Most hotels and other tourist spots will list prices in U.S. dollars as well as pesos in the current exchange rate.