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You can save a good deal, both booking package deals and as an independent traveler, by visiting during the low season, between September and the middle of November. This is the end of the hurricane season, though this should not deter tourists.

Many travel agents offer substantial last-minute discounts, but this means that you will have to leave at short notice. It’s also worth noting that prebooking all-inclusive deals is inevitably much cheaper than flying independently and then trying to book a room.

If you are traveling independently, it is worth trying to negotiate cheaper rates at hotels, either by opting for a room-only arrangement or by haggling politely. Some Dominican hotels, especially in Santo Domingo and Santiago, will offer cheaper rates at weekends when commercial travelers are not using their rooms.

Buses and guaguas are a fraction of the price of hiring a car or taking a taxi and are a good way of seeing the countryside and meeting some local people. Though not luxurious, guaguas are regular and reliable and will get you from your hotel into town or to the beach for a few pesos.

Cheap food on sale at street stands or in family-run comedores may present something of a health risk. But if you make sure that it is freshly cooked, a plate of chicken with rice and beans will cost little more than $2. The principal rule is to have the food in question cooked in front of you and to avoid salads and fruit that may have been washed in tap water.

Many hotels, bars, and restaurants operate an early evening happy hour, when drinks are half price or sometimes accompanied by complimentary snacks. The best time to look for two-forone deals is between 6pm and 8pm, especially in the tourist areas.

It can cut the cost of a guided tour or hiring a taxi driver/guide for a day by sharing with other visitors, as the guide will normally charge a fixed fee, irrespective of whether there is one or four clients. Taxis can also normally be shared between up to four people during trips.

Most local stall-holders and shopkeepers not unreasonably assume that a tourist can afford to pay above the going rate for a T-shirt, necklace, or souvenir. Haggling is fine in places other than conventional supermarkets, and if you are persistent and polite, you may succeed in knocking down the price enough for you to feel you’ve got a bargain and the vendor to make a profit.

Shops and stores in tourist-oriented malls and hotels are often over-priced. You’re much better off buying items such as soap or shampoo, liquor and snacks, from the local neighborhood colmado . Likewise, clothing and souvenirs are a good deal cheaper in open-air or covered markets, or in the informal beach markets in coastal resorts.

Making phone calls from hotel rooms can be very expensive. It is also not always convenient to have handfuls of onepeso coins to make calls from public phones. The best, and most economical, solution is to buy a phone card (see Telephones) which can be used with any phone, including the one in your room.