Cash to Bring to Island?

[bobdole]

I've heard we'll need $1000 in traveller's checks in hand when we land on the rock, to get us through until we get our refund check at registration.

a) Is this a good estimate? Any reason to believe we'd need more than that (if we're arriving two weeks before the start of classes and securing housing when we get to the island)?

b) Our refund check WILL come when we register, correct? That's what I recall reading from the previous posts, but I wanted to verify that. :)

Thanks!
--Kit

[sarahtarah]

Well, you will need to have at most places first months rent and deposit. my land lady was nice about it and waited till i had money in my acct but some dont. so at least enough for that

[Shadowstar]

What are traveler's checks and how do you get them?

[Dru]

American Express® Travelers Cheques and Foreign Currency (http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,16193,00.asp)

[islandthrift]

I would bring a little more in travelers checks to get you by, especially if you're going to be on the island for 2-3 weeks before registration. I woudl bring somewhere around $2000 and a little cash, maybe $200 - $300 to get you by in case the bank isn't open when you arrive. Any extra in travelers checks can then be put into the bank. Remember, if you have not secured housign prior to arrival, you will need enough for a deposit and the first months rent along with any food you plan on eating and any items you plan on buying before you get your loan check.

[bobdole]

Thanks IslandThrift, that's exactly what the kind of information I was looking for! :)

[bobdole]

Ew, one more question: how quickly does a Swift electronic transfer from the states post to your Dominican account, assuming that I have just opened the account the day before, and my wife wires the money from the US bank at 0930 EDT the following day?

(I dunno if there are any funny policies about holds on accounts, or anything. Also, she'll be sending the wire transfer on a Friday morning, if that makes a difference. I guess I can make it a Thursday morning if that's helpful. I'll need the cash ASAP, but I get my last paycheck from my job at midnight the day after I leave, you see.)

[islandthrift]

To be honest, I have not done any bank transfers down here BUT I'd assume there is some type of hold the way there is in the US from one back to another. One thing that might help you is there is a Western Union down here! I have used them to pay credit card bills and get money from the US. That I can tell you is same day! I'm not sure of transfer fees into the Dominica banks but Western Union is $20 EC (about $8 US) LESS when transfering money OUT of Dominica. I hope this helps!

[sarahtarah]

i've done a transfer, and my parents transfered money to my acct on thursday, and i had it friday afternoon.

edit, they transferred the money from chase bank.

[Dangerous J]

Ive done a wire transfer from the campus branch of NBD(national bank of Dominica) on a wednesday and it go to my parents Bank of America account on the Friday after.