This isn't desk research. Our contributor lives on the north coast year-round. What follows is the kind of advice you'd only get from a friend who actually knows the place.
Cash is king on the north coast. Most restaurants and businesses do not include ITBIS tax (18%) and service charge (10%) in their advertised prices — that's 28% on top of any menu price. Always factor this in before you order. Pay cash and you may pay significantly less.
Most restaurants and hotels do not include ITBIS tax (18%) and service charge (10%) in their advertised prices. That's 28% on top — always worth knowing before you order.
Cash is nearly always better. Many restaurants will give you a discount just for paying cash. Don't be shy about asking — it's completely normal.
Most restaurants accept credit cards, but cash can save you up to 28% on the bill. The savings add up quickly over a week.
Note: Diners Club in Residencial Hispaniola, Sosúa is one of the few restaurants where taxes are already included in the menu price — what you see is what you pay.
ATMs are widely available but knowing which ones to use makes a real difference.
Medical services on the north coast are now very good. Always travel with comprehensive travel insurance — but if you need help, you won't struggle to find it.
Always carry travel insurance. Medical care is good and affordable by Caribbean standards, but having insurance means you can choose private care and avoid any complications with billing.
The north coast has some excellent supermarkets — better stocked than many visitors expect. Here's where to go depending on where you're staying.
The north coast is easy to navigate once you know the options. Here are the key distances and transport tips.
Whether you're here for two weeks or considering a longer stay, moving through a big change — a relocation, a life reset, or just switching off from a demanding job back home — brings its own kind of adjustment. It's worth having good tools for it.
Big transition ahead? Whether it's this trip, a longer stay, or a full relocation, Inner Balance 101 is a gentle, structured program built around breathwork and nervous-system science, designed to help ease the adjustment.