I originally wrote a review of this airport based on visits there in 1994, and 1996. After my most recent trip there in September 2002 I realised that my information on the airport was out of date. The terminal has undergone a major renovation. Therefore I have deleted that review and written a completely new one based on observations from my most recent visit.

The Amber or north coast of the Dominican Republic is a major tourist destination. Literally thousands of hotel rooms in a variety of resorts and hotels are located alongside its miles of sandy beaches. Bringing sun starved tourists from North America and Europe there is a major undertaking and also big business. Tourism is a major source of income for the DR and thy fully realise it. Therefore a lot of effort and money is spent on the infra structure to support it.

Gregorio Luperon International Airport is the gateway airport to this region. It is one of four major international airports around the country that for the most part serve the tourist trade. Fleets of charter aircraft are the main customers of this mid sized but fairly modern airport. In addition Puerto Plata is a major seaport and commercial centre in its own right. Therefore it is deserving of a modern air terminal.

There is a single terminal and the normal assortment of hangers and service buildings.

Arrival is easy. The terminal has modern gates with enclosed gangways. Incoming passengers move quickly through the departure lounges on the second floor and down an escalator to the arrivals section on the ground floor.

Immigration is the standard bureaucratic and physical maze. There is a large hall with several immigration booths available. Naturally no matter what time of day one arrives and/or how many planes arrive at the same time there will only be a couple of these booths open.

There is one tip I can offer that may speed things up. There are usually two lines, one for those with Passports and the second for those without (US And Canadian citizens do not require a Passport to travel to the DR, only proof of citizenship and photo ID). Even though the Passport line appears longer, appearances are deceiving. It moves much faster than the other as passports are electronically scanned while Drivers licences and what ever are not.

Past immigration is the standard luggage carousals and then Customs. Customs follows a system similar to Mexico and other countries. In the nothing to declare channel you press a button and depending on whether the random light flashed red or green you're pulled over for a search or not. We arrived late in the evening and the local customs staff had decided they'd searched enough people for the day and were waving everyone through before they had a chance to hit the button.

Outside the terminal is the normal collection of taxi stands, car rental booths and small stores. There is also a tourist info stand but it appears to close early. The stores naturally are grossly overpriced although if you're desperate for a cold beer or hot dog after your flight they are available.

Those on a air/hotel package with ground transfers included will be met here by your hotel reps. They're quite easy to spot in their colourful uniforms and ever present clipboards. Those not being met should have no problems and taxi drivers are plentiful if more than a bit aggressive.

Checking in is also easy. The check in counters are all on the ground level and actually open in a kind of large deep veranda. Once checked in, one proceeds through Immigration and security. Both are standard formalities no different from most other airports. Security seems a little more professional these days in comparison to earlier visits.

Immediately after you collect your carry on from the end of the X-ray machine you enter into the duty free zone. This a long narrow twisting hallway that covers all of the ground floor not taken up by the check in area and the customs and immigration sections. One has to pass by dozens of small and large shops before reaching the escalator up to the departure lounge.

To say that the vendors are aggressive is akin to suggesting the surface of the sun might be a tad warm. Mind by this time you've spent a week or two in the DR so you should be used to high-pressure sales pitches. Unless you really need some more booze, perfume or cartons of smokes it's best to keep your eyes straight ahead and walk quickly.

For those who still have room in their carry on, the stores here will take Dollars, Pesos, plastic and/or any combination of these. Prices are ok. Local things like rum and cigars are priced higher than in shops in Puerto Plata or Sosua and in some cases more than the marked up prices in resort shops. Conversely imported alcohol and cigarettes are slightly cheaper here than in town. Watch yourself here, as some of the shopkeepers are a little less than honest when it comes to returning correct change and or calculating exchange rates.

On the second level there are a couple of smaller shops with more limited selections. Prices for the most part are the same though. There is also a bar and a snack bar to lose the last of your Pesos while waiting for your flight to be called.

One big change I noticed from previous visits aside from the shopping concourse, come obstacle course, was the manner in which Departure Tax was paid. Back then there was booth outside the terminal where you had to line up even before reaching the check in counter. This has been moved up to the departure lounge area right beside the gates.

A small counter that is actually kind of hard to notice is where you fork over your $10.00 US to leave the country. Without the stamp on your boarding pass you get here, you will be denied boarding, and yes they do check.

It's probably a good idea to find this both the minute you reach the departure lounge and then hit the duty frees. This prevent you from being a short a few bucks to pay it. There are no ATMs in this part of the terminal and they probably frown on panhandling. In addition as I said they check boarding passes for the tax stamp and you'd be surprised how many people ignore the numerous announcements to visit this booth and then have to line up after their flight has begun boarding.

One of the few things that has remained unchanged over the years is the snack bar on the departure level. Oh sure it too has undergone a renovation however fortunately the food is the same. This part I saved from the original review and repost here verbatim.

Incidentally I personally believe that the best French Fries in the entire Caribbean can be found at the snack bar at the upper departure level after you pass through security and immigration. The perfect way to kill time before your flight is called is with an order of these lovely morsels. I recommend washing them down with an ice cold large Presidente beer.

I’ve since discovered that the beer there is not the coldest in the country as I first though way back in 1994. However it’s still in the top ten. Sadly the price has risen somewhat in eight years, but then what hasn’t.


Note: The original review was posted here July 18, 2000 in the General Dominican Republic section. I reposted it August 5, 2002 when the category for this airport became available. Since the repost it has had 32 member and 305 total hits and two comments, one of which is not worth repeating.


Recommended: Yes