First time landing at LRM — what happens from wheels-down to the car

What the terminal actually looks like

LRM is one of the most distinctive small airports in the Caribbean: a single low building under an enormous palm-thatched roof, open at the sides, with ceiling fans instead of sealed air conditioning in parts of the hall. You come down the aircraft stairs straight onto the tarmac and walk a short distance to the doors — no jet bridge, no shuttle bus, no second terminal to find.

The flow goes in one direction: immigration, then the baggage belt, then a customs checkpoint, then out into a small arrivals area. There is no doubling back once you clear a checkpoint, so use the restroom before immigration if you need it.

Signage is in Spanish and English, and because the building is small you can usually see the next step from where you are standing. Staff direct the flow at each pivot point; you rarely need to ask which way to go.

Wheels-down to the arrivals door: the real sequence

Taxi and disembark takes about 5 to 10 minutes — the apron is small and the walk is short. Immigration then runs 10 to 20 minutes for one to six travellers on an ordinary day, and only stretches past half an hour when two charters land within the same twenty minutes, which on the winter charter schedule does happen a few times a week.

Baggage claim is the usual limiting factor: bags typically start moving 10 to 20 minutes after you clear the booth. Last comes a customs scan, which for most travellers is a walk past an officer and an X-ray belt. Altogether, 20 to 35 minutes from wheels-down to the arrivals door is typical at LRM, and a quiet morning arrival can be through in fifteen.

None of this speeds up by walking faster. The bottleneck is the booth and the belt, not the corridor — but at LRM both are short.

Where your driver stands, and how you find him

No driver — ours or anyone else's — can come past the customs exit. The meeting point is the arrivals area immediately beyond the last checkpoint, where the name signs are held up. If you booked with us, look for your surname; we track your flight number, so if you land two hours late the driver arrives two hours later too, not waiting from the original time and not gone.

Because LRM is small, the hall empties quickly and the signs are easy to spot — there is none of the wall-of-people effect you get at a large airport. If you do not see yours in the first minute, walk a few steps clear of the doors and look again.

This is also where people offering rides who are not your driver may approach. The companion guide on arrivals-hall pressure tactics covers what that looks like and how to step past it without any drama.

Money: what you actually need before you leave the terminal

You do not need Dominican pesos to reach your hotel. With a private transfer booked, the driver is paid at the end of the ride in US dollars or pesos, or by bank transfer, so there is no reason to change money at an airport counter under pressure to get a car moving.

If you want a small amount of local currency for tips, there is an exchange counter and an ATM past customs, but rates at any airport are consistently worse than in town or at your resort. Change a little, or none, and rely on cards and your hotel's front desk.

Small US bills are useful for porters and tips from the moment you land, so bring a few $1 and $5 notes rather than trying to source them at the airport.

SIM cards and connectivity

LRM is small, so the SIM options at the airport are limited compared to the bigger airports — an eSIM bought before you fly is the smoother route if you want data the moment you land. Otherwise, most resorts in Bayahibe, Dominicus and Casa de Campo have working wifi at check-in.

You do not need working data to be met. The flight tracking and the name sign do that job. Data becomes useful once you are in the car and want to message the resort or home.

What to actually do first

In order: clear immigration, collect bags, clear customs, find your name sign, get in the car. Everything else — currency, a SIM, water, a bathroom break — is easier and cheaper once you are moving or at the resort. From LRM the drive is short: 25 minutes to Bayahibe, 30 to 40 to Dominicus, about 20 to Casa de Campo.

If you pre-booked a private transfer, the only thing to do differently is send your flight number before you fly so the driver's timing moves with any delay. Nothing else about the terminal changes.

Questions we get on this

Is LRM one building or several terminals?

One small terminal under a large thatched roof, with a single arrivals flow: immigration, baggage, customs, then out. There is no second terminal and no jet bridges.

How long does immigration take at La Romana airport?

Usually 10 to 20 minutes for one to six travellers, and only longer when two charters land close together. LRM handles far fewer flights a day than Punta Cana, so the queues are short.

Where do I meet my driver if I booked a private transfer?

Just outside the customs exit in the arrivals area, where drivers hold printed name signs. No driver can come further into the terminal than that.

Do I need to change money at the airport?

No. A private transfer is settled with the driver at the end of the ride in USD or pesos, or by bank transfer. Airport exchange rates run worse than in town if you want pesos for other things.

Can I buy a SIM card at LRM?

Options are limited at a small airport, so an eSIM bought before you fly is easier. Resort wifi in Bayahibe, Dominicus and Casa de Campo covers most travellers on arrival day.

What if my flight is delayed — does my driver still wait?

Yes, provided you sent the flight number in advance. We track it and the driver's arrival shifts with the aircraft, at no extra charge for the wait.