Dominican Republic Basics |
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Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Money: The currency is the Dominican Republic peso (DOP), divided into 100 centavos. Many of the hotels and restaurants in the main tourist destinations display their prices in US dollars as well as in Dominican Pesos, and some places will also accept Euros. The peso cannot be exchanged outside of the Dominican Republic. Major currencies can be converted into pesos at Central Bank approved bureaux; only 30% of the pesos bought can be re-converted and this only if the original receipts are produced, so it is best not to buy more pesos than you are likely to need for your visit. Major credit cards are accepted everywhere, but a commission is usually charged. The best exchange rates are paid on US travellers cheques and secondly on US dollars cash and are best exchanged at exchange bureaux (casas de cambio). Banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm; some banks also open on Saturday. ATMs are widespread.
Currency Exchange Rates |
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| DOP1.00 = | US$ 0.03 | £ 0.02 | C$ 0.03 | A$ 0.04 | R 0.24 | € 0.02 | NZ$ 0.04 |
Language: Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in the main tourist centres.
Entry requirements for Americans: A passport is required by US citizens. No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days, provided holding a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British nationals require a passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days, provided they hold a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Entry requirements for Canadians: A passport is recommended for Canadian nationals, but an original Birth Certificate or Naturalisation papers (with an official photo ID document) are also accepted, provided travelling for tourist or business purposes. No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days, provided holding a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians must have a passport. No visa is required for stays of up to 30 days, provided travellers hold a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a valid passport and a visa.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders require a valid passport. No visa is required for stays of up to 30 days, provided travellers hold a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a passport. No visa is required for stays of up to 30 days, provided travellers hold a Tourist Card (issued on arrival).
Passport/Visa Note: Tourist cards can be issued on arrival for certain nationalities at a cost of US$10 for a stay of 30 days; extensions are possible. A return or onward ticket is required by all visitors. From 23 January 2007 all US citizens travelling to and from the Dominican Republic by air will require a valid passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well.
Health: No vaccination certificates are required but precautions are recommended against Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies and polio for those who plan to spend time outside the main tourist resort areas. There is a malaria risk throughout the year. Between May and September there is a risk of dengue fever, which is contracted from mosquitoes that bite during the day. It is advisable to use mosquito repellent. Travellers should be aware of the high prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus in the Dominican Republic and take the relevant precautions. Water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated in undeveloped areas; bottled water is available. Some species of fish, including tropical reef fish, may be poisonous to eat even when well cooked. There are good hospitals and other private medical facilities located in Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo, but outside of these cities facilities are limited, and staff are unlikely to understand English. Most resorts have doctors that can treat minor medical complaints. Health insurance, including provision for medical evacuation, is recommended.
Tipping: Hotels and restaurants generally include a 10% service charge as well as tax, but additional tips can be given for good service as often the charge does not go to the staff who provided the service. Waiters usually receive 10% extra for good service. For other services including taxi drivers tipping is discretionary depending on the service provided.
Safety: Due to the recent unrest in neighbouring Haiti and the ongoing unpredictability of the security situation, it is inadvisable to travel across the border to Haiti. There is a low terrorism risk and incidences of violent crime are infrequent. Visitors should take normal precautions against petty crime, however. The Dominican Republic is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November.
Customs: Being polite to others and having respect for the elders is a must and is also expected from visitors.
Business: Santo Domingo is the centre of business in the Dominican Republic. Good working relationships are vital and trust is an integral part of doing business in the Dominican Republic; knowing the right people is half the battle won. Appearances are considered important and therefore dressing smartly is advised. Meetings are initially rather formal and a polite greeting accompanied by a handshake is common; expect small talk. Business cards are usually exchanged on introduction. Punctuality is important. Although English is widely spoken and understood, it is still useful to have all business material printed in English and Spanish. It is important to be polite and courteous at all times. Business hours are usually 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for the Dominican Republic is +1, in common with the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 809. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not required for calling North America. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most major international operators. A bilingual operator can be reached by dialling 0. Direct international calls can be made from numerous telecommunications centres located in all towns and cities. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.
Duty Free: Travellers to the Dominican Republic over 16 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 1 box cigars; 1 bottle of alcohol of maximum 2 litres (unopened); and up to 2 bottles of perfume for personal use. All animal products are prohibited.