Dominican Republic Travel Guide
What You Need To Know: The Bare Bones
Size 48,443 km2
Population 7.4 million
Currency: Dominican Peso
Language: Spanish, although English is widely spoken
Getting Through Customs
Citizens of the UK and EU countries must produce passports, US and Canadian citizens don't need passports but for stays up to 90 days a $10 tourist card is required. These are available at the airport upon arrival.
Health & how to maintain it
Drink only bottled, boiled or purified/filtered water. This is just to be on the safe side. Avoid ice cubes unless you know they come from a 'safe' source.
Try and only eat food that is properly prepared and cooked if you are away from main resort areas.
Neighbouring Haiti has malaria so it is advisable to be inoculated against it if you are travelling in the west of the country. It is also a good idea to have jabs against polio, tetanus, and hepatitis. If you are going 'off the beaten track', a rabies shot is also suggested. Ask your doctor well in advance of departure for advice regarding inoculations.
Take anti mosquito measures, especially at night.
Take normal precautions against the heat and sun.
In the main areas of population on the island medical help is good but in the more rural districts becomes less reliable. Make sure you have enough insurance to cover any eventuality including medical evacuation back home.
Driving and Getting Around
Travel by car is the easiest and most flexible way of getting around. It is also quite expensive and many of the roads are not great.
Drive on the right and be careful, the locals are not likely to be candidates for any international driver of the year competitions.
The Bus system is comprehensive and well priced.
Travelling by air is a good and moderately cheap way of travelling longer distances but you still have the problem of getting around once you are at your destination airport.
Keeping out of Trouble
Do not carry, use or traffic in narcotics of any kind. The authorities have a low tolerance for drug offences and even minor misdemeanours can attract a jail sentence.
The Dominican Republic has a very low crime rate. Despite this, take normal precautions especially in Santo Domingo, the capital, at night. Listen to local advice on where to avoid. Pickpockets and bagsnatchers work the busy tourist areas so conduct yourself accordingly.
Insurance
Make sure that you have full and comprehensive insurance that covers any eventuality. You need cover for loss or theft of all money and documents, cover for theft or loss of luggage, full medical and accident insurance. Make sure you are covered in the unlikely event of a hurricane striking.
Cash and Plastic
Traveller's cheques are easily exchanged in the resorts and credit cards are readily accepted. Hole in the wall cash machines are available but check to make sure your card is supported, most of the big ones are. In the more remote areas ATM machines are not as well maintained as you will find in the larger towns. Dollars in the form of cash and travellers cheques will attract the best exchange rates.
Cash is the best way of doing business in the rural parts of the Island. Make sure your cash is in sensible 'small' denominations.
The Best Time to Go?
The weather is typically Caribbean all year round rarely dropping below 200 -except in the mountains- it gets into the low thirties in high summer. This is the time of the year when rainfall and humidity are at their highest. August and September are the hurricane months and a 'big one' comes along every ten years or so.
|
|
|
