No visa is required for tourists travelling to the Dominican Republic. All tourists will, however, need a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic. If your tourist card is not included in your travelling papers, you may purchase it upon arrival at the airport. The tourist card costs US$ 10,00 and is valid for 90 days.

For U.S. and Canadian citizens: The Dominican Republic has signed an agreement with the United States of America and Canada that allows their citizens to enter the Dominican Republic with a national identity document such as a birth certificate (i.e. without a passport or visa) and by purchasing a tourist card. However, we do recommend that U.S. and Canadian citizens bring their passport as identification!

Upon departure you will have to pay a departure tax of US$ 20,00. This departure tax may be included in your ticket – please ask your traveling agent.

Please consult with your doctor before your trip. The number and type of vaccines which you may need depend on your history of vaccines as well as your traveling plans. In general the following vaccines are recommended:

Hepatitis A (recommended for all travelers).

Hepatitis B (recommended for travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months).

Routine immunizations (all travelers should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, polio, etc).

The tourist season for American, Canadian and European tourists starts in November and ends in May. During the hot months of the summer there are many South Americans and Spanish tourists in the Dominican Republic. The temperature is pretty much the same all year around with an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius / 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it does get hot during the months of June, July, August and September with temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius / 90 degrees Fahrenheit. On the north coast of the island the rainy periods are usually during the winter while the rain falls mostly from May to October on the south coast.

The local currency is Dominican pesos (RD$), however everything can be purchased and paid for in US dollars. In many cases, US dollars are preferred. US$ 1,00 is approximately worth 30 pesos.

In most places it is common and appreciated to leave a tip – therefore it is a good idea to bring plenty of US$ 1,00 bills. In most local restaurants out side the hotel resorts a 10% service charge is added to your bill, so you do not have to leave a tip. A few dollars tend to go a long way in the Dominican Republic, so if you have problems for example with your hotel room or want to change for a better location, give the receptionist a few dollars, and he might find it easier to fix your problem. In general, we recommend tipping in the following ways:

Bellboys at the hotel / luggage handlers at the airport: US$ 1,00 per suitcase.

Waiters at restaurants / bartenders: leave a few dollars if you have been satisfied with their service.

Maid: leave a few dollars for the maid at the beginning of your vacation, and she will treat you well and give you extra soap, towels, etc.

Guides: leave a tip if you have been satisfied with their service.

In general, you should not drink the water from the taps. This water is only good for showering and for brushing your teeth. Drink only bottled water. If you want to be 100% on the safe side you can also brush your teeth in bottled water. The water served in hotel, restaurants and bars is always bottled water.

Yes. Ice cubes in the Dominican Republic are only made with purified water in factories around the country. No matter where you are (in the hotel, in a restaurant outside the hotel or on an excursion), you will only be served purified (bottled) water and ice cubes that had been made from purified water as well. Even the smallest and most local restaurant outside the hotel resorts use ice cubes that are made with purified water, so there is no need to worry.

All plugs in the Dominican Republic are American standard plugs, so you might need an adapter. Adapters can be bought in the gift shop at the hotel resort. The voltage used is 110V – 120V.

Hotel resorts in the Dominican Republic usually have an internet café with reasonable prices for using the internet. The good hotel resorts also have wireless (or regular) internet access in the rooms where you can get online for free. Otherwise, there are plenty of small internet cafés outside the resorts.

Mosquitoes are generally active during the evening and night and especially in areas where there is water. Mosquito spray can be bought at all the hotel resorts. Some tourist areas are also frequently sprayed for mosquitoes and other insects during the evening. If you are allergic to mosquito bites, we recommend that you wear long pants/skirt and possibly also socks in the evening.

The Dominican Republic is the most peaceful island in the Caribbean when it comes to crime. The crime rate is even lower than in many large European or American cities. It is perfectly safe to walk around anywhere and at any time of the day – especially in tourist areas. Petty crimes happen everywhere – even in the Dominican Republic. Normal common sense should be applied meaning that you should not carry more cash in your purse than necessary; you should not walk around with your purse/bag open, put your money and other valuables in the safety deposit box of your hotel room, etc.

The sun is extremely strong in the Caribbean – even stronger than in Asia and other parts of the world! You should always use minimum factor 30 (preferably more). For children, it is recommended that you use an even higher factor. Also, remember that the sun is especially strong if you are out on the ocean – for example if you are sailing, water skiing, etc. A hat and a thin, white T-shirt are usually good to bring along when you are going outside – especially for children. Sun lotion and after sun lotion can be purchased at all the hotels. If you get a serious sun burn, the best thing is to put on some fresh aloe vera from the branches of the aloe vera cactus. In most hotel resorts you will be able to find the aloe vera cactus growing among the flowers and bushes – break off a small piece of the branch and smear on the yellow juice. This will cure your burn in a few hours, and your skin will feel much better the next day!

Most people find that the hotel resorts have everything they need – food, drinks, etc. – so they see no need in going outside the resort for lunch or dinner. However, depending on what area you are travelling to, you will find a good selection of restaurants outside the resort. In Punta Cana there are a few good places to eat, and they are reasonable in prices. A meal will cost you from US$ 20,00 and up. In the supermarkets outside the resorts you will be able to find a lot of the products sold inside the hotel shops for at least half price! So if you are staying at a resort that is close to a local supermarket, it might be worth going there to buy your sun lotion, mosquito spray, etc.

The food and drinks served in the hotel resorts is very safe to consume. Lettuce, etc. is always rinsed with purified water, they use purified water to cook the food, etc. However, it is generally recommend that you do not overindulge in fresh pineapple, foods containing coconut milk and fresh salad the first couple of days of your vacation. Pineapple and coconut milk are natural laxatives, so you should also hold back on the Pina Colada and drinks made with coconut milk – at least until your stomach has become adjusted. Although fresh lettuce is rinsed with purified water, it does contain some bacteria, which the lettuce has drawn up from the ground during growth.

All hotel resorts in the Dominican Republic have a medical centre with 24 hour service and pharmacies. You should always remember to drink enough water; especially when you are in the sun. Avoid any excess activity during the hot hours of the day and avoid drinking too much alcohol in the sun as well. Tourists who get seriously ill or need to go to a hospital will be taken to a private hospital. These hospitals are of a very high standard. The doctors in the private hospitals are generally educated in the United States of America and therefore speak perfect English.

Getting around in the cities of the Dominican Republic is generally not a problem. The more “adventurous” people will find the local busses an experience. Prices range depending on how far you are going, but it is generally very cheap to travel by bus. The small, local busses will stop almost anywhere along the road so they are easy to catch. The big express busses travelling between the big cities only make a few stops, and you will have to go to the bus station to catch them. If you are only travelling a very short distance, you might want to try the “moto conchos” – these are small mopeds which drive around and function as taxis. You just hop on the back, and the driver will take you anywhere you want to go. This kind of transportation is a little more expensive than the busses and only recommended for very short distances.

If you are not comfortable taking the local transportation, you can always take a taxi. Taxis can be ordered from the reception of your hotel. You can always ask the driver to take you on a round trip. When you get to where you want to go, you can ask the driver to wait for you or to come back for you. If you are going on a round trip, do not pay the driver until you are back at your hotel again. Remember that taxis are generally expensive, so you should always ask for the price before you get in the car or even negotiate the price.

It is possible to rent cars from companies such as Hertz, Avis, National or Alamo. The prices range depending on what type of car you want to rent. You must be 21 years of ages and have a valid driver’s licence in order to rent a car. However, it is not recommended that you drive around on your own. The traffic is usually very bad, the Dominicans drive however they want, there are no street signs so it can be easy to get lost. In addition, driving at night can be very dangerous. For one thing, the roads are generally in bad shape and have many large holes, which can be difficult to avoid in the dark. Secondly, the Dominicans usually drive with their high beams turned on meaning that you will be blinded whenever you meet an oncoming car.

If your cell phone operates on a TRI BAND, you will be able to use it in the Dominica Republic. In the tourist areas and in the capitol there is generally very good connection, so you should have no problems getting a signal on your cell phone. Otherwise, you will be able to call home from the telephone in your hotel room.

Dominican embassies or consulates are located around the world.