Capital: Santa Domingo
Time zone: GMT – 4
Telephone services: Country Code: 1 809
Outgoing Code: 011
Emergency telephone numbers: 711/809 472 7111
Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must remain valid for 6 months following date of departure. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact Embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Israel,Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and Uruguay as tourists only for a maximum of 90 days. Nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and foreign nationals who are legal residents of Denmark, France, UK, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in possession of a valid passport and tourist card. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA and Peru in possession of a legal tourist card valid for 60 days from point of entry. NOTE: Refer to the nearest consulate for a complete, up to date list of regulations for all countries.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination Required. – Polio is endemic.
Malaria: Exists throughout the year in particular areas in the Falciparum variety, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Bilharzia Dengue Fever and Hepatitis
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Dominican Republic Peso (RD$) = 100 centavos.
NOTE Import and export of local currency is prohibited.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, in any international currency, are accepted by some banks.
ATM availability: Over 100 locations.
Cost of living: The best buys are the island’s own handicrafts, such as amber jewellery and decorative pieces encasing insects, leaves or dewdrops. Other bargains are wood-carvings, limestone carvings and Dominican turquoise.
Languages: Spanish. English is also spoken.
Weather: Hot tropical climate. Rainy season June – Oct when possible hurricanes may also occur.
Electricity: 110 volts AC 60 Hz.
Post: 7 days. Advisable to post all mail from the central post office in Santo Domingo.
Transport: ROAD: There is a reasonable network of roads although not all are all weather and 4 wheel drives are recommended for wet weather. BUS: Cheap and efficient service runs from the capital to the main towns. CAR HIRE: Several car hire companies are present. DOCUMENTATION: IDP or national licence can be used. NOTE: Min. age for driving is 25. Credit cards are recommended when paying for car hire.
Special information: The Dominican Republic is now a major tourist destination. A variety of activities are available for all types of traveller, from a Las Vegas-style review and casinos to classical concerts. Store valuables in hotel safety deposit boxes. Unaccompanied women should exercise vigilance at night around hotels.