Calling Codes

The country code for the Dominican Republic is 809.

While collect overseas calls can generally be made from your hotel, you may have to go to the local telephone office if you wish to pay. Codetel is the largest phone company. Tricom and All-America Cables and Radio compete, offering cheaper long distance and internal fax services. There are a reasonable number of payphones that charge one peso to make a call. Phone cards are also available.

You can reach a bilingual operator by dialing 0. In case of emergency, dial 911. The number for local information is 411.

The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Republic Peso.

Banking hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am to 4pm.

Electricity is 110V AC, 60Hz, as in the U.S. Plugs are of the flat, two-pin type. Be aware that this voltage is half as much as in most European and Asian countries, so visitors from those countries will need an adapter and a converter to operate their appliances.

In the event that you have a problem with theft, you may contact the Policia Turista toll-free at 1-200-3500. Dial 911 for other emergencies.

Major hotels offer fax services as do Codetel and Tricom offices. Codetel has offices all over the country and offers Internet access and e-mail in addition to fax services.

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. A number of Dominicans speak English (especially in the tourist industry), but the more Spanish you can speak the better, since outsiders who can speak Spanish are more readily accepted by locals. Dominican Spanish is laden with local idioms, along with numerous Indian and African words.

New Year's Day: January 1
Our Lady of Altagracia Day: January 21
Duarte's Birthday: January 26
Independence Day: February 27
Good Friday: Friday before Easter
Easter Sunday: mid-March or April
Easter Monday: Monday after Easter
Labor Day: May 1
Restoration of the Republic: August 16
Feast of Our Lady of Mercy: September 24
Columbus Day: October 12
Christmas Day: December 25

The Dominican Republic lies in the Atlantic Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours). The country does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Airport Skycap/Porter: 1 peso per bag
Bars: 1 peso per drink
Excursion Boats: 15 percent
Haircare/Personal Services: 10 percent
Hotel Bell Desk: 1 peso per bag
Hotel Housekeeping: 10 percent
Hotel Room Service: 10 percent
Restaurants: 10 percent service charge is usually included in the bill.
Parking Attendant/Valet: 1 peso
Taxis: optional

The nation has an extensive network of roads. Major highways run from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, from Santiago to Monte Cristi, and from Santiago to the western town of Dajabon, which borders Haiti. Many of the other roads have potholes, broken pavement or gravel, and dirt surfaces. Avoid driving at night if possible.

It's preferable to rent from the well-known companies (such as Thrifty or National) in order to avoid hiring a clunker. You can use a valid U.S. or international driver's license here for up to 90 days, but you must be 25 to rent a car. Cars may also be rented at the airports. Prices are high and rates vary, but you can expect to pay around US$50 per day or US$250 per week for a good but inexpensive model. Don't rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle unless you really need it to get where you're going.

Cabs are meterless but relatively inexpensive. Be sure to agree on the price before getting into one. If you are in a group of people, taxis can also be a reasonable alternative to renting a car, but you must negotiate with the driver before getting in.

Australia
Australian citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. Australian citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

Canada
Canadian citizens need a passport or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a photo ID to enter the Dominican Republic. Canadian citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

France
French citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. French citizens must purchase a tourist c ard, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

Germany
German citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. German citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

Ireland
Irish citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. Irish citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

Japan
Japanese Citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. Japanese citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

United Kingdom
U.K. citizens need a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. U.K. citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

United States
U.S. citizens need a passport or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a photo ID to enter the Dominican Republic. U.S. citizens must purchase a tourist card, which is valid for 30 days, upon arrival.

Keep in mind that imported items can command a premium price here (especially in tourist areas), so bring all items you might need. A sweater or light jacket should be sufficient for chilly evenings. If you are planning on going snorkeling, you might want to bring a mask or fins. Divers should consult with their hotel or resort regarding equipment. The standard tropical take-along item list applies: sunglasses, sunscreen, and other toiletries, windsurfing sandals, long pants (if you intend to go hiking), shorts, umbrella or rain poncho, day pack, and nice clothes if you plan on fine dining or clubbing.

The best time to visit is from December to April. The temperatures then average 80 degrees Fahrenheit (28 to 32 degrees Celsius) during the day, and rarely dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 22 degrees Celsius) at night. The weather has a tendency to be cooler in the mountains. Steady breezes help keep the temperature and humidity levels bearable. Hurricane season runs from August to October, a period during which it may be cloudy and rainy and more humid. The major hotels offer off-season discounts during this time of year.

If you can, try to attend a local festival, if one is taking place during your trip. The times the average visitor will not want to arrive is at Christmas and Easter, when Dominicans themselves go on holiday or visit loved ones, and when both hotel rooms and flights from the States are booked well in advance.

Most of the national celebrations are religious in nature. Every town has a patron saint festival that lasts for about 10 days. Although services for the patron sa int are held twice a day, the atmosphere is anything but religious. Music, gambling, and dancing take place on the town plaza, and food stalls sell local specialties. A generally somber atmosphere prevails during Holy Week (Semana Santa), the week surrounding Easter, when processions and pageants are held nationwide. The Christmas season (December 15 to January 6) is the liveliest time of the year . On January 6, the Epiphany or Three Kings' Day is celebrated. The night before, children traditionally place boxes of grass under their beds to await the arrival of the Three Kings, After the camels have eaten all the grass, the kings leave presents in the now empty boxes.

Carnaval is celebrated in the days surrounding February 27, Independence Day, which often falls around Lent. Over half-a-million people participate in Santo Domingo, and the highlight is a parade of some 30,000 down Santo Domingo's Malecon. The Festival del Merengue is generally held during the third week in July and generally continues into August. Live musical performances are supplemented by artisan fairs, a gastronomic festival, the Waiter's Marathon along the Malecon, the Bartender of the Year competition, and a motocross competition.

Another noteworthy event is the annual Puerto Plata Festival held in October.