General information

Airports

For destinations on the North coast of the Dominican Republic , people generally fly into Puerto Plata Airport (POP) but the there may be better connections from the US to the new international Airport of Santiago de los Caballeros . These two are the closest to the north coast and we recommend them most if you wish to go to Cabarete, Sosua or Cabrera. For destinations on the west coast of the Dominican Republic , people fly into Punta Cana (PUJ) Airport. For most destinations on the South Coast of the Dominican Republic , people fly into either the Santo Domingo Las Americas (SDQ) or La Romana Airport.

Flying Times

From New York (3-i/4 hrs); from Miami (i-3/4 hrs); from San Juan (35 mins); from Toronto (5 hrs); from Santiago de Chile (8 hrs); from most European cities (8 to10 hrs).

Entry Requirement

US and Canadian citizens are required to have a valid passport or an original birth certificate along with a valid photo-bearing official document (driver's license or voter's registration) European are only required to have a passport.. Minors may enter with their passport or an original birth certificate. A tourist card (US$10.00) must be purchased prior to arrival to the country at select Dominican consulates, at airline counters abroad, or at the airport upon arrival. Departure tax is US$20.00. This tax may be included in the airline ticket.

Hurricane Season

The Caribbean hurricane season starts in the beginning of June to the end of November. Most hurricanes drift away before touching Dominican land, thanks to the Cordillera Central , which almost functions as a shield protecting the DR from mayor damage, specially the north coast.

Schools in the Dominican Republic

The primary teaching language in the Dominican Republic is Spanish, some schools are bilingual but still Spanish knowledge is required.The private schools on the north coast are mainly attended by foreigners, and the most used social language is English, this isn't the case for the rest of the country.

Uniforms are required in all schools in the Dominican Republic! If your child wants to continue studying in Europe, or the USA should consider a school where the International Baccalaureate curriculum is used. By further interest we will be more then pleased to introduce you to the best local schools, to give the best to your child and its education.

Medical facilities in the Dominican Republic

In the mayor cities medical care is top notch but outside the city it can get to very insufficient, depending on what kind of medical assistance you need.

Telephone

The country has one of the most sophisticated telecommunications systems in Latin America . Service is provided by Verizon, Tricom, France Telecom ( Orange ) and Centennial Corporation. To call to the US from the Dominican Republic you just add a 1+ area code to call to Europe you must dial
011 + country code.

Internet

Internet cafes can be found in most tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic . Most hotels offer high speed Internet access in each room. Residential internet connection can be setup from 24h for wireless internet up to 1 month for a DSL with phone line from Verizon or Orange. Also internet thru cell phones is available in some parts of the Dominican Republic right now only with Orange and Verizon.

Geography

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola Island , which it shares with Haiti , and is the second largest country in the Caribbean-comprising an area of 18.712 square miles (48,884 square kilometer). The country is bordered on the North by the Atlantic Ocean, and the South by the Caribbean Sea.

Electricity

Appliances run on 110 volts/60 cycles, the same as in the U.S. European appliances will only work with an appropriate transformer.

Pet Regulation

The Department of Dominican Animal Health requires proof of a rabies vaccination for dogs indicating that the inoculation was given 30 days prior to the animal's arrival in the country. For both dogs and cats, a Health Certificate issued not more than 15 days prior to the animal's arrival in the country is also required. If these requirements are not met, the animal will be quarantined upon arrival from 8 to 30 days, depending on its country of origin.

Population

The nation's population is approx. 9 million inhabitants. Almost 3 million people life in Santo Domingo , the capital city and surroundings. The Dominican are known for there friendliness and hospitality. Approx. 750.000 Dominican live in the United States of America.

Language

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas. Knowledge of German, Italian and French is becoming more widespread. Traffic signs and most menus in restaurants are in Spanish, although menus in tourist regions tend to be multilingual. Dominicans are always willing to help and very patient and you will always be able to communicate with hand and feet.

Climate

The Dominican Republic surely is a country of an Endless Summer; the average annual temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit with August being the warmest month and January the coolest. Summer temperatures range from 89 to 95 degrees and in the winter, from 75 degrees to 90 degrees. The most usual weather forecast is partly cloudy. Rain showers usually last five to ten minutes, every day around 12 PM the trade winds pickup blowing a refreshing breeze all day long.

Clothing

You will need fresh summer clothing, as shorts and t-shirts, but also a few warmer thing for air-conditioned rooms or the always ways to cold bus.

Credit cards

Credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard are accepted in most mid size business nationwide.

Currency

The Dominican Currency is the Peso Dominicano, which is traded at approx. 1 euro to 36 Peso, 1 US to 32 peso.

Cost of Life

The cost of life is much lower than North America or Europe and special laws support Real Estate investors by many ways.

Siesta

The Latin tradition of a long lunch, which is the major meal of the day, is generally observed, and many shops and businesses still close from 12:00 to 2:30 pm. The main shopping centers, supermarkets and stores catering to tourists remain open at lunch time, mostly until 21.00 p.m.

Ethnicity/race

White 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Ports and harbors

Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo.

Agriculture

Sugarcane, Coffee, Cotton, Cocoa , Tobacco, Rice, Beans, Potatoes, Bananas.

Public Transportation

Overland Buses such as Caribe Tours or Metro leave on a hour basis from any larger city and are probably the cheapest transportation in the Dominican Republic . These buses are all air-conditioned and always ways to cold, we recommend to take a jacket.

Small Buses (Guagua): Very crowded and you may have to share your seat with some chicken, routes go from town to town, the minimum fare is 10 Peso!

Carro Publicos: These commonly in not so good conditions they follow set routes but drive considerably faster, the minimum fare is 10 peso just like the bus, but gets more expensive on longer routes! They are also more overcrowded than the local bus; imagine a car made for 5 passengers fits up to 12 persons easily.

Taxis: The same as in the rest of the world negotiate the price before departure.

Motoconchos: Gradually being phased out as a form of transport, these are nothing more than motorcycle taxis.

Golf

The Dominican Republic has 18 Golfcourses so far, and dozen more are in the works or in planning.