Dominican Republic

Due to the recent unrest in neighbouring Haiti and the ongoing unpredictability of the security situation, it is inadvisable to travel across the border to Haiti. There is a low terrorism risk and incidences of violent crime are infrequent. Visitors should take normal precautions against petty crime, however. The Dominican Republic is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November.

Being polite to others and having respect for elders is integral and is expected from visitors. If taking a photograph of a local, one should ask permission first and then offer a gift afterwards. Dominicans take care in their appearance and form judgements based on what people wear; they are likely to look down on tourists that are unkempt or wear clothes that are too revealing.

Santo Domingo is the centre of business in the Dominican Republic. Good working relationships are vital and trust is an integral part of doing business in the Dominican Republic; knowing the right people is half the battle won. Appearances are considered important and therefore dressing smartly is advised. Meetings are initially rather formal and a polite greeting accompanied by a handshake is common; expect small talk. Business cards are usually exchanged on introduction. Punctuality is important. Although English is widely spoken and understood, it is still useful to have all business material printed in English and Spanish. It is important to be polite and courteous at all times. Business hours are usually 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The international access code for the Dominican Republic is +1, in common with the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 809 or 829. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not required for calling North America. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most major international operators. Direct international calls can be made from numerous telecommunications centres located in all towns and cities. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Travellers to the Dominican Republic over 16 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 1 box cigars; 1 bottle of alcohol, unopened and maximum of 2 litres; and up to 2 bottles of perfume for personal use. All animal products are prohibited.

The currency is the Dominican Republic Peso (DOP), divided into 100 centavos. Many of the hotels and restaurants in the main tourist destinations display their prices in US dollars as well as in Dominican Pesos, as US dollars are widely accepted and some places will also accept Euros. The peso cannot be exchanged outside of the Dominican Republic. Major currencies can be converted into pesos at Central Bank approved bureaux; only 30% of the pesos bought can be re-converted and this only if the original receipts are produced, so it is best not to buy more pesos than you are likely to need. Major credit cards are accepted everywhere, but a commission is usually charged and it is recommended that you only use your credit card at your hotel as fraud incidents have been reported. The best exchange rates are paid on US travellers cheques and secondly on US dollars cash and are best exchanged at exchange bureaux (casas de cambio). Banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm; some banks also open on Saturday. ATMs are widespread.

British nationals require a passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days, provided they hold a Tourist Card (issued on arrival) and passport is endorsed British Citizen or British Overseas Territories Citizen. Other UK passport holders should check with the embassy whether a visa is required.

Santo Domingo enjoys a typically tropical climate, the heat tempered somewhat by sea breezes. The average annual temperature is 77°F (25°C). The rainy season is between May and November, but consists of heavy showers of short duration after which the sun shines brightly once again.