Travel Info

Climate and best Travel Time
The average temperature is 82°F (28°C) which means that you will encounter ideal holiday conditions throughout the whole year. The country has different climatic and vegetation zones: a tropical, warm-humid climate at sea level, a moderate climate in the mountains. The rainy season in the north is from November through January, in the south from July through September. Short, heavy rainfalls are possible all year round, tropical storms occasionally in August and September.

Money
The official currency of the country is the Dominican Peso (RD$). US-Dollars and Euros are only accepted in tourist areas and bigger cities. There, you can also pay with your credit card almost everywhere. Banks and exchange offices change cash and traveler’s checks. Re-exchange is only possible at a loss. Cash machines accept ATM- and ec/maestro-cards.

Electricity
The voltage is 110-120 V/60Hz, the same electrical system as in the USA and Canada. Flat-pronged plugs are common practice; you need an adapter to run electrical appliances brought from Europe. Frequent power failures are unfortunately part of the daily agenda but usually there is a private emergency power supply.

Internet and Telephone
Internet cafés and telephone centers are found in all towns and cities. If you bring a triband/quad mobile phone, you can buy a local card and use it in your phone. The international area codes are: +1 – 809 and +1 – 829.

Time Zone
The Dominican Republic is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and on USA East Coast Time respectively. The country does not adjust to daylight saving time.

Transportation
The country runs a very good and low-priced public transportation network. Coach transportation lines cover the long routes between major cities while gua-guas (mini-buses) and carro publicos (public taxis) go along the main roads into the city neighborhoods and from town to town. Motoconchos are motorbike-taxis; they are mainly used on short distances between villages and in town.

 

Domestic air travel service is provided to major tourist destinations.