Dominican Republic

Vibrant and lush

The spirit and charm of the Dominican Republic is captured in its music, food, and national pastimes. Known for its professional winter baseball, handcrafted
cigars, and annual music festivals it's always an artful and colourful expression of life.
Even the museums and archeological sites are vibrant, bringing the daring history of the Dominican Republic alive with antique treasures, dazzling jewels, and the cavernous time capsules left to us by a long lost culture. In the Dominican Republic, culture really means adventure.

The Dominican Republic’s national airline is Air Santo Domingo (EX).From Madrid is 9 hours, and from New York is 3 hours 30 minutes.

Santo Domingo (SDQ) (Internacional de las Américas) is 18km (11 miles) east of the city (journey time – 30 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxi services are available to Santo Domingo. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, post office, bank/bureau de change, restaurants, bars and car hire.

Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) (Internacional General Gregorio Luperón). To/from the airport: Taxi services are available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and exchange facilities, gift shop, post office, restaurant, bar and car hire.

Departure Tax

A ‘Stay tax' is levied on all passengers staying longer than three months: RD$60.48 (three to nine months); RD$100.80 (nine to 12 months) or RD$160.16 - 600.32 (one year or more).

Passports and Visas

Passports

Passports valid for twice as long as the person will remain in the Dominican Republic required by all nationals of countries referred to below except Nationals of Canada and the USA who require an accepted identity document.
Note: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced as early as 1 January 2008.

Visa Note

British, Australian, Canadian, USA, Other EU Nationals (except nationals of Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia and Malta, who do need a visa) are eligible for a Tourist Card. Issued to travellers visiting the Dominican Republic for touristic purposes for stays of up to two weeks. Tourist Cards can be applied for in advance at a cost of £8, or can be issued on arrival at a cost of US$10, though this can be a lengthy process. Extensions of up to three months are possible by visiting the Immigration Department in Santo Domingo; failure to do so will result in a surcharge at the airport upon departure.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist (single entry): £100. Business (single entry): £170; (multiple entry) £215. Student: £170. Tourist visas and single-entry business visas are valid for 60 days. Multiple-entry business visas are valid for up to one year.

Haiti

There are two main crossing points between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. One is at Jimaní/Malpasse, on the southern route that links Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo. he other, at Dajabón/Ouanaminthe, links Cap-Haïtian and Santiago. There is a third crossing near the centre of the island, at Elías Piña/Belladere, but foreigners generally give this one a miss.

Borders are generally open 08:00-16:00, but don't cut it too close or you may be asked to come back the following day. Be sure to have all the necessary documents together to expedite the process.

Dominican Republic Peso (DOP; symbol RD$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of RD$2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of RD$1 and 5 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos. All the coins are legal tender but only the RD$1 and 5 are actually used due to the impracticality of the smaller denominations.

Currency Exchange

The peso is not available outside the Dominican Republic. Currencies of Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA may be converted into local currency. On departure, up to 30% of the exchanged currency can be reconverted into US Dollars at any bank, provided original receipts are shown. All exchange must be done through official dealers such as banks and hotels approved by the Central Bank. Some street vendors in touristic areas accept US Dollars although these are not legal tender in the country.

Bills from restaurants, bars and clubs include a 10% service fee. It is still customary to tip attentive services of waiters, tourist guides, maids and bell boys. Water: Tap water is not recommendable for human consumption. It is advisable to drink only Mineral Water or filtered water.

An all-year round summer climate averaging between 26°C (78°F) and 31°C (88°F). Hot with tropical temperatures all year with coastal areas being warmer than central regions. There are two rainy seasons; the heaviest is from May to August and the other is from November to December. Hurricanes may sometimes occur during these periods.

Telephones

Country Dialing Code: 1 809

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with a number of international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good along most coastal areas and around towns but patchy elsewhere. There is a 3G network.

Internet

The number of Internet cafes is rapidly growing as the Dominican Republic embraces the Internet.

Post

Airmail takes about 10 days to reach western Europe. It is advisable to post all mail at the central post office in Santo Domingo to ensure rapid handling.

Outdoor activities like golf, snorkelling, windsurfing, kite boarding, and boating are a thrilling way to experience the natural beauty of land and sea.With over two-dozen national parks, other quieter options for communion with nature - like hiking and bird watching - are also available. Indoor activities offer you the chance to strike it rich, dance the night away, or shop for curious mementos like carnival masks, amber, and a strange, liquid cure-all called Mamajuana.

There are 16 national parks, nine natural monuments and six scientific reserves in the Dominican Republic.The total number of protected areas (including panoramic routes, recreational areas and ecological corridors) is 67. All are under the control of the Dirección Nacional de Parques. Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez, both containing pine forests and mountains in the Cordillera Central are the only remaining areas of extensive forest in the Republic.

By setting up these parks the gloomy prediction of 1973, that all the Dominican Republic's forest would vanish by 1990, has been avoided. In addition, a pilot reforestation project has been started near San José de las Matas, the Plan Sierra.

The Dominican Republic is a paradise for the sports lovers offering the biggest variety of sports in the Caribbean. A boom in adventure sports has made the Dominican Republic a major hot spot. Forests, mountains and miles of golden beach provide a playground for adventure sports seekers with activities such as mountain biking and horse riding, as well as a host of water sports including diving, windsurfing, kite surfing and white water rafting.

The beaches of Puerto Plata are known also for their exciting opportunities for scuba diving. With many shops and dive companies offering equipment and training, both beginners and expert divers alike can enjoy the wonders of the undersea world surrounding Puerto Plata. From shallow reefs and shipwrecks to deep water diving and freshwater cave diving, Puerto Plata’s diving scene is rife with electrifying sights. You may even come into contact with humpback whales or other large sea creatures.

The Dominican Republic is a renowned golf destination and Puerto Plata is home to some excellent courses. The 18 hole Playa Dorada golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., at Victoria Resort Golf and Beach is listed as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. The nine hole Los Mangos golf course is located within the tropical fruit trees of Costambar village, just outside of Puerto Plata city. Serious golfers may want to make a trip outside of Puerto Plata to another Robert Trent Jones creation, Playa Grande, considered to be one of the best courses in the Caribbean. 2006 is expected to be the most exciting year yet for the islands designer golf course scene. In the lineup this year is are courses by Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus.

The Dominican Republic offers a wide selection of artwork, with Spain, Africa and Haiti having the strongest influences. Most of the artwork found in tourism areas consists of simplistic, colourful paintings and wood or ceramic sculptures. Most oil paintings are the reproduction of Haitian originals and are likely to be one of thousands of the same piece. Even still, the colourful simplicity of the work reflecting everyday life, along with an inexpensive price tag, makes them a very nice souvenir.

The Dominican Republic is the biggest cigar-producing country in the world and most of that is done in the Cibao Valley region of the country. Cigar aficionados believe many of the locally made cigars are superior in quality to the much more famous Cuban cigars. You will find a variety of cigar types, in different brands and price ranges, in almost all of the supermarkets and tourist gift/souvenir shops in most tourism destinations. Cigar specialty shops tend to offer higher-end, brand name cigars.

Jewellry is found in abundance, with the most prevalent Jewellry items being inexpensive and casual, beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and anklets. These are usually sold on the beach or in Jewellry/gift shops in larger hotels/resort gift shops, or in stores in the shopping areas of most tourism destinations. The higher-end Jewellry/gift shops also carry gemstone/semiprecious Jewellry made with either sterling silver or gold.

Some of the best shopping in Puerto Plata can be found just by wandering around the city. The streets are teeming with activity and dotted with a variety of gift shops such as the Grand Factory, a large jewellry shop
with original amber work made by the owners of the store. Plaza Turisol Complex, the largest shopping centre on the north coast, has about 80 different outlets and the most upscale and tasteful merchandise; It is about 5 minutes from Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada.

Health Care

Health insurance (to include emergency repatriation) is strongly recommended. Medical care is limited and variable in quality. An emergency service is available in Santo Domingo.

Malaria risk exists throughout the year, especially in the western provinces and in La Altagracia province. Risk in other areas is low to negligible.

Food and Drink

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated and sterilisation should be considered essential. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is pasteurised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

• 200 cigarettes or one box of cigars.
• 1l of liquor.
• Two bottles of perfume (opened) for personal use.
• Gifts of up to US$100.

With the right people assisting you, purchasing an overseas property can be an enjoyable and rewarding affair ... one, we at Property Club International are familiar with. If you still have questions having read this section, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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