The capital
Santo Domingo
The local time
GMT -4 (-7 hours to Moscow).
Currency
The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the centavo. 1 centavo equals 100 pesos. On the territory of the republic, you can pay for purchases with denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 centavos, or with coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 pesos.
All payments are made in national currency. Credit cards “Visa”, “American Express”, “Master Card” and others are also accepted for payment.
Important: you will not be able to cash out a credit card in Juan Dolio due to the lack of banks in the city.
Currency exchange
You can exchange currency in hotels or commercial banks. Working hours of banking institutions from 8 to 15 hours.
Connection
To call from the Dominican Republic, use the telephone points – they are located in each village. You can pay for telephone conversations in cash or credit telephone cards.
You can call Russia by dialing the combination: 011+7+city code+phone number. If desired, you can rent a cell phone.
The telephone code of the Dominican Republic is +1809.
Emergency Phones:
911 – rescue service.
Electricity
The voltage in the network is 110 V at a frequency of 60 Hz. Sockets and plugs of the American standard, an adapter is required. You can buy it in the hotel shop. High-end hotels have their own generators, so power surges while living in them are not terrible.
Accommodation
The comfort of Dominican hotels is characterized by their “star rating”. Most of them operate on an all-inclusive basis. The room rate includes three meals a day, snacks throughout the day, local drinks, as well as a non-motorized beach entertainment complex.
Tips
The cost of service in hotels includes a fee for services. In restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the cost of dinner to the waiter. The maids and porters will be happy with 1-2 dollars.
Shopping
Bargaining is possible everywhere, except for supermarkets with clearly set prices. Good souvenirs from the Dominican Republic will be products made of wood, amber, leather, and ceramics. You can also take with you local cigars, rum and coffee, as well as paintings in the style of “Haitian naive”. See liuxers for Dominican Republic customs and traditions.
The shops
Store hours are from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays. Lunch from 12.00 to 15.00.
Most of the major commercial centers are located in Santo Domingo.
Health
Before visiting the Dominican Republic, get vaccinated against yellow fever – the risk of infection is high. The tap water is not intended for drinking. Drinking bottled water is recommended. Wash fresh fruits with boiled water.
Transport
A bus network has been established in the republic. All buses are air conditioned.
It is better to get to a specific point by a collective taxi “carro publico” – they go along a clearly defined route. The fare in them is much cheaper than in an individual taxi.
You can also ride on ” moto-concho ” (motorcycle taxi) and ” guaguas ” – this is the name of public transport.
Car rent
Only a person over the age of 25 who holds an international driving license with more than 90 days left to expire can rent a car. You also need to present a credit card and insurance to register the car. Mopeds and light motorcycles are rented without insurance.
Be careful while driving. The rules of the road are practically not respected, everyone drives as he wants. Often, to show a turn, Dominicans put their hand out of the car window and show it the direction of movement. Local motorists prefer to hit the horn instead of the brakes at every opportunity.
Measurement system
The Dominican Republic has adopted several measurement systems. Thus, engine oil, gasoline, and most liquids are measured in gallons; weight, in ounces, livres, and pounds; distance, in kilometers; and length, in yards. At the same time, the area of something is determined in “tareas” (624 sq. M.).
In the bazaar, each seller has his own measure of weight. Fruits are sold by the piece. Their price depends on the size of the fruit, and not on its weight.
Address system
It is easy to get confused in the address system. Often, instead of an address, they indicate the intersection of two streets between which the house is located.
Medicine
Medical services in the Dominican Republic are paid. If you ended up in a hospital, then it is advisable to have international insurance with you – in this case, first medical aid will be provided free of charge, and you will have to pay for subsequent treatment.
