What documents are required?

There are a series of documents considered mandatory to travel to the Dominican Republic, including:

Valid passport

This document will be the first to require migration to any foreign tourist.

Tourist Card:

It is a tariff or tax that foreign tourists must pay, this card can be acquired through the same travel agency or at the Santo Domingo Airport. 

Its value is $ 10, it is valid for one year and allows a stay for a period of 30 days. In the event that the tourist wishes to extend their stay in the country, they must consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the same.

It is important to mention that when you leave the country, you must also pay a fee of $ 20.

Tourist visas

Regarding this requirement, it applies to some countries with the exception of those with which agreements have been signed-in this matter. You can check on the official website of the Dominican Foreign Ministry and see what agreements there are with your country. 

This document is valid for 60 days. It is important to emphasize that with this type of visa they will not be able to carry out any type of lucrative activity.

To obtain a visa at the Consulate of the Dominican Republic located in your country, you must present a series of mandatory documents, which are listed below:

• DNI or Identification: Identity Document

• A white background photograph type passport,

• Passport valid for at least six months,

• Authorization of parents or legal guardians in the case of children. 

• Flight reservation: Legible copy of the flight reservation with the outward and return date.

• Reservation of accommodation in a hotel or the invitation letter in the case of visiting a friend or relative.

• Letter of not having a criminal record: provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country. 

• Visa application letter: Statement of the reason for the trip, provision of personal identification data, address, place of work

• Application form: Previously filled in legible handwriting.  

Sanitary restrictions or measures

There are no mandatory vaccinations to visit the Dominican Republic. However, the health authorities of that country advise taking into consideration some vaccines before making the trip. Among them: Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Malaria

Don't forget to bring a small medicine cabinet with medications such as pain relievers, stomach pain pills, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. It is worth mentioning that the prices of these in the city can be very high.

It is recommended only to drink bottled water and avoid contact with water that is not treated.

How much money do I need to travel to the Dominican Republic?

The first thing you should know is that the official currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP), although they will not get you in trouble if you pay in US dollars or euros.

It is important to mention that the equivalent in Domitian weight of these main reference currencies is:

1 US dollar = 50,495 Dominican Pesos

1 euro = 57,941 Dominican Pesos

As for the basic services, these will have different scales depending on the quality. Here we show you a small list taken from this article https://lifestyledominicana.com/what-fruits-chocolate-and-cacao-to-byu-in-the-dominican-republic/ to give you an idea of how much money you might need on the trip.

• The Vehicle Rental is approximately 3,000 pesos, equivalent to $ 65 or 60 Euros.

• Filling the gas tank can cost about 50 Dominican pesos, approximately $ 1 or 1 Euro.

• If you travel by bus, the value of the service is 50 pesos / 1 $ -1 Euro.

• The food depending on the type and location can vary considerably.
  For example, a hamburger combo is 300 pesos / $ 6 or 6 euros, the traditional dishes of the country such as mofongo, sancocho range in 200 pesos, which is equivalent to about 4 dollars or euros,

• Beer can have a value of 200 pesos equivalent to 4 dollars, a drink in a club can be worth about 10 dollars / 9 euros.

• An entrance to a historic site can cost about $ 3

• Going to the 4D Cinema can have a price of about 250 pesos about 5 dollars.

• The value of the stay will depend on the site, for example, in a three-star hotel the daily value is about $ 80 or 75 euros

The information above allows you to estimate average daily expenses, which is approximately 200 dollars or 195 euros, which applied to the number of days corresponding to the stay, will allow you to calculate an approximate amount of money necessary for the trip.

As for the exchange to the local currency, at the airport or in the city you can easily find Exchange Houses.

In what season to travel?

This country is characterized by having a warm tropical climate, with a temperature that varies between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

The ideal season to travel to the Dominican Republic is in the months of December through April. This way you would avoid the hurricane season and enjoy excellent sunny days.

Plan the sites you want to know

In the Dominican Republic, it could be said that there were plenty of options to see and know. So we advise you to advise yourself well, plan in advance and prioritize the places to visit.

An important fact is that Punta Cana is not the only paradisiacal beach in the Dominican Republic , there are many beaches that have not even been exploited touristically and of equal or greater beauty.  

There are also other relevant regions for tourism: Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Santiago, Boca Chica, Guayacanes, those of the Samaná Peninsula and Cabreras.

Baggage Type

It is important to take into consideration how to prepare a travel backpack, remember to wear different types of clothes that allow you to enjoy the attractions that the city offers, from the most necessary to go to the beach (swimsuits, glasses, hats), Comfortable clothes and shoes to visit the monuments and a good semi-formal suit that allows you to go dancing and cocktails.

Tips

It is customary to pay an additional 10% for the service provided in cases of attention in restaurants, clubs, bars and to tip for the services provided (bellboys, taxi drivers, waitresses, porters, waiters).

Where to Stay

It is important to investigate well enough about the area and the place where you are going to stay, since in some regions of the Island there may be some regularizations with water and electricity services.

As for the electricity service, this is 110v. So your electronic devices work with another type of scale, it is important to carry an adapter.

Remember that the area where your accommodation is located should facilitate access to the main tourist sites.

Alert When You Go Shopping

Vendors in markets and streets are usually very persistent, especially in the city. However, it is important to take some care in this regard.

And if you know in advance that you are not going to buy the product, avoid asking or taking some kind of sample of it.

Transfers

It is preferable to rent a vehicle or transfer service or taxis (which are always identified with a company).

This is because it is very common that local transport such as buses is always crowded and if you think that there is no room for one more soul.

The driver is always looking for a way to be able to carry more people.

Airports in the Dominican Republic

Remember that in the Dominican Republic there are seven International Airports. The main ones being Santo Domingo and Punta Cana with the highest place in air traffic in the country.

So before buying your ticket, check well which one is most useful to you according to the region you are going to.

The communication

If you bring your smart mobile phone, it will be very easy to communicate since most Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Clubs have Wi-Fi service.

Sometimes the signal can be somewhat slow, so if you prefer you can count your Roaming service with your operator.

What should you know about the locals?

Dominicans are very happy, friendly, and cordial people. They are usually very hospitable to tourists since it is part of their customs to deal with them.

They love to party, good music, rum, and mamajuana. However, it is important that you always maintain caution in everything you do, remember that you are in a foreign country and you must respect its rules. 

We hope that the aforementioned tips will be very useful and that they allow you to enjoy your stay in this magical country to the fullest, where the cultural function, the beauty of its natural landscapes, and the hospitality of its population, have managed to position it among the main destinations.