Dominican Republic Travel Information
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Our entire family of two adults and three children agree that the Dominican Republic resort vacation was our favorite trip that we have ever taken. And we have taken many memorable vacations.
Every island we have visited in the Caribbean has attractive qualities, but DR has the most packaged in one experience.It has the white sands, the perfectly colored water, the swaying palm trees, the steady breeze, the shopping and the unique excursions.
DR should be one of the top choices of anyone going to the Caribbean for the first time.
Arriving at the DR airport with its charming open-air terminal with thatched roofs reveals the massive inflow and outflow of tourists who depart on buses for the numerous resorts on the island that DR shares with Haiti.
Relatively few cruises come to DR; the entire massive tourism industry is all about staying there.
DR is the second most popular island in the Caribbean. Nearly 4 million people visit this eastern Caribbean island each year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
That total was nearly twice the size of Cuba, the second most popular island.Spanish is the dominant language, but English is widely spoken.
DR is far more popular with European tourists than American or Canadian. Be aware, as a result, that topless bathing is common in the resorts.
Unique attractions include touring the capital of Santo Domingo, climbing waterfalls, multi-day bike rides and whitewater rafting with rapids ranging from Class III to Class VI. Noteworthy regular attractions include 21 golf courses and 1,000 miles of beaches.
Tourism / When to Go
It is no surprise that DR is by far the most popular island for tourists in the entire Caribbean. Cruise visitors simply need to have their ship IDs available when leaving the ship and returning.
DR lies in the middle of the hurricane belt, with the active season between June and October. Plan your vist with that in mind.
That said, the most popular month for visiting is July, followed by March. The least popular month is September followed by October, consistent with other islands in the hurricane belt.
Maritime semitropical, with an average yearly temperature of 80 F. Little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall. Lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts.
Currency / Tipping / Taxes
Dominican peso, but U.S. currency is widely accepted. Like many top Caribbean destinations, bills are accepted but return change will be in pesos. A 10 percent service charge is added to hotel and restaurant bills.
Upon arriving at the airport, expect local help to cart baggage from the terminal to the bus. A few dollars will be a sufficient tip. Goods and services have a 16 percent sales tax.
Culture / Geography
Spanish is the dominant language. For a long time, the country was known for exporting sugar, coffee and tobacco. But the service sector has outgrown those industries because of tourism and free trade zones.
The geography consists of rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed. That said, the majority of the trip from the airport to many resorts is flat roads.
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