BEST TIME TO VISIT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
April is one of the best months to visit the DR. It comes at the end of peak tourist season and before summer's sweltering heat arrives. Enjoy jazz nights featuring Caribbean and African rhythms at the Escalinatas de El Conde in Santo Domingo or catch the International Book Fair at the city's Plaza de la Cultura. April is when tour professionals head to the country too during the Dominican Republic's National Hotel & Tourism Association's annual travel booking event in Punta Cana.
April is also the best time to visit the Dominican Republic's exotic beaches. Wait until the day after Easter to arrive when crowds thin out. You'll find relatively few crowds at Puerto Cana, Puerto Plata and the Amber Coast. Late November and early December are also good times to visit these beach locales, when rains and searing heat have gone, and tourist crowds haven't arrived.
THE WEATHER
The weather remains tropical year round, with slight variations dividing it into basically two seasons, summer and winter. Being in a tropical zone brings humidity, but by the shoreline the sea breezes tend to make it feel less hot and more comfortable.
Temperatures average 23°C in the early mornings to 32°C at mid-day. There is little difference between winter and summer temperatures with July averaging at 28ºC (82ºF) and January at 23ºC (76ºF). The months of May and November-December are regarded as the rainy season. The hurricane season lasts from June through November, with August-September being the peak months.
Cool Season is from November to April, with what is considered pleasantly warm weather, relatively low humidity and low precipitation. The temperature hovers fairly constantly around 27°C (80°F) during the day and drops to around a comfortable 20°C (68°F) at night. November and December are the months to expect rain and it can be heavy, although brief.
Hot Season is approximately from May to October. Average temperatures rise to 31°C (87°F) during the daytime and drop to about 22°C (72°F) at night. At the height of summer, expect the temperature to rise above 30°C (90°-100°F) There is high humidity, which means there is more chance of rain from May to August, but usually the 30-minute tropical (sometimes heavy) showers are overnight.
Hurricanes? The Caribbean hurricane season lasts from June to end November. August and September are the months when most hurricanes have hit and these affect the south and east coast primarily. In the rare instance when a hurricane comes over the island, because the north coast is sheltered by two mountain ranges, it is usually downgraded to a tropical storm, only resuming hurricane strength when it reaches the open seas.
TOURIST SEASONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
High season: Go elbow to elbow with tourist crowds during mid-December to mid-April. There's more to high season than less beach blanket real estate to yourself, however. Discover festivals and fiestas every month including the Dominican Carnival, Festival Procigar and Barcelo Desalia Festival during February. The National Carnival Parade, Punta Cana Carnival and Caribbean Cigar Night are a few of the top events in March.
Low season: The Dominican Republic's low season runs from May through November. Increased humidity, rain, higher temperatures and strong Caribbean storms make this a less desirable time to go for more tourists. However, if saving money is the goal, you can find hotel rooms in low season for as little as $21 after back-to-school time snags summer travelers away. There's plenty to do during the slow season: Check out the electronic music concerts at Barbarella in June or nosh your way through the Punta Cana Food & Wine Festival in July.
PACKING
Packing for the DR means bringing a layered assortment of clothing, tailored to your chosen destination. Bring your swimwear, cotton long sleeves for sun-protection, and shorts for the beach, but also pack casual daytime clothes for city visits–avoid wearing shorts in Santo Domingo–or to enter important sights. Keep in mind that walking around in your bathing suit is acceptable on the beach, by the pool, or in outdoor areas of your resort, but not in the streets, supermarkets, or resort restaurants.
Dominicans dress up and keep their appearance neat at all times, especially when stepping out in the evenings. Pack a couple of nice outfits for dining out and nightlife.
If you’re headed to the mountainous, central towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza, or even in the hills of Puerto Plata, you will need long sleeves, a cardigan, and pants–for hiking protection, but also because temperatures are lower in these parts. It gets cold at night, and in the morning.
Aside from clothing, be sure to bring any prescription drugs, your preferred sunscreen–limited brands are available here–a hat, sunglasses, and mosquito repellent. If spending significant time traveling to the countryside, bring a book or two, and your headphones.
The DR is a modern destination, and you’ll find everything you need in multiple shopping centers around the country’s major hubs–from toy stores to clothing, pharmacies, and grocery stores. Just keep in mind that imported items will cost more than in your home country.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Stay hassle-free with these key health and safety tips.
WATER
Like many Carribbean countries, the tap water is not safe to drink, however purchasing bottled water is very easy.
SUN PROTECTION
The sun is very strong in the Caribbean, and hits even on cloudy days. Whether on the beach, on a boat trip, or walking around a city, be sure to wear sunblock at all times. Bringing your own preferred brand is best. Sunscreen is sold here, but you may or may not find the kind you prefer, and it will be costlier in the resorts and shops.
When hiking, at the beach at sunset, or staying in the countryside, wear mosquito repellent to prevent mosquito bites. Wearing long sleeve cotton tops or pants is recommended when hiking.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Common sense rules while traveling across the DR, as with any destination.
Keep your passport and valuables in your rental villa or apartment. Keep a form of smaller ID or a copy of your passport on your person.
Do not wear any expensive jewelry, and use your smartphone discreetly in non-tourist areas.
Carry local currency in cash in limited portions–take only what you need for the day. If you have a credit card, take it with you in case of emergency.
Learn a few words and phrases in Spanish, particularly to ask key directional questions.
MEDICAL CARE & EMERGENCIES
Tourist zones and cities are equipped for modern medical care, with private hospitals, clinics, and qualified personnel for all age patients.
For emergencies, including an ambulance, firefighters, and police, dial 911. You can also first contact the CESTUR office in your area–the Specialized Tourist Security Corp, trained and assigned specifically to assist visitors. If you are the victim of a crime, CESTUR officers will help file a report and seek any other assistance as needed.
LANGUAGE
The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. And like many of its Latin counterparts, Dominicans have their own accent, colloquialisms, and idioms. They are particularly famous for being incredibly fast speakers, projecting words a mile a minute. They abbreviate, skip syllables, and don’t pronounce certain letters–such as the plural “s” (for example, they say La Terrena when referring to Las Terrenas).
Not knowing Spanish, however, is not a problem: English is widely spoken in the tourist areas. Tour guides and hotel staff across multiple regions are also well versed in multiple languages, including Italian, French, German, and Russian, among others.
MONEY
The local currency is the Dominican peso (RD$). The daily rate fluctuates depending on the day and the location of exchange.
Keep these numbers in mind as a general guideline:
RD$100 = US$2
RD$500 = US$10
RD$1,000 = US$20
United States dollars and Euros can be readily exchanged in banks, or in authorized exchange offices around the country. Some exchange offices also accept the following currencies: Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Danish krone, British pound, Japanese yen, Scottish pound, Swedish krona, and Norwegian krone.
ATMs are widely available from a variety of established banks, including Scotiabank and Banco Popular. They are safe to use for withdrawals in the local currency. They also provide the best exchange rates. Choose an indoor location and stick to daytime use. The Spanish word for ATM is cajero. For help in determining the amount you want to withdraw, download and use a free handy app like XE.
ATMs from Banco Popular, Banco BHD León, Banco Progreso, and Scotiabank accept North American bank cards, and offer an English or Spanish language menu. As a tip, you will often find ATM machines in airports, supermarkets, major resorts, and shopping malls.
TIPPING
Restaurant bills automatically include a 10% service charge–apart from the 18% sales tax that you will see listed as ITBIS. It is customary and good practice, however, to leave an additional 10% to ensure the server receives a tip.
Taxis do not receive gratuity, but if you feel you received exceptional service or had a specific situation in which the driver helped, feel free to reward the service.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity in the Dominican Republic operates at 110 volts. This means that visitors coming from the United States and Canada will not need adapters, and can plug in directly into electric outlets. Travelers coming from Europe or other regions operating at 220 volts, however, will need to bring adapters and converters. While the larger resorts keep a few handy at the front desk, it is best to bring your own to avoid disappointment.
Major resorts have generators to cope with any street power outages. If staying outside of resort areas, in a small hotel, or in the countryside, keep in mind that there can be frequent power irregularities and surges. This means you should protect your electronic appliances, unless they have a built-in surge protector.
COMMUNICATIONS
Like its infrastructure, the DR’s telecommunications services are among the most wide-ranging and advanced in the Caribbean, from local cellular phone service to Internet access options. The two largest and most ubiquitous communications providers in the country are Claro and Orange.
SMARTPHONES & SIM CARDS
The most affordable way to stay in touch and make calls while in the DR, especially on an extended trip, is to have your own phone number. Head to either a Claro or Altice location–they are sometimes located within a shopping malls or supermarkets–and purchase a new SIM card for less than US$5. This usually includes about ten minutes of free local calls. You must bring:
An unlocked cell or smartphone; and
A valid passport, legally required to obtain a SIM card.
Once you have a working phone and number, you will be able to top up your phone credit in any amount you choose around the country. Phone credits are also available through the Banca booths located all over town and city centers, which also sell lottery tickets. You simply give them your number, and indicate the amount you’d like to add.
WI-FI
Wi-Fi access is ubiquitous in the DR. It is available inside cafés, restaurants, large bus stations, and hotel lobbies. Don’t expect high speed or consistency at all times, but generally speaking it suffices to check email and do basic tasks.
If you need faster service and access anywhere in the country, including in the countryside, consider purchasing a mobile Internet device or dispositivo móvil for about US$55-60 from a phone company. You will need your passport for this purchase. You can then top up the device as needed per weekly package or per GB.
SHOPPING HOURS
Most businesses operate from 8:30am-9am until 5pm-6pm on weekdays, until 1pm on Saturday, and close on Sunday. In the cities, large shopping malls and supermarkets are an exception–they close at 9pm on weekdays, and open on Sundays from 9am until 8pm.
Restaurants usually remain open and serve food until 10pm-12am, Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Holidays have a special schedule–be sure to check each establishment’s policy on their website or social media pages.
HOLIDAYS
The Dominican Republic observes 12 official public holidays. The biggest of these are Easter and Christmas, which often stretch into a very long weekend–Dominicans take off as early as Wednesday to go on a road trip with family or to visit friends.
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 6: Three Kings’ Day
January 21: Our Lady of Altagracia Day (Patron Saint of the DR)
January 26: Juan Pablo Duarte Day
February 27: Independence Day
March: Good Friday (Holy Easter Week)
May 1: Labor Day
May 31: Corpus Christi Day
August 16: Restoration of Independence Day
September 24: Our Lady of Mercedes Day
November 6: Constitution Day
December 25: Christmas Day