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Travel Essentials › Dominican Republic

Travel Essentials

Dominican Republic: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types A and B (US-style), 120 V. Emergency: One number for everything 911. Tipping: A 10% service charge is added by law, but an extra 5-10% for good service and small tips for porters and drivers are customary. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The Dominican Republic Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types A and B (US-style), 120 V

Emergency Numbers

Tipping

A 10% service charge is added by law, but an extra 5-10% for good service and small tips for porters and drivers are customary.

Water And Health

Tap water

Drink bottled or treated water

Vaccines

Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid; hepatitis B and rabies for some travelers

Malaria

Small risk in some rural areas near the Haitian border; ask about preventive tablets

Apps To Download Before You Go

• Uber: The main ride-hailing app in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana, much safer and cheaper than unmetered taxis.
• inDrive: Popular for negotiating fares directly with drivers, especially outside the capital.
• WhatsApp: Hotels, drivers, tour operators and even restaurants take bookings by WhatsApp.
• Waze: Preferred by locals for driving thanks to real-time traffic and police reports.
• Metro de Santo Domingo / OMSA: The capital's metro and cable car use a rechargeable card; the official app shows lines and schedules.
• Caribe Tours / Metro Tours: Comfortable intercity coach companies for routes such as Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata or Samaná.
• Claro / Altice: Apps of the two main mobile operators for tourist SIMs and data top-ups.
• Banreservas / Popular: Big local bank apps with widespread ATMs; cards are accepted in cities and resorts but cash is needed in small towns.
• PedidosYa: The leading food and grocery delivery app across Dominican cities.
• Uber Eats: Widely used for restaurant delivery in Santo Domingo and resort areas.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A handshake is standard; among friends, a single cheek kiss is common between women and between men and women.

Piropos (street compliments). Flirtatious comments toward women in public are culturally common and usually not threatening, though can feel uncomfortable to visitors unaccustomed to them.

Relaxed time sense. Social plans often run later than scheduled; patience with a more flexible approach to time is appreciated.

Safety And Scams

Tourist zones and resorts are generally safe, but petty theft, taxi overcharging, and card skimming occur, and caution is advised at night, especially around Punta Cana.

Card skimming. ATM and card readers are sometimes tampered with to steal card data; use ATMs inside banks and monitor statements closely.

'Pirate lawyers'. Unlicensed individuals posing as lawyers target tourists after minor incidents (e.g., accidents) to extract fees; ask your hotel or embassy for verified legal contacts.

Taxi and tour overcharging. Unmetered taxis and informal tour sellers may quote inflated prices; agree on fares beforehand or book through your hotel.

Women travelers. Women should expect frequent street compliments (piropos), usually harmless but persistent; avoid isolated areas at night and stay alert in nightlife districts.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Use Caution

Same-sex relations are legal, but the country is socially conservative and same-sex marriage is not recognized; the LGBTQ+ scene is more visible in Santo Domingo (Gazcue, Piantini) and Las Terrenas, while discretion is advised elsewhere.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

November to April is the high season with the driest, most comfortable weather; hurricane season runs June-November, peaking around September, though direct hits are relatively rare.

Do You Need A Visa?

Dominican Republic visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Spanish phrases