Fast Facts

Banks -- Most banks are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. ATMs are found at all branches of Banco Popular. Banks at the malls stay open until 6pm.

Currency -- The Dominican monetary unit is the peso (RD$), made up of 100 centavos. Coin denominations are 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos, 1 peso, and 5 pesos. Bill denominations are RD$5, RD$10, RD$20, RD$50, RD$100, RD$500, RD$1,000, and RD$2,000. Price quotations in this section sometimes appear in U.S. and sometimes in Dominican currency, depending on the policy of the establishment. Unless otherwise specified, prices in this section are quoted in U.S. dollars and British pounds. The use of any currency other than Dominican pesos is technically illegal, but few seem to heed this mandate. At the time of writing, the exchange rate was about RD$32 to US$1 (meaning that centavos are practically worthless). Stated differently, RD$1 equals US.03¢. Bank booths at the international airports and major hotels will change your currency at the prevailing free-market rate.

Customs -- Visitors are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol, and gifts not exceeding a value of US$100 (£52). Anything over that will be subjected to import taxes.

Documents -- To enter the Dominican Republic, citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries need a valid passport. Upon your arrival at the airport in the Dominican Republic, you must purchase a tourist card for US$10 (£5.20). You can avoid waiting in line by purchasing this card when checking in for your flight to the island.

Electricity -- The country generally uses 110-volt AC (60 cycles), so adapters and transformers are usually not necessary for U.S. appliances. To be safe, ask when booking your hotel.

Embassies -- All embassies are in Santo Domingo, the capital. The U.S. Embassy is on Calle Cesar Nicholas Penson at the corner of Máximo Gomez (tel. 809/221-2171). The embassy of the United Kingdom is located at Av. 27 de Febrero, No. 233 Edificio Corominas Pepin (tel. 809/472-7111). The embassy of Canada is found at Calle Capitán Eugenio de Marchena 39 (tel. 809/685-1136).

Emergencies -- Call tel. 911.

Language -- The official language is Spanish; many people also speak some English.

Safety -- The Dominican Republic has more than its fair share of crime. Avoid unmarked street taxis, especially in Santo Domingo; you could be targeted for assault and robbery. While strolling around the city, beware of hustlers selling various wares; pickpockets and muggers are common here, and visitors are easy targets. Don't walk in Santo Domingo at night. Locals like to offer their services as guides, and it is often difficult to decline. Hiring an official guide from the tourist office is your best bet. Lock valuables in your hotel safe, carry only a reasonable amount of cash or (better yet) one or two credit cards, and avoid dark deserted places just like you would at home. (One note: The single male will find more solicitations from prostitutes [putas in Spanish] here than anywhere else in the Caribbean. Putas are at their most visible and aggressive in such relatively unmonitored tourist zones as Cabarete, and within the bars and lounges of most of the deluxe hotels of Santo Domingo, especially the Jaragua.)

Taxes -- A departure tax of US$20 (£10) is assessed and must be paid in U.S. currency. The government imposes a 16% tax on hotel rooms, which is usually topped by an automatic 10% service charge, bringing the total tax to staggering heights.

Telephone -- The area code for the Dominican Republic is 809. You place calls to or from the Dominican Republic just as you would from any other area code in North America. You can access AT&T Direct by dialing tel. 800/222-0300. You can reach MCI at tel. 800/888-8000 and Sprint at tel. 800/877-7746.

Time -- Atlantic Standard Time is observed year-round. Between November and March, when it's noon in New York and Miami, it's 1pm in Santo Domingo. However, during U.S. daylight saving time, it's the same time in the Dominican Republic and the U.S. East Coast.

Tipping -- Most restaurants and hotels add a 10% service charge to your check. Most people usually add 5% to 10% more, especially if the service has been good.

Water -- Stick to bottled water.

Weather -- The average temperature is 77°F (25°C). August is the warmest month, and January the coolest month, although even then it's warm enough to swim.