The Dominican Republic
is surprisingly tolerant of Gay &
Lesbian tourists. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that it is a
conservative, Catholic society. That said, it is NOTHING like Jamaica or
other Caribbean islands. In the DR as long as you practice discretion and
decorum you will not have any problems at all. So, if you are determined
to walk down the street hand-in-hand with your partner, or you must show affection in a crowd,
then you might have a problem. Otherwise, treat the people with respect
and you will be shown the same courtesy. Dominicans are a very proud
people and have a great pride in their country and culture.
Click here
for a view of
a live webcam, or
Click here for a video.
Santo
Domingo
is a large city of over 2.5 million people. Most items that are
available in the States/Canada can be found here. So if you forget
something (except prescriptions) you can pick it up when you arrive.
»
THINGS TO KNOW
Drinking
Water? Is it safe to drink the tap water at the
hotels? Tap water should be avoided unless it
has been boiled. This means that it is perfectly safe to use for teas and
coffees. You may brush your teeth in un-boiled tap water but if you have a
sensitive stomach I wouldn't advice it. Almost all resorts provide
purified water. Ice cubes are generally made from this as well, especially
at resorts and tourist places. Bottled water can be bought almost everywhere. Unless you want to lose 25lbs in 2 weeks
don't drink the
tap water!
WHAT
TO BRING?
It's the
Caribbean, so the sun will be VERY HOT! Bring plenty of sunscreen. Below
are some other suggestions:
Insect repellant, Personal toiletries, Anti-diarrhea medicine,
Medications, Comfortable casual clothes (leave the Gucci, Coach, and D&G
home),
Digital Camera, Pocket calculator (money exchange),
Pocket English/Spanish
dictionary, and lots of Condoms/Wet Please leave all illegal
Drugs in the United States! trust me on this!
How much Money to Bring?
Here is a quick calculation: To enter the Country: $10.00
US Dollars, Food:
$55.00-$80.00 US dollars, Drinks: $20.00-$60.00 US dollars, Clubs 120
Peso's a night that's $3.00 in US dollars, Bring more for extra
activities: if you know with I mean (RD1000.00=$30.00 US dollars), Shopping,Donations or
sponsors.
» PASSPORTS REQUIREMENTS
You must have a
Passport to fly to Santo Domingo. Make sure you can clear U.S. Customs when re-entering
the United States! by saying that make sure you check to see if you have
any outstanding warrants; Child Support, Bench warrants, Probation
Violations, or Traveling on someone else name, you will under go a warrant
and document check at the U.S. Customs counter before entering the United
States. Trust me I know this information to be found true I have seen with
my own eyes.
January, 2008, U.S.
citizens traveling by air between the U.S.
and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda
will
be required to present a valid U.S. passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast
Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
»
Enter/Exit Requirements
All tourists
must pay a entrance
fee of $10.00 US dollars at the airport.
A tourist card is
required when you get into the country. Minors under 18 years of
age traveling alone, with only one parent, or a third party must present
written authorization by the absent parent's) or legal guardian. This
authorization must be notarized at a Dominican Consulate. Internet:
www.domrep.org
»
MONEY
Taxes
and Tipping
A 10% percent service charge is automatically added to restaurant
bills, plus another 16% percent government tax. You will find that tips are
greatly appreciated and will get you speedier, more efficient service. Of
course tipping above the automatic charge is at your discretion.
MONEY (Don't
change money at the airport you will NOT get a low rate)
The currency
of the Dominican Republic is the peso. The exchange rate is set by the
Dominican Republic Central Bank. ATMs are available everywhere and credit
and Debit cards are widely accepted. If you bring dollars they are easy to exchange
at the many money exchange "cambios" in Santo Domingo.
Click
here to get the current rate
USD
to DOP
