Dominican Republic Travel Guide

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

Overview

The following articles can be imported into the Dominican Republic duty-free (people over 16 years):

200 cigarettes or a pack of cigars;
1 bottle of alcoholic beverages with a filling weight of max. 2 l;
2 opened bottles of perfume for personal use;
Gifts worth a total of up to US $ 100.

Prohibited imports

Animal, vegetable and other agricultural products (including fruits, vegetables and plants) and drugs.

ECONOMY

Business etiquette

The initial reluctance of local business people is quickly overcome, and the atmosphere is generally relaxed. Knowledge of Spanish is an advantage. Hotels can often provide interpreters. Business hours: Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Authorities: Mon-Fri 7.30 a.m.-2.30 p.m.

Economy

Cámara de Comercio, Industria y Turismo Dominico-Alemana
Calle Isabel la Católica No. 212, Apto. Postal 8335, zona Colonial, DO-Santo Domingo
Tel: (809) 688 67 00.
Internet: www.ahkzakk.com/republicadominicana

Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Arz. Nouel 206, Apartado 815, DO-Santo Domingo, DN
Tel: (809) 682 26 88.
Internet: www.ccpsd.org.do (under construction) or www.camarasantodomingo.org.do (under construction)

Business contacts

COMMUNICATION

Phone

International direct dialing. With the Comunicard of the telecommunications company of the Dominican Republic (Codetel / Verizon) you can make international calls from any touch-tone phone. Additional information from Codetel / Verizon, Av. Tiradentes 1169, DO-Santo Domingo. (Tel: 220 51 68. Fax: 549 47 21. E-Mail: [email protected] ; Internet: www.codetel.net.do).

Phone

Cellphone

GSM 1900. The main network operator is Orange Dominicana SA (Internet: www.orange.com.do/default.jsp).

Internet

Internet provider is Codetel (Internet: www.codetel.net.do).

Post Office

Airmail to Europe takes about a week. The fastest way to get letters through is the main post office in Santo Domingo.

Radio

Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.

SHOP

Overview

The most popular souvenirs include beautiful jewelry and other souvenirs made of amber (ámbar), e.g. Sometimes with trapped insects, leaves or dew drops. Dominican amber is known for its variety of colors; the rare blue amber, the color of which is due to fluorescent molecules, is particularly popular. The sea blue Larimar(also known as pectolite or Atlantis stone), which can only be found worldwide on the Dominican peninsula Barahona and near Soave in Italy, esotericists attribute a relaxing and creativity-promoting effect. Jewelry is also made from the milky blue and pink shells of sea snails. Rocking chairs, wood carvings made of mahogany, naive painting, macramé, wickerwork and limestone work are also typical. CDs with salsa and merengue sounds are also nice souvenirs. Noble fashion from Dominican designers can be found in the shopping centers of the large hotel complexes.

Cigars can be found in the larger shopping centers such as Plaza Columbus in Santo Domingo (Internet: www.columbusplazastores.com) as well as in specialized shops. The Davidoff Puro is made entirely from tobacco from the Dominican Republic in the traditional way, while other cigars are often wrapped in a foreign wrapper.

In the city of Moca on the north coast, there are numerous shopping opportunities at local prices. Local products such as fruit and vegetables are particularly inexpensive, while imported goods such as chocolate and wine are sometimes quite expensive.

In many shops there are no price displays, haggling is recommended and is often expected. The colored bracelet (plástico) that many package holidaymakers wear can lead to quite free pricing.

Opening hours

Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Colmados (small grocery stores) are partly open around the clock.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels

The hotel offer is constantly expanding. The modern hotels on the southeast coast are located near the beach. In the capital, accommodations of all classes are offered, the prices of which are the same all year round. In the holiday areas, summer prices are around 10% below winter prices. Hotels outside of Santo Domingo and La Romana are generally much cheaper. Service charge and 13% government tax are added to hotel bills. Categories: 5-star system, but the level does not correspond to the standards otherwise usual in the Caribbean. Further information is available from the Asociación Nacional de Hoteles y Restaurantes (ASONAHORES), Calle Presidente Gonzalez esq, Avenida Tiradentes, Edificio La Cumbre, DO-Santo Domingo. (Tel: 540 46 76.

Camping

Official campsites are not available. In rural areas, camping is allowed with the permission of the property owner.

CULINARY

Regional specialities

La bandera(means ‘the flag’ and consists of white rice, red beans, steamed meat, lettuce and fried plantains).
Chicharrones(crispy pork rinds)
Chicharrones de pollo(roast chicken cut into strips)
Cassava(fried vegetables)
Moro de habicuelas(rice and beans)
Sopa criolla dominicana(vegetable soup with meat)
Pastelon(baked vegetable cake)
Sancocho(stew with up to 18 different ingredients)

Tip

The hotel and restaurant bills already include 10% service; however, an additional tip of 5-10% is quite common. Shared taxi drivers do not necessarily expect a tip, but tips are common for all other services.

Regional drinks

Presidente is the name of the excellent local beer. Well-known rums are Brugal and Bermudez. Rum añejo (old, dark rum) with ice is recommended after eating. Local coffee is excellent and strong. Domestic beers and spirits are considerably cheaper than imported drinks.

Minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages

In the Dominican Republic, a country located in North America according to computergees, you can drink alcohol from the age of 18.

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