Dominican Republic Hotels
All hotels in the Dominican Republic are classified and have an official “star rating”. As a rule, it corresponds to the list of services provided. Almost all hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis, which includes three meals a day, snacks at any time, local drinks, soft drinks in the minibar and non-motorized beach activities.
In the capital, rooms in modest 2 * hotels will cost from 2000 DOP, in more comfortable 3 * – from 3700 DOP, in luxurious 5 * – from 5500 DOP per night. Accommodation in four-star hotels in Puerto Plata costs from 3400 DOP, in five-star hotels – from 7500 DOP per day. In Punta Cana, you can rent a “four” for 4000-5000 DOP or a “five” for 8000 DOP per day.
There are many comfortable cottages in the country, bungalows with 8-16 rooms each. The hotel complexes have large green areas (mini-trains usually go through them, since walking to the pool or the beach is sometimes quite far), there is animation. All hotels are not high-rise (maximum 4 floors), mostly “four” and “five”. There are no Russian-speaking employees in the hotels, but many tour operators have their own permanent representatives.
The proximity of the sea causes a rapid deterioration of the hotel fund, therefore, when choosing a hotel, you need to pay attention to when it was last renovated.
Mains voltage: 110/120 V, 60 Hz. Flat sockets, American standard plugs. To use electrical appliances, you must have special adapters, which are usually sold in hotel shops. Power outages are not uncommon in the country, so generators are installed in most high-end hotels.
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How to avoid problems
Before traveling to the Dominican Republic, it is better to get vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B. Those who plan to visit the jungle should also add a course of the drug against malaria to this list. As in other exotic countries, it is strictly forbidden to drink tap water. We even advise you to wash your face with boiled or bottled water: due to the poor quality of tap water, outbreaks of conjunctivitis regularly occur in the country. Ice in drinks – only in restaurants with an impeccable reputation.
Medicine in the Dominican Republic is paid, so you should take care of international-standard insurance in advance: in case of force majeure, it will save at least on an ambulance call.
Protection from the insidious Dominican sun – creams with a high level of SPF. In general, you need to be more careful with the local nature: poisonous hedgehogs, jellyfish and fish, moray eels and other dangerous inhabitants are found in the Caribbean Sea. Predators and parasites are waiting on land, so you should not relax either. And even more so, you can’t go into the jungle without a guide and special clothes.
Thefts are not uncommon in the Dominican Republic, so you have to keep a close eye on your personal belongings. It is better to leave the car in paid parking lots, two-wheeled vehicles must be fastened by all means. You can not change money from dealers and withdraw cash from credit cards at street ATMs. Original documents, as well as large sums of money and personal valuables, are best left in the hotel safe, but a copy of the passport will not hurt to carry with you.
Immigration phone number in Santo Domingo: (809) 685-25-35, 685-25-05.
There are no foreign offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Dominican Republic, their representative functions are performed by the Russian Embassy in Venezuela.
Rescue service: 911.
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Dominican Republic beaches
According to toppharmacyschools.org, beaches are the main wealth of the Dominican Republic. Both nature and man are worth thanking for their beauty: the first one did a great job on landscapes, the second takes care of them to the conscience. One of the most popular tourist areas is Costa del Ambar, or “Amber Coast”. Several resorts with magnificent beaches and developed infrastructure are located here at once. The coast of Sosua is covered with golden sand, the purity of coastal waters is appreciated by both idle bathers and experienced divers. On the coast of Cabarete, the sea is almost always stormy: you can’t splash with children here, but surfers are in complete expanse. And in Playa DoradaThe coast is divided between luxury hotels: each has its own well-groomed beach with fine sand, convenient entry into the water and all amenities like umbrellas, sunbeds, showers.
Most Dominican beaches are free, for renting an umbrella and a sunbed you will have to pay from 50 DOP, there are few changing rooms, there are practically no toilets and showers with fresh water. The exception is the private beaches of luxury hotels, equipped with everything you need and working on an all-inclusive basis.
Another famous tourist area is Bavaro with the beaches of Los Corrales, Arena Gorda, El Cortecito and Arena Blanca. The Punta Cana resort, where all this splendor is located, is generally considered exemplary in terms of a beach holiday. The sand here is snow-white, with a pleasant shade of pink mother-of-pearl, the water is clean and transparent. Solitude is not to be found, but there is plenty of entertainment.
Much quieter and calmer – on the coast of the Samana Peninsula. There is where to hide from the outside world: for example, Madame Beach is quite small, completely strewn with quartz sand and protected from prying eyes by hills and a dense palm grove.
Connoisseurs of a serene holiday will also like the cozy fishing village of Bayahibe. The sea here is clean and calm, the sand sparkles with whiteness, there are several beaches: the Bayahibe of the same name in the center is more crowded, Dominicus in the vicinity is quiet and deserted. The resort of Boca Chica, 30 km from Santo Domingo, is perfect for family leisure: swimming in a shallow lagoon protected from waves is a pleasure. The peculiarity of Palenque beach is gray-black sand, very photogenic. A favorite vacation spot for locals is Guayacanes Beach: unequipped, but free from tourist crowds and incredibly picturesque.
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