According to liuxers.com, the Dominican Republic is coconut palms leaning over secluded beaches, the cleanest Caribbean Sea and excellent diving. The colonial capital of Santo Domingo, luxurious Punta Cana and Puerto Plata – all about the Dominican Republic: tours and prices, weather, hotels, maps.
The Dominican Republic is a fertile land, located in the east of the island of Haiti, surrounded by the waves of the Caribbean Sea. The capital is the sultry Santo Domingo, the birthplace of reference cigars, the cradle of incendiary merengue.
The first association with the Dominican Republic is the endless beaches of amazing beauty: with white sand, sprawling palm trees, gentle sea – indispensable attributes of a tropical paradise. But this is by no means the only thing that the country delights travelers with. There are many noteworthy sights here: architecture, which has incorporated island traditions and features of European styles, national parks with breathtaking nature. And yet – a whole palette of entertainment for adepts of outdoor activities. The Dominican Republic lives in the rhythms of bachata and salsa, inviting everyone to plunge into the cheerful atmosphere of the world, where every day is like a small holiday.
The historic center of the Dominican capital Santo Domingo is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Well, deservedly so: the local architecture is luxurious. The city was founded by none other than the younger brother of Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeo, and first christened New Isabella.
In the 16th century, Santo Domingo was the capital of the Spanish colonies of the New World, and today many things remind of the glorious past: the Rosario Chapel, the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, the Casa del Almirante Palace, the Alcazar Castle and other architectural monuments are vivid examples of the Renaissance and Gothic, Arabic and Romanesque styles.
If the capital is an ideal place for a sightseeing holiday, then resorts are for a carefree beach holiday. The most popular among family tourists is Punta Cana with a well-groomed coastline, a chain of five-star hotels, excellent fish restaurants and amazing nature. Nearby are three national parks with lush vegetation and exotic inhabitants.
Puerto Plata is 120 km of picturesque beaches of the resorts of Cabarete, Sosua and Playa Dorada. The first is a paradise for windsurfers: the waves here are spectacular. Young people come here in search of new acquaintances and adventures. Although it is better to go to Sosua for acquaintances: this small town with a lively beach is full of clubs and bars that beckon thrill-seekers. And Playa Dorada consists entirely of all-inclusive hotels and entertainment outlets: there is a golf course, a casino, and excellent shops and restaurants.
Boca Chica is a cozy lagoon protected from the outside world by a coral reef. It is good to combine a beach holiday with all sorts of activities: diving or tennis, windsurfing or horseback riding, sailing or water skiing. It is better to stay in Juan Dolio for those who plan to visit the capital often: the resort is located just 50 km from Santo Domingo. Bayahibe is famous for its clean beaches, calm seas and a variety of underwater life. There are many secluded corners in Samana surrounded by untouched nature, and dolphins, manatees and even humpback whales look into the local waters. The lack of historical monuments in the town of La Romana is compensated by a developed tourist infrastructure. A Cap Cana – the resort is young, but has already earned a reputation as an elite one: Donald Trump himself had a hand in this.
Look for a complete list of heavenly places on the page Cities and resorts of the Dominican Republic.
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Visa and customs
For citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, visa-free entry to the Dominican Republic is provided for up to 30 days. For your own peace of mind, you should take out travel medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip in advance.
At the entrance to the airport you will need to pay a tourist card (10 USD).
There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currencies. The exception is large amounts in dollars: it is forbidden to bring in more than 10,000 USD in cash. Duty-free import of 1 liter of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22 °, 2 liters of less strong drinks is allowed; 500 g coffee; 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars; 2 bottles of perfume (should be printed), as well as personal items in the amount necessary for the tourist and gifts with a total value of no more than 500 USD.
The import of products of animal, agricultural and horticultural origin (that is, almost all products), weapons, drugs and pornography is prohibited (the import of certain drugs is also limited). It will not be possible to import animals into the Dominican Republic without veterinary passports and vaccinations against rabies and parvovirus infection.
Without special permission, the export of objects and things of historical and artistic value is prohibited. It is not allowed to export meat and milk, as well as products made from them. As well as cash more than 10,000 USD or more than the amount declared upon entry, local currency, weapons, drugs and pornographic materials. The allowable amount of tobacco and alcohol is the same as at the entrance. Special permits are required for the export of certain types of orchids, objects from the seabed, palm tree cores and narcotic drugs. There is no Tax free system in the Dominican Republic.
Communication and Wi-Fi
The largest mobile operators in the Dominican Republic are Orange, Claro, Viva and Tricom. The largest coverage area is in the first two. You can buy a SIM card at the offices of companies upon presentation of a passport, the average price is 200-400 DOP, depending on the package of services offered. Calls to Europe cost Orange 13.50 DOP, Claro 36 DOP per minute. There will be no problems with replenishing the balance: payment can be made through USSD requests, at ATMs and terminals, cash desks of pharmacies and shops, as well as online on the websites of operators.
Another convenient way to communicate with your homeland is by calling from pay phones. They are in big cities, and in noisy resorts. Payphone cards are sold in newsstands and supermarkets, the rules of use and tariffs are detailed on the back.
Internet connection in the country is well developed. Free Wi-Fi is available in most major hotels and restaurants. The most favorable tariffs with unlimited mobile traffic are offered by the Viva operator. You can also connect to the network in an Internet cafe: access will cost an average of 100 DOP per hour.
The Dominican Republic is a typical tropical paradise, the merits of which can be read in any tourist brochure. Advertising will not deceive you: there are thousands of coconut trees, pearly white and golden sands in stock, as well as the rarest black amber, all-encompassing peace and the best rest from the bustle. True, the service in the country also has a touch of “paradise” traditions…
Julia Poimanova
Money
The monetary unit of the country is the Dominican peso (DOP), in 1 peso there are 100 centavos. Current exchange rate: 1 DOP = 1.04 RUB (1 USD = 55.39 DOP, 1 EUR = 58.28 DOP).
Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, hotel or commercial banks (banks are open from 8:00-8:30 to 15:00-18:00 from Monday to Friday, exchange offices in shopping centers – until 19:00).
You should not change money at the airport: the exchange rate is far from the most profitable. When looking for the best exchange conditions, follow a simple rule: the farther from the places where tourists gather, the fairer the offers.
A reverse exchange is possible with a certificate of the original, but usually no more than 30% of the original amount is exchanged. In private establishments, dollars are accepted everywhere, but change can be given in pesos. If prices are quoted in dollars, the conversion rate should always be checked in advance.
The country has a rather complicated system of taxes: VAT (6-8%) is levied on all goods and services, sales tax (7%) and another 10% “for service”, so that in total they can reach up to 23%.
In the capital and major tourist areas, credit cards of all major world payment systems are accepted for payment. In the interior of the country, it is almost impossible to pay with them. It is better not to use street ATMs: cards often get stuck, and the risk of facing fraud is extremely high. Some banks accept traveler’s checks. To avoid additional costs due to exchange rate fluctuations, it is worth using checks in US dollars.
Tipping is partially included in the cost of service in hotels, while in restaurants it is customary to leave about 10% of the order value to the waiter. Maid and porters are usually entitled to 1-2 USD.
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