Foreigners legally able to enter the European Union, Great Britain, the United States of America or Canada can enter the Dominican Republic by simply presenting a tourist card.

The tourist card is valid for one year from the date of purchase and is valid for a visit of up to 30 days and may be used only once. It can be acquired at points of sale at the ports of entry by land, air or sea of the country; also, in the Dominican embassies, in the consular offices abroad and through the tourism operators. It can also be purchased online at http://www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica

Tourists who stay beyond the 30-day period must pay a fee depending on the extension, which can be done at the General Migration Office or at the migration post when leaving the country. http://www.migracion.gob.do/web/tarifas.php

The Dominican Republic issues tourist, business, work, student and residency visas. Tourist visas can be issued for one or several tickets and can be extended for 60 days. For more details about visas, consult the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in your country.

You can access this link to see the countries that require a visa to enter the Dominican Republic. http://www.consuladord.com/contentlist.aspx?catid=73&lang=EN

To see the list of citizens who need to apply for a visa at Dominican consulates abroad. http://www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica

To see the list of Dominican consulates abroad. http://www.consuladord.com/directorio.aspx

• The residents and the Dominican nationals.
• Foreigners arriving from Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Peru and Uruguay.
• The diplomatic and consular staff with missions entrusted to the country, while they are on duty.
• Passengers using private, non-commercial aircraft, provided that the aircraft meets the following requirements: the trip must be for sporting, leisure, business or tourism purposes, and the aircraft must not weigh more than thirty thousand pounds (30,000 pounds), with a maximum capacity of 12 passengers.

Due to its location in the Caribbean, the climate of the Dominican Republic is excellent throughout the year. During the summer, the temperature ranges between 32ºC (90ºF) at noon and 21ºC (70ºF) at nightfall.

Temperatures can drop to a minimum of 18ºC (65ºF) in winter. In the high mountainous areas of Jarabacoa and Constanza, the climate is cooler. Here, it is usual for temperatures to drop to 10ºC (50ºF) early in the morning, and to reach below zero in the upper reaches of the mountains.

In the tropics, although storms can take place at any time of the year, rain falls normally only for short periods of time in the afternoon and evening. The warmest months are from June to September.

• 1 of January New Year
• January 6: Kings Day
• January 21: Day of Our Lady of Altagracia (religious)
• January 26: Day of Juan Pablo Duarte
• February 27: Independence Day
• March or April (varies) - Easter Friday (religious)
• May 1: Labor Day (celebrated on the nearest Monday)
• June (varies) - Corpus Christi (religious)
• August 16: Restoration Day
• September 24: Day of Our Lady of the Mercedes (religious)
• November 6: Constitution Day (celebrated on the nearest Monday)
• December 25: Christmas (religious)

As in the United States and Canada, in the Dominican Republic, the current is 110 volts. Because of this, it is recommended that visitors from other countries bring their own electrical adapters.

To see a list of foreign embassies in the Dominican Republic, visit:

http://mirex.gob.do/servicios/directorio/cuerpo-consular-acreditado-republica-dominicana

To see a list of Dominican embassies abroad, visit:

http://mirex.gob.do/servicios/directorio/embajadas-exterior

Most businesses open at 8:00 or 9:00 am until 5:00 or 6:00 pm on weekdays and until 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Large shopping centers usually close at 9:00 p.m. and open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Restaurants usually remain open until midnight, Sunday through Thursday, and until 2:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. The bars, clubs and restaurants of the hotels can remain open 24 hours a day.

The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken, and many employees of the tourism sector speak fluent Italian, French, German, Russian and other languages, as needed.

The local currency is the Dominican peso (RD $). It comes in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 pesos in coins and 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 in bills. Dollars and euros can easily be exchanged at authorized banks and money exchange offices throughout the country.

There are restrictions on bringing more than $ 10,000 in cash into the country, and any sum greater than this value needs to be declared on the customs form. It is prohibited to leave the Dominican Republic with more than 10,000 dollars, or its equivalent in cash. If you need large amounts of cash, it is best to make a bank withdrawal when you are in the country. Banks are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In large shopping centers, some bank branches operate until 8:00 p.m.

Citizens and residents of the United States, Canada and most European countries can enter the country with a 30-day tourist card, which can be purchased upon arrival for US $ 10 or € 10. Anyone, regardless of their nationality, can enter the Dominican Republic with a tourist card if they have any of the following valid visas in their passport: United States, Canada, United Kingdom or European Union (Schengen). If you want to extend the tourist card for 90 days, you will have to pay RD $ 2,500 for migration when leaving the country. The departure fee is US $ 20, but it is usually included in the plane ticket.

To see a list of countries that require a visa to enter the Dominican Republic, visit:

http://www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica

The restaurant bill already includes a ten percent tip; however, it is customary to give an additional 10% for good service. Most people do not tip taxi drivers, but if you feel inclined to give it for good service, the tip will be appreciated.

Smoking is not allowed in most restaurants, nightclubs and closed premises.

Dominicans like to dress elegantly; Fashion, grooming and hygiene are very important. Depending on the occasion, Dominicans will dress casually or formally. Around the hotels and resorts it is usual to wear light clothes such as shirts, T-shirts, shorts, swimsuits or dresses.

From December to February, when the nights are colder, you may need to bring a light jacket.

Do not assume that the weather will always be warm, because even on a Caribbean island warm clothing is needed to travel to mountainous areas, especially the Cordillera Central, where low temperatures are regularly detected even up to 0ºC (32ºF). In the mountainous cities of Constanza and Jarabacoa, temperatures regularly reach below 18ºC (65ºF) at night.

To make your stay more comfortable, even if the day is cloudy, do not forget to use sunscreen, as the Caribbean sun is very strong. All-inclusive hotels encourage eating and drinking, but it is recommended to do so in moderation to avoid stomach discomfort. Stay hydrated by drinking water or natural fluids; keep in mind that soft drinks do not count. In case of discomfort, see a doctor. The tourist centers and all the cities have health centers with modern medical services and most of the hotels have medical clinics with qualified personnel.

Cats and dogs will need a health certificate from their country of origin, with a validity of at least 30 days; A certificate of vaccination against rabies is also required. The birds will have to be quarantined for ten days. To travel with other animals, an import permit from the National Department of Agriculture and Zoology is required. Always check with your travel agent regarding the country's policies for pets.

Although the Dominican Republic is one of the safest countries on the continent, you should still take the same precautions as when traveling to any other city:

• Use the hotel safe to store your passport, money and other valuables.
• Bring a photocopy of your passport with you when you travel. Carry only the essential and necessary to you.
• When possible, carry a credit card and some cash.
• Do not leave valuables, bags or briefcases insight on vehicles, even when there is a security guard nearby.
• Avoid traveling at night, even on the main roads. If you are thinking about going out at night, use the services of a taxi requesting it from the hotel where you are staying.

With special training to help tourists, Cestur is a joint initiative between the National Police, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Tourism. Its offices are located in most tourist destinations. If you are a victim of a crime, Cestur can help you get to a police station so you can file a complaint and seek more help. Its headquarters are located on Avenida 30 de Marzo, corner of Mexico Avenue, Block D, Government Building, Santo Domingo. Tel: 809 221-8697, 809 222-2026 or 809 685-0508. E-mail:

The Dominican Republic uses the same calling system as the United States. The main area code is 809, although there are also numbers that use codes 829 and 849. You have to dial ten digits for each call.

Because most people already have mobile phones, public telephones are almost nonexistent. It is advisable to have a telephone when traveling independently in the Dominican Republic. You can buy a prepaid mobile phone with a local number (around US $ 42) or buy a SIM card for fewer dollars to use it with your own cell phone. The telephone companies that offer mobile telephony services are: Claro, Altice and Viva. These same companies sell wireless Internet modems for their laptop. It is not difficult to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the Internet.

There is a large network of roads that connect cities with tourist destinations around the country. There are lush green landscapes along the Santo Domingo-Santiago-Puerto Plata highway. Do not miss the spectacular panoramic views of the sea and the mountains during the route to Barahona, or the interesting new route through the Los Haitises National Park and its hills, which lead to the Samaná Peninsula and the Northeast Coast.

Taxis can be found at airports and hotels and can also be hired in advance. Several taxi companies are listed in the telephone directory. They are a cost-effective way to get anywhere; They are safe and a reliable option in Santo Domingo, as well as in many cities in the interior. Intercity taxis cost an average of RD $200.

Several companies, including several global brands, offer their services in the main airports, tourist destinations and cities. Consider renting a vehicle to visit at will the destinations and attractions that are found along the north coast, the Samana Peninsula, La Romana and the beaches of Punta Cana.

The new modern metro service began in 2009 and has two lines. Avoid peak hours when travelers are tight. One of the lines runs from north to south of the Máximo Gómez avenue, and then from east to west along the Correa and Cidrón avenues, passing the State University (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo) on its way to government offices in the Center of the Heroes, place where the Congress, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Department of Migration are located, among others. A metro card costs RD $30 with recharges from RD $20, the value of each trip. http://www.opret.gob.do/Estaciones.aspx

The low-cost OMSA buses provided by the government travel along the main streets and avenues of Santo Domingo and Santiago, from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Similarly, there are other, smaller, private buses called "guaguas" Or "voladoras" buses that travel on scheduled routes, stopping at the request of the passenger.

The Concho cars or shared taxis are very similar to the "guaguas", because they travel on specific routes and stop at certain points at the request of the passengers. You can find them both in the capital, as in cities and towns. The fares are usually RD $25 for routes on which up to 6 passengers are mounted. Consider taking a private taxi for interurban routes, with a price of RD $200.

In the Dominican Republic, many young people make their living transporting passengers on their motorcycles. The service is mostly used for trips of relatively short distances, especially because motorcycles can sneak faster between traffic. The fee must be agreed in advance and use it with caution since many handles recklessly.

Metro buses provide service in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerta Plata and Sosúa. http://www.metroserviciosturisticos.com

Caribe Tours has daily bus service from Santo Domingo to Barahona, Cabrera, Jarabacoa, Montecristi, Nagua, Puerto Plata, San Juan River, Samaná, Sanchez, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Sosúa and other cities of the Dominican Republic. The Caribe Tours buses also travel to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien in Haiti. http://www.caribetours.com.do

Expreso Bávaro makes several trips to Santo Domingo during the day. Upon arrival in Punta Cana, buses make several stops in hotels, tourist and shopping areas in Bávaro. A subsidiary of the company, Sitrabapu, makes local stops, leaving Verón in Higüey and La Romana. Sitrabapu also has an express route, without stops to La Romana. http://www.expresobavaro.com

Scheme buses travel daily between La Romana and Santo Domingo, with several departures from the La Romana stop next to the Shell gas station, Tel. 809 556-4192. Asomiro offers a similar service with buses that are taken at AV. Padre Abreu, stop km 1, near La Gallera, Tel. 809 556-9099.

Transportation Samaná (Asotrapusa) provides service during the day to Samaná with several departures from its stations at Barahona 129 and Autopista Las Américas. Tel. 809 687-1470.

In Punta Cana, helicopters are a quick and convenient way to get to know the area and its 50 km (31 miles) of beaches. Helicopter companies fly to Santo Domingo and other destinations, connecting different cities and tourist spots. http://www.helidosaaviationgroup.com

Charter flights can be arranged between the international airports of Punta Cana (PUJ), Santo Domingo (SDQ, JBQ), La Romana (LRM), Santiago (STI), Puerto Plata (POP), Samaná (AZS, ABA) and Barahona (BRX). Several small airports serve domestic flights. These include: Arroyo Barril (ABA) in Samaná, on the northeast coast of Constanza (COZ), located in the central mountainous region; Cabo Rojo (CBJ) in Pedernales, on the southwest coast and Montecristi (MTC) on the northwest coast.