Dominican Republic Travel Guide

Dominican Republic — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Caribbean, island of Hispaniola, east of Cuba.
Language: Spanish is the official language. Some English and French are spoken.
Area: 48,442 sq km (18,704 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 10.1 million (2009).
Population Density: 208.2 per sq km.
Capital City: Santo Domingo. Population: 2.9 million (2009).
Government: Republic. Gained independence in 1865, after successive attempts.
Head of State: President Leonel Fernandez since 2004 (second non-consecutive term).
Religion: Almost all Christian, with 95% Roman Catholic; there are small Protestant and Jewish minorities.

Recent History

In the most recent presidential elections, in 2008, Leonel Fernandez was re-elected with an absolute majority of 54%. He is seen by many as an innovative thinker, but has become more notable for his handling of the economy and a focus on technology than for any real progress in assuaging some of the country's pressing social issues. He had already served a previous term as president from 1996 to 2000.

When the January 2010 earthquake struck Haiti, the Dominican Republic - which was left shaken but structurally undamaged - responded by raising an impressively large amount of aid through public appeals.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +1 809,+1 829,+1 849. CODETEL (owned and operated by Verizon), Dominican Republic's telecommunications company, has produced the 'Comunicard', which enables tourists visiting the country to phone anywhere abroad from any touch-tone phone.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with a number of international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good along most coastal areas and around towns but patchy elsewhere. There is a 3G network.

Internet

The number of Internet cafés is rapidly growing as the Dominican Republic embraces the Internet. Expect to pay between 20 and 35 pesos for 30 minutes' use.

Media

The ownership of newspapers, TV channels and radio stations lays in the hands of a few economically or politically powerful benefactors. There are several terrestrial TV channels and some 30 multichannel cable TV operators. Most of the 200-plus radio stations are commercial. Rumba FM is typical of Santo Domingo's lively earful of merengue and salsa music stations.

Press freedom is protected by law. Consequently, media outlets carry diverse political views although some subjects, such as the Catholic Church and the army, are generally avoided. Daily papers are in Spanish and include El Caribe, Hoy, Listín Diario and El Nacional. The English-language Santo Domingo News is published weekly on Wednesday and can be obtained in many hotels. There are online English-language news services at www.dominicantoday.com and www.dr1.com.

Post

Airmail takes about 10 days to reach Western Europe. It is advisable to post all mail at the central post office in Santo Domingo to ensure rapid handling.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
21 Jan Our Lady of Altagracia
26 Jan Duarte’s Day
27 Feb Independence Day
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
23 Jun Corpus Christi
16 Aug Restoration Day
24 Sep Our Lady of las Mercedes
7 Nov Constitution Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
21 Jan Our Lady of Altagracia
30 Jan Duarte’s Day
27 Feb Independence Day
6 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
7 Jun Corpus Christi
16 Aug Restoration Day
24 Sep Our Lady of las Mercedes
5 Nov Constitution Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

Contact Information

British Embassy in the Dominican Republic

Ave 27 de Febrero No 233, Edificio Corominas Pepin, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: (809) 472 7190.
Website: www.ukindominicanrepublic.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1630; 0800-1300.

Ministry of Tourism in the Dominican Republic

Mexico Avenue, corner of 30 de Marzo
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: (809) 221 4660.
Website: www.godominicanrepublic.com

Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the UK

139 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, London W2 6JF, UK
Tel: (020) 7727 6285.
Website: www.dominicanembassy.org.uk
Consular opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1400.