Have you been looking for some travel tips for the Dominican Republic? Well, look no further because we have compiled the 13 best tips to have an amazing adventure on this beautiful island.

The Dominican Republic is as close to paradise on earth as you can find. Sharing the same island, called Hispaniola, with Haiti, right between Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba, the DR is the Caribbean nation by excellence. Dipping your bare feet in the white sand, feeling the fresh sea breeze on your face, and taking a swim in the amazing blue ocean are incomparable liberating experiences that should be on everyone’s bucket list. 

To make your vacation to the Dominican Republic as fulfilling and unforgettable as possible, we decided to compile these tips for you.

1. Check the Current COVID-19 Situation

The country certainly has been a success story during the pandemic. However, since COVID-19 struck, nothing has been truly certain in the travel domain. So it’s a good idea to be aware of the current situation regarding health measures. Until this moment, there is no need to present a COVID test as an entry requirement but this could change in the future. You can check the current situation on this website.

2. Check Your Traveling requirements.

The US, Canada, the UK, and many other countries do not need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic. You can see the full list of countries here. If you are from one of the countries that do not need a visa, you just need to have your passport at hand with at least six months of validity. Everybody entering (or leaving) the DR must complete the free electronic entry (or exit). You can check our entry/exit requirements page for further information.

3. Best Time To Visit

December to May

The best time to visit is the Dominican Republic is anywhere from December to May. The weather is warm all year round, even in winter. So if you live in a cold place, winter is a great time for you to visit the Dominican Republic. However, a lot of people live in cold places and agree with that statement, so you can expect a lot of tourism and crowded places. Around March, once the winter has ended, tourism starts to fade away, until spring break it is, when you will be able to find lots of parties. 

June to November

Officially, hurricane season lasts from June to November. However, the Dominican Republic hasn’t been really been hit by a hurricane in a long time. A lot of people decide to take their chances from June to August because they find prices to be quite low when compared with the high season. The reality is that the worst that can happen is to have some rain and humidity, which would ruin things like golfing or paragliding. September and October are the months with less tourism and are also considered the peak of hurricane season.

4. Get some Dominican Pesos.

The official currency in the DR is the Dominican Peso. The exchange, as the moment this post was written, is 1 USD = 55 DOPs. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere but prices in dollars tend to be inflated. So to get the best deal is always a good idea to have local currency. You can get local currency out of an ATM without much problem or at an exchange at the airport.

5. How much to tip. 

The Dominican Republic has an economy that mostly runs on tourism, so tipping is customary and it is expected. Most restaurants have a service charge included in their bills and it is customary to leave an extra 10%-12% if you think the service was good.

6. Don’t drink from the tap! 

Seriously, just don’t or you will spend the entire trip visiting the toilet. Although it’s clean enough to brush your teeth, it’s not safe to drink out of the tap. Most stores sell big jugs of drinking water called botellones, and with the hot weather and strong sun, be sure will need lots of them.

7. Buy High SPF Sunscreen.

Really, just do it. The Caribbean sun is not the kind of sun you are used to. It’s a lot stronger. If you don’t want to spend your trip looking like a roasted chicken, is better to use some good high SPF sunscreen.

8. Buy mosquito repellent. 

During some seasons, especially when it rains, mosquitos can get really uncomfortable. So buying some repellent is recommended. Here’s an article that might help you choose a good repellent.

9. Be Aware of Scams & Hustles

First of all, crime is not high in the Dominican Republic and it mostly happens in the big cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago. However, it is a good idea to be on the lookout for scams. Price gouging, unlicensed taxis, and adults sending their kids as beggars are some of the local scams that you may run into. If you would like us to make an article where we elaborate more on how the scams work, please let us know in the comments.

10. Go On An Adventure!

The Dominican Republic has some of the most amazing landscapes you will ever see. Be it Kitesurfing in Cabarete, going whale watching in the Samaná Peninsula, or going to Monkey Jungle, you won’t run out of amazing things to do and collect epic stories to tell. See our experiences page for more ideas on how to have a great time while you are here. 

11. Pack Some Party Outfits

If you are planning to go out clubbing in the DR, then you better not show up wearing flip-flops and swimwear. Dominicans are party people and they take it pretty seriously. You don’t have to wear anything fancy but you can expect everyone else to be wearing flashy outfits and baseball caps. 

12. Try Some Cigars

Now, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do anything unhealthy, but Dominican cigars are well known for being some of the best in the world. Actually, the cigar culture in the DR is very rich and has a lot of history. Some even say that Christopher Columbus discovered the tobacco plant here. What is undeniable, though, is that some of the finest tobacco is grown on the Dominican Republic so it makes sense that the cigars are of the highest quality.

13. Try Mamajuana, A Health Elixir

This mystic beverage is thought to be one of the first distilled spirits in the Americas. When the Spaniards discovered the island, they mixed alcohol brought from Europe with herbal tea consumed by the indigenous Taino tribe. To this day, this concoction made with rum, red wine, honey, tree bark, and herbs is thought to be an elixir with tons of health benefits and aphrodisiac powers. Some call it “Liquid Viagra” or “Baby Maker” so use that information wisely.