Tourist Information's

All  features of actual language use in everyday situations are analyzed.

In this page:
Info's and tips about Dominican Republic

History | Language and communication | Government | Religion | Weather | Average temperatures | What to bring from home | Documentation, Arrival and stay | Currency and Changing | Map of the time | Airports | Communications | Transportation | Health | Electrical Current | Gastronomy | Weight and measures | National Vacations and festivals | Sport centers | Commercial Centers | How does it costs? | Insurance  | Just in case | Important Notes

History

Hispaniola Island was discovered by Columbus the 5 December 1492. It was the land  he loved most and it was here he asked to be buried.

By Royal privilege of King Ferdinando in 1508 it was named Island of Santo Domingo. Its aboriginal name, Quisqueya in the Taino language, means "mother of all lands". At the time of the discovery, our island was inhabited  by natives who called themselves Tainos, which in their own language means "the good ones". Thinking they had reached India, the Spaniards called them "Indians".

The epic events associated with Conquest and Colonization gave rise to American firsts. Santo Domingo hosts the first Cathedral of the New World, the first hospital, the first university.....The first mass was observed and the first Catholic priest was ordained here.

The depopulation carried out in 1605 and 1606 gave way to the settling of buccaneers and pirates in the western region of the island, which in future centuries brought about the establishment of a French colony, and finally led to the Independent Republic of Haiti.
 

The Dominican Republic was born on February 27, 1844. The proclamation of the Republic took place at the Conde Gate where, for the first time, its tricolor flag was raised. The founding Fathers are Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella. The Dominican Republic was annexed by Spain in 1861 and Restored as an Independent country in 1865. Authoritarianism and anarchy were the hallmarks of this second Republic. In 1930 Rafael Leonida Trujillo established a dictatorship which lasted for 31 years. After the death of the dictator, several governments tried but could not resolve the drastic economic and social problems of the Republic. Today Dominican Republic is a period of economic growth and it is one of the most interesting places for vacations and/or make business, due to its well growing economy, society and culture.

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Language and communication

 
Spanish "Castellano" is the official language but there are still words which are commonly used that are an inheritance from the language of Tainos.

 
It is important to note here that Dominican speech is the soul's expression and the winsdom of the country folk expressed with a rustic accent and with down home flavor. Dominicans specks loudly and making hand gestures in order to overcome distances with one's voice: shouts, abrupt gestures, run from one place to another in order to call attention to some protest may seems like the beginning of a violent struggle, instead it is only the normal way to express feelings according to Dominican's lifestyle and in half an hour everything goes on as if nothing has happened.

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Government

 
Inhabited by over than 7.3 millions (AGR 2%) people, Dominican territory is divided politically into 29 provinces and a National District.

 
It is a Democratic Republic and the president is elected every 4 years  through direct votes as well as the Congress.

 
Politic and elections are one of the most interesting arguments to Dominicans.

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Religion

 
There is freedom of worship in the Dominican Republic but 90% of the population is Apostolic and Roman Catholic.

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Weather

 
The Dominican soil is fertile for the planting of any grain and, referring to the classification made by W.Koppen for studying the world's climates, the tropical humid climate of the savanna predominates with five variations of micro-climates which are classified as : humid, dry as in the steppes, and the tropical climate of the jungle forests and savannas. The average annual temperature runs from 18 to 27 Celsius degrees.

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Average temperatures (C.)

to convert to Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32

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What to bring from home

 
First of all, a positive mind and a desire to have a good time. Then, due to the prevailing climate, we would suggest a simply wardrobe of natural fibers, cotton, linen, etc., in order to feel more confortable and transpire more easily during the day, all the necessary for the beach.
From November to February runs cool nights and a pull-over would be appropriate.
When visiting churches gentlemen should uncover their heads and shorts pants or beach dresses are considered as offensive.

 
In particular we suggest student bring their own towels and sheets.

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Documentation, Arrival and stay

 
Dominicans Immigration laws allows tourists to stay up to 60 days with a Tourist Card which costs 10USD and which may be purchased at Dominican Consulates accredited abroad or upon their arrival in one of the country's international airport.
Some tips for incoming students:

 
1.- After landing try to go out of the airplane quickly and quickly go to the desk with passport, 10USD cash, flight details (arrive and departure), address in Santo Domingo.

When he arrive at the desk first go at the right side of the room to buy the Tourist Card (10USD), compile it and then go to the desk (immigration). Take care of the receipt.
This to be one of the first and  bypass the line that will be really a long affair.

2.- change a little bit of money at the airport enough for the week end
 

3.- do not trust in anybody at the airport but go directly to a taxi parked outside of the airport, the taxi costs 25-30USD from Las Americas airport. Ask for the price before.
For extension of time in the country, you may call the General Direction of Migration, tel: 685-2535 and pay a little fee. You can choose to wait your departure and pay directly at the airport for the extra period you stayed in Dominican Republic.

Citizens of several countries needs only a valid passport without the 10USD Tourist Card to be allowed to stay for up to 90 days: please refer to Dominican Consulate in your own country.

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Currency and Changing

 
The Dominican monetary unit is the peso/centavo. Its symbol is RD$ and is divided into coins of 1,5,10,25, 50 cents, 1 and 5 pesos and bills bearing denomination of 10,20,50,10,500 and 1000 pesos.

 
Changing money is possible in three ways: banks, agencies and through the school. Secretary will inform you about the best change rate.

 
All the credit cards are honored all over the country.

Business Hours
 

Banks:

8.30 to 15.00 (Mon-Fri)
 

Government Offices

7.30 to 14.30 (Mon- Fri)
 

Commercial

8.00 to 19.00 (Mon-Sat)

Several commercial center and offices doesn't make lunch time. When they do they close between 13.00 and 14.30.

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Map of the time

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Airports

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Communications

Telephone

In the Dominican Republic there are several Telephonic Company, but the most important are Codetel and Tricom with several telephonic center all over the island. Near school there are both of them. It is possible to purchase, quite everywhere, prepaid card that allows you to phone from every telephone public or private.

Fax and E-mail

Codetel center offer a service of fax: send and receive for a little fee depending by the final destination. It is possible to rent for 15 minutes or more an internet terminal to send o receive e-mail. Students are allowed to receive e-mail at school address and, concord an hour, to use the computer to send their own e-mail for free.

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Transportation

 
With the ground transportation you can visit the entire island. You can choose to travel by taxi or rent a car o by public transportation. Secretary of school will give all the details to the ones interested to travel: prices, location, hours etc...

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Health

 
World Health Organization: "the median in terms of public longevity is the same of United States. In all circumstances it is possible to enjoy, choosing an adequate location, a comfortable climate in which one rarely encounters lung diseases, scarlet fever or other feared diseases of the northern countries, not to mention yellow fever".

A lot of drugstore opened 24 hours and with the most common drugs, but it is a good rule to bring with oneself the personal medicaments. School can recommend a Doctor in case of little disease and modern clinics are near the colonial zone.

 
We suggest to buy a medical insurance before incoming.

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Electrical Current

We use American type plugs for 110-120 volts 60 cycles.

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Gastronomy
Dominican Republic has many comfortable and inviting restaurants with all kind of menus: Spanish, French, Italian, Creole, Mexican, Oriental, German, Arabian etc.

School will provide all information you may need.

 
By law a 10% charge is added to your bill as legal tip and a 8% as taxes, yet it is used to leave a supplementary tip if the service was good.

 
Dominican kitchen is poor and culturally skilled to use all kind of ingredients and seasons at once. Fried food is the most typical here.

The most typical Dominican dish, known as ¨la bandera¨ (the flag), is compromised of white rice, red beams and stewed meat accompanied by salad and ¨fritos verdes¨ which are simply green plantains fried in a special way. Yet, we recommend that you try other dishes from our regional cooking made in a manner that can only be savored here such as: fish in coconut milk in Samaná and goat meat in Azua or Montecristi and crabs in Puerto Plata. All over the island you can find the sancocho (meat and vegetable stew) and each region has a special way of preparing it. Very famous the sancocho prieto with its seven different  meats.

Plantains, green or mature, are always present in all the form: mangu (a puree), tostones (fried rings), pastelon (prepared in owen) are only few examples.

If you are strong at stomach don't loose the chimichurri, a fully seasoned hamburger prepared directly in the street.

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Weight and measures

According to Dominican Laws the decimal metric system rules over weight and measures. Yet, it is important to note that despite having adopted the metric system, certain units of the old Spanish system and of others which were once in effect in our territory, have continued to be used in the Republic. For example, ounces and pounds are used in weighing solids, gasoline and motors oils are in American gallons of 128 ounces, while cooking oil is retailed by pounds, fabrics are measured by the yard , drinks liquids are in bottles of 0756 a liter, land surface in rural areas are generally measured by the "tarea" which is equal to 624 square meters and in popular markets everybody has "his" own measure.

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National Vacations and festivals

 
According to Dominican laws most of national holidays (but not all!) has to be moved at the nearest Monday. So it is impossible to give an exact situation. With a certain approximation national holidays are the following:
 

01-01, 06-01, 21-01, 26-01, 27-02, Easter week, 01-05, Corpus Christi, 16-08, 24-09, 25-12, 31-12.

More than this you may pay attention to local festivity.

In the Dominican Republic there are some festival that may be interesting for tourists:

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Sport center

 
All kind of sports and recreational activities are available to watch or participate.
Gymnastic, Baseball, Basketball, Billiards, Parasailing, Adventures Sports (canyoning, rafting etc..), Races, Ride-back horses, Golf, Cockfighting, Fishing, water Sports, Polo, Tennis, Soccer, and many others. More informations at the secretary of the school.
 

National sports are Baseball, Basketball and Boxe.

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Commercial Center

 
In the modern Commercial Centers it is possible to find and buy all the stuff you may need, international or not. In the popular market it is possible to find creole products and souvenir with the emotion of a long, loud contractation.

 
More informations at the secretary of the school.

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How does it costs?

 
Here it is a sample of prices. Prices can be very various depending by the place you are. We will take like example the most economic, popular places and a medium quality local.

***source not verified-only an example***

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Insurance

 
The insurance policy must be issued in the country where the student resides. The students, therefore, needs to arrange insurance through you or independently in their country of residence.

Illness and accidents: during their stay at our school students must be personally insured against illness and accident.

Robbery coverage: we suggest your students to purchase coverage for their stay in Dominican Republic.

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Just in case

 
The emergency number is : 911
 

Red Cross: 682-4545
Movimed: 532-0000

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Important Notes

• All visitors to the Dominican Republic should be aware that the country has serious problems providing lights and running water on a dependable basis.  Unfortunately, shortages of electricity and water are a daily occurrence.  The school will provide everyone with the information they need to reduce such inconveniences to a minimum.

• Although the beaches of Juan Dolio and Boca-Chica are located within 30-40 minutes of the school by bus, their are no interesting beaches located within the capital city of Santo Domingo.

• Because students requiring double rooms with two single beds are rarely housed in hotel or with families, anyone interested in such accommodations must make special arrangements in advance with the secretary of the school.

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