Dominican Republic - Country Guide with Packing List

FACTS, FIGURES, AND A GENERAL OVERVIEWÂ

D O M I N I C A N

R E P U B L I C YOUR COUNTRY GUIDE

GLOBAL AUTISM PROJECT

SKILLCORPS

E X P E C T A T I O N S

A T

A

G L A N C E

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE? Welcome to the land of black sand beaches, rainbows, and sunshine.

The climate in the Dominican republic is mostly tropical with generous sunshine. It is hot all year round, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season from late April to October along the eastern and southern coasts. The temperatures in the country are consistently high ranging from the low 70s to the low 90s, with  highest temperatures from May to October.

Capital City Santo Domingo Population 10,734,247 (July 2017 est.)

Major Religions Roman Catholic 95%, other 5% Official Language (s) Spanish

W H A T ' S

T H E

B I G

P I C T U R E ?

Political/ social climate The Department of State has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic urging foreign nationals to exercise increased caution when traveling in the country due to violent crime, robbery, murder, and sexual assault.

The wide availability of weapons, the use and trade of illicit drugs, and a weak criminal justice system contribute to the high crime incidence in the country. While traveling in the country the Department of state urges all travelers to be aware of their surroundings, not to resist robbery attempts, avoid displaying signs of wealth such as fancy jewelry jewelry and watches, or flashing costly electronic devices (i.e exercise discretion when using smartphones).

The Dominican Republic has a long history of political instability which includes many revolutions, coups d’Ètat, barracks revolts, and insurrections, as well as social and political breakdowns. For most of the country's history people have lived under political tyranny. Its last revolution took place in April of 1965. Since then, governments have been systematically elected every four years, and the political climate has been at rest. Relations with neighboring Haiti have traditionally been very strained, due to various cultural divergences and a long history of Dominicans and Haitians meddling in each other’s affairs. The most important international relationship is with the United States on which Dominican Republic has political, economic, and strategic dependence. According to transparency international the Dominican Republic has Latin America's second highest bribery rate.

What kind of content does the government sensor?

None whatsoever. While other mediums of communication have traditionally been subject to censorship (radio,news,television etc.) According to Freedom house there are currently no reports of substantial and consistent internet censorship in the country. Moreover there have been very few if any arrests of bloggers and activist who use social media as a platform to spread their message. Rest assured that you should be able to access facebook, twitter, gmail, tumblr, and instagram without any problem.

How will we get around?

Santo Domingo offers myriad forms of transportation which are: Publicos, Motoconchos, Buses, Taxis, and even an increasingly well developed and modern Metro system. You will most likely use some combinations of these during your trip to the Dominican Republic.

CALENDAR Jan 1 Tuesday New Years Day Jan 7 Monday Epiphany Jan 21 Monday Lady of Altagracia Jan 25 Friday Juan Pablo Duarte Day Feb 27 Wednesday Independence Day Apr 19 Friday Good Friday Apr 21 Sunday Easter Day May 1 Wednesday Labor Day May 26 Sunday Mother's Day Jun 20 Thursday Corpus Christi Jul 28 Sunday Father's Day Aug 16 Friday Restoration Day Sep 24 Tuesday Our Lady of Mercedes Day Nov 6 Wednesday Constitution Day Dec 25 Wednesday Christmas Day

GOOGLE FOR THE EXCHANGE RATE, IT CHANGES DAILY!

B U D G E T I N G &

P L A N N I N G

Accessing cash Reputable Banks and ATMS are widespread in the Dominican Republic and the exchange rates for foreign currency are favorable.While it is true that businesses catering to tourists may accept US dollars for payment and may even have some prices posted in Dollars as well as Pesos, we recommend use the local currency both out of respect for the country, and for purposes of practicality. Generally the farther you go from tourist establishments the less likely it is that businesses will accept dollars. As mentioned previously 1 USD is equal to roughly 49 Pesos although we recommend that you check exchange rates online e prior to your travels as the exchange rate tends to fluctuates frequently Daily expenses

National Currency | Peso

Small meal: 350.00 RD$ Bottle of water: 53.32 RD$ Taxi: 241.40 RD$

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Will I be able to use my cell phone in the Dominican Republic?

Yes mobile phone use is relatively common in the Dominican Republic with smartphones becoming increasingly more popular and ubiquitous. Bottom line is if you have a tri band GSM phone, you should be able to use it in the Dominican Republic. However prior to embarking on your trip, call your mobile phone provider and let them know that you will be traveling out of the country and would like to discuss international roaming plans or know the rates. Otherwise you will end up with an exorbitantly high roaming charges on your next cell phone bill. Certain carriers such as T-mobile offer very reasonable international data roaming plans. Some service providers such as AT&T also offer an International Day Pass which enables customers to access the calling, texting, and data allowed on their domestic plan for an additional fee of $10.00 a day. However this can quickly add up so I recommend exploring other options. SIM cards are readily available in many supermarkets, pharmacies, and colmados (local family-run shops. Prepaid SIMS are cheap and come with some gratuity minutes although not may. The pay-as-you-go format is the most popular option in the Dominican Republic which means that the local rates are affordable.

What if I don’t want to bring my phone for safety reasons?

Temporary cell phones can also be purchased during your brief stay. Companies such as Airtel usually have the best options and the widest coverage. A word about using SIM cards U.S cell phone carriers usually lock GSM phones to prevent their customers from using other companies' Sim cards. Certain conditions need to be met prior to unlocking the phone however both AT&T and T-Mobile will unlock phones.

Is there internet access?

Yes, but access is limited and expensive depending on where you are located . Although the Dominican Republic is considered one of the Latin American countries with the most developed telecommunication structures. However convenient wifi service will probably not be very accessible outside of hotels, cafes, restaurants and other establishments. Be aware that some hotels and hostels may charge upwards of $15 a day for internet access so please check with the front desk before surfing the net. The Dominican Republic also has a surprisingly limited number of Internet Cafes and the majority of them are concentrated in Urban areas such as Santo Domingo. Typically they charge anywhere from RD$35-RD$70.

Many of these cafes also operate as call centers.

H O W S H O U L D

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D R E S S ?

Are there any clothing limitations?

The dress code in the Dominican Republic is generally relaxed but is more formal than in the United States. When in doubt, business casual attire will normally make a decent first impression. For more formal occasions and dining in high-end restaurants evening dress/suit and tie may be required.

When working at our partner site: - Shorts should be no higher than 3 inches above the knee.

- No sleeveless shirts for males or females are permitted. This includes spaghetti straps, halters and tank tops.

- Do not wear clothing that will expose the abdomen or is skintight.

- Do not wear clothing with logos, text or messages that would be considered inconsistent with our mission and objectives.

- Piercings should be taken out.

- Women: Jewelry should be kept at a minimum and little or no makeup should be worn.

- Men: You must keep your shirts on, even at the worksite.

Outside of the workplace and in casual settings , casual attire choice is up to your discretion however take care not to reveal too much skin as this may be considered suggestive or provocative. .

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LGBTQ+ TRAVELERS Will the LGBTQ+ community face any challenges?

There remains a persevering cultural and sociological stigma associated with both the domestic and international LGBTQ+ community. The government not recognize same-sex unions. Although the country’s criminal code does not specifically castigate or prohibit consensual same-sex activity, sex changing, or cross-dressing it also does not guarantee any legal protection against discrimination or harassment for its LGBTQ+ citizens on account of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally same sex couples are not afforded the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples. That being said you should not encounter too many problems or face overt hostility during your brief sojourn in the Dominican Republic Republic.

Will I be safe traveling to the Dominican Republic?

Ensuring your safety and comfort during your SkillCorps service trip is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, we strongly advise that you thoroughly read this section before traveling with us. It is unlikely that you will encounter any dangerous or life-threatening situations during your time here in the Dominican Republic . However, as is the case with any international travel we advise that you take the necessary safety precautions to get the most out of your experience with us. Additionally, we advise that you check government websites and local news sources prior to embarking on your trip. Be aware of information gleaned from domestic media outlets as news headlines pertaining to security issues or minor incidents are often exaggerated or sensationalized so take the information with a grain of salt and check only reputable newspapers (Recommended: the New York Times or Reuters).

The intent of this section is not to alarm you or dissuade you from traveling with us but to keep you safe and informed.

In case you do run into any problems during your brief stay. Here are the addresses and contact information for the local U.S embassy and consulates U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Av. República de Colombia #57 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Telephone: +(809) 567-7775 Emergency: +(809) 567-7775, Ext. 1 Email: sdoamericans@state.gov Website: U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo .

WHEN

YOU

TRAVEL, REMEMBER A

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COUNTRY

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DESIGNED MAKE

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YOU

COMFORTABLE. IS

DESIGNED

MAKE

ITS

TO

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PEOPLE COMFORTABLE.

CLIFTON FADIMAN

IT

M A P S ,

P H R A S E S ,

IMPORTANT PHRASES Yes/no Si no

My name is...

Me llamo

Hello Hola

Thank you Gracias

Goodbye Adiós

Where is the bathroom? ¿Dónde está el baño?

Vegetarian Vegetariano

Check, please la cuenta (el cheque), por favor

No meat Sin carne No milk Sin leche

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M O R E

AVERAGE COSTS: Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 350 DOP Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 1,800 DOP Cappuccino (regular) 77 DOP Coke/Pepsi (11.2 oz small bottle) 43 DOP Water (11.2 oz small bottle) 21 DOP Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff) 150 DOP Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 250 DOP

W H A T

D I D

O T H E R S T H I N K ?

"I was ready to pack my bags and move to Santo Domingo! It's absolutely stunning, and the people are so incredibly friendly. I've never seen such gorgeous beaches and I couldn't believe how amazing the food was.

It is one of the hidden secrets of the world!

-Â Erin

I can't believe how much I loved plantains by the end of the trip, but it's my new go-to breakfast! And chocolate in coffee has never been so good!

"So many places make the bucket list, and usually people don't think of the Dominican Republic.

But add it to your list now!

- Marina

- Callie

"I was so happy I got the chance to practice my Spanish! Everyone was so patient with me.

- Anna

"I saw the waterfalls, the historic town square, the local artists, the mountains beyond the beach! It was such a great place!

- Rusty

"I can't say enough about this experience.

In addition to the work, full cultural immersion was a huge part of SkillCorps.

- Jordan

COPYRIGHT GLOBAL AUTISM PROJECT | 2018