How to Plan a Trip to the Dominican Republic

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Planning a trip to the Dominican Republic can be exciting yet time-consuming. But with a little bit of research and preparation, you can plan the perfect getaway and make sure that you get the most out of your experience.

**This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may receive a small commission or a cup of coffee. 🙂 Thanks for supporting my blog!

This blog post will provide a guide (and free printable checklist!) of the steps necessary to take when planning a trip to the Dominican Republic. This will include details about required travel documents, booking your reservations, and more. In addition, this article will also address some frequently asked questions about traveling to the Dominican Republic.

Because of all the details involved in this process, we will be sharing this complete guide as a 2-part series. Today I will go over some of the travel basics, such as the documents, reservations, and planning.

We’ll also answer a few frequently asked questions to help you feel confident and prepared for your trip to the Dominican Republic.

Then, in the next part of this travel planning series, we will go over some of the specific items you will want to pack in your suitcase before you take to the friendly skies!

Part 1 of this Article Series Includes:

Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.
Photo by Michelangelo Azzariti on Unsplash

**This post contains affiliate links.  If you click on a link to one of the recommended products, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.**

Hey, quick question:

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  • Chill out to your favorite tunes while in flight with Sony Noise Canceling Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones. (don’t blame me if you zone out and miss your airline pretzels)

Steps to Plan Your Trip to the Dominican Republic ✈️

1. Get your passport ready 🛂

.You will need a passport from your country of citizenship. Whether you need a new passport or just need to renew, you’ll want to start the process early as it can take a few weeks or so to receive your new passport in the mail. You can move on to the other steps while you wait for it to arrive. (We’ll go over the details of travel documents in the next section.)

2. Choose your destination within the Dominican

Republic 🗺️

The Dominican Republic is a gorgeous island with many wonderful tourist destinations. Most famous are its beach resorts and smaller towns along its 800 miles of coastline, but you will find many wonders in its interior, as well.

3. Decide when you want to travel, and for how long. 📅

I always recommend at least a nine-day trip. Two days are for flights, giving you seven days to relax and do some great tours and exploration. More is even better if you’re lucky!

Best time of year to visit the Dominican Republic: ☀️

The Dominican Republic has a year-round warm, sunny climate, with the exception of two rainy seasons, approximately in May and October. Summer months are especially humid with more occasional tropical showers.

While the weather is at its peak pleasantness between December and March, keep in mind that those are also the peak travel months when beaches are more crowded and prices more expensive.

I might suggest looking at the months of March and April, however, in my opinion, there’s never a
“bad” time to visit the Dominican Republic. Even in the rainy season, it’s still warm and the sun still manages to pop out now and then.

4. Decide on a budget and plan accordingly. 📝

Will you opt for an all-inclusive beach resort and top-notch excursions or will you enjoy a more handcrafted, frugal experience by trying out smaller hotels and vacation rentals?

Tasting the culinary options in a new country is a cultural experience worth the pesos, so I try to eat at least a few meals from local, authentic Dominican restaurants.

But if I’m staying in a rental with a kitchen, I like to save money and cook many of my meals myself. Exploring the local grocery stores is a cultural experience in itself!

Decide what your budget is and use those numbers to help guide your decisions in the next step, regarding accommodations and transportation.

5. Plan and book your accommodations and

transportation in the Dominican Republic. 🛌

Based on your allotted trip budget, decide which type of accommodation you’d prefer for your stay:

All-Inclusive Resorts, mid to high price range: (just a few examples below:)

(*”member price” refers to discounted rates for Expedia Rewards members!)

North Coast:

East Coast:

**Looking for fun tours and adventurous excursions in the Samana peninsula? Check out my post, 6 Best Day Trips from Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic!

Hint: Sign up for Expedia Rewards to start earning points and lock in members-only deals!

Put these dream destinations at the top your bucket list with member discounts at thousands of hotels

Southern Coast

Vacation Rentals and Smaller Hotels

Do you prefer the freedom of your vacation rental, with a kitchen to cook your meals? You can find your own home away from home at any price range.

Go Big and indulge in a luxury residence with all the bougie extras…or enjoy living closer to the local culture with one of the smaller yet so charming properties.

Hint: Planning a location wedding or a family reunion to remember? Many of these properties are super-sized to hold up to 20 guests! Ain’t nobody sleeping on the couch in these mansions!

Take a look around..

North Coast:

Private pool at Caribbean Luxury Villa – House of Mermaids

Caribbean Luxury Villa -House of Mermaids: 5 BR, 5 BA, personal chef and housekeeper, private pool, ocean view. Sleeps 12. Bring the fam! $325/ night.

Luxury, 2 story, 5 BR penthouse, on the beach, Sosua – Sleeps 12, 4.5 BA, adults’ and kids’ pools, semi-private beach, $416/ night. Great for groups!

Aerial view of Villa Coral Blanco

Villa Coral Blanco, 9 BR, 10 BA, Amazing Extras! Sosua – Sleeps 20, includes security, daily maid service, airport shuttle. $895/ night. Start planning your next special event or family gathering!

One of 5 outdoor pools at Ocean Village Deluxe

Ocean Village Deluxe, Family friendly, private beach, and water park, close to theme parks, Sosua Spa services, daily housekeeping, a chef, an airport shuttle, a full kitchen, fitness classes, & more. 3 BR starting at $450 /night

And some great choices for smaller parties, with plenty of charm to go around:

Small hotels, villas, and vacation rentals: (Click on your preferred area to compare properties.)

Transportation 🚗

As I’ll mention again below, driving in the Dominican Republic is at your own risk; it’s a bit crazy. However, if you’re up for the adventure and want to rent a car, Hertz has 7 locations in the Dominican Republic: Puerta Plata, Punta Cana, Santiago, and 4 offices in Santo Domingo.

6. Book your flights. 🛫

Finding the best-priced flight doesn’t have to be a difficult process, but it does help to get started early so you can track the fluctuations in prices. As far as when to book, the sooner the better.

According to cheapair.com, the best time window for purchasing flight tickets to the Caribbean is between 5 months and 1.5 months. Prices go up considerably in the last few weeks prior to departure, as last-minute customers may have no other choice but to pay up.

Then again, you can also cash in on great package deals when you bundle flights and hotels together:

When you bundle, you can get flight and hotel packages for under $499 per person

7. Purchase travel insurance. 🤕

Hopefully, you won’t need it, but it’s good to have travel insurance in case of travel cancellations or medical emergencies. (same idea as the slow cooker cookbook: “fix it and forget about it”!! 😁)

Choosing travel insurance shouldn’t be complicated. You want to get good coverage for all your activities and all the “what ifs” that you worry about, plus great customer service.

Lucky for you, there’s World Nomads. Check them out as you do your research.

Coverage with World Nomads includes:

  • Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Trip Cancellation or Interruption
  • 24-Hour Assistance Services
  • Baggage

Click the banner below to get a free quote:

(This is a general summary only. Restrictions, exclusions, and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states, or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

While World Nomads is great for overall coverage, you’ll be happy to know they also cover a long list of adventure and extreme sports!

Here are just a few of the many activities covered by World Nomads insurance:

  • mountain biking
  • hang gliding
  • snorkeling
  • hiking
  • bungee jumping
  • golf
  • surfing
  • zip lining
  • snoozing by the pool and an iguana tweaks your nose…

..and many more!!

Click the World Nomads banner below to get a free quote.

8. Plan for International Cell Service (optional) 📱

If you’ve ever been lost in a strange country, unable to access your online GPS maps, or even send a text, you understand the need for a good international roaming service for your cell phone.

Most domestic cell phone carriers do not cover usage abroad. Therefore, you need to look at your options:

  1. Check your current domestic plan to see if they offer international roaming add-on packages. I recently switched to Mint Mobile and was able to purchase just $5 in international roaming credit for my one-week trip to Costa Rica. Their plan is called UpRoam, and you can purchase international roaming credit in increments of $5, $10, or $20.

Your charges for using Mint Mobile’s UpRoam services look like this:

  • Outbound text messages will cost you $0.05/SMS (US Dollars)
  • Incoming texts are free
  • Inbound and outgoing phone calls are $0.25/min
  • Data roaming is $0.20/MB

If you’re interested in switching to Mint Mobile, (I’m glad I did, at $15 a month for great service, it’s a no-brainer!), you can receive $15 in renewal credit by using my link right here: Mint Mobile for me!

What’s also great about the Mint UpRoam plan, is UpRoam purchases never expire! Any international roaming credit that is leftover at the end of the month will roll over into your next month of service. So if you’re like me and you only send a few texts to your travel partner when you’re out shopping for souvenirs or to call a taxi when that tropical sunset drops right after dinner, you’ll have some leftover credit for your next trip.

Easy Peasy! Just click here to get started with Mint Mobile, then once you’re set-up, navigate to Add Ons, then Add Intl Roaming. Got questions? Their text support is always there to help.

And on to our second option…

2. Buy a physical local SIM card at your destination.

While physical SIM cards can be found at some stores in tourist destinations, I still think it’s better for your peace of mind to get your service set up beforehand. Just my opinion.

3. Use an e-SIM card service such as Airalo. Similar to an add-on plan with your current cell service carrier, you just sign up, purchase a certain amount of roaming credit, then follow their directions to download the e-SIM card, activate and start roaming. Unlike the UpRoam add-on plan with Mint Mobile, however, data purchased from Airalo expires at the end of your vacation dates.

9. Research average weather for the chosen destination, plan and shop

accordingly. 🌦️

The Dominican Republic is a tropical island and therefore you can rest assured you won’t need winter jackets, hats, and gloves in January! That said, this large island has a few different microclimates to consider, and also a couple of rainy seasons each year to plan for.

Generally speaking, If you’re traveling to a beach area, you can expect pleasantly warm to very warm conditions.

If you’re planning a trip to the mountains of the DR, you can expect a cooler climate, but that’s a whole ‘nother blog post!

We’ll get into more details of what clothing to pack for the DR climate and culture in part two of this series.

Travel Documents to Bring to the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Let’s go over those important travel documents you’ll need before you even step on the plane, let alone enter the Dominican Republic to begin your vacation. And let me stress 3 things before we share the list:

  • a. Make physical paper copies of as many travel documents as needed. and
  • b. Pack these copies in alternate places in your luggage. Don’t keep all your document copies or all your money in one piece of luggage, just. in. case.
  • c. Lock up your passport and original documents in your hotel room safe while you’re out and about. You can carry a paper copy of your passport and other identification on your person if you want. (probably not needed, but just in case.) 🙂

1. Passport from your country of citizenship. 🛂

If you are a U.S. citizen, start by going to the US government travel website, here. If you already have a current passport that is not set to expire in the next few months, you should be good to go.

If you need to either obtain a new passport or renew your current one, be sure to allow several weeks before your trip, for the passport to arrive. I paid extra for their expediting service, and my passport arrived in less than 3 weeks.

2. Dominican Republic e-ticket: 💻

The electronic travel authorization, or e-ticket, is a new paperless version of the tourist card that airline passengers used to fill out before entering the Dominican Republic. You will be directed to this link when you purchase your airline ticket.

To save time during arrival, fill out the form at least 72 hours ahead of your trip. Print or take a screenshot of the QR code you’re given. Keep it on hand until you arrive, so the authorities can scan it when you pass through Customs. You’ll be required to fill out one form for arrival and another one for departure. The QR code won’t be scanned during departure, but it’s a confirmation that the form was filled out correctly.

Personally, I feel more confident carrying a paper document as a backup when first entering a foreign country. You just don’t know if you’ll have access to wifi or cell service in the airport when you arrive.

On my most recent trip, showing this paper version of my e-ticket code was my last step as I went through Customs, after showing my passport and picking up my luggage. I was very glad I had that paper copy, as I was without wifi or cell service at that moment, so logging into the app wasn’t possible.

3. Vaccination card. 😷

At this time, there are no covid-related entry requirements for the Dominican Republic, according to the US Embassy in the DR. Click here for updates. I like to bring my vaccination card with me as a precaution, in case things change while I’m abroad, but it’s up to you.

For more information on what’s required and/or recommended, covid-wise, for all international travel to and from the United States, please click here to read the CDC guidelines. With health issues always in flux these days, it’s good to be aware and prepared. Nobody wants to be sick on their vacation!

4. Flight Ticket/Boarding Passes. ✈️

Be sure to either print out your boarding passes at home or keep them handy on your airline app. You can also print out your boarding passes at the airport when you first arrive.

5. Reservation Information. 🔑

Have all the contact info, receipts, and addresses ready for all your reserved transportation and accommodations. If you’re planning on grabbing a taxi when you exit the airport, you’ll want the address of your accommodation ready to share with your driver.

I know this sounds obvious, but there may be a lot of noise and distractions competing for your attention, so just have your plan in mind. I love visiting other countries but am always a bit overwhelmed with culture shock in the first few minutes. For my own safety and peace of mind, I like to be extra prepared to avoid being seen as a “deer in the headlights” in a strange environment. 😊

6. Travel Insurance. 🏥

Hopefully, your trip will go wonderfully and you won’t need your travel insurance, but you’ll rest better knowing everything is covered “just in case”. Bring whatever cards you are issued and keep handy the phone numbers to call in case you need a trip cancellation or have a medical emergency.

7. Driver’s License. 🚙

If you are a US citizen, you may use your US-issued driver’s license in the Dominican Republic for the length of your legal stay. (30 days max on a tourist card). For more official info on the legalities of visiting the DR, visit godominicanrepublic.com.

Regarding renting a car, I find it easier and much cheaper to take public transportation. Driving in Dominican traffic can be a bit crazy, as you will see, so just 🚘 be careful!

** Read More about Dominican public transportation in this post about the El Limon Waterfall: Click HERE!

8. Credit cards/ Cash. 💸

Once you’ve arrived and have time to get settled, you can find an ATM to withdraw funds in Dominican pesos. Until then, you should be able to get by with some American cash for paying a taxi driver, or your credit card for getting your rental car, if payment is still required.

Some stores and restaurants may take credit cards, but as a rule, always be prepared with enough pesos for wherever you’re going. Again, use the ATMs and avoid changing money from dealers on the street, as they won’t be giving you an even exchange.

9. Emergency phone numbers and contact info. 📞

Emergency phone numbers and contact information would logically be kept in your cell phone. However, in case your phone is stolen or lost, you would be relieved to have those important phone numbers written down somewhere and kept safe in your luggage.

Whew! That’s a lot of documents and things to remember!

No worries, I’ve got you covered with a printable travel checklist. Grab it now! ⤵️

Free Printable International Travel Checklist ✅

As promised, here it is, your free printable International Travel Checklist! Just click below and we’ll send you the list that you can download, print and use as many times as you like!

Extra spaces are provided so you can add your own items.

Get the International Travel Checklist!

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    FAQs:

    Is it safe to go to the DR?

    The Dominican Republic is a relatively safe country, but you should still exercise increased caution when traveling there.

    The Dominican Republic is currently ranked as a level 2 on the US State Department’s Travel Advisory website. This is a common level for many countries. You can check for updates on that ranking here.

    During the early days of the pandemic, the DR ranked a higher level 3 by the US State Department, as did many other countries. This is just to give an example of how things like health conditions also affect the rankings.

    The Dominican Republic ranks higher than the US on the Global Peace Index, which compares countries of the world by these criteria: Well-functioning government, low levels of corruption, acceptance of the rights of others, and good relations with neighbors.

    This is good news for travelers who want to experience a safe and peaceful country!

    From my own personal experience, I usually felt quite safe in the Dominican Republic, both during the times I’ve visited the touristy beach areas, as well as the three years that I lived in the mountainous interior.

    That said, you should always use common sense in an unfamiliar place. While violent crimes are not as frequent as in the United States, petty theft is common. Tourists can be easy targets if they’re not careful. So just be smart and follow the same safety precautions you would follow in any tourist destination: (or anywhere)

    Ensure your accommodation has secure locks and a safe for locking up your passport and valuable possessions. Always lock your doors.
    Lock the doors on your rental car, if you have one, and don’t leave phones, electronics, or other valuables visible.
    Ask taxi drivers, hotel staff, or other trusted individuals whether there are areas in town you should avoid.
    When out at night, walk in groups, if possible, and stick to well-lit, familiar areas where other people are around.
    Dress modestly, not flashing expensive jewelry or waving your phone around in public.

    Can I drink the water in the Dominican Republic?

    No. Tap water in the Dominican Republic is not purified. Bottled drinking water is available in local colmados, bodegas or supermarkets.

    Will they accept American cash in the DR?

    The main form of currency in the DR is the Dominican Peso. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is about 1 USD.  When you first arrive and haven’t had a chance to visit an ATM to get your pesos, you might be able to pay your taxi driver in US dollars, but don’t expect to receive change in US money.
    You’ll get used to using Dominican pesos really quickly. Some major tourist areas accept credit cards but plan on always having pesos on hand.
    It’s recommended to go to ATMs to withdraw money from your bank account, in Dominican pesos, for the most accurate exchange rate.  Avoid the currency exchange kiosks at the airport or money changers on the street, who are clearly charging more for a profit.
    Helpful hint: Download a currency exchange app to help you understand how far your pesos will go.

    I hope these travel planning steps and the list of travel documents have helped you get started planning an awesome trip to the Dominican Republic!

    Did you download the free printable international travel checklist? If not, scroll back up and snag it! Print it out and keep it handy as you prepare for your awesome Dominican vacation.
    In part 2 of this series, we’ll go over a detailed list of what to pack in your suitcase, as well as a list of helpful travel apps, specific to the Dominican Republic.
    Happy Planning!

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