MAIL

For sending important parcels, consider using DHL, FEDEX or UPS. There are local post office which sells stamps for letters and postcards which can be sent at La Sirena (Winston Churchill Avenue), Hotel Embajador and the main post office at Centro de los Heroes.

COMMUNICATION

There are several options for visitors who want to use their mobile phone. One would be using your personal cell phone and paying your provider's roaming charges. Another is taking your phone to a local provider to unlock the phone for local use. This can be done if your mobile uses GSM or CDMA frequency. Orange and Claro offer the service of activating most European and North American based cell phones. For GSM phones, they will provide you with a SIM card and a local phone number. You can remove the chip once you leave and re-insert your original SIM. Visitors can purchase a local prepaid phone along with prepaid phone cards. This is a great option of you are a frequent visitor to the Dominican Republic.

CALLING CARDS

Upon arrival in the Dominican Republic, it is a good practice to purchase a calling card from CODETEL, ORANGE or TRICOM. The cards which are available in several denominations, will make it easy for you to use a public phone, without the need to use coins, for national and international calls from almost any home or cell phone. You need to dial 1+ area code+ phone number to dial to the US. To call to Canada dial 011+1+the number. To call any other country, dial 011+the country code+ area code+ the number.

INTERNET ACCESS

If you require internet access, cyber cafes are located throughout the country. Wi-Fi points are available within many universities, hotels and cafeterias.

MONEY

The official currency is the Dominican Peso (RD$). Most ATM operate on the Cirrus Network (Mastercard) or Plus Network (Visa). Remember that money extracted from ATM will be Dominican Pesos and not your home currency. Dominican Pesos are available in bills of 2000, 1000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 pesos. There are also coins of 25, 10, 5 and 1 pesos. Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards are widely accepted. American Express Travelers checks can be replaced at branches of the Banco Popular.

TAX and TIPPING

Goods and services in the Dominican Republic are subject to a 16% government value-added tax (called ITBIS). At restaurants, for example, the bill includes the 16% ITBIS plus a 10% service charge. An additional tip is optional.