If your cell phone is on the GSM network, you can use it. However, your roaming costs will be high. Your best option is to bring an unlocked phone, and purchase a SIM card here to have a local number - you can obtain one with your passport ID, and activate it at any of the telecommunications companies in the DM, including Claro and Altice. The SIM card costs less than $5 US, and you will need to purchase additional phone credit for calls, at your discretion.

La Romana has plenty to offer. There are many bars around the area which serve both beer and liquor. Also, a very popular way of enjoying evening drinks is on the streets. On certain nights, resorts and locals host parties, activities and games on the beaches. Everyone is welcome because they consider that having more people makes everything more fun. You’ll also find fun events and festivities happening different times throughout the year.

Bayahíbe packs a solid punch in nightlife, from sunset beachfront bars to a pulsating dance scene on the weekend. A handful of beachfront bars are popular spots for happy hour, while the local colmado sends merengue and bachata echoes into the village.

Big Sur is a very popular club in the Bayahibe area that has merengue dancing and excellent food.

The Dominican Republic is surrounded by over 1,000 miles of coastline on its north, east, and southern borders, and the climate is tropical. Noontime temperatures range from 80°F to 90°, and can fall to 64°F to 73°F during the winter.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and extends to November 30. In the Dominican Republic, these are the summer and early fall seasons when the weather is sunny and humid, with some cloudiness and occasional rain showers in the late afternoon or at night. Historically, most hurricanes have occurred in the month of September. If you plan on traveling during these months, we recommend you buy travel insurance.

Resort staff is trained in handling hurricane situations, and resort buildings today are equipped to withstand hurricane force winds. You should also take note that the Dominican Republic is a large country which means that while one coast may be affected, another may be completely unscathed by a storm.

You won’t have any problems communicating in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans are very friendly and even if they do not speak your language, they will help you find someone who can or find a way to communicate. In the big cities, as well as in most tourist destinations, staff in hotels, restaurants, and tourist areas, as well as tour guides understand and speak English, in addition to other languages. Fluency is less common in the villages and countryside, but they will still make out the basics and help you find your way. We recommend you get a good guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. The most convenient currency to take with you is US dollars, which you can change to pesos once you arrive.

Many tourist destinations, including restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir shops, and supermarkets tend to accept dollars, though you will receive a less favorable rate than at the banks. Many places also accept major credit cards. That said, most prices in the Dominican Republic are in Dominican pesos. If you plan to make a big purchase in small shops and markets, negotiate first with the seller who may be interested in receiving the payment in American dollars. Prices are fixed, however, in supermarkets and shopping mall stores. Your best bet is to use an ATM to withdraw local currency at the best daily exchange rate.

We recommend downloading a currency app, such as Google Currency. Until you have an excellent handle of the exchange rate, you need to double-check when you’re paying for anything (both of you should download and verify, especially on big purchases).

Tipping: It is widely practiced throughout the country. Many restaurants will add a 10% service charge on the bill. Tips are commonly given to taxi drivers, hotel maids, tour guides, etc.

Taxes: The ITBIS (Impuesto sobre Transferencia de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios or the value-added tax for transferring industrial goods and services) is 18% and is applied to most purchases. In restaurants, bars, and hotels, a further 10% is automatically added as a service charge.

You’ll find it quite easy to eat in La Romana. There are plenty of local restaurants and bars to choose from, markets, resort food, and there are always vendors walking around selling food and drinks. The resort food is typical meals with a twist of Dominican in some foods. The street vendors offer a variety of foods in which you can choose from that are authentic homemade and absolutely delicious at a low price. From fruits, to vegetables, to drinks and finally species, they have it all. Fried calamari is a very popular dish that many visitors enjoy when they visit La romana. To find the best (and most authentic) foods, we recommend doing some research to find what spots have certain types of foods you are looking for.

There are not a ton of shopping options in the area. The markets are good for buying cultural clothing and merchandise. Many people have and sell the same thing so make sure to look around first before buying something, because you may be able to find a better deal. It is very common to bargain with the merchants in order to receive a lower cost on merchandise and food. There is an artisans market, El Artístico, set up almost exclusively for tourists and offers a limited selection of arts and crafts. It mainly offers souvenirs. The market is open daily 7:30am to 7pm.

Dial 911 in an emergency.

Hospitals:

Centro Medico Caribe Bavaro (Bavaro, Plaza Brisas de Bavaro, Suite 207), +1 809 552-1415. Bilingual staff for out-patient medical attention. Open 24/7 for emergencies.

Centro Medico Punta Cana (Near Plaza Bavaro and the local bus terminal), +1 809 552-1506. Open 24/7 for emergencies. Multilingual staff and in-house pharmacy.

Hospiten Bavaro (Near the airport), +1 809 686-1414. Multilingual staff and a fully-equipped facility is available 24/7 for emergencies.