The official currency of the DR is the DOMINICAN PESO which has been devaluating steadily and every year the DR becomes a cheaper tourism destination as you get more pesos for the same amount of dollars or euros. Dollars and euros are usually accepted in popular tourist destinations within the DR. US dollars being the most widely accepted type of foreign currency. Many places have listed their prices in US dollars (to keep up with inflation) so you can pay in USD without a problem. However other places accept dollars but they exchange your money at an unfavorable rate so you are better of paying in local pesos.
For an up-to-date exchange rate between the peso and other currencies, visit: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

The smallest coin used in DR is the one peso coin (RD$1.00). Convert your coins to bills by the end of your holiday. It is hard to exchange coins back to your currency. Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 pesos. Coins are useful for paying toll at highways. Bills come in denominations of 20, 50 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000. The 20 pesos bill is made kind of plastic which has a different look and feel than all the other notes. Be sure not to mix up the 50 and 200 pesos bills since they are very similar. Avoid the 2,000 pesos notes. Many places do not accept this bill to avoid running out of change. By the way, the 2000 pesos bill is also the most counterfeited bill.

By law a 10% tip is included. It is customary to leave an extra 10% or so in cash for the person who provided the service. Keep in mind that not all businesses give their employees your tip. So by leaving them cash you are making sure they actually get your tip. Be aware that you are expected to leave a tip and not doing so may be interpreted as that the person providing the service didn’t do a good job.
Tipping is very appreciated in the DR, as wages are low.To them a dollar means a lot. Being a hotel guest just leave $1 or $2 U.S. dollars on the pillows for the maids and do add a little note to let them know that you`ll appreciate their work and care.
The service staff makes not that much money each month and a couple of dollars sure goes a long way if everybody does this, and not to mention it shows tourists' appreciation. Keep in mind that things are somewhat slower paced in the DR but if the staff members are attentive, they really deserve a tip.

DR’s official language is spanish. But many locals are fluent in english, especially in tourist areas and the cities. In resorts and hotels they usually speak french, italian, german and russian. The roads are marked in spanish. Menus in the restaurants are often detailed in several languages.

The Dominican Republic is on the Atlantic Standard Time (AST) the whole year. The country’s clocks are one hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time (EST) during fall and winter, however, they’re set on the same time during spring and summer. The country’s time zone is GMT-4.

Approximately 11 million people live in the Dominican Republic. The capital city of the DR is Santo Domingo, with a population of nearly 3 million people. It's ``Colonial City`` is the oldest city in the New World.

Dominican plugs are the same as in the USA, so is the type of current (110 Volts/60 HZ). Europeans need a converter. Most electronic devices now operate in the 110/240V range, making an adaptor often all you need. You can buy adaptors locally and they will fit common European systems.

In the DR debit and credit cards are treated the same way by most establishments, (they carry the Visa or MasterCard logo). Debit cards offer a secure way to make payments but lack the flexibility, as do credit cards, that cash money offers. You can use your card to withdraw money from ATMs in the DR and secure a more standard exchange rate but keep in mind that both your bank and the local bank which owns the ATM may charge a fee for transactions. There are several banks and ATM machines in Las Terrenas. Atm's give funds in pesos with a max. of 10,000 pesos a day. Banks open at 9am and close at 4pm. Saturdays at 12pm. Your card issuer is either a member of the PLUS system (operated by VISA) or the CIRRUS system (operated by MasterCard), or the Europay system. But keep in mind that cash is king. Cash offers the greatest flexibility and gets you the best prices. Do carry some cash with you if you are not in your hotel, either pesos or dollars as it will be accepted almost everywhere.

A valid passport is required. You may also need a tourist card (US$10 or €10) or a visa. Citizens of countries who are legally able to enter the European Union, Great Britain, the United States of America or Canada may enter the Dominican Republic by presenting a Tourist Card. The Tourist Card is valid for a year from the date of purchase and is valid for an up to 30-day visit for one person who will only be able to use it once. The Tourist Card can be acquired at point of sale locations in land, air or sea ports in the country. It is also sold at Dominican embassies and consulate offices abroad and by tour operating companies. It can also be purchased online at www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica/EN/about/Paginas/default.aspx
Tourists staying beyond the usual 30-day period need to pay a proportional fee depending on the extension, which can be paid at the Department of Migration or at the migration desk upon departure. www.migracion.gob.do/web/tarifas.php

Indigenous tribes from the Caribbean inhabited this island at the arrival of Christopher Columbus on Dec. 5th 1492. In the DR the new Spaniard colonizers built their first settlements and imported African labor in large numbers which defines the cultural mixture present today in the DR. The island was under French ruling during two short periods. Through the years, the DR has taken in immigrants from all over the world (many from Europe) that have enriched the local culture with their own customs and traditions. The DR celebrates its independence on Feb. 27th. The DR is the second largest country in the Caribbean with an area of 30,100 sq miles bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its North and the Caribbean Sea to its South. It is a large island compared to others in the Caribbean. To avoid long commutes by car you should choose wisely among the 8 airports for your flight arrival. If your final destination is Puerto Plata and you land in Punta Cana you’re looking at a long eight-hour drive.

January 1st (new year), January 6 (three wise men day), January 21 (day of Our Lady of la Altagracia), January 26 (Juan Pablo Duarte’s birth day), February 27 (Independence day), April 6 (Holy Friday), May 1st (Labour day), June 7 (Corpus Cristi), August 16 (Restoration day), September 24 (day of Our Lady of las Mercedes), November 6 (Constitution day), December 25 (Christmas).

Some of these dates can be changed from year to year (i.e. if a holiday lands on a Wednesday the government might move it to Monday to make it a long weekend).

A valid passport is required. You may also need a tourist card (US$10 or €10) or a visa. Citizens of countries who are legally able to enter the European Union, Great Britain, the United States of America or Canada may enter the Dominican Republic by presenting a Tourist Card. The Tourist Card is valid for a year from the date of purchase and is valid for an up to 30-day visit for one person who will only be able to use it once. The Tourist Card can be acquired at point of sale locations in land, air or sea ports in the country. It is also sold at Dominican embassies and consulate offices abroad and by tour operating companies. It can also be purchased online at www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica/EN/about/Paginas/default.aspx
Tourists staying beyond the usual 30-day period need to pay a proportional fee depending on the extension, which can be paid at the Department of Migration or at the migration desk upon departure. www.migracion.gob.do/web/tarifas.php

Indigenous tribes from the Caribbean inhabited this island at the arrival of Christopher Columbus on Dec. 5th 1492. In the DR the new Spaniard colonizers built their first settlements and imported African labor in large numbers which defines the cultural mixture present today in the DR. The island was under French ruling during two short periods. Through the years, the DR has taken in immigrants from all over the world (many from Europe) that have enriched the local culture with their own customs and traditions. The DR celebrates its independence on Feb. 27th. The DR is the second largest country in the Caribbean with an area of 30,100 sq miles bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its North and the Caribbean Sea to its South. It is a large island compared to others in the Caribbean. To avoid long commutes by car you should choose wisely among the 8 airports for your flight arrival. If your final destination is Puerto Plata and you land in Punta Cana you’re looking at a long eight-hour drive.