Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Some internet resources:
»
Centers for Disease Control
(CDC;
www.cdc.gov/travel
) Detailed health overview curated with tips and
updated notices.
»
MD Travel Health
(
www.mdtravelhealth.com
) Complete travel health recommendations for every coun-
try, updated daily, at no cost.
»
Sitata
(
www.sitata.com
) Customized medical reports, pre-trip vaccination recommendations, alerts on
disease outbreaks and other breaking health news.
»
World Health Organization
(
www.who.int/ith
)
Available online at no cost as well as in book form -
In-
ternational Travel and Health -
which is revised annually.
Internet Access
The Dominican Republic has a surprisingly limited number of internet cafes; most charge RD$35 to RD$70
per hour. Many of these cafes also operate as call centers.
Wi-fi access is widespread in cafes and restaurants, as well as at midrange and top-end hotels and resorts
throughout the country. Travelers with laptops won't have far to go before finding some place with a signal.
However, the majority of the all-inclusives, as opposed to most midrange and even budget hotels, charge
daily fees (around US$15 and up) for access. Many hotels that advertise the service free for guests only
have a signal in public spaces like the lobby and limited or poor access in guest rooms.
Most internet cafes have Spanish language keyboards - the '@' key is usually accessed by pressing 'alt',
'6' and '4'.
Legal Matters
The Dominican Republic has two police forces - the Policía Nacional (national police) and the Policía
Turística (tourist police, commonly referred to by its abbreviation 'Politur').
Politur officers are generally friendly men and women whose job is specifically to help tourists. Many
speak a little bit of a language other than Spanish. They wear white shirts with blue insignia and can usually
be found near major tourist sights and centers. You should contact Politur first in the event of theft, assault
or if you are the victim of a scam, but you can equally ask them for directions to sights, which bus to take
etc.
It's best to have as little interaction with the Policía Nacional as possible. If a police officer stops you, be
polite and cooperate; heavily armed roadway checkpoints aren't uncommon, particularly in regions border-
ing Haiti - they're looking for drugs and weapons. They may ask to see your passport - you're not required
to have it on you, but it's a good idea to carry a photocopy. You might also be asked for a 'tip' in cash or
merchandise; feign misunderstanding or simply politely decline. More often than not, you'll simply be
waved through.
