Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Entering the Country
The vast majority of tourists entering the Dominican Republic arrive by air. Independent travelers typically
arrive at the main international airport outside of Santo Domingo, Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas.
Passing through immigration is a relatively simple process. Once disembarked, you are guided to the immig-
ration area where you must buy a tourist card (US$10). You're expected to pay in US dollars (Euros and GBP
are accepted, but you lose out substantially on the rate); then join the queue in front of one of the immigration
officers. You're allowed up to 30 days on a tourist card. The procedure is the same if you arrive at one of the
other airports such as Puerto Plata or Punta Cana; the latter is easily the busiest airport in the country in terms
of tourist arrivals.
Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked online at
lonelyplanet.com/bookings
.
CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL
Every form of transport that relies on carbon-based fuel generates CO2, the main cause of human-in-
duced climate change. Modern travel is dependent on aeroplanes, which might use less fuel per kilo-
metre per person than most cars but travel much greater distances. The altitude at which aircraft emit
gases (including CO2) and particles also contributes to their climate change impact. Many websites of-
fer 'carbon calculators' that allow people to estimate the carbon emissions generated by their journey
and, for those who wish to do so, to off set the impact of the greenhouse gases emitted with contribu-
tions to portfolios of climate-friendly initiatives throughout the world. Lonely Planet off sets the carbon
footprint of all staff and author travel.
Air
Airports
There are nine so-called international airports, though at least three are used only for domestic flights. For in-
formation on most, check out
www.aerodom.com
. Perhaps the cheapest route between North America and the
DR is Spirit Airlines' Fort Lauderdale to Santiago (around US$195 round trip).
Dominican Shuttles, primarily a domestic airline, has regularly scheduled flights from La Isabela in Santo
Domingo to Port-au-Price, Haiti (one-way/round trip US$210/340) and Reina Beatrix, Aruba (one-way/round
trip US$310/490).
The departure tax of US$20 is almost always automatically included in the price of the ticket.
