Dominican Republic, useful facts, vaccination and visa requirements

Flight and Transfers

British Airways operate indirect flights from Gatwick via Antigua to Punta Cana International Airport on Sunday and Thursday. The flight time is approximately 11 hours. This is the airport closest to the all of the major resorts, so you’ll almost certainly be heading here.

Regional flights connecting with British Airways flights are available from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Manchester and Newcastle. Due to connections times it may be necessary to overnight at Gatwick when booking regional flights. Thomson Airways operate charter flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Punta Cana year round.

The longest transfers from the airport take around an hour, although for most it’s about half of that. If you’ve booked your transfers with us, a Tropical Sky representative will be on hand to guide you to your transfer vehicle.

Visa Requirements

If you are a British citizen you will require a Tourist Card and valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic.
British Citizens travelling to Dominican Republic require a full British passport which must be valid for 6 months after departure from this country. All children and infants must also have their own passports for entry into Dominican Republic. All travellers should check full entry requirements prior to travel by visiting the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website or by contacting the relevant embassy.

Language

Spanish is the official language, though if you’re staying at one of our resorts you won’t need to speak a word of it. If you’re planning on excursions or trips away from the resort area, some basic Spanish will help you along the way, but generally most people have a reasonable English ability no matter where you are.

Transportation

Getting around the Dominican Republic depends entirely on what you want to do there. If you’re just planning on staying at your resort then it’s not something you’ll need to worry about – you can pre-book your transfers with us, and any excursions planned by the resort will just involve taking the transport that they provide.

Alternatively, if you want to get away from the resort on your own, you can use licenced taxis or local buses, known as guaguas.

Currency

The Dominican Peso is the official currency. At the hotels and resorts US Dollars are usually accepted, but away from them the Peso must be used for any transactions. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Electricity

110V, 60 Hz, flat two pronged plugs in use.

Vaccination & Health

As health requirements change please consult with your GP or specialist travel clinic well in advance of your holiday for specific information related to your travel and medical history. Additional information can be found by visiting MASTA Travel health.

Mosquitos can be a problem, and using repellents is a very good idea. It’s also worth noting that the days in Cuba get very hot, so it’s advisable to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.

Dialling Code

001-809

Time Difference

GMT -4 hours (-5 hours in summer)