The Dominican Republic is an easy country to travel, with a good main road network and established tourism infrastructure. These are the practical points worth settling.
Transport
The intercity coaches — Caribe Tours and Metro — connect the main cities with comfortable vehicles, air conditioning and fixed timetables, at very low prices. They are the best option for long journeys.
Guaguas are local minibuses that stop anywhere along the route: extremely cheap, slow, crowded and an experience in themselves. Carros públicos work the same way within cities.
Motoconchos — motorbike taxis — are the dominant urban transport in towns. Fast and cheap, almost never with a helmet, and with an accident record worth weighing.
Hiring a car gives freedom, especially for the north and the mountains. Real warnings: driving is aggressive, motorbikes appear from every direction, and you should not drive at night outside the motorways. The eastern and north-eastern motorways are tolled and in good condition.
Money
The currency is the Dominican peso. In tourist areas dollars are accepted at poorer rates. Cards work in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, but cash is needed for guaguas, colmados, beaches and villages.
Restaurants automatically add a ten per cent service charge plus tax; leaving something extra is customary but not obligatory. Guides, porters and resort staff are tipped directly.
Health
Do not drink tap water: bottled always, and for brushing teeth if you are sensitive. There is dengue risk and occasionally chikungunya and Zika, particularly in the rainy season: use repellent and cover up at dusk. There is no malaria in the usual tourist areas, with isolated exceptions near the border. Private healthcare in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana is good; travel insurance is essential.
Safety
Tourist areas are safe and patrolled. The usual problems are theft and minor scams: never leave anything visible in a car, use the safe, avoid displaying cash and do not walk at night in remote areas or on unlit beaches.
In the sea, watch for rip currents, especially on the open northern beaches and at Macao. Many beaches have no lifeguard.
Language and manners
Spanish is spoken, with a distinctive accent and a great deal of local vocabulary. English is available in resorts, much less outside them. Dominicans are outgoing and direct, and four words of Spanish open any door.