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Visitor
Information & Tips
Getting Around
The best way to get around Dominica is walking, bus or
by organized tour. Dominica is such a rich and beautiful
island. Unfortunately for drivers, roads are narrow with
sharp curves and switch backs. Locals familiar with the
roads will drive very fast on the inland roads making
renting a car a nerve racking proposition.
Public transportation is readily available in the form
of the ubiquitous mini-bus (look for number plates that
begin with 'H'); the Old Market in Roseau is the 'terminus'
for busses travelling south; the West Bridge for those
travelling north. Fares are set by the government:
Sample Bus Fares
(EC$)
Roseau to:
Calibishie $9.50
Canefield $2.00
Carib Territory $9.50
Grand Bay $4.50
Laudat $3.50
Loubiere $2.00
Marigot $9.50
Pointe Michel $2.00
Portsmouth $8.00
Scott's Head $4.00
Trafalgar $2.75
Auto Rentals
There are a handful of small, usually family-owned car-rental
companies, the condition and price of whose vehicles vary
widely.
Language and Culture
English is the official language. Creole (French patois)
is widely spoken also.
Climate
Average daytime temperatures range from 75-85 F, with
cooler temperatures in the mountains. Dry season is from
January to April. Rainy season is from July to October.
Bank Hours
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Currency/Credit Cards
Local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, U.S. dollars
are accepted at most businesses, where the rate of exchange
is EC$2.60. You are advised to exchange your currency
at banks, where you will get the most favorable exchange
rate.
Electricity
220/240 volts. A transformer is required for all appliances.
Outlets are three-prong European-style. Adapters may be
needed. Appliances rated at 110 volts (US Standard) works
satisfactorily with a transformer. Most hotels provide
dual voltage shaver units. An adaptor plug is necessary
for small appliances.
Emergency
In case of emergency please dial 999 for the police, Fire,
and Ambulance.
Medical
The main hospital is the Princess Margaret and there are
smaller ones in other parts of the island. Portsmouth
the second town, Marigot in the East and Grand Bay to
the South. Clinics and Doctors can be found through out
the island.
Pharmacies
The island's best-stocked drugstore is Jolly's Pharmacy,
in Roseau at 37 Great George St., and 12 King George V
St. Both branches share the same phone number and hours
(tel. 767/448-3388). They're open Monday and Friday from
8am to 6pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm, and Saturday
from 8am to 2pm.
Safety
Although crime is rare here, you should still safeguard
your valuables. Never leave them unattended on the beach
or in a locked car.
Taxes
A 10% government room tax is added on accommodations,
and a 5% tax on alcoholic drinks and food items. Anyone
who remains on Dominica for more than 24 hours must pay
a US$19 departure tax.
Telephone
To call Dominica from the United States, dial 1, then
767 (the country code for Dominica) and the local number.
To call Dominica from another island within the Caribbean,
just dial 767, plus the seven-digit local number. International
direct dialing is available on Dominica, as well as U.S.
direct service through AT&T. You can contact AT&T
in Dominica by dialing tel. 800/872-2881. Most hotel telephone
operators throw up their hands at even placing a long-distance
call for a resident. Instead, they connect their clients
to the island's long-distance phone operator, who dials
the call for a client, and then calls are billed directly
to a client's room.
Time
Dominica is on Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour ahead
of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. Dominica
does not observe daylight savings time, so when the United
States changes to daylight saving time, clocks in Dominica
and the U.S. east coast tell the same time.
Tipping
Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge
to bills; check carefully to see if it's been added. If
this charge has not been included, tipping is up to you,
though an additional 5% for particularly good service
is always welcome.
Water
The water is drinkable from the taps and in the high mountain
country. Pollution is hardly a problem here.
Dominica
Tourist Board
P.O Box 293, Roseau
Commonwealth Of Dominica
Telephone: +1 (767) 448-2045
Fax: +1 (767) 448-5840
Email: tourism@dominica.dm
UK
Dominica Tourist Board (UK)
Telephone: +44 181-3500-100
Fax: +44 181-350-1011
Email: mki@ttg.co.uk
USA/New York
Dominica Tourist Board (USA)
110-64 Queens Blvd. P.O. Box 427,
Forest Hills, New York,
11375-6347
New York, NY
Telephone: +1 (718) 261-9615
Fax: +1 (718) 261-0702
Email: dominicany@dominica.dm |
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