Do I need to pay the USD 10 Tourist Card for the Dominican Republic in 2026? +
Not in cash. The USD 10 Tourist Card has been included in airline ticket prices since 2018 for all commercial flights. What you do need to do yourself: the eTicket form, free, mandatory for all travelers on arrival AND departure. Fill it at eticket.migracion.gob.do, ideally 72h before your flight. Beware of .com sites that ask for payment, they are scams.
How many days do you need in the Dominican Republic? +
1 week is enough for a pure beach stay in Punta Cana. 10 days is the sweet spot to combine Santo Domingo (Zona Colonial), Samaná (whales in season) and 4-5 days of beach. 2 weeks lets you add the north coast (Cabarete, Puerto Plata) or the mountainous interior (Jarabacoa, Pico Duarte).
When can you see whales in Samaná? +
Official 2026 season: January 15 to March 31. Peak activity in February, with the first calves often visible from mid-February. Tours from Samaná port with licensed operators (Whale Samaná by Kim Beddall, active since 1985), USD 65-90 per person, 3h30 outings. Outside that window, the whales have left for the North Atlantic.
Is Santo Domingo dangerous compared to Punta Cana resorts? +
Santo Domingo calls for big-city Caribbean caution (3.5 million people): no ostentation, official taxis (Apolo Taxi, Uber), avoid outer districts at night. The Zona Colonial stays very safe by day and early evening, one of the most touristy areas in the country. Punta Cana is a gated-resort environment, maximum security but a disconnected experience from the rest of the country.
All-inclusive or independent travel, which to pick? +
All-inclusive for a pure beach stay (1 week as a couple or family, fixed budget, zero logistics). Independent travel as soon as you want to combine two or three regions (Santo Domingo + Samaná + Cabarete is impossible in a resort package). Classic disappointment of Punta Cana all-inclusive: you see nothing of the country, and food is often underwhelming outside surcharge restaurants.
Is Las Terrenas really French-speaking? +
Yes, around 2,000 French residents live there, plus Quebecers, Belgians and Swiss, close to a third of the town. French school Théodore Chassériau, bakeries, restaurants run by expats (La Yola, La Terrasse). It is probably the most French-speaking beach town in all of Latin America, useful if Spanish worries you, but the vibe stays very Western.
Can you drive easily in the Dominican Republic? +
Yes on main routes (Las Américas highway, Coral Highway, Autopista del Nordeste), well-maintained with tolls USD 2-4. Drive on the right, French and EU licenses accepted for 90 days. Avoid: driving at night off-highway (animals, unlit two-wheelers, potholes), going inland without a 4x4 in the wet season. Waze works very well.
Is there a real hurricane risk in summer in the Dominican Republic? +
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking statistically August-October. But the country sits slightly south of the Atlantic hurricane belt, and a direct hurricane only hits once every 10-15 years on average (source ONAMET). Real risk is therefore low but exists, to weigh if you travel August-October: prices halved, but potentially disrupted holidays roughly 1 day in 5.
