Dominican Republic FAQ

Do I Need a Passport? Yes. You must have a Passport with a minimum validity of six (6) months. Apply for a passport (or renew) online with the US Department of State.

Do I Need a Visa? No.

Do I Need Vaccinations? No vaccinations are required by either the Dominican Republic or EWE Tours.

What Other Documents Do I Need?

1. Participant Agreement. Our contract that includes the terms of the trip and the rules of conduct during the program.

2. Medical Form. To ensure we can safely accommodate your child on their program.

3. Parental Consent Letter. An optional, notarized letter from parents saying their child has their permission to travel abroad without them.

Air Travel. You will fly with our staff on a direct, chaperoned group flight. The usual departure airports are EWR in New Jersey and JFK in New York. The costs of your international flights are not included in the program fee. The airport in the Dominican Republic is Las Américas International Airport (SDQ).

Local Travel. Ground travel will be by private buses operated by our local partners. The professional drivers have many years experience with foreign tours.

Injuries or illnesses. Our staff will escort you 24 hours to the nearest medical facility for treatment. We will also immediately call your family back home to inform them of the situation. There are hospitals and clinics in all of our program areas. Most insurance plans require you to pay up-front for all of your medical care, then submit forms later to get reimbursed by the insurance company.

Parents Staying In Touch. Parents can call our staff 24 hours for any urgent concerns. We are also available by email and text for non-urgent matters. We will also post daily on social media for parents to follow the trip’s activities.

Accommodations. Students stay at 3+ star hotels, with 2-3 students of the same gender per room. All bedding and pillows are provided by hotel.

Meals. Meals and snacks will be mostly local, traditional food, with occasional fast food visits. Dominican food features rice, beans, meat, seafood, vegetables, and tropical fruits. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are easily accommodated.

Athletic Trainers. All of our sports tours have a professional trainer present at all sessions including matches and trainings.

Water
Tap water is NOT safe to drink in the Dominican Republic. We will provide bottled water daily.

Dress Code
We ask that you please be respectful and follow local customs on dress: neat, clean, and modest.

Cell Phones
Cell phone coverage is good overall in the Dominican Republic. Do not rely on texts for any critical/timely communication — voice calls are best. Check with your carrier at home to consider buying a roaming plan for the trip to avoid any exorbitant bills.

WIFI. All of our accommodations have free WIFI including hotels and host families. It is not typically as fast or reliable as back home though, so be patient. (We do encourage students to mostly disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the trip.) 

Spending Money. Students typically spend about $150 outside the program — on souvenirs, snacks, and drinks. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted locally, as well as cash. You can withdraw local Pesos in cash at ATM’s.

Weather. The Dominican Republic has a warm climate year round. Temps range from 88F in the day to 70F at night. The driest months are December to mid-April. June to November can be affected by hurricanes.

Laundry. Laundry for your uniforms is included in your program fee and will be done by our local staff. For other laundry the cost is $5-$8 per load.

Language. Spanish is the official language. English is not widely spoken. Our local tour leaders are fluent in English and Spanish.

Packing List. Please click here for our suggested packing list.