- About Samana
- Local currency & exchange
- Banks & ATM machines
- Electrical current/voltage/plug type
- Holidays
- Safety and security
- Internet/WiFi/internet cafes
- Mobile/cellular phone provider/SIM card
- Visa requirements
Located in the Dominican Republic, Samana is the capital of a large province that was named after it. The city is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean on one side and by the Samana Hills on the other. Boasting gorgeous scenery, bountiful wildlife and rich history, it is one of the most important destinations for tourists visiting the Dominican Republic. While history buffs find it fascinating because it was one of Columbus’ stops on his journey to the New World, those who are more into nature get excited about whale-watching. However, being a city with a long stretch of sandy beaches, Samana is a place that attracts a much more varied population.
The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso or DOP. Notes that are in use are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 Pesos.
When it comes to exchanging foreign currencies in the Dominican Republic, it’s best to arrive informed, since otherwise you might get into some difficulties. While the US Dollar is widely accepted, especially by taxi and hotel services, the exchange rates are usually quite poor. So if you want to ensure you get your dollars’ worth, make a trip to the bank instead of exchanging them as you go. You can also opt for one of the numerous Money Stores that are called Casa de Cambio in Spanish.
When it comes to other currencies, they’re not as readily accepted as the US Dollar. This means that tourists using currencies other that dollars need to exchange them at banks or Money Stores regardless of the rates.
If you’re using credit or debit cards, you’ll be able to withdraw pesos from ATM machines. But if you’re going to do that, keep in mind that you’ll be charged a fee of at least 170 pesos for each transaction. Also, almost every ATM in the Dominican Republic has a withdrawal limit of 10,000 pesos.
The city of Samana has four banks: Banco BHD, Banco de Reserva, Banco Popular and Scotia Bank. They are all open Monday to Friday from 9AM to 5PM. While they are closed on Sundays, their opening hours for Saturday are 9AM to 12PM.
All banks in the city of Samana have ATM machines that are open 24/7.
The electricity used in and around the city of Samana has a voltage of 110 V. The type of plug that is used to power electrical and electronic devices is the North American Standard 3-way plug.
The following dates are the national holidays of the Dominican Republic:
January 1st – New Year’s Day
January 6th – Epiphany
January 21st – Altagracia
January 26th – Duarte’s Birthday
February 27th – Independence Day
March 28th – Good Friday
May 2nd – Labor Day
May 28th – Corpus Christi
August 16th – Restoration Day
September 24th – Our Lady of las Mercedes
November 9th – Constitution Day
December 25th – Christmas
When it comes to safety, Samana is one of the least dangerous places in all of the Dominican Republic. The city even has a tourist police force named CESTUR, which is in charge of over 80 officers that are patrolling the streets and the beaches regularly.
Located in and around the city, you will find plenty of Internet Centers, but Samana also has countless restaurants, bars and cafes that provide their guests with free WiFi.
The whole of Samana boasts excellent mobile network coverage. There are four major providers: Orange, Tricom, Claro and Viva. If your mobile phone is not locked to other networks, you will be able to use their SIM cards. These can be bought at any large supermarket or phone kiosk.
When it comes to visa requirements, all tourists entering the Dominican Republic fall into one of the following three categories: those who need only a valid identification document, those who need a tourist card and those who need a visa.
The first category is reserved for the residents of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Republic of Korea, Japan, Uruguay and Peru.
The second is reserved to all tourists who are allowed to enter the United States of America, the European Union, Great Britain and Canada. Tourist cards can be bought online or obtained upon arrival for $10. They are valid for up to 30 days since the day of arrival, but can be extended.
All those who aren’t residents of the countries listed above need to complete the process of applying for a visa before entering the Dominican Republic.