Facts on Dominica
Source: Frommer's Caribbean 2004

Banks - Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm, Friday from 8am to 5pm. There are several major bank branches in Roseau, complete with ATMs that dispense EC dollars.

Currency - Dominica uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), worth about EC$2.70 to US$1. U.S. dollars are readily accepted, though you'll usually get change in EC dollars. Unless otherwise specified, rates for this destination are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Customs - Dominica allows visitors to bring personal and household effects, plus 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 40 ounces of liquor or wine per person.

Documents - To enter, U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a passport. In addition, an ongoing or return ticket must be shown. British visitors should have a valid passport.

Electricity - The electricity is 220- to 240-volt AC (50 cycles), so both adapters and transformers are necessary for U.S.-made appliances. It's smart to bring a flashlight with you, in case of power outages.

Emergencies - To call the police, report a fire, or summon an ambulance, dial tel. 999.

Hospital - There's Princess Margaret Hospital, Federation Drive, Goodwill (tel. 767/448-2231), but those with serious medical conditions may want to forego a visit to the hospital in Dominica, as island medical facilities are often inadequate.

Language - English is the official language. Locals often speak a Creole-French patois.

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.

Weather - Daytime temperatures average between 70° and 85°F (21°C-29°C). Nights are much cooler, especially in the mountains. The rainy season is June to October, when there can be hurricane activity. Dominica lies in the hurricane belt, and fierce storms have taken their toll on the island over the years.