Dominica – climate and best travel time
According to zipcodesexplorer, Dominica is located in the region of the humid tropics and has a moderate tropical climate due to northeasterly winds. On the coast, temperatures rarely drop below 29 ° C, although it can be cooler and wetter in the mountains, especially during the rainy season (July to October).
April is the driest month with around 10 days of rainfall in Roseau, the wettest month is August, with more than twice as high rainfall. The other months can also be very humid.
The inner mountain region, the peaks of which are almost constantly covered in clouds, is one of the regions with the highest rainfall on earth, with peaks of 10,000 mm.
The hurricane season on Dominica is from July to November when it may cause landslides and flooding. In November 1999, Hurricane Lenny caused devastation on the west coast, and in August 2007, Hurricane Denny killed two people.
Best travel time for Dominica: The tourist high season is in winter from December to February. The prices in the high season are not significantly higher than in the summer low season (June to August), so the best time to visit Dominica is definitely winter. The humid months between February and May are also suitable for traveling, as there is not too much precipitation and the temperatures in higher elevations are not too high (usually 30 – 33 ° C).
Dominica – traveling in the country
Car Rental: The car rental companies Avis and Budget have branches at Canefield Airport, but there are also rental companies at Melville Hall Airport and in the larger towns of Dominica. Roseau businesses include Valley Rent-A-Car, Courtesy, and Garraway Rent-A-Car.
In addition to rental charges, most companies charge a daily fee of between $ 10 and $ 15 for a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). Some charge additional costs if different drivers drive the vehicle or if the vehicle has to be picked up at the airport.
An international driver’s license is recommended. The minimum age to rent a car is 25 or 26 years, depending on the company, the driver’s license must have been in place for at least 2 years. There is left-hand traffic in Dominica.
Dominica has a road network of more than 700 km in length. An off-road vehicle is recommended for trips into the mountains, but some of the main roads are also in poor condition. Off-road vehicles start at $ 55 per day and car rates start at $ 45.
buses operate between Roseau and Scotts Head and between Roseau and Portsmouth. Buses run less frequently north of Canefield. They usually run between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., on Saturdays only until 2 p.m. There is no bus service on Sundays. The connections are inexpensive, but you need some time to get to the desired destination.
Taxis are a popular form of transport in Dominica. Fixed prices are set for individual routes.
money
Local currency: East Caribbean dollar, divided into 100 cents.
Currency abbreviations: XCD, EC $
There are banknotes to the value of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 EC $ in circulation, there are also coins to the value of 1 EC $ and 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. Almost everywhere (shops, restaurants, taxis) US dollars are accepted (fixed exchange rate).
Currency Exchange: common foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices and hotels. Can be exchanged for US dollars, euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, Barbados Dollars and Trinidad & Tobago dollars. However, some banks only change US dollars.
Exchange rate:
Credit cards are relatively common (especially Visa, American Express and Mastercard) and are accepted by most hotels, restaurants, car rental companies, diving companies, travel agencies and better restaurants. Withdrawing cash with EC cards bearing the Maestro symbol can be done at the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of New Scotia.
There are ATMs in Roseau, Goodwill and Portsmouth
Travelers checks should be made out in US dollars and can be exchanged at banks. Most hotels, restaurants, car rental companies and travel agencies accept travelers checks.
Foreign exchange regulations: There is no limit to the number of local and foreign currencies that can be introduced. When leaving the country, both local and foreign currencies must be declared.
Bank opening times: Mon – Thu 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fri 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Health and Diseases in Dominica
Vaccination protection
No compulsory vaccinations are required for traveling in Dominica, there is an exception when entering from yellow fever areas, where proof of a valid yellow fever vaccination should be available.
However, vaccinations against hepatitis A, diphtheria and tetanus are recommended, and for longer stays vaccination against typhoid and hepatitis B.
Malaria
Malaria does not occur in Dominica.
Dengue virus
Mosquito-borne dengue occurs in Dominica. Consistent protection against mosquito bites is therefore recommended, for example with mosquito repellants and mosquito nets.
HIV / AIDS
Similar to other Caribbean islands, Dominica is also affected by HIV / AIDS, so caution is advised, especially with holiday acquaintances.
hygiene
When traveling in Dominica, you should pay particular attention to hygiene when consuming fruit, vegetables, fish, seafood and meat. Tap water can be used as drinking water in Dominica.
Medical supplies
The medical care in Dominica is poor, before traveling to Dominica you should definitely take out international travel health insurance with emergency repatriation.
In addition to my general disclaimer, please note the following important note:
A guarantee for the correctness and completeness of the medical information and liability for any damage that may occur cannot be assumed. You stay responsible for your healthy.