50th QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Check the Questions and Answers

Q. I tried to reserve a room for the day before the Celebration but I could not get one.
A. The days before the Celebration are very busy in Santo Domingo and Jaragua has many reservations already. Also, the on line system only works for us for the actual days of the conference, February 7-10 (see below). We recommend that you use the  1-800-228-9290. Be sure to mention the 50th Anniversary Peace Corps event, Group Code CDPCDPA,Tower rooms are more available than Garden rooms. The caribean baseball championship is the same week in Santo Domingo.

Q. What is included in the registration fee?
A. See the Registration Information page. The conference fee includes access to all events, daily coffee breaks and all social events. Specifically, the social events are: Opening Reception, 3 lunches, Ice Cream Social, Ambassador's Reception, and Closing dinner/fiesta in the Colonial Zone. Individual tickets for spouses/guests may be purchased for all social events. See prices on the registration form.

Q. Does the DR require a visa?
A. The requirement for all visitors is a Tourist Card which can be purchased at the       airport in Santo Domingo for $10. Be sure to buy the card BEFORE going through Immigration. There is a little kiosk on the RH side of the large arrival room.

Q. Do I need any special shots?
A. The planners are not aware of any specific requirements. Please visit the CDC website for health information:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/dominican-republic.htm

Q. Will there be vegetarian meals provided at the conference?
A. The planners will attempt to satisfy all dietary requirements and preferences. Depending on the number of special meals requested, we will discuss options with the hotel kitchen staff. Please advise if you eat fish, dairy or poultry or whether you are strictly vegetarian.

Q. The online hotel reservation system tells me there are no rooms available for the dates I want. Is the hotel full?
A. Our room block only covers the actual four days of the conference, i.e., Tuesday Feb 7th through Friday Feb 10th. If you are planning to come to Santo Domingo before or after the official conference dates, you would do better to call the 800 number. The hotel will honor our room rates before and after "depending on availability." The reality is February is high season and availability is limited. Calling the 800 number and talking with a real person seems to work better. 1-800-228-9290. Be sure to mention the 50th Anniversary Peace Corps event, Group Code CDPCDPA, at the Renaissance Jaragua and request the conference room rates: Garden $89; Tower $99; and Executive $134. Taxes & service are not included in these rates.

Q: If I come early and the Jaragua is full, do you have suggestions for other hotels? Yes.  Moderately priced hotels in the Zona Colonial before you move to the Jaragua on Tuesday are listed below. These are small, safe, comfortable hotels right in the heart of the interesting and tourist friendly Zona Colonial.

HOTEL PALACIO-- This charming, European owned hotel is in an old colonial residence half block up from El Conde (now a pedestrian only street) and two blocks from the Cathedral Plaza.

http://www.hotels.com/ho262225/hotel-palacio-santo-domingo-dominican-republic/?gclid=CPOhktmHq60CFXO-tgodyU6Tmg

HOTEL MERCURE-- The Mercure is a quality hotel on a corner of El Conde, just one block from the Cathedral Plaza. It has a popular restaurant with a little terrace right on El Conde.

http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-2974-mercure-comercial-santo-domingo/index.shtml

For more luxury, find online the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando on Calle Las Damas or it's smaller sister hotel, the less expensive Hotel Frances

QUALITY HOTEL AEROPUERTO--If you are coming in late on Monday, February 6, consider staying at the airport hotel on the Autopista Las Americas your first night.

http://www.realhotelsandresorts.com/rhr/inf/en/QualAeroSantoDomingo.aspx

Q. What about making telephone calls?

1. HOTEL CALLING is quite expensive locally and more so internationally. Hotels are useful in a pinch but not if many calls are needed.

2. BORROW A DR CELL PHONE from a local friend. If you plan to use it often, buy time calling cards for 25, 50, 100, 200 or 500 pesos and punch in the codes. Ask any Dominican for help if you are confused about how to use.

3. USING YOUR OWN PHONE - Your cell phone can work in the DR under two conditions:

a) Order international use from your telephone company (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) to allow your phone to make international calls in and from the DR. You will be charged a very high per minute rate, but if you do not plan to make many calls, this could be easiest. The high rates also apply to local calls you make within the DR. If you visit the DR for several weeks or yearly, this is not a good choice.

b) If your phone is compatible with international calling (e.g. many better AT&T phones, any iPhone 4s, Blackberry) visit the Codetel Office in Santo Domingo (near Parque Independencia) to have it temporarily converted to DR (they switch the US chip for a DR one; be sure to save it to put back in on return home), get a local DR number (free), and buy time calling cards. You pay same low cost rate per minute, as do Dominicans.

c) Other option - If you plan to visit the DR often, you can buy a cheap phone (around $25 or less) at any Codetel or Orange store, get a local number, and buy calling cards. After you do not use the phone for over a month, the phone number and balance of the calling card disappears, and must be acquired new each time you visit. This is what one of our members had been doing, but now his new iPhone 4s allows him to use his own phone and access all the numbers in his address book.