How to Use a Cell Phone in the Dominican Republic

Many people travel to the Dominican Republic each year to relax on the 870 miles of sandy beaches. If you have the chance to visit this Carribean getaway, you'll want to be prepared. While you're hiking up Pico Duarte and dancing the merengue, know how to use your cell phone in the case of an emergency. Using a cell phone in the Dominican Republic is easy if you follow the correct procedures.

Things You'll Need

• Plug adaptor
• List of important phone numbers
• Transformer

Instructions

1. Purchase the correct plug adaptor before you leave home so that you can charge your cell phone while in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic uses plug type "A" which are available from any electronics store.

2. Use a power transformer that can handle 110 volts, the voltage used in the Dominican Republic, when charging your cell phone. You could short out your cell phone if you use the wrong transformer or none at all.

3. Contact your cell service provider to make sure that they offer phone coverage in the Dominican Republic. Ask about upgrading to international roaming.

4. Look into renting a cell phone to use with your personal cell phone if your cellular company does not offer coverage in the Dominican Republic.

5. Know how to dial locally within the Dominican Republic. If you are dialing a place in the Dominican Republic with the same area code as which you are calling, just dial the number. If the number has a different area code, dial "1," plus the area code, plus the phone number.

6. Know how to call the United States from the Dominican Republic. First dial "011" (this is the international prefix to dial outside of the Dominican Republic). Then dial "1" (this is the international code used to dial to the U.S.). Follow that by the area code and phone number.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to charge your cell phone each night using the correct plug adaptor and transformer.