Dominica
Getting there
FROM THE UK:
There are no direct international long haul flights to Dominica.
You can fly direct to Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe or
San Juan in Puerto Rica and then take a local flight to
Dominica.
British Airways and
Virgin Atlantic fly to
Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia - both from London Gatwick.
For charter seats you could contact
CaribJet who can also book
onward flights.
FROM EUROPE
If you're flying from France you can fly direct to the French
islands of Martinique or Guadeloupe with
Air France and then take a
local flight or the ferry / catamaran to Dominica. Both
Express des Iles have a
scheduled service taking 90 minutes, though it can be rough.
FROM NORTH AMERICA:
Flights will involve at least one stop.
American Eagle (part of American
Airlines) flies between San Juan in Puerto Rico and Dominica's
Melville Hall airport, and between San Juan and Chicago, Dallas
Fort Worth, Miami and New York.
LOCAL FLIGHTS:
LIAT offer flights to
neighbouring islands, including daily connections to Antigua, St.
Lucia and Barbados.
Arrivals:Melville Hall Airport is the main airport
which lies 40 miles northeast of the capital, Roseau. As you have
to drive over a mountain and through the island's Central Forest
Reserve to get to the capital, the journey by road takes over 1
hour and can be quite a nerve-wracking. Taxis are available at the
airport but your best bet is to arrange a transfer via your hotel
as shared rides are less expensive at $20, compared to $50.
The lesser used Canefield Airport is just a few miles north
of Roseau and about 10 minutes by car.
back to topGetting Around
Car Hire:
You can hire a car, either at the airport, Roseau, Portsmouth or at
your hotel. Jeeps are more expensive. Driving is on the left and
there is a 20 mph speed limit in towns. A local driving permit is
required, costing US$11 (in 2009), is valid for 1 month and
available through the car hire companies. You must have a current
home or international license, be 25 or over and have two years
driving experience. While the main road around the coast is OK the
dirt tracks heading into the interior get very slippery. For
excursions you are probably better off hiring a taxi and a guide
for the day.
However, cars and jeeps can be rented from
Budget,,
opposite Canefield Airport.
Taxi: There is an official taxi stand just outside the
airport. Taxis can also be called from any hotel or hailed on the
road. Fares are set by the government and cost US$25 upwards. You
can hire a taxi for the day from approximately US$50.
Bus travel: Be prepared for the slowness of travel by bus.
The mini buses are clean, but cramped and are a good way to get
short distances. You can hail one and ask the driver to stop where
you want to get off. They look like white vans, and have the letter
H as the first letter of their number plate. Buses run between 6 am
and 8 pm but not on public holidays and cost EC$3. The main
terminal in Roseau is by the marketplace.
When To Go
The main tourist season is November to June, with December
being the best for sunshine, and July the hottest month. August to
November is the hurricane and rainy season.
HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
The most widely observed holidays and festivals in Dominica
are:
New Year's Day: 1 January
Merchant's Day: 2 January
Carnival: February/March (the Monday and Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday). One of the biggest events of the year with street
parades and calypso music.
Good Friday and Easter: April
Labour Day: first Monday in May
Whit Monday: later in May
Emancipation Day first Monday in August
Carib Week: September - a celebration of the history of
Dominica
Creole day: 27 October - children's parade, everyone wears
national costume
Creole Music Festival: 27-29 October - international bands
and visitors from all over the Caribbean
Independence Day: 3 November - government speeches and
parades
Christmas and Boxing Day: 25 and 26 December
Visas/Entry Requirements
Passports are required from all visitors, as well as onward and/or return tickets. Visas are not required unless coming from a communist country.
back to topOther Essentials
No vaccinations are required for entry into Dominica unless coming from a Yellow Fever infected area. Tetanus and Polio should be up to date. Tap water is normally chlorinated, although bottled water is usually preferred by tourists. Food products are generally safe.
back to topNeed more Info
In the UK contact:
Dominica Tourist Information Office
Mitre House
66 Abbey Road
Bush Hill Park
Middlesex, EN1 2QE
tel.: 020 8350 1000
In the USA contact:
Dominica Tourist Office
10 E. 21st Street
Suite 600
New York NY 10010
tel: 212 475 7542
Official government tourism site
Dominica