Language

English is the official language of Dominica; however a large portion of the population speaks Kwéyòl, which is based primarily on French and Carib vocabularies and a syntax borrowed from a variety of West African indigenous languages. A few northern villages use a distinctive English dialect called Kokoy.

Currency

The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), which trades at EC$2.67 to US$1.00. Banks will offer EC$2.68 for a US$1.00 traveler's cheque. Everywhere on the island, businesses accept United States Dollars, British Pounds, and Euros.

Credit Cards

Most tourism related business, such as hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and car rental agencies accept Master Card, Visa and American Express credit cards, including traveler's cheques.

Business Hours

Businesses open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday with a lunch break from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Banking hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. On Saturdays, the banks are closed but merchants open their enterprises from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Banks

The following are a list of the banks found in Dominica:

• Dominica Agricultural Industrial & Development Bank
• The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
• Republic Bank 
• Griffon Bank
• National Bank of Dominica

Telecommunications

Dominica has a modern and reliable telecommunications system. It is easy to find public phones in the city and in most communities. Hotels offer International Direct Dialing from their rooms, and there are two major mobile service providers on the island: FLOW and Digicel. The island's area code is 767.

Electrical

Dominica's electrical services use 220/240 volts. American appliances are quite popular, but require transformers for voltage conversion. Many accommodations offer both outlets, but it would be wise to receive confirmation from the specific establishment.

Medical Facilities

There are three public hospitals on the island: the Marigot Hospital, the Portsmouth Hospital, and the premier Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH). Intensive care units are available at the Portsmouth Hospital and the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. Several specialists and general practitioners operate private clinics.

Emergency

The emergency contact for the Police, Ambulance and Fire Department is 999. 
For additional emergency services contacts please "Click Here". 

Personal Safety

Dominica enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the entire Caribbean; however visitors are encouraged to practice common sense in their deportment and the protection of their property.

Time Zone

Dominica Time is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4), which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time.

Climate

Visitors to Dominica should expect plenty of sunshine interjected by intermittent rainfall. The island's annual temperature averages at 27 C. Frequent rainfall cools the tropical heat, nourishes the island's extensive rainforest, and feeds its rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. On the coast, average rainfall registers 1,780 mm, but in the interior that figure is triple.

Travelers should take into consideration the tropical weather and activities planned in order to arrive on the island with everything you need.