Destinations
Internet in the Dominican Republic: there is life outside the resort too
The hotel wi-fi covers half the trip. What happens on excursions, transfers and the beach, and how much a week there uses.
Irene Salazar 5 min Photo by Asael Peña on Unsplash A trip to the Caribbean has a classic trap: because the hotel has wi-fi, plenty of people consider the connection question settled. And it works, until you leave the grounds, which is exactly when you really need it.
Where there is coverage
Wide 4G in Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Samaná and in the tourist areas generally, with 5G in the capital. The main roads are covered.
The gaps show up in the mountainous interior, on some remote beaches and on excursions to nearby islands, where the signal depends on the distance to the coast.
What you do outside the hotel
- Excursions booked and confirmed by messaging.
- Transfers and taxis, ordered by app or by phone.
- Maps to get around on your own, which is where the resort wi-fi no longer reaches.
- Photos and videos shared on the spot, which are what uses the most.
Roaming, which here is an international zone
The Dominican Republic is outside the European Union, so your plan treats it as an international zone. It is the destination that produces the most surprise bills in the whole Caribbean, because people switch the phone on at the airport and leave it connected.
The right order for switching the phone on when you arrive is in what to do on landing, step by step.
What you will use
Between 200 and 500 MB a day if you lean on the hotel wi-fi in the evening, and considerably more if you post video daily, which on a beach trip is the norm.
Frequently asked questions
Is coverage good in the Dominican Republic?
Yes in Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and the tourist areas, with wide 4G and 5G in the capital. It fails in the mountainous interior and on remote beaches.
Is the hotel wi-fi enough?
For the hotel, yes. Outside you need data: excursions, transfers and maps are all handled from the phone.
Is it included in European roaming?
No. It is an international zone, so check what yours covers before travelling.
How many gigabytes do I need for a week?
Between 1.5 and 3.5 GB if you use the hotel wi-fi in the evening, and more if you post video daily.
What about hurricane season?
Warnings and flight changes arrive by app and by text. It pays to have your own data, because a power cut leaves the hotel without wi-fi but does not bring down the mobile network.
