What to Wear in Dominican Republic

General Style Tips

  • Casual clothes in lightweight natural fabrics (cotton, silk and linen) will work best – it is warm and sunny but not unbearably hot all year round.
  • However the nights tend to be a little cooler so a sweater or wrap is worth popping in your case.
  • Go for comfort and style.
  • Daytime essentials include t-shirts or camisoles, sarong and shorts as most people spend their time on the beach or by the pool.
  • And remember your sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection).
  • Mosquitoes can be a problem, so take insect/mosquito repellent and cover up with long sleeves and pants when you can, particularly in the evenings if you are outdoors. Avoid wearing any scent or perfume.

What Shoes To Pack

  • If you plan to explore the island, take some lightweight comfy shoes for walking. We love Hotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.
  • Our advice would be to pack some flat sandals too, and we love the Lindsay Phillips Switch Flops range – using interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you can change your look from day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.

Clothing Tips for Women

  • Keep your swimwear and shorts for the beach, beach bars and hotel pools; cover up with a kaftan or sarong away from the beach or pool.
  • For evenings, dress is casual; ladies tend to wear short summer sundresses – and take a wrap or pashmina as just after a downpour it cools very quickly, but only temporarily.
  • A pashmina is a versatile piece that will dress up any outfit, and some simple costume jewelry can make a great statement.
  • The humidity can play havoc with your hair – so think about accessories or a scarf to keep it looking neat and tidy.

Clothing Tips for Men

  • If you're looking for versatile and stylish beachwear, try the Madda Fella range of shirts, shorts, polos and swimwear.
  • For evenings, guys' dress is casual; long shorts or pants and short-sleeved shirts.
  • For great versatile travel jackets with multiple pockets including RFID security options, we love the SCOTTeVEST range.

Pack for the Weather

  • May, June, July, August, September, October and November is officially the rainy season although it tends to start earlier these days. You do still get lots of sunshine, but it is interrupted by deluges of rain which last for up to 30 minutes at a time. You may like to pack a light raincoat and/or travel umbrella for these times.
  • We love the Weather+ app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂 Download for iPad/iPhone or Android

Other Things To Pack

  • A lightweight day sack or beach bag will come in handy to carry your sightseeing essentials.
  • Don’t drink or even brush your teeth in tap water. Consider taking a LifeStraw Filtration Water Bottle.
  • Look after your mobile phone with a phone bunjee – it protects against loss, theft and damage.
  • To use electrical gadgets you may need a travel adapter plug, and also a step up voltage converter if your devices are not designed for local voltage (120V).
  • If you're aiming to travel with just carry-on baggage, try the CabinMax soft-sided rucksack – it's light, roomy and has plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized.
  • Avoid paying unexpected baggage fees – use an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way home! Rum is a popular buy – but remember you will need to pack any liquids in checked-in luggage unless you buy at the airport duty-free. Also look for amber jewelry and larimar – a blue and white stone used in jewelry and artwork which is only found in the Dominican Republic.

Community photos from the Dominican Republic