If you are looking for information and practical advice to help you prepare for your trip to the island of Dominica, this article is for you! I had the opportunity to visit the island on a trip and was lucky enough to discover absolutely remarkable places and have unique experiences between land and sea!

For more information about the must-see and must-do activities, read the article: Visiting the island of Dominica | My favorites

Transport, currency, budget, ideal time of year, accommodation – I’ll give you all my tips on how to make the most of the island nature of the Caribbean.

Mabrika Dominica!

(Translation:Welcome to Dominique!)

How to get there?

For my part, I took a flight from Nice to Paris to join the other bloggers and we all took the plane to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe.

The most economical way to get there is to take a flight to Guadeloupe or Martinique; you’ll have to compare the prices of plane tickets according to your dates, but I think you can find tickets for about 500€ per person.

Once you arrive in the DOM-TOMs, you just have to take the boat. The Express of the Islands which will take you directly to Roseau, the capital of Dominica. The journey takes about 2h30 And I advise you to stay inside the boat, you will feel the vibrations less! I don’t have seasickness but once on the upper deck I can tell you that it’s very bumpy and I got nauseous… So on the return I sat down downstairs on a very comfortable armchair and no problem at all! You have to bear in mind that it takes about 120 € round trip.

When you are on the boat you will have to fill out an immigration form and once you are there you will have to be patient because the customs check is very long.

If you are traveling for less than 15 days, your French identity card will suffice. After 15 days, a passport is mandatory.

Important: Please note that you will have to pay an exit tax of about 20 euros.

The Mint

At the boat exit you will find a bank just in front; I recommend withdrawing money at the Paris airport in order to change the money on the spot.
When I travel I always try to bring some European currency with me, it has already happened to me in some countries that the cash machines don’t accept my MasterCard 😕 . With cash at least I am safe and above all I don’t have any bank fees!

The local currency is the East Caribbean dollar. That is, 1€ = about 3 EC$
Be careful not to confuse it with US dollars because in shops and hotels the prices are often displayed in US dollars!

The Time Shift

There is a -6 hour time difference with France in summer and -5 hours in winter.
If you followed me on Snapchat, you might have noticed that I woke up at 4 or 5 am local time every day… I just couldn’t sleep any more :-/

When to go to the island of Dominica? 

If you want to go on vacation to the island of Dominica, choose the dry season from January to June. Remember that the climate is tropical and that there are quite frequent rainstorms!

Getting around on the island of Dominica

There are several ways to get around the island of Dominica. As part of our blog trip, we were lucky enough to have a van and a driver throughout our stay, but if you go there on your own you can either:

• Renting a car: You need to buy a Dominican driver's license that is valid for 3 months and costs 10 euros. Note that driving is on the left and the roads are not of very good quality… In any case, this is the most convenient solution for long trips. More information here 
• Public transport: Here is a reliable and inexpensive alternative. This solution is very popular on the island, especially for short trips. ( between 0.4 € and 3 € per trip ) Attention: there is no bus stop, just signal to the driver to make him stop.
• The stop: If you are an adventurer, you can opt for this very common solution on the island.

To take with you in your suitcase

Here are the essential items to take with you:

• Anti-mosquito product / Sunscreen with SPF 50 / Biafine / Medications for seasickness
• Waterproof in case of rain
• Hiking shoes and clothing
• Swimsuit / mask / snorkel

The budget

Food

We had a budget of 35 euros per day for meals. To be honest, it was a bit tight; restaurants are quite expensive for the standard of living in Dominica.
Personally, I think it costs an extra €10 to be a bit more relaxed, but it depends on each person; it’s also possible to do it with much less money if you only eat street food…
I believe that discovering a country is also done through its culinary specialties, so for me the ideal combination would be a mix of street food, fast food, and good restaurants. And of course, sampling rum 😉

Average price of a dish in a small restaurant 15€ / Fresh fruit cocktail 5€

To know: In Dominica you pay 15% tax + % 10 service charge

Accommodation

On the island of Dominica, don’t expect to see any hotel complexes; remember that we are in the 100% natural Caribbean island and that there is no mass tourism. You will find mostly cottages, starting at €50 per night. We stayed in 3 different establishments that I recommend:

– The Cocoa Cottage, in the middle of the jungle

I think the photos speak for themselves… A unique and magical place, truly out of time!
I chose the JOY room and was pleasantly surprised to find a beautifully decorated suite with exceptional views of the tropical forest! It’s the perfect place to recharge, relax, and be in harmony with nature. All the rooms are different from each other, but each has its own unique charm. The price is 120 € (+ taxes) for a suite, which seems quite reasonable considering the magic of the place.

This is truly one of the most beautiful rooms I have stayed in in the category of »original accommodations« 

The negative points:

– Since the owner was absent, we had to deal with a substitute who was not at all friendly and I would even say rather cold-hearted…
– We participated in a somewhat lengthy and un-tasting chocolate-making activity… As a chocolate lover, I found that a shame.
– High meal prices: 35 $ for the evening buffet and 15 $ for breakfast.

I recommend spending the night there and, if possible, having breakfast there, but avoid the evening buffet; for the same price, you can have a great restaurant in Roseau with a better atmosphere!

Website of the Cocoa Cottage

Fort Young Hotel, the most comfortable.

This 3-star hotel is located right in the center of Roseau, which is very convenient because you can do everything on foot. It has 71 rooms, a spa, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a bar, and a restaurant. All the rooms have a private balcony, and mine overlooked the Caribbean Sea!!! The decor is very beautiful; there are flowers everywhere, and even a waterfall!

I enjoyed the breakfast served on a lovely terrace overlooking the sea; the hotel snack bar is just as good.

Price of a double room: from 120 € (+ taxes), breakfast 17 €

Website of Fort Young Hotel

Anchorage Hotel, facing the sea

This hotel is located in the south of the island and offers boat trips for diving or whale watching. We stayed 3 nights in this hotel and I find that it is the one that provides the most relaxation.

A big plus for breakfast: you can choose a plate of pancakes, bacon, eggs… be patient because the service is very, very long!

Price: €165 if booked online, breakfast included.

Website of the Anchorage Hotel

All hotels on the island of Dominica

I will see you soon to share my activities and my itinerary with you. I also invite you to consult my articles on my second blog. Click here