Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2019 | Page 322

Planning a Haitian Vacation? Here is some useful information Passport & Visa Internet Access No visa is required from most countries for stays less than 90 days. A visa is required only for citizens of Cuba. Dominicans, Columbians and Panamanians do not need a Haitian visa as long as they hold a valid American or Canadian Visa. A valid passport is mandatory. Major hotels offer Internet access and Wi-Fi in public areas and in rooms. Cyber Cafes and Hotspots are available everywhere. Electricity 110 V, 60 Cycles, American Outlets Currency Although the national currency is the Gourde (HTG), the U.S. Dollar is accepted everywhere. Currency exchange is available in many banks or hotel front desks. The current rate is around US$ 1.00 for HTG 42.00. It is advised to convert your home currency into American Dollars before leaving since the local rate of conversion is not always advantageous. Banks Local and international banks have an extensive urban coverage. A limited number of ATMs are available. Public Transportation Public transportation is not very well organized. Private taxis as well as car rentals (sedans and 4x4s) are available from various agencies. Local incoming travel agencies can also arrange cars and minibuses with drivers and guides for transfers and excursions. Credit Cards Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most tourist establishments. Cash advance is available in some banks and ATMs. Telephones Country code for Haiti: 509. Local numbers increase to 8 digits. The first digit indicates whether it is a fixed phone (2) or a mobile phone (3 or 4). The mobile phone carriers have booths are the airport. Medical Care The hotels have a list of private doctors available for emergencies. Private hospitals are available as well as certain public facilities. Air ambulances may be required for cases requiring transportation to facilities in the region. Several drugstores and pharmacies are available. Local Air Transport Several local airlines offer regular flights with aircrafts of up to 19 seats to the following cities: Cap Haitian, Jérémie, Les Cayes and Port-de-Paix. Aircrafts and helicopters for air taxi / charter services can also be organized to various other areas of the country.