You can’t blame the Dominican Republic for how you look when you travel here. It’s not like we take our fashion cues from them. Some things can be overlooked, and having some good pointers on how to dress for vacation in Dominican Republic will make your trip a lot more enjoyable.

The Dominican Republic is a fun, unique, and affordable vacation destination for singles and families alike. This beautiful tropical nation offers something for everyone from hidden bioluminescent bays to white sandy beaches. If you’re going on vacation or have decided to stay in one place for an extended period of time, there are several important things you need to know about dressing for your new environment.

When traveling to the Dominican Republic, or any tropical country for that matter, your clothing strategy needs to be well thought out. Of course, when I say ‘well-thought out,’ I don’t mean that you need a detailed essay on your clothing strategy. I’m merely saying that you should have a simple to follow plan for how you’re going to dress for your trip. When traveling to different countries, you would have to follow the norms of that particular nation. When you are travelling to the Dominican Republic, you’d have to follow their dressing guidelines. It’s important to do so, because being overdressed or ill-attired is a serious faux pas in these countries.

Playa Caribbean is a luxurious resort with an extensive water park and lazy river that spans through its multiple pools. Being in the Caribbean, there is no better time to visit than during their winter season. The weather during these months ranges from 70 – 87 degrees with low humidity. Preparation of packing can be challenging but with our helpful guide, you’ll be able to pack all you need while not having to worry about forgetting something crucial.

How To Dress For Vacation In Dominican Republic

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.

Nowhere in the Caribbean is under the radar anymore, but the Dominican Republic tends to be one of its most overlooked destinations. However, with its gorgeous beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and vibrant local culture, it’s worth a visit even if it’s not the first place that comes to mind. From my experience, it offers just about anything you could want to do, from shopping in local markets to lively bars to, of course, relaxing on the beach.

A packing list helps when visiting a vacation destination like the Dominican Republic so that you won’t need to worry about anything beyond finding the perfect place on the beach to kick back and relax. You can’t do that when you’re beating yourself up for forgetting something essential at home.

To help avoid this catastrophe, we’ve put together a comprehensive Dominican Republic packing list. You’ll also find information about what to wear in Punta Cana, along with some other useful tips.

The Best Backpack for the Dominican Republic

When it comes to choosing the best bag for the Dominican Republic, I’ve found that you should have these considerations in mind:

• Carry on sized
• Waterproofing
• Comfort
• Organization

I always suggest that people travel carry-on-only whenever possible. The last time I was in the Caribbean someone in my group had their checked bag lost, and they were forced to spend the rest of the trip in clothes they bought at the hotel gift shop. By using a carry-on-sized travel backpack like the Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack, you can forget about lost luggage, time wasted waiting around baggage claim, and getting stuck in embarrassing outfits.

The Outbreaker is ideal for the Dominican Republic for a number of other reasons. Its waterproof exterior ensures that your stuff won’t get soaked in the event of rain, which is common in the Caribbean. It’s also highly comfortable thanks to its fully adjustable harness and thick padding, which is great when you’re carrying around a bag to find your Airbnb or board and disembark from a cruise ship. It also opens like a suitcase and boasts an outstanding array of organizational features, which makes it easy to find your things without dumping the entire bag out on the bed.