General Travel Information

• Country code: 509, Outgoing code: 00
• Emergency phone numbers: Police-114; Ambulance 118. Air ambulance. Doctor on call at hotels, Emergency dental facilities, Pharmaceutical services 24-hour casualty department.

• Airport Departure Tax: US$ $30 (US dollar) + Gde10 (Gourde). Transit passengers and children under 2 years of age are exempt.
• Weather: tropical climate with high humidity. Intermittent rain throughout the year, hill resorts are much cooler.
• Languages: French and Creole are the official languages, however English and Spanish widely spoken.

• Sightseeing: In Port au Prince: The Cathedral of Port au Prince. The Cathedral of St. Trinity. Musee du Pantheon National, Place des Heros de l'Independence.
In Boutilliers (3000 ft) panoramic view of Port-au-Prince and the Bay of La Gonave.
In the Cote des Arcadins: Moulin sur Mer Museum.
In Cap-Haitien: Citadelle LaFerriere. Palais Sans-Souci. Colonial Architecture.
In Jacmel: Bassin Bleu. Manoir Alexandra. Colonial Architecture. Handicraft. La Petite Batterie.
• Activities: Horse riding. Jogging. Scuba Diving. Tennis. Water Sports. Spectator sports: Soccer.
• Calendar of Events: Carnival is a feast of 3 days before Ash Wednesday, with everyone dancing in the streets in traditional costumes. The weekend before the Port-au-Prince Carnival, the Carnival at Jacmel (in the south east) take place. Lots of creativity papier-mache masks, street theatre and dancing.
• Dining: Restaurants available Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International. Service charge 10%. Dress code is usually casual comfortable summer sportswear. Some hotels may require jacket and tie.
• Nightlife: Entertainment available includes Discos. Dinner/Dances. Theaters. Casinos. Nightclubs. Cinemas. Live music.
• Shopping: Locally produced items Paintings, crafts, mahogany, sisal and straw work, weaving, embroidery, wrought iron. Duty free items are available at approximately 20% off stateside prices.
• Banks: Bank of Nova Scotia. Banque Populaire. Banque de l'Union Haitienne. Banque Nationale de Credit. Banque de la Republique d’Haiti (BRH). Capital Bank. Citibank. Promobank. Socabank. Sogebank. Unibank.
• Tourist Offices: Port-au-Prince: Secretary of State for Tourism, 8 Rue Legitime. Tel: 509-223-2143/5631/5333/0723. Fax: 509-223-5359; Maison du Tourisme de Port-au-Prince: Angle Rues Magny et Capois. Tel: 509-221-5496/222-8659. In Champ Mars, on the corner of Rue Capois and Rue Magny. Cap Haitien: Maison Du Tourisme, Rue 24 Boulevard. Tel: 509-262-1061. Jacmel: Maison Du Tourisme, Rue Barranquilla. Tel: 509 288-3305.

Other
• Haitians are open to working with foreign investors and are particularly well disposed towards U.S. businessmen. Most businessmen and women speak English fluently. Appointments with Haitian businessmen should be made in advance. Invitations to restaurants are appreciated and business is usually discussed in restaurants as much as in offices.
• Government and commercial offices typically open between 8:00am-9:00am, and close between 3:30pm-5:00pm. Many retail businesses remain open during the early evening, providing services until 7:00pm.
• Facilities for visiting businessmen and women are provided by several hotels located mainly in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince. The largest hotels offer a full range of business services, including Internet connectivity, voice mail, e-mail, etc. Reservations can be made by telephone, fax, or e-mail, and it is advisable to book accommodations at least two weeks in advance of any visit. There are few comfortable hotels in the major provinces, though acceptable accommodations can be found in some of the larger cities.
• The postal and telephone services are not always efficient but fax machines are widely used and Internet e-mail is very reliable. Air travel is possible from Port-au-Prince to the main provinces. The national highways to Jeremie, Port-de-Paix and Hinche are not paved. During 1999 two new taxicab companies began operating in Port-au-Prince, using radio controlled dispatching service. These two companies are known to be reliable for local transportation. Privately operated taxicabs and other public transportation vehicles are usually dirty, crowded, and of questionable reliability. Moreover, the requirement of safety inspections is seldom enforced. Visitors are well advised to hire a car and driver for ground transportation requirements in Haiti. Most important commercial and industrial enterprises can correspond in English and often Spanish. French and Creole cuisine is widely available at affordable prices.
• Haiti does require special payment to be made on products that are entering the country temporarily. Businesspeople who are planning to bring a large quantity of equipment or products temporarily into Haiti should contact the Commercial Office for guidance well before arranging final shipment.
• Business travelers to Haiti seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy officials in Port-au-Prince should contact the Commercial Section in advance of their arrival date by calling (509)256-5777/5778, (509) 256-5889 (fax) or by e-mail at "Port-au-Prince.office.box@mail.doc.gov.