Haiti / Island Essentials

All travellers to Haiti will need to know the essential island facts. The information on Haiti shown below is current (2011).

Airport

The main and largest international airport is called Toussaint Louverture airport (PAP) and is located in Port-au-Prince. This airport was severly damaged during the earthquake but is still operational. There is another international airport in the north, Cap-Haitien airport (CAP) connected to other Caribbean destinations and Miami.

Check-in/Check-out

As a general rule check-out times are around 12 noon and check-in is not prior to 3pm. If you know you will be arriving before the normal check-in time however, do ask, as your hotel may able to be flexible. Subject to availability they may also be able provide a day room or shower facilities for the day of your departure. You should make any special arrangements at the time of booking.

Departure Tax/Taxes

A departure tax of US$25 is payable for everyone when leaving the main airport.

Electricity

The electricity operates at 110 Volts/60 Hertz, the same as North America.

The electricity supply in Haiti is very poor and is not available for much of the day. It generally gets turned on between 6 and 8pm.

Embassies/Consulates

There is no British Embassy in Haiti and public operations at the British Consulate office in Port au Prince have been suspended since 2005 due to the security situation. Visa and consular enquiries should be directed to theBritish Embassy in the Dominican Republic, Av 27 de Febrero No 233, Edificio Corominas Pepin, Santo Domingo, t 472 7111.

Canadian Embassy, Edifice Banque Nova Scotia, Delmas 18, t 223 2358

Dominican Embassy, Hotel El Rancho, 121 rue Panaméricaine, Pétionville, t 257 1208

US Embassy, Bd Harry Truman, Port au Prince, t 223 5511

Emergencies

Police 114 
Ambulance 118

Nudity

There are no nude beaches on Haiti and locals would take offence to any kind of public nudity.

Security

Visitors to Haiti will need to exercise extreme caution due to ongoing political instability, poor infrastructure and a growing risk of kidnapping. The UK Foreign Office are advising against all travel to the slum districts of Port-au-Prince including Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil, and Martissant. There are still over 500 000 Haitians living in tents after the 2010 earthquake and visitors need be aware of the ongoing Cholera epidemic.

See FCO Travel Advice notices for the Caribbean.

See Foreign Office Travel Advice Legal Disclaimer which applies to the above advice.

Service Charge/Tipping

There is a government tax of 10% and hotels will add a service charge of 5% to your bill. Restaurant tabs should be tipped 6 - 10%, if service has not already been added. Tip taxi drivers if you find them helpful.

Telephone

The IDD code for Haiti is 509, followed by a seven digit national number. You only need to dial the seven figure number when within Haiti.

Domestic telephone facilities are barely adequate and phones are a luxury item owned by few.

Time Zone

Haiti is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, the same as the eastern seaboard of the United States. The island does not observe Daylight Saving Time and so in the summer, when the eastern seaboard moves onto Summer Time, Haiti is an hour behind.

During the winter Haiti is five hours behind Britain (GMT) and six behind mainland Europe, and during the summer (British Summer Time) it is six hours behind Britain and seven behind Europe.