Check weather advice for Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has often been described as the jewel in the Caribbean crown for holidaymakers with its majestic beaches, rich culture and exciting nightlife.

Around 225,000 Britons flocked to the island in 2007 with nearly all instances being trouble-free, but there is undoubtedly a range of pointers to remember before travelling there.

The country has hit the news in the past few days after being hit by tropical storm Hanna - which has now been reclassified as a hurricane - with 61 people dying in neighbouring Haiti.

Tens of thousands of people have also been forced to flee their homes amid scenes of devastation as floods have spread, meaning anyone looking to travel to the Dominican Republic in the coming days should check local and international weather reports.

The hurricane season in the country, which normally runs from June to November, has also seen tropical storm Fay and hurricane Gustav strike during August, causing several deaths.

In terms of crime, the major area of concern for police forces in the country is drugs, with Colombian cartels often thought to be passing large supplies through.

However, there is generally a low threat of crime against tourists, although a British man was shot and injured during a robbery in his home in July - people are warned not to resist attack in such circumstances.

In addition, the standard advice of remaining vigilant at night, keeping expensive items away from show and storing passports and other valuable documents in hotel storage boxes undoubtedly applies.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) also advises travellers not to use Caribintair Airlines - which has experienced safety concerns - but claims that using Caribair and Volair is fine for the Port-au-Prince - Santo Domingo route.

All visitors to the Dominican Republic also require a tourist card, which can be obtained from the country's embassy before travel or at a cost of $10 on arrival.

Anyone staying for over two weeks will also be subject to a $20 departure tax, which may be included in airline ticket costs - checking with travel operators would be a sensible course of action.

Private medical facilities in the country are fairly good, but the public health service leaves something to be desired and as such fully comprehensive travel and medical insurance is essential.

There are occasional outbreaks of malaria in the Dominican Republic, while rabies is also present, with 95 cases reported so far in 2008.

Dengue fever is an ever-present possibility, and while last year's outbreak of gastro-intestinal illness in the Rio San Juan resort has been resolved, drinking tap water or buying food from street stalls is not advised.