Dominican Republic / Money rules

Dominican Republic money rules

Eight things worth remembering while you are there, each linking to the fuller explanation.

Open it, then press and hold to keep it in your photos. Works with no signal.

1. 1The E-Ticket is free, and you need it twiceOnce to come in and once to go home, each with its own code. It is a government form, ten minutes, no charge. The search results are thick with lookalike sites charging real money to type it in for you.Filing the E-Ticket yourself
2. 2The menu price is about a quarter off the truthLocals call it the 10 and 18: restaurants add a service charge and then a tax on top of the listed prices, so the total lands well above what you read. Nothing is wrong with the bill, it is just built that way.Reading a Dominican bill
3. 3Then leave a little directly for your serverThe service charge on the bill is modest and gets pooled, so a small extra handed over is the part that reaches the person who looked after you. Around 5 to 10 percent is customary.Tipping in the Dominican Republic
4. 4Choose pesos, not dollars, on every card screenSaying yes to dollars is dynamic currency conversion, worth 3 to 8 percent to whoever offered it. Choose pesos and let your own bank convert, which it does for far less.Paying by card here
5. 5Dollars are accepted, but your change will not beUS notes work in the resort areas, but the change comes back in pesos at whatever rate the vendor decided. Paying in pesos is simply better value for anything bought on the street.Which currency to carry
6. 6No meters, so agree the fare and the currencyOrdinary taxis do not run a meter, so settle the number before you get in and confirm whether it is pesos or dollars, because the gap is enormous. Ask your hotel what a fair price looks like.Taxis, apps and motoconchos
7. 7At Punta Cana, book the transfer before you flyApp coverage thins out in the resort areas, and official airport taxis run fixed rates that are steep even for a short hop. A transfer through the hotel or a shuttle firm is the calm option.Getting from the airport
8. 8Bring the passport book, not the passport cardThe card is not accepted for an international flight, which is a bad thing to learn at the airport. Six months of validity beyond your trip is the safe standard, whatever easing is in force.Entry rules and documents

These are the rules that do not really change, which is why they are worth carrying. Exact fees, rates and prices do move, so check the Dominican Republic guide for anything current before you rely on a number.

truetripcosts.com/dominican-republic/rules