Dominican Republic Survival Helps. Money. Tipping and More.

Tipping and more What to expect in most Dominican restaurants, cafes, bars, businesses in general, service can be slow and inattentive. It's not important if the place is high class of you are eating on the street. Don't let it upset you. It will not help at all. It will just make you miserable and give people something to look at when you lose your temper. Remember, you are on vacation.You are not going to change the way things are and always have been here on the island. No matter how upset you get. ( There is historical documentation which states that people of the tropical islands are slow, maybe due to the heat. Go to the historical document page to read some of these interesting documents for yourself.)

There is tax added to your bill and most places will also add a 10% gratuity.Not all places add this gratuity into the bill. make sure you look. This is usually(note I said USUALLY..sometimes they never receive this money) divided between ALL the restaurant workers in their bi-weekly pay check.You should always add a little extra tip in cash ( average pay for food servers is around $4000 pesos a month, sometimes less). If you are really pleased with the service you can add another 5-10% or more tip (this is usually split between the workers of that day).When you want to give a little extra to your waiter/waitress, give them the tip directly.*Be sure to check your bill very carefully. Sometimes other charges (friends drinks..etc.) could be placed on your bill that are not yours.

It is also nice to leave tips for people that help you. The person in your hotel. The maid that cleans your room everyday (many people leave gifts for the maids). The shoe shine boys in the park. Just remember if you leave them a tip in monies other than pesos please do not give them coin change (example: US 25 cents). Only paper bills. There is no money exchange place that will exchange coin. So this means that coins (other than Dominican Pesos) are worth nothing to them.

Remember do not take large amounts of money out of your pocket or purse where people on the street can see. You set yourself up for being robbed. And sometimes, even worse, you will get an entourage of shoe shine boys, street people and even dogs (yes, they can sense generous tourists also) following you asking for handouts (at times some can be quite aggressive).

Money

Dominican Republic uses the Dominican peso. It is always better to pay for things with the peso than with other currency. When you arrive in the country exchange the money you will need right away at the airport. When you get out of the airport you will usually find exchange rates to be better at banks or cambios (currency exchange offices). Check the posted rates for any given day. In general, hotels and restaurants will not give you as good a rate as cambio places.
BEWARE the money changers in the street. NEVER use this manner of exchanging your money. Ask around to find a reputable cambio office. Always check rates.
More helps and things to know about money and how to take care of it in Dominican Republic, also to see a picture of the peso, go to our money page here.
If you have a safe in your hotel use it. Don't carry all your cash and documents on your person. Just incase.
When you do exchange money, especially in a Cambio business make sure to count it in front of the exchanger. Many have been known to do the short change trick (folded money, counting fast..etc.).
It is best to use a Western Union office or bank to exchange your monies if you are not sure of a Cambio office. They are much more secure. Usually the rates are not too bad.
When you do exchange money make sure you put it away before going into the street. Carrying money in the open is like a hand written invitation to any potential robber in the area. Also if any vendor sees you flashing money they are for sure going to charge you top price for anything you purchase from them.
As with any large city you visit don't be stupid. No matter what city you visit in the world there is always someone around looking to take what others have. So don't make what you have obvious and that could save many potential problems.
I also suggest putting your money in different places on your person (I always do this anytime I visit a place where there are people milling about). Put a little in your shoe. Spread it out in 2 different pockets. Ladies put some in your bra. This way if you are robbed they will not get it all and you will not be stranded someplace with no food money or cab fare.
Using a bank machine. If you can find a swipe machine instead of one where you have to lose hold of your card it is better. This way, just in case, the machine eats your card, you don't have to go through all the frustration of calling your home bank, canceling the card, or worrying that someone will get hold of it and use it.
It is always more secure to use a bank machine located in a bank. This way if your money does not pop out (as sometimes is the case) you can go into the bank and deal with the problem there. A machine outside of a bank is not owned by the business where the machine is located and they cannot help you.
I suggest if you need money from a credit card, why not go into a bank and ask for the money from there (just make sure you have your passport and ID or they will not do the transaction).
Try not to pay for services in advance. Hotels and tours on line are usually fine but I have heard stories about someone booking on line only to find that there is no such hotel and no phone number to contact anyone. If you pay a small business, taxi, of person in the street, there is a good chance they will conveniently forget about the deposit and you will be out of luck (and money). There are many reputable businesses that are safe just try and get some referrals if possible. Just be cautious of the person in the street.
I give these suggestions only to make your vacation be hassle free. Many of these precautions are very obvious. They are precautions any wise human would use in any country throughout the world. The problem (of the non-problem) in Dominican Republic is once you see the glorious sun, the white sand beaches and have a little bit of the refreshing beverages you forget your inhibitions and let your guard down. Relax and enjoy, just be aware of your surroundings as with any place you travel the world over.
If something does happen, which it can happen to the most street savvy person in the world (even a thief can be robbed by another thief), don't let it ruin your vacation. If you are in a resort or hotel report any loss to them. If the loss or thievery happens in the street and you want to report it to the police and it will make you feel better, do so. Many times the police know the thieves in their area and will be able to recover an item. Especially in the tourist areas, they are usually willing to help.
Be aware when playing in the Casinos. They are not regulated as closely as in some other countries. Watch and fight for what you feel is your correct pay out and I suggest only playing games you know. Try not to use your credit card when playing this way you know your limit and they cannot take money without you knowing. Also be aware of people watching you and how much money you are winning. The men or women are known to follow those with money and make offers for a price (wink wink)
Travelers Checks are NOT the same as cash here in Dominican Republic. Maybe you will not have a problem cashing a travelers check in some of the larger hotels and resorts but, in general, most places DO NOT take them. Banks will exchange a travelers check (sometimes) but you may have to wait for hours for them to make sure the check is good. (Trust me on this one, my family was here and we waited 3 hours in the bank to exchange $100 in travelers checks in US Dollars and I even had an account in that bank). Many places, if they do cash the check, will charge you to do so. So in the end you pay for the travelers check, you pay more for the bank to make the exchange, and you wait a long time for all the transactions. Read my blog about our Travelers Checks /Fat Chance story.