Dominican Republic: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Dominican Republic feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 112 written places.
Merengue pace with Caribbean warmth; the all-inclusive coast and the real island differ happily.
✓ Considered polite
- Leave the resort at least once - Zona Colonial and the mountains repay it
- Greet with Buenas - it opens every interaction
- Try la bandera lunch - rice, beans and meat, the daily flag
- Use guaguas - shared minibuses - for the real local transport experience
✗ Better avoided
- Drink tap water - locals use botellones too
- Flash valuables in cities
- Expect punctuality - ahorita logic applies
- Skip bargaining at markets - it is expected, with a smile
Worth knowing
- Tipping: 10% service is on bills; a little extra is customary
- Dollars are widely accepted; pesos get better street prices
- Uber works in Santo Domingo and Santiago
- Hurricane season peaks August-October - insurance and flexibility then
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.