Tipping at All-Inclusive Resorts in the Dominican Republic

Recently, I embarked on a trip to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. This was my first ever trip out of the country, and my first ever trip to an All-Inclusive resort. I did exstensive research before leaving for my trip, but one thing I was not fully prepared for was the tipping expectations at the resort. So here is everything I learned so hopefully you can be better prepared when you travel.

We stayed at the Cofresi Palm Beach Resort in Puerto Plata, which is part of the Lifestyle Vacation Club. It is important to note that tipping is not mandatory at all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. However, it is a common practice, and many guests choose to do so as a way of showing appreciation for good service. Tipping can also be a way of building relationships with staff and ensuring that you receive excellent service throughout your stay.

In terms of how much to tip, it is generally recommended to tip between $1-$5 per person, per day for housekeeping, and $5-$10 per person, per day for bartenders and servers. We only had housekeeping come into our room once during our stay, so we tipped them $5 halfway through our trip and another $5 before we left. We were told that if we tipped house keeping and left a note asking for more water, pop, or beer that they would stock our fridge with more drinks and it worked.

Since the alcohol was also included in our stay, we decided to tip $1 for each round of drinks we had. For the nice dinner reservations we had, we would tip $20. We also made sure to tip the bellhop for assisting with our luggage, and the shuttle driver when we took the shuttle to other parts of the resort.

Another important point to keep in mind is that it is not necessary to tip in US dollars. The Dominican peso is the official currency of the country, and most staff members are happy to receive pesos. However, at the resort we stayed at we were encouraged to tip with US dollars because the exchange rate was $1 USD to 56 Dominican pesos.

I also encourage you to make sure to have plenty of $1 and $5 bills before your trip. We made the mistake of going to the ATM and taking out several $20 instead of getting smaller bills. When we arrived, we were told we could exhange go to the exchange desk and they would give us change for our $20 to get small bills. However, we went to the desk three days in a row and were unable to exchange because the bank had not delivered the money, and then we had to wait for the attendant to count the money when it did arrive. Fortunately, we were able to ask the bartenders to exchage out $20 for smaller bills (and of course we tipped them for this nice gesture).

It is important to be respectful when tipping. Don't make a show of it or try to bargain with staff members for better service. Tipping should be a gesture of gratitude, not a way to demand better treatment. The tipping culture of all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be. By following these tips and being respectful of staff members, you can show your appreciation for their hard work and ensure that you receive excellent service throughout your stay.