Restaurants: read the bill first
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism’s travel guide describes a 10% restaurant service charge and an additional 10% tip as customary. It distinguishes the service charge from ITBIS. Read your own bill and ask staff to explain any unfamiliar line before adding an amount.
For a simple budgeting example, 10% of a RD$2,000 meal subtotal is RD$200. That arithmetic is not a quotation of your final bill: taxes, included service and other items may appear separately. Confirm the amount you want to add instead of entering a figure without checking the receipt.
Cash or card
Ask whether an extra tip can be added to the card payment and check the total before authorising it. If you prefer cash, have a suitable denomination ready and make clear which payment is the bill and which is the optional tip.
For payments quoted in different currencies, ask which currency the amount refers to. Keep the receipt so you can check the transaction later. An unfamiliar total is a reason to ask for clarification, not to guess what has been included.
Hotels, tours and other assistance
For services outside a restaurant, ask the provider what the quoted price includes and whether its package has a gratuity policy. Do not automatically apply the restaurant percentage to every service.
Consider the actual assistance received and your own budget. If you want to thank a particular person, ask how to make sure the gratuity reaches them. Avoid treating a suggested amount in an old travel article as a mandatory fee.
Keep rental costs separate
The rental quote, deposit and any agreed delivery or one-way charges should be confirmed with Prestige before booking. An optional thank-you does not replace an invoiced charge or change the rental agreement.
For your travel budget, keep rental charges, dining and discretionary tips as separate items. The official tourism guidance linked below was reviewed on September 11, 2026.
Sources and current details: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism — travel tips