What a trip to the Dominican Republic really costs beyond the resort package

The headline resort price often does not include taxes, tips, excursions or anything you want outside the all-inclusive gates. Here is what to budget on top.

An all-inclusive package to Punta Cana or Puerto Plata can look like a fixed, all-in price, but several real costs sit outside that number.

What is usually not included

Resort fees, energy surcharges and local taxes (often an added 18% or more) are frequently charged at checkout rather than shown in the advertised nightly rate — always check the final total before booking, not just the headline price. Excursions booked through the resort (catamaran trips, ATV tours, day trips to Saona Island) typically cost $50–$150 per person and are marked up compared to booking independently or with a local operator once you arrive.

Cash, cards and currency

The Dominican peso (DOP) is the local currency, but US dollars are widely accepted in resort areas — again, usually at a rate worse than converting to pesos first. For anything outside the resort (a taxi into town, a local restaurant, souvenirs from a market), small amounts of peso cash go further than dollars. ATMs at banks in tourist towns are reliable; avoid currency counters at the airport, which post some of the worst rates in the country.

Tipping

Tipping is expected and appreciated at all-inclusive resorts even though a service charge may already be built into the package — a few dollars per day for housekeeping and bar staff, left in cash, is standard practice. Tour guides and drivers on excursions are typically tipped $5–$10 per person for a half- or full-day trip.