- Dominican Republic Standard Time:
Punta Cana is on Dominican Republic Standard Time and does not use daylight savings time; it is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4), and in the summer, aligns with US Eastern Standard time. A simply Google search entering “time in Punta Cana” will show you what the current time is in Punta Cana.
- Currency, Dominican Pesos (DOP):
The official monetary unit in the Dominican Republic is the peso (signed as RD$ or DOP), which is made up of 100 centavos. The coins are in value of 1, 5, 10 and 25 pesos and the bills are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000.
- Recommended Clothing:
Light clothing with long sleeves and pant legs is good for keeping off the mosquitoes. Choose natural fibers to beat the humidity, and pack a sweater for cooler nights, especially if you are coming during the dry season. Sensible shoes, a hat, and sunglasses are advised. Research about dress codes at various restaurants, and women should note that topless sunbathing is prohibited.
Keep in mind that the use of sunscreen lotion every day is very important during your visit to Bavaro, Punta Cana. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are very damaging to your skin, and the overexposure to them, can cause serious damage and discomfort, so we strongly recommend the use of a lotion with a SPF 50 or more.
- Taxes and Tipping:
Taxes are generally included at the hotels and restaurants prices, and that information should be readily available to you when you book your vacation. For tipping, give 5% to 10% of the price of a service. You should tip the following:
Room maids, airport porters or bellmen are tipped, servers, bartenders or people you consider they deserved. Excursions are also tipped, usually about $5 for a half-day trip and $10 for entire day trips. You can tip other people, such as gardeners and security personnel; it will be much appreciated by the locals.