Dominican Republic Etiquette Tips

1. General Do's and Dont's

1. DO remember that Dominicans are very unpunctual. If you are invited to a dinner or party and you arrive on time, you might have to wait a little bit as the host might not even be ready at the start of the event.
2. DO try to learn some dancing steps before your trip (merengue, bachata, or sala), as you might be requested to dance whenever the music is playing.
3. DO have a sunblock and bug repellent spray. The sun in the Dominican Republic burns a lot and there are mosquitoes everywhere.
4. DONT drink tap water, as the water is not filtered through a safe purification system in the Dominican Republic.

2. Dress Attire

1. DO dress stylishly, but modestly. Dress nicely for casual events as well.
2. DO wear nice accessories.
3. DO wear conservative suits and ties for business events. It's recommended to wear navy or black colors for these events.
4. DO bring a cardigan with you as most of the restaurants, malls, stores, and other facilities have air conditioning.
5. DON'T wear shorts when planning to visit churches.

3. Table Manners

1. DO remember that dinner starts around 8 or 9 PM. But most restaurants stay upen from lunch time to dinner time, so you can always get an early dinner if you wish to.
2. DO put your knife and fork on your plate parallel with the handles facing to the right to show that you are done eating.
3. DO eat something before attending a dinner event or social event. It is customary to start drinking before eating.

4. Tipping

1. DO tip in restaurants, in beauty parlors, to valet parking boys. The tip normally is around 50 to 200 DOP (1 to 3.50 GBP)

5. Gift Giving and Accepting Gifts

1. DO give a high quality gift, but nothing too extravagant.
2. DO wrap the gift nicely.

6. Greetings

1. DO expect a kiss on the right cheek or a hug with women. Expect a pat on the back, a quick hug or a hand shake from men. Even if you're not familiar with them, they will greet you like this.
2. DO shake hands in formal events as a form of greetings, with men as well as women.

7. Visitors Etiquette

1. DO bring a gift to the host. Desserts, flowers, or an alcoholic beverage all make a nice gift.

8. Business Meetings

1. DO be punctual. The Dominicans have a very relaxed view of time, but as a foreigner, you will be expected to be punctual.
2. DO be aware that lunch is important to business relationships in the Dominican Republic.

9. Street Do's and Dont's

1. DO look both sides before crossing, even in a crosswalk. Traffic in the Dominican Republic is not the best so it's always better to be cautious.
2. DONT ride a motorcycle in the Dominican Republic, even less in the big cities, as for the ones not used to it, driving in the Dominican Republic can be quite difficult.
3. DONT drive a car in the Dominican Republic, it's better to order a taxi or an Uber, or drive along with Dominicans, because, as said before, driving in the Dominican Republic can be quite difficult.

Have a great trip to the Dominican Republic!