18 insider tips on how to save money in Punta Cana during an all-inclusive vacation

 Punta Cana is the No. 1 spot in the Caribbean for an all-inclusive vacation, but it might be expensive if you don’t pay attention to the details. Therefore, it’s important to know how you can save some money during your holiday in Punta Cana, especially when staying in an all-inclusive resort. While your resort is usually paid for beforehand, there are still lots of opportunities to spend (unnecessary) money during your trip. This isn’t a bad thing per sé, but it’s important to know where you can save money in Punta Cana. Living in the area for many years and having visited more than 50 resorts in the Dominican Republic, I am happy to help you with some insider tips on where you can considerably cut back your Punta Cana travel budget, how to save some money for your next trip and where you can find the best Punta Cana deals and promotions. In other words: how to enjoy paradise without breaking the bank.

Please note that this guide is particularly aimed at travelers going to all-inclusive resorts. If you are planning to stay in guesthouses or AirBnB, check out this full guide on how you can visit Punta Cana on a budget as an individual traveler.
If you are interested in certain prices of Punta Cana such as supermarkets, hotel stays, bus rides and restaurants, continue reading here.
For a list of the best cheap all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, continue reading here.

Completely UPDATED by your Punta Cana expert Chris: April 2025

At a glance: how much you can save in Punta Cana when adhering to these 18 travel hacks

You can find all the saving tips explained below in detail, including my experience and what you can do to avoid spending too much. To start with, here is just an overview of all the saving hacks so you know what to expect when planning your vacation in Punta Cana:

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How to save money in Punta Cana: before the trip

Compare prices when booking: book a package or flight and hotel separately 

 The first step when planning your vacation in Punta Cana is to research flights and hotels (if you have not already booked it). While you can do this separately for flights and hotels, you can also check for holiday packages including both (which usually includes a transfer as well). But what is better in order to save money for your Punta Cana vacation?

 It depends!

 I often hear people talking that booking a package to all-inclusive destinations like Punta Cana is much cheaper, as you get it all from one company. Others say, booking all parts independently is more recommendable as you can get the best prices and promotions from each source. The truth lies somewhere in between and that’s why you have to compare – or let an expert get the best prices for you.

 One reason why there are so many travel websites out there is that each one offers certain advantages – but there is hardly a company which always offers the best prices, not even the big ones. Company A might have better rates on hotel chain Z, company B has the best connection of promo flight seats, company C is best in creating cheap packages, but just with selected suppliers and company D has the best price filters – just as an example. Therefore, it pays out to compare at least a few prices to make sure you get the best deal.

 Therefore, when planning your all-inclusive holiday in the Dominican Republic, I suggest from my own experience the following sites to find the best prices – just two in each category, to keep it not too time-consuming for you when doing the vacation research:

 Flights:

– Google Flights*: best search engine to get a general overview about prices and to do flexible flight searches, for example on various departure airports
– Kayak*: recommendable meta-search engine for a good overview on certain offers, also offers specific combinations you hardly can find in other search engines

 Hotels:

– Expedia*: I have done several price comparisons and Expedia often has one of the lowest prices on all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, plus you can earn rewards and loyalty points.
– Tripadvisor*: read reviews and compare prices on different all-inclusive resorts with their user-friendly metasearch engine

 Flights+Hotel as a package:

– CheapCaribbean*: among all-inclusive vacation packages in Punta Cana, CheapCaribbean is on average the company with some of the lowest prices
– JetBlue Vacations*: combining attractive hotel rates with flight promotions in a dynamic packaging process, you might get some really good deals here

 If you don’t have time to compare, send me a request and I’ll do all that work for you.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: 100-500 USD per person and up

Further information about this saving recommendation:
– my guide on how to find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana,
– my list of the best cheap all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.

Editor’s Choice: the best experiences 2025

Most unique experience in a small group: Authentic rum tasting* (rating 4.81/5)
Best Rated Punta Cana excursion: Isla Saona Premium in small groups* (rating 4.95/5)
Most booked through Punta Cana Travel Blog: Small-Group Snorkeling* (rating 4.92/5)
Best off-the-beaten-track excursion: Montana Redonda & Costa Esmeralda* (rating 4.77/5)
Best excursion for family fun: Jungle Buggies + Zipline Combo* (rating 4.89/5)
New and trending for 2025: Mimosa Cruise*

Not the right tour for you?
Check out the 45 best Punta Cana excursions here at Punta Cana Travel Blog!

Save money and book deals

 Talking about deals … when planning your Punta Cana vacation, make sure to keep an eye on the current promotions. Sometimes, there are some great Punta Cana deals out there.

 Hotels are offering interesting deals which might end up in tremendous savings. While you can ignore the big promotion tags catching your eyes with 50% or more, savings of up to 25% are possible. Just imagine you book a hotel priced at 500 USD per night per room for a week, a 25% discount is a whopping 875 USD weekly discount you can use on other parts of your Punta Cana vacation, for example excursions. Just make sure to watch the deal of the day or check out other promotions on the websites of the companies mentioned above. Let’s say you are undecided between Hyatt Ziva and Secrets Cap Cana and you find a promotion the other day with a significant discount on one of them, book the cheaper one, which helps a lot not to break your travel budget.

On the other hand, if you are not tied to one specific resort, you can also achieve tremendous savings. There are several resorts which are extremely similar in terms of quality, amenities and service. While in one period resort A can be significantly cheaper, for some other travel dates, resort B might be the most affordable option. Being flexible keeps your total travel cost down!

Travel resources

Punta Cana Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
Santo Domingo Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
All-Inclusive Resorts: Info | Book It*
Apartments & Villas: Info | Book It*
Excursions: Info | Book It*
Rental Car: Info | Book It*
Road-Trips & Self-Drive Tours: Info | Plan It
I have spent many years in Punta Cana visiting all the beaches, resorts, attractions and hidden gems. Feel free to comment below for any questions I can help you with.

 Last but not least you might ask why you should ignore promotion price tags with savings of 50% and more? 

 Some resorts have created their price schedule in a way so that they can always give a discount between 40 and 65%. Hyatt, Hard Rock and Excellence are notorious for it, just to name a few. For example, their rack rate is 500 USD per person per night. You see that they currently have a promotion running with 60% OFF, selling you the room for 200 USD. While this looks like an amazing offer (and the room might be a bargain for 200 USD), you effectively don’t get 60% off, because no one ever books this room for 500 USD as this kind of hotel ALWAYS has promotions running between 35% and 60% off. Again, this is just an example, but I hope it makes it a bit clearer where you should focus on when researching for your Punta Cana vacation in an all-inclusive resort.

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: 500 USD and up (per stay)

Further information about this saving recommendation:
– a comprehensive guide about various points you should consider when booking your hotel in Punta Cana, so make sure to have a look at this article
– 5 resorts you should not book – or only if you exactly know what you’re doing (video)*

Be flexible with travel dates and departure airports

We just talked about being flexible – this can not only save you money on your hotel booking but also when selecting your flights, especially when you’re flexible regarding departure airport, connecting flights and travel dates. Savings of 200-300 USD per person are easily achieved using these methods, one of the best travel hacks you can apply for a vacation in Punta Cana.

 As you might know, nearly all prices for flights and hotels are determined by the occupancy, the demand and the booking situation. So, if pricing for an extended weekend trip to Punta Cana from Friday to Tuesday has increased, why not book a better deal from Thursday to Monday. It might also pay out to search for different departure airports when having various international hubs within driving distance. If being particularly flexible with dates and airports, you can also check deal-finding websites such as Secret Flying* or Air Fare Watch Dog* which might get you huge savings on the flight portion of your trip.

The same goes for your departure airport. If you see that flights from Chicago to Punta Cana are very expensive, why not check Milwaukee, Indianapolis or Grand Rapids. If prices for direct flights from Atlanta to Punta Cana are skyrocketing, why not consider a connection flight via Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando or other US airports. And last but not least, if your favorite carriers like American Airlines or Delta Airlines is charging 700 USD round-trip and Spirit or Frontier are only charging 300 USD (which ends up being around 400-500 USD considering additional fees), why not use one of the cheaper airlines even though they are not as popular. In the end, you just need to get to Punta Cana, which you will manage with all airlines mentioned.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: 300 USD and up (per person)

Further information: the best flight hacks for finding cheap flights to Punta Cana (video)*

You can also watch this video directly in the following embedded window – don’t forget to subscribe here to the YouTube channel of Punta Cana Travel Blog*.

Get your (mandatory) e-ticket for free

Once you have booked your vacation (flights, transfers and hotel), there are 3 things you HAVE to sort out before you start your trip.

The first one is the e-ticket, which is the online immigration form for the Dominican Republic. There is a step-by-step guide here on how to fill it out.

Step 3Step 2Step 4

While the e-ticket is free, there is a very important point where a lot of travelers lose money: they use unnecessary visa service websites or even scam websites and pay up to 90 USD for their e-ticket – something which easily can be done for free.

Therefore, make sure to use the official e-ticket website* and fill out your e-ticket for free before your trip, ideally a couple of days or weeks before your departure

Amount you can save with this insider tip: up to 90 USD per person

Further information:

Buy your international health insurance

The second very important task to do before your trip to Punta Cana is to buy your travel insurance – especially health insurance. While this will cost you a few dollars (but usually it’s much cheaper than people think and already available starting from around 20 USD – compare insurances and prices here*), it can save you a fortune if you’re getting sick or need medical help while staying in the Dominican Republic.

Remember that most national insurance schemes don’t cover you in foreign countries. This being said, if you travel without valid health insurance and need to seek medical help, this will easily cost you 1000 USD and up. If you need to get hospitalized (which happens pretty quickly in Punta Cana as some resort doctors have good contracts with the hospitals), bills of 10.000 USD and more are a common occurrence. Your health insurance will cover all of these costs, allowing you to enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.

Please note that there is a difference between trip insurance and health insurance. While trip insurance allows you to cancel before you start your trip and refunds you afterwards if the conditions for a free cancellation are met, health insurance covers the incidental costs once you’re in the destination and need medical help.

Not buying health insurance is one of the most costly mistakes travelers do when traveling to Punta Cana – and every week I see posts or get e-mails with people seeking for advice what they should do with their extremely expensive hospital bill. Don’t be one of them – take out your health insurance now (compare prices here* if you don’t have one yet).

Amount you can save: 1000 USD per person and more

Further information:
– 10 typical mistakes travelers make when planning their trip to Punta Cana
– great, easy and handy comparison tool for different insurance types*

Get your SIM Card / internet connection sorted out

And No. 3 of the aforementioned important things to organize before your trip is your SIM card. As you might know, roaming can get pretty expensive. Charges of 15-20 USD per day or even more, just for a few MB in case you forget to turn off your mobile data once you land in the Dominican Republic, are pretty common. That’s why you need to sort out your internet connection before you travel, as there are various cheaper options than using the roaming data on demand.

The best options are:

• using the resort WiFi: free
• buying a local SIM Card: cheap, but a bit bothersome (as the airport doesn’t sell SIM cards)
• getting an eSIM: a bit more expensive than local SIM cards, but convenient and easy-to-use
• buying a roaming plan: from your telecommunication carrier – decent value if you use it a lot

There is an article here about how to get a SIM card in Punta Cana where I explain all these options in detail (soon to follow).

Compared to the pay-as-you-go plan from your telecommunication provider, you can save at least 15 USD per day when organizing your internet connection before your vacation in Punta Cana. This is up to 100 USD per week and per device, which adds up for a family of 4.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: approx. 100 USD per person

Further information: how to get a SIM card in Punta Cana (soon to follow)

How to save money in Punta Cana: arriving and getting around

Decline extra services during the flight

 We’ve already mentioned some tips above on how to save money when booking your flights, but there is much more you can do to keep spendings low for your all-inclusive holiday in Punta Cana. Especially the extra services like seat reservations, meals, or baggage can add up so here are a few travel tips for Punta Cana to avoid paying too much on your flight, especially when using low-cost airlines:

1) Think twice if you need seat reservations:
Talk to your travel companions if you really need to pay for seat reservations. Just keep in mind that with most airlines, even if you will accept auto-selection of your seats upon check-in, you will be seated together – exceptions might apply for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. This being said, considering a seat reservation costs around 25 USD on average, you can save around 200 USD for a party of 4 for a return flight (or even more if you have connecting flights), just by accepting that you get seated in a random row. I have flown over 400 times and have never paid for seat reservations (except for some emergency rows for long-haul flights) – I have literally saved more than 10.000 USD like this.

2) Consider carefully which (extra) baggage you need:
Not only low-cost airlines but also legacy carriers like American Airlines, Delta Airlines or Air Canada charge extra for baggage when flying to Punta Cana (as long as you don’t have a higher frequent flyer status). United Airlines even charges extra for a carry-on. Most people pay extra for 1 bag per person without further thinking, but is this necessary? For a 4- or 5-day trip to Punta Cana, one large checked bag/suitcase per couple (or 2 for a family of 4) should be enough. After all, you are traveling to Punta Cana and not to the Arctic Circle. If you’re an experienced traveler, you could even try to travel with hand luggage only, as you won’t need that many different kinds of clothes in a resort.

Why you can trust me & Punta Cana Travel Blog

With my extensive travel history and industry background, I can offer the best advice from the traveler’s perspective and tourism professional perspective.

All articles on Punta Cana Travel Blog are written with love & passion, all from my first-hand experiences and without any AI. Furthermore
– I have been living in the Dominican Republic for approx. 6 years
– I have visited more than 50 all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic
– I designed hundreds of tailor-made itineraries for a tour operator in the Dominican Republic
– I have visited more than 40 waterfalls, all 31 provinces and 70 beaches in the Dominican Republic
– I have a bachelor’s degree in tourism and know all the secrets of the industry
– I have spent a total of 373 nights in accommodation in the Dominican Republic, visiting 155 hotels
– I have worked my entire life in the tourism industry and am a passionate traveler as well
Read more about me here or send me a travel coaching request if want to take advantage of my expert knowledge of Punta Cana’s tourism.

3) Don’t buy food at the airport or on the plane:
As mentioned, extra services during your Punta Cana trip can add up so try to keep spendings down. This is also valid for food until you arrive in your resort, especially as you might know that food on the way is either super expensive (airport) or super tiny (airplanes) – or both. Therefore, bring some snacks or even better a meal with you you can eat on the way. Sandwiches, avocados or fruits go a long way and are easy to bring from home (+ healthy). Instead of spending 40 USD on airport food for a couple, you can easily bring food of the same value, which just cost you 10 USD.

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: 150 USD per person and more

Do NOT exchange money at the airport

Once you have arrived at Punta Cana Airport, please resist your first intuition and do NOT exchange money at the airport. Irrespective that you won’t need Dominican money for a typical resort holiday if you’re coming with USD (read more here about the currency in the Dominican Republic), the exchange rates at the airport are horrendous. Even though they officially don’t charge a commission, they simply keep more than 20% of your money by offering an unfavorable exchange rate.

Here is an example: when I last arrived at Punta Cana Airport, the official market exchange rate was 1:63. The only available money exchange at Punta Cana airport only offered 1:48. This being said, if you would have changed 1000 USD into Dominican Pesos, you would have received only 48.000 DOP at the airport instead of the real value of 63.000 USD. That’s like losing 238 USD or 23.8% – one of the few scams in Punta Cana you should be aware of.

You won’t get the best market rate at the resort either, but usually, you can change there for something around 55-58 DOP per USD. Alternatively, for the best rates, head to the local banks or money exchanges like Caribe Express, where you get exchange rates pretty close to the official market rate.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: up to 238 USD

Further information:
– the currency in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic
– the typical scams in Punta Cana (incl. the airport exchange)

Think twice if you really need this upgrade in your all-inclusive resort

 Once you have arrived at your all-inclusive resort with your airport transfer, you can breathe the first ocean breeze while proceeding into the lobby. At the reception, chances are that the check-in agent asks you for an optional upgrade (for a fee obviously). While this fancy VIP level ocean view room might indeed sound very tempting, think twice if you really need the extra amenities, particularly considering the costs. A 50 USD per person per night doesn’t sound much at the first glance, but if you stay a week, the extra cost will add up to 700 USD for a couple. This money might be better invested into two new flights to the Caribbean, so think twice if the upgrade is a great deal or if you better want to save this money. Particularly for longer stays, an upgrade is quite costly.

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: 25 USD and more per person per night 

Keep costs down and use public transport or Uber in Punta Cana

 Once you have settled into your all-inclusive resort and enjoyed your first night in Punta Cana, you might also want to leave your resort, either just for exploring the surrounding, going to a supermarket or to visit a certain attraction in Punta Cana. While taxis are readily available in Punta Cana and can be taken from all resorts, they are quite expensive as even short hops will cost you at least 25 to 30 USD.

 While a taxi is without a doubt the most comfortable way to move around in Punta Cana, it’s worth considering the other options you have: public transport and Uber.

Get your free e-book now – “16 amazing things-to-do for free in Punta Cana”!

 Public transport is the cheapest way of exploring Punta Cana. For 1 USD you can hop on a mini- or maxi van (called “guagua” in the Dominican Republic) and get to any place along the routes the busses are plying. Here is a list of resorts that are connected with public transport.

Alternatively, you can take a motoconcho (kind of a taxi on a motorcycle) and take short rides for 1 or 2 USD. However, please note, even public transport is super cheap and you can save a lot of money while traveling Punta Cana on a budget, they are quite uncomfortable. Make sure to read my full guide about public transport in Punta Cana to see if this is something for you.

If you don’t have to desperately save every single dollar, Uber is a good combination of taxis and public transport. As a thumb rule, Uber in Punta Cana costs 50-70% less than ordinary taxis in Punta Cana, so you can save considerably during your all-inclusive vacation if you want to venture off your resort.

For more information about transport rates in general, you can check out my article about the prices in Punta Cana.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: up to 30 USD for each ride in the Punta Cana Area

How to save money in Punta Cana: planning your excursions in Punta Cana

Save money when comparing excursions

 I assume (and hope ) that you are not only visiting Punta Cana to see your all-inclusive resort, but also to explore the surrounding area and the unique treasures the Dominican Republic has to offer. There are plenty of excursions you can book to see the natural beauty, to learn about the Dominican culture, to explore the Caribbean Sea or to simply have some fun, but among the gazillion of excursions, it might be difficult to decide what is the best tour in Punta Cana. 

 Therefore, it is important to compare excursions and their prices. While it does not always pay off to book the cheapest of all excursions (because you might pay double if certain services are not included or simply due to poor performance of the provider), you certainly can save on your excursions in Punta Cana when checking different tour operators. 

TRAVEL COACHING

Save money and time!

Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Is it difficult for you to decide what and where to book? Would you like to take advantage of someone with years of experience in the tourism industry (knowing all the travel hacks ) and living right in the place where you would like to spend your holiday?
That’s what my personal travel coaching is for. I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. All the information I send you are crafted with love and passion – and comes with a money-back guarantee. Let me know how I can help you (check my packages here) and send me a request here!
For further information, you can also find verified reviews about my travel coaching services here*.

 To start with, you can check with the two biggest excursion websites, Viator* and GetYourGuide*. They have hundreds of tours in Punta Cana, so I am sure you find the right one. Before booking one, check back here on Punta Cana Travel Blog for further information on the specific type of tour.

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: 10-30 USD per person per excursion

Filter for cheap excursions or multi-activity trips

 Ok, now you know where to book excursions in Punta Cana, but it is also not easy to find the right one, as there are hundreds of tour operators and thousands of different excursions out there. If you want to get the best out of it for as little money as possible, here are two super travel hacks for your Punta Cana holiday to keep your travel budget low.

1) Book particular cheap excursions:
Typical excursion prices in Punta Cana usually vary between around 60 to 120 USD per person per trip. This is also what you have to pay if you want to go to the best of the best attractions in Punta Cana. However, if you don’t have a specific place in mind and just want to see some different impressions of Punta Canas’ nature and culture, you can also book many different excursions for 50 USD or less. Especially cultural trips or dune buggy adventures in Punta Cana can be great Punta Cana adventures for nearly no money, but also some party boats in Punta Cana sometimes offer promotions for under 50 USD.

The following excursions are a great option if traveling to Punta Cana on a budget:

2) Book multi-activity excursions:
Another option to save during your all-inclusive trip to Punta Cana is booking multiple activity excursions – they combine various tours in one day. The big advantage here is that you only have to leave your resort once for let’s say three activities (for example dune buggy, snorkeling and parasailing) instead of three times and it is also much cheaper than booking three different excursions for three different days.

 In the following widget, you can see some of the best multi-activity excursions in Punta Cana.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: approx. 50 USD per person per excursion

Further information about this saving recommendation: the best cheap excursions below 50 USD

Double-check prices if booking right at the resort

 I know that not all of you want to book their excursions in Punta Cana beforehand. This is no problem, as it can also be done on spot – either through the internet of your all-inclusive resort when you are relaxing on your sunchair or with your tour operator representative in the hotel lobby. While it certainly can pay off to have a contact person right in the resort, especially in case of problems, changes or special requests, it is also recommended to double-check the prices of your excursion when booking right in the resort. Usually, personal assistance comes with an extra markup, which is fine if you prefer this service. 

Amount you can save with this insider tip: 10-20 USD per person per excursion

Further information about this saving recommendation: the best excursions in Punta Cana, recommended from a travel expert & local

TOP 12 Punta Cana Excursions

Isla Saona: Saona Info | Book it*
Private Saona Island Tour: Private Tour Info | Book it*
Dune buggy and ATV excursion: Buggy Info | Book it*
Punta Cana Ziplining: Zipline Info | Book it*
Party boat & booze cruise: Party Boat Info | Book it*
Best Nightlife Show: Coco Bongo Info | Book it*
Scape Park Cap Cana & Blue Lagoon: Blue Lagoon Info | Book it*
Los Haitises National Park: Los Haitises Info | Book it*
Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo Info | Book it*
Samaná (Salto El Limón & Cayo Levantado): Samaná Info | Book it*
Helicopter & airplane tours: Helicopter Info | Book it*
Whale watching (Jan-Mar only): Whale watching Info | Book it*

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the 40+ best Punta Cana tours!

Do excursions on your own (by rental car or public transport)

 You don’t need a group excursion for every place you want to visit. There are many things-to-do in Punta Cana where you can go on your own – either by public transport, Uber or with a rental car. Playa Macao, Montaña Redonda, Higuey, Santo Domingo and Los Haitises are a few of these options. As excursions in Punta Cana easily can cost up to 130 USD per person, you can save considerably when exploring these places on your own.

 If you need some further ideas on what you can do in Punta Cana without a guided excursion, check out my 16 free things-to-do in Punta Cana as well as the 13 best day trips from Punta Cana. 

If you are not sure if a rental car is the right thing for you, continue reading if you shall rent a car in Punta Cana.

Amount you can save with this insider tip: 15-35 USD per person per excursion

Further information about this saving recommendation:
– the best day trips from Punta Cana
– the best things to do in Punta Cana
– the best Punta Cana adventures
– the best FREE activities in Punta Cana
– how to rent a car in Punta Cana

How to save money in Punta Cana: buying souvenirs and other stuff

Negotiate!

 One of the first rules when traveling in Punta Cana and buying products locally is to negotiate everything that doesn’t have fixed price tags. While you don’t negotiate in the supermarket, in the resort (for official resort services), when using public transport (guaguas) or when visiting local bars and restaurants, you have to negotiate when buying anything from beach vendors, when using taxis and motoconchos, when visiting souvenir shops or whenever someone is offering something outside of an ordinary store. 

 While it might be difficult to know the correct price, there is a simple trick and insider tip to find it out. When someone mentions their opening price to you, reply with a ridiculously low price. The vendor will seem to be outraged at the first moment but will get into the game of negotiation soon. Stick with your price as long as possible. If the vendor doesn’t sell it for the price you name, walk away. If he doesn’t prevent you from going away, the price was indeed too low. In this case, go to the next shop (or product) and repeat the process with a slightly higher price. 

 By following this strict negotiation rule, you will save hundreds of dollars and get great deals in Punta Cana, especially when buying a lot of souvenirs to take home from Punta Cana.

Plus, very important: when using any kind of service, ask BEFORE for the price. Like this, you will prevent inconvenient surprises afterwards …

Amount you can save with this insider tip: a lot … 

Go to a supermarket to buy souvenirs

 However, there is another way to save even more on Punta Cana souvenirs, especially when looking for food-/drink-based products to take home, such as local chocolate, Caribbean rum, Dominican cigars or the delicious local coffee. You can find all these things in typical souvenir stores, but why not going to the local supermarket in Punta Cana and buying the same brands for a fraction of the price? 

 There are a couple of big supermarkets in the Punta Cana area, of which particularly Jumbo, Sirena, Nacional and Lama are recommendable to buy local products. You can buy all the products mentioned for the lowest available price and might even have a bigger selection of unique organic local produce, such as peanuts from Dajabón, honey from Punta Rucia (both in the northwest of the Dominican Republic), cashews from the Azua area, sweets (“dulces”) from Higuey, coconut oil from Samaná or spices from different parts of the Dominican Republic. Those are authentic and cheap souvenirs and you can save a fortune compared to the typical souvenir stores in Punta Cana. Check out this article here for typical prices in Punta Cana.

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: hundreds of dollars, depending on the number of souvenirs you are planning to buy.

Pack wisely and don’t buy stuff at the hotel shop

 Last but not least, if you are not fancy to venture out to a local supermarket and buy Dominican produce, you can of course also enjoy the entire holiday in your all-inclusive resort. Just if you do so, pack wisely and don’t rely on the shops all the all-inclusive resorts have on their grounds. They are simply overpriced (one of the typical scams in Punta Cana) and shopping there isn’t any kind of fun. Bring enough sunscreen, sunglasses, cigarettes and all the other things you might need from home to avoid shopping at these places. A tube of sunscreen can easily cost 35 USD, cigarettes close to 10 USD and so on … 

 Amount you can save with this insider tip: 10-20 USD per product

Further information:
– packing hacks: things other travelers to Punta Cana forget but you definitely should bring
– the most commons cams in Punta Cana

Don’t fall for tourist traps

 Another travel tip for your Punta Cana vacation is to not fall into tourist traps. In general, it is pretty safe to travel to Punta Cana. As most people tend to stay in their resorts or explore the surrounding on excursions, there is not so much space for scams as you find them in big cities like New York, Paris or Cairo. However, there are a few things you should take care of, among them:

– don’t attend the timeshare presentation in the resorts (they usually invite you for breakfast)
– don’t buy excursions in Punta Cana from beach vendors (except if you really know what you do)
– always ask for the price first before buying something on the street or before entering a taxi
– don’t buy cigars or souvenirs with beach vendors (again, except if you really know it is good quality – mostly it isn’t)
– avoid the beach guys with the monkey, parrot and/or lizard – they will charge you extortionate fees for the photos

You might ask why? Here are all these scams in Punta Cana explained.

 There are some more precautions you might take depending on how you organize your Punta Cana trip. Read all of them in our extensive article if it is safe to travel to Punta Cana.

Amount you save with this insider tip: hard to quantify, but definitely a lot of stress and precious time

Further information: all the scams in Punta Cana explained

Are you looking for further information to determine your travel budget? Check out the following articles:
– Is Punta Cana expensive? A guide about all the prices in Punta Cana …
– How to travel Punta Cana on a budget …

What are your saving tips for a Punta Cana vacation? Do you have further ideas to lower the costs while on holiday in an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic? Let me know your comments, I am happy to read them!

SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS – I WOULD APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.

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