General Rules for tipping
Thank you for your response Malibook.
We (my wife and I) are really very generous when it comes to tipping.
We travel a lot (6 to 10 times per year) to the Caribbean, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
I have always maintained that, when you expend $3,000 to $5,000 in a trip, and then maybe another $3,000 or 4,000 in gambling, dining and entertainment; it seems a bit insensible and cheap not to care for and compensate the people who makes this possible. Of course along with big tips, you also must show the respect for the ones who are serving you and making your trip pleasurable.
We are, obviously, pretty much aware that with the big tip you almost always will receive the big smile and special attention. We never care if that smile is genuine or sarcarstic, for we know that with time and repeated visits, showing the respect we mentioned, it will, in due time, invariably become genuine.
We do it, whenever we go; however, I think it's specially important in DR, because the tips are a lot more significative and make a larger impact in the economic lives of the locals.