Getting in and out of the airport is pretty easy.  When you get there they take your picture, no getting around it.  You can buy the picture when you leave.  They do not hassle when you leave.  Buy the tourist card $10 per person, even for babies.  They will give you half after going thru passport control.  Keep these with your return tickets.  You will need it to leave or else you pay $10 per person again. You do not need to fill out the tourist card when you arrive in the DR.  Just pay for it and take it with you .  Fill it out sometime before you go back to the airport to leave.  This will save you a lot of time when you arrive in the DR.  Just go thru customs and then go grab your luggage.

Don’t bother with the people who want to help with your luggage, walk all the way to the area where the travel agencys are and you’ll find your group.  It’s not a far walk.  When it comes time to leave it takes a little longer.  They look through your luggage then you get in line.  The line seems to move slow.  Once you're through then you get one last shot at the duty free.  They also have a little playground downstairs near gate 5-8.

Many of the tour operators include the arrival tax or departure tax in your package. Have $10 available at arrival and $20 available at departure, per person. Be well informed about what your package includes and only pay the money if asked. Don't just hand it over! Feel free to use the luggage handlers if you feel you need them. They are not ALL land sharks out to get you. When you need a helping hand, they're there. If you don't need them, keep going and say a confident  "no, gracias!"