Going to Dominican... advice?

[Konowl]

Much like the Cuba thread, I'd like to start one for the Dominican. Stuff to do etc etc. I'm staying just outside of Peurto Plata.

[DavidY]

Get your malaria shot first.

Dave

[yatko]

If you like child prostution, risk of getting robbed in daylight at a gunpoint at your face. Dom. rep is for you.

If not. Don't go.

[tet8suo]

I went to Breezes in Puerto Plata last November, there were security guards with rifles guarding the buildings every night.

[Konowl]

If you like child prostution, risk of getting robbed in daylight at a gunpoint at your face. Dom. rep is for you.

If not. Don't go.

Asshat, I'm already going. Stop thread crappin.

[ilfsoy]

http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/

[trini]

dont go too close to the hatian border.

[vr6man25]

DR is a safe place to go.
FIRST is if u go alone then your looking for trouble. SO GO WITH A GROUP.
GO TO A CLUB CALLED LATINOS. great spanish dancing there.
I SUGGEST GOING TO A TOUR CALLED 7 water falls.
AMAZING. 70$ usa i think it was
well worth it and bring your own under water camera.

[jus]

From what I remember of Dominican... it was a nice place. Nice and quiet. Beaches were very beautiful and staff were always courteous and polite.

I remember Dominican as being quite boring though. Like others have said, you mostly stay confined to the resort. So I guess the resort is what makes/breaks it if you're looking for excitement. We stayed at the Barcelo Bavaro and it was ok. Staff tried hard to entertain us, but it becomes the same bit after a few days. You'll probably quickly tire of them trying to teach you salsa or pool aerobics.

The one thing that sticks out in my mind is to always always drink water. I guess that goes for any place, but Dominican is the only place where my sister passed out from dehydration ( our family's been all over the caribbean, so its not like its our first time in a tropical location ).

Oh, and I remember getting the runs from eating their fruit... If you've got a weaker stomach, I'd stay away from anything that's not cooked - for the first few days anyway.

Oh, and one other thing. If you've never been to one of these resorts before, you'll probably notice that tourists from other countries are comparitively rude. I remember they'd always try to cut in lines or argue with staff about not getting a table at an "a la carte" restaurant (even though you had to make reservations and they obviously didn't). I guess try to roll with it; you're on vacation after all. And, if worse comes to worse, find the most uncooked fish/seafood you can find from the buffet and kindly suggest that they try it! j/k

Well, I guess that wasn't so much advice as anecdotes... but perhaps you can take something from my ramblings. Have fun in Dominican!

[Gold Monkey]

Don't eat the red meat!!!!

[NDman]

Just practice your routine of drink-eat-drink-eat-pass out-eat-drink-eat-drink-drink *hic* pass out. Have a great trip. And enjoy the sun.

[skuntbehavior]

If you like child prostution, risk of getting robbed in daylight at a gunpoint at your face. Dom. rep is for you.

If not. Don't go.

what are you talking about? lol.
you know that most of the resorts have armed guards patrolling the grounds most of the time right? most of them aren't formally trained either, they are just hired to protect the hotel and patrons.

[aquariaguy]

what are you talking about? lol.
you know that most of the resorts have armed guards patrolling the grounds most of the time right? most of them aren't formally trained either, they are just hired to protect the hotel and patrons.

lol, thats a scary thought if they are not "trained" properly, carrying assault rifles around. Its like, if someone comes to rob you, they are just gonna spray. Just the thought of having armed guards makes it sound scary.

[Umbearto]

Puerto Plata is ok; I found better "Nightlife" in Sosua. It's about 20k from PP. It's been over 10 years since I was down there, so things may have changed considerably; but I never had any problems, or spoke to any tourists that did.

I covered a lot of the island by Motorbike, rentals were cheap and a little 125cc will allow you to blast off to Playa Grande and other less touristy locales for a little fun off-the-beaten-path. Santo Domingo, the Capital can be worth a visit as their older buildings and post-Columbus Architecture is tres-cool.

Depending on the season, fresh Oysters can be had in abundance for cheap. Slam a few dozen with frozen Mango Daquiries!

I love the place; I spent a month there for $1000cnd and didn't have to say no to myself too often. It's good, it's cheap; put on your dancin' shoes, and prepare for the time of your life..!

[UncleSteve]

Even if you stay at an all-inclusive, have a dinner at Cafe Cito in Puerto Plata. The place is a little hole in the wall, but I had the *best* filet mignon in my life there. The place is owned by an ex-pat Canadian who reminded me of a character out of Humphrey Bogart movie.

Stephan

[yatko]

what are you talking about? lol.
you know that most of the resorts have armed guards patrolling the grounds most of the time right? most of them aren't formally trained either, they are just hired to protect the hotel and patrons.

Some people I stayed at the same hotel with are robbed at gunpoint moments after they arrived to hotel at their room.

That's what I'm talking about.

[squall458]

Some people I stayed at the same hotel with are robbed at gunpoint moments after they arrived to hotel at their room.

That's what I'm talking about.

yikes man, now im sure i wont visit, im use to armed guards from cuba, but rifles? thats too much for me

[tlamm]

More details would be needed to make this even remotely credible.. I've been to the DR twice and visit all of the DR forums almost daily.. Never once heard of someone getting robbed at gunpoint, or even robbed..

goto http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/ if you want good DR info..



Some people I stayed at the same hotel with are robbed at gunpoint moments after they arrived to hotel at their room.

That's what I'm talking about.

[yatko]

Ya man. I need to prove it to you. Do you need DNA samples as well?

[tlamm]

Yup, wouldnt hurt. Its easy to make a comment, now prove it..

Ya man. I need to prove it to you. Do you need DNA samples as well?

[yatko]

You are one of those 'if it is not on the internet, I don't beleive it' types, aren't you?

[tlamm]

Nope, and i'm also not one of those "its easy to say something, then say something else, but not provide details or facts to prove it, but keep replying with out details" kinda guys..

Seriously how hard is it to say something like, I went to Breezes POP on Jan 13th 2003 and the people beside be said they got robbed at 12:30 in the afternoon.. Just post the details if its true..


You are one of those 'if it is not on the internet, I don't beleive it' types, aren't you?

[yatko]

Naah, you are just one of those types not worth sharing my personal details.

[NDman]

Seriously how hard is it to say something like, I went to Breezes POP on Jan 13th 2003 and the people beside be said they got robbed at 12:30 in the afternoon.. Just post the details if its true..

How exactly is that hard for yatko to type this kind of stuff, really? But you seem determined not to believe him anyway. yatko could have had the details down to the tee and someone could still question "well what happened to that minute? detail please... and why should I believe you?" ;)

[tlamm]

There you go. So to me your comments are false. If your not man enough to put up a couple of simple facts, I say your making it all up..



Naah, you are just one of those types not worth sharing my personal details.

[yatko]

Wow, you caught me Detective Holmes!

[tlamm]

You sortof made my point. How hard would it have been to put in a couple of facts.. He didnt mention one fact..

Just being the voice of reason. Beleave him all you want, your choice..

How exactly is that hard for yatko to type this kind of stuff, really? But you seem determined not to believe him anyway. yatko could have had the details down to the tee and someone could still question "well what happened to that minute? detail please... and why should I believe you?" ;)

[tlamm]

Guess so..

Wow, you caught me Detective Holmes!

[NDman]

Just being the voice of reason. Beleave him all you want, your choice..

Ditto. Did I say I believe him? I merely give him the benefit of the doubt. Your choice, too. It's moot

[Lauzy]

don't eat food that's not fully cooked...

[tlamm]

Ditto. Did I say I believe him? I merely give him the benefit of the doubt. Your choice, too. It's moot

Its hard to beleave anyone would give him the benifit of the doubt based on his comments. I simply asked for some details. He obviously refused.. The last comment of "Wow, you caught me Detective Holmes!" to me says he made it all up..

Id like to add: goto: http://debsdrtravels.proboards35.com/index.cgi? for reliable DR info.

[Bob_123]

Dominican was beautiful.

Much like the Cuba thread, I'd like to start one for the Dominican. Stuff to do etc etc. I'm staying just outside of Peurto Plata.

[peterbrowne]

get twinrix shots

[pfdude]

To lower the chances of having stomach issues, eat 2 yogurts a day for 2 weeks before you leave. This will boost up the amount of good bacteria in your gastro section. Since there has been lots of bad press about gastroenteritis in the dominican lately and there is no known method to prevent catching it, eating yogurt will help to keep you healthy.

[Nick]

My girlfriend and I went to Punta Cana, DR last February (2004). Had a blast of a time, because we didn't stay in the "compound" pretty much at all. For whatever it's worth, the food in the resort was excellent so were the beaches, activities and so on. We just had more fun doing our own thing. Like going on country tours, exploring Santo Domingo, and so on. People are friendly and we felt as safe as anywhere else.

As for the guards at the resort - well, there are reasons why they want to scare you into staying inside - they don't get anything from your purchases outside. And things out there are cheaper, especially if you are into the bargaining game :)

So, go, have a blast and don't be deterred by the others' comments. Yeah, bad things can happen, but they can happen anywhere. DR is a safe place and it's not just my "lucky" exprience - check out debbies page and you'll see hundreds of happy reviews.

Cheers,
-Nick