Dominican Republic

:: cmckay :: · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:22

Looking into booking a holiday to the Dominican Republic in July next year with a few friends.

I stayed in Punta Cana a few years back although it was all resort based with nothing outside the hotels, very relaxing.

Just wondering has anyone been to an area of the Dominican Republic that has nightlife / town outside their resorts and is safe to venture out? I have heard Puerto Plata may be better?

Approx 10 of us going around 23-26 so looking somewhere a little more lively - Any info would be appreciated.

daz · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:27

:: cmckay :: said:
Just wondering has anyone been to an area of the Dominican Republic that has nightlife / town outside their resorts and is safe to venture out?

If you want to venture outside of resorts, then there are better Caribbean Islands to visit. The touristy parts of Jamaica (Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios) for example...

Dominican Republic can be pretty unsafe outside of your resort.

Morba · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:29

Have to agree, head off somewhere else in the caribbean. There are some clubs in punta cana, or atleast there was 5 year ago, but yeah, risky imo :]

:: cmckay :: · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:34

Thanks for the replies so far - I'll take a look into Montego Bay, I have heard some good reviews about it.

daz · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:39

We stayed in a guest house in Ocho Rios for a week and then stayed on the beach in a tiny little hotel in Negril. Was a lot of fun, ate some amazing food and didn't have any problems other than the usual you get in holiday destinations these days (people trying to sell you stuff all the time

)

Ed · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:45

I stayed in Breezes Puerto Plata and the resort was superb. However, venturing out was a dodgy proposition at night. By day you get accosted by locals begging you to buy from them, it's just about bearable, but at night it's dangerous. I'm a big lad and was in a group of other big lads and they were still all over us, trying to split us up and take us to parties, sell us stuff, gamble with us, they just wouldn't leave us alone.

Sosua beach is stunning and if you do venture out then head here because it's open, there's plenty of restaurants and bars overlooking it and there's a better sense of security. Also, make sure the taxi or bus service to and from the resort is recommended by the resort because if you ask a local for a taxi, you'll likely get a drunk 14 year old boy driving a wreck.

Jingo... · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:46

Agreed that DR isn't particularly safe anywhere outside of resorts.

My brother enjoyed a lengthy chase down the beach by a small group of locals after being stupid enough to touch one of the beach coconut shrines!

He tells me he was never so pleased to be legging it past armed guards

daz · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:53

Alternatively, for a similar feel would be somewhere like Thailand.

:: cmckay :: · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:54

It's looking like the DR is off the list now - I didnt exactly feel safe when I was last there myself

Any other reccomendations? I have been to Barbados really enjoyed that in terms of things to do & nightlife, although its slightly over our budget for this trip.

eggyoke · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:56

Went to Punta Cana a few years back. I think it was the Melia Tropical Caribre. It was a very nice 5 star hotel. The grounds where beautiful and the beach was amazing. However the food was really dodgy.

My young cousin ate from the daily open buffy (all inclusive) and he lost over a stone in weight and had to be put on a drip. Nothing was cooked properly, or it was left in the dirty kitchen with flies and just reheated daily.

The evening food was OK when they cooked it for you, but you still had to be careful.

Another thing aswell, the staff where not very friendly. I've been to many countries and stayed in lots of hotels and the staff here where just permanently annoyed. I dont know if it was because we where English in a mostly Spanish resort, but they where not the nicest.

...guess thats not a very positive post

Try and goto a hotel with a good reputation from English speaking people. The actual country is beautiful though.

Ed · 1 Aug 2008 at 11:57

The problem is the price is relative to the quality of the destination. Cuba and Jamaica are just as bad as DR. The smaller islands are stunning but expensive.

Have you considered Mexico?

Ed · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:00

eggyoke said:
Went to Punta Cana a few years back. I think it was the Melia Tropical Caribre. It was a very nice 5 star hotel. The grounds where beautiful and the beach was amazing. However the food was really dodgy.

My young cousin ate from the daily open buffy (all inclusive) and he lost over a stone in weight and had to be put on a drip. Nothing was cooked properly, or it was left in the dirty kitchen with flies and just reheated daily.

The evening food was OK when they cooked it for you, but you still had to be careful.

Another thing aswell, the staff where not very friendly. I've been to many countries and stayed in lots of hotels and the staff here where just permanently annoyed. I dont know if it was because we where English in a mostly Spanish resort, but they where not the nicest.

...guess thats not a very positive post Try and goto a hotel with a good reputation from English speaking people. The actual country is beautiful though.

I think the contrast is more than people imagine. DR is an extremely poor country and when fat, white Europeans turn up and just consume vast amounts of food, waste vast amounts of food, drink too much, fight, swear and generally walk about with a grands worth of digital equipment and designer clothes, I don't imagine they're inclined to like you for it.

However, DR is stunning. The jungle is incredible and the beaches truly are world class.

Edit: With regards to illness, out of a group of 13, 12 were ill. I was the only one that escaped it. Everyone else had it coming out of both ends for at least 24 hours so be prepared.

Viper² · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:16

daz said:
If you want to venture outside of resorts, then there are better Caribbean Islands to visit.

Dominican Republic can be pretty unsafe outside of your resort.

We are going to a wedding there in October and this is exactly what I've heard. If all you want is an all-inclusive, laze around the pool drinking beer all day then it should be good enough.

dannyjo22 · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:22

Ed said:
The problem is the price is relative to the quality of the destination. Cuba and Jamaica are just as bad as DR. The smaller islands are stunning but expensive.

Have you considered Mexico?

I'd second that, I've just got back from Cancun and it was the best holiday both myself and the Mrs have ever had. Cheap, great food and safe to go where ever you want. A decent number of clubs and bars. Very friendly as well. Although if you catch it wrong you can get a few too many yanks.

Mind you we stayed in an adults only resort so not having any kids screaming for what they wanted helped a lot to making it a relaxing holiday.

I get a bad stomach just getting off a plane at my destination. Mexico is the first holiday outside of america where i've stayed 'well' for 2 weeks.

Where as the dominican was eye of a needle for just about everyone for 2 weeks.

Morba · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:25

None of my party had any issue with food in the hotel we were in (in Punta Cana).

dannyjo22 · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:26

Ed said:
However, DR is stunning. The jungle is incredible and the beaches truly are world class.

Yeah the best beaches I've ever seen. I used to walk for miles along the beach. All the locals up before the tourists cleaning away anything that gets washed up. Even the seaweed is banged up and removed. Never seen anything like that.

dannyjo22 · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:28

Morba said:
None of my party had any issue with food in the hotel we were in (in Punta Cana).

I stayed there too, the Punta Cana Princess. Whenever you read about hotels in the dominican on trip advisor you can see lots of stories of people having extremely bad stomachs.

Normally in batches.

We still enjoyed our stay but didnt exactly put on weight

Ed · 1 Aug 2008 at 12:33

My brother-in-law went to the loo 20 times on the flight back. That's 20 times in what, 9 hours? Worst of all, it was so turbulent the captain kept the seatbelt sign on for most of the way and everyone was bottling it up. Yuk!!! Very few people who I know have been to DR have escaped it, but some do.

Morba · 1 Aug 2008 at 15:37

Ed said:
My brother-in-law went to the loo 20 times on the flight back. That's 20 times in what, 9 hours? Worst of all, it was so turbulent the captain kept the seatbelt sign on for most of the way and everyone was bottling it up. Yuk!!! Very few people who I know have been to DR have escaped it, but some do.

Some of my wifes best friends have been there, I know atleast 6 other people who have been to punta cana, none of which ever came back saying the food game them the squits.

Ed · 1 Aug 2008 at 15:52

Morba said:
Some of my wifes best friends have been there, I know atleast 6 other people who have been to punta cana, none of which ever came back saying the food game them the squits.

We originally went to Puerto Plata for my sisters wedding and most fell ill. However she went back on the first anniversary to Punta Cana and said she was fine. My other sis had the trots after visiting Barbados so I guess you never know when you're away from home.