[PLEASE HELP] Anyone been to the Dominican Republic/from there?

[PainfromUkraine]

I may be going to the DR for a two week break around mid May - have any of you guys been there or hail from there? Is it a good holiday destination? Any particular tips on safety/things to definitely see etc?

EDIT - I have now returned from Punta Cana, and it was overall a decent holiday, beautiful beaches. For the price, couldn't really go wrong. However, overall it was not much better than any good resort in Europe, so for Europeans I would not recommend the long haul flight, if Europe is a viable option.

[Mighty_Windir]

Stay within the hotel area.

1 US Dollar equals 45.87 Dominican Peso, careful how you spend your money.

[Syf]

Yeah I been there. If you traveling across it... the road checkpoint guys have army guns. Poverty is a big problem there. Any resort worth anything has its own security and perimeter fences ect. A place I visited had a guy with a shotgun just chilling on the beach, to keep ne'er do wells from coming up the beach. Also, they drive absolutely crazy there. Police are largely corrupt and can be bribed. We had a policeman escorting us around. Out in the countryside, they have this drink that dramatically increases virility. It's some homemade thing forget the name. But they all drink it. The client offered to have his son take me into the city nightlife, but I declined, being that it would no doubt involve much debauchery and me being a committed to one woman man. But overall.. you should go. It was an eye opener. Just keep in mind there are lots of desperate people there. Stay safe.

[jaded]

I lived in Puerto Plata for a couple of years...I'm Canadian. It was a really fun time in my life. Dominicans are really friendly people but you do need to be careful. If your going to rent a scooter or dirt bike you need to be careful at night because you're an easy target on those things. You might get run off the road or clothes lined...it may not be the best way to get around at night to say the least. If you bring home a Dominican girl hide your money no matter how sweet she may seem...if you leave your money in your pants fold them in a very specific way so you will know if they have been unfolded when you wake up. At the very 1st sign of diarrhea...and I mean the very 1st sign...get something called Lomatil which is easy to come by and take as directed. Do NOT wait for it to resolve on it's own or you might spend most of your vacation in the bathroom. Where in the DR are you going?

[PainfromUkraine]

I lived in Puerto Plata for a couple of years...I'm Canadian. It was a really fun time in my life. Dominicans are really friendly people but you do need to be careful. If your going to rent a scooter or dirt bike you need to be careful at night because you're an easy target on those things. You might get run off the road or clothes lined...it may not be the best way to get around at night to say the least. If you bring home a Dominican girl hide your money no matter how sweet she may seem...if you leave your money in your pants fold them in a very specific way so you will know if they have been unfolded when you wake up. At the very 1st sign of diarrhea...and I mean the very 1st sign...get something called Lomatil which is easy to come by and take as directed. Do NOT wait for it to resolve on it's own or you might spend most of your vacation in the bathroom. Where in the DR are you going?

If I do end up going, it's a place called Punta Cana. Don't know if i'll be afforded the privacy to bring any latinas back to my room considering i'll be going with my older brother haha, but I guess a rota could be worked out if needs must...

I'm most likely not going to rent anything or really stray away from the hotel much. My plan is pretty much to relax, make use of the all inclusive services, tan, swim etc. Not really planning on partying or that kind of stuff.

[PainfromUkraine]

Yeah I been there. If you traveling across it... the road checkpoint guys have army guns. Poverty is a big problem there. Any resort worth anything has its own security and perimeter fences ect. A place I visited had a guy with a shotgun just chilling on the beach, to keep ne'er do wells from coming up the beach. Also, they drive absolutely crazy there. Police are largely corrupt and can be bribed. We had a policeman escorting us around. Out in the countryside, they have this drink that dramatically increases virility. It's some homemade thing forget the name. But they all drink it. The client offered to have his son take me into the city nightlife, but I declined, being that it would no doubt involve much debauchery and me being a committed to one woman man. But overall.. you should go. It was an eye opener. Just keep in mind there are lots of desperate people there. Stay safe.

Stay within the hotel area.

1 US Dollar equals 45.87 Dominican Peso, careful how you spend your money.

Thanks for the info guys.

[-Kev-]

I was born there.

I like going to the rivers around mountains there, with the broken down, flimsy bridges like you see in the movies, ask deanrw he's seen my pics of my crossing the bridge, I did it while sober and then again while drunk

Go to a beach called Punta Rucia, if you google it you'll see trip adviser has it as a 5 star beach. It really is. I go there to eat seafood, which is dirt cheap. I could not believe how much food I bought there and then heard the price lol it was nothing. But it's good food, don't let the price fool you. Try lobster with the spice they give you, and the fried fish too is great. I asked for fried lobster but they didn't do that, as an alternative they do it grilled or something. The beach is very low btw, it'll stay low no matter how far you go, so it's kid friendly if you have kids. My nieces did not want to get out of the beach, they were in there for hours.

Of course I go to these places with people that were raised there and know the area and know people, so if you are worried about safety as an alternative, DR has great resorts. You'll want to look at resorts in Punta Cana, those are the best I have been to. Best one is probably Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro.

[-Kev-]

If I do end up going, it's a place called Punta Cana. Don't know if i'll be afforded the privacy to bring any latinas back to my room considering i'll be going with my older brother haha, but I guess a rota could be worked out if needs must...

I'm most likely not going to rent anything or really stray away from the hotel much. My plan is pretty much to relax, make use of the all inclusive services, tan, swim etc. Not really planning on partying or that kind of stuff.

Lol you beat me to it, so yeah, you know what to do already. Have fun, DR is a great place to vacation. Enjoy.

[.!WAR MIKEY!.]

why would you want to visit a toilet.

[jaded]

If I do end up going, it's a place called Punta Cana. Don't know if i'll be afforded the privacy to bring any latinas back to my room considering i'll be going with my older brother haha, but I guess a rota could be worked out if needs must...

I'm most likely not going to rent anything or really stray away from the hotel much. My plan is pretty much to relax, make use of the all inclusive services, tan, swim etc. Not really planning on partying or that kind of stuff.

I think you will love it. Don't be afraid to go into the village just use common sense. Make sure you use lots of sun screen. I imagine there is still a black market for money exchanging...you can do much better than the the current rate...just ask a local.