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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about my holiday to the Dominican Republic

40 replies

flamed12 · 12/06/2019 16:10

Read this article

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7130807/amp/FBI-investigating-SIX-mysterious-American-deaths-two-Dominican-Republic-hotels-past-year.html

Plus another about a athlete from America being shot in the back this week and about about an American woman badly beaten in her hotel.

I leave in a week and have paid a lot of money but now I’m scared to go. Been booked for 6 months as was really looking forward to it. We are staying at a resort very close to the Hard rock hotel in the article above in punta Cana.

OP posts:
Hollowvictory · 12/06/2019 16:12

Can you switch to somewhere else?

Original poster
flamed12 · 12/06/2019 16:14

How would I go about this? Speak to the travel agent?

There is no advice not to travel so I’m not sure if they will help or if I would be able to claim on travel insurance due to this.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 12/06/2019 16:16

You aren’t going to the hotels involved so I wouldn’t be worried. I’m not even sure if I would be worried about going to those hotels, to be honest.

Original poster
flamed12 · 12/06/2019 16:17

Ok thanks, just seems so suspicious 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Grumpbum123 · 12/06/2019 16:19

I was under the impression the DR was always a bit unstable hence not being able to go out of your hotel without armed guards. So this must have factored in your decision to go

DesparateDino · 12/06/2019 16:21

I have just been reading an article about this and I would be worried also. I guess lots of other people have been with no problems at all.

I would speak to your travel agent and see what they suggest.

Nicknacky · 12/06/2019 16:21

It’s the way that article is written that makes it sound suspicious. People die every day, and yes, people die on holiday even if they did appear fit and well previously.

Hollowvictory · 12/06/2019 16:22

I'd be more worried about the food poisoning although it has got better in recent years. But it's cheaper than the rest of the Caribbean for good reason.
However millions 0f people must go there without incident so the chances of you being involved in any crime must be low.

Original poster
flamed12 · 12/06/2019 16:25

Armed guards?? Really, never heard that before.

OP posts:
edwinbear · 12/06/2019 16:26

We fly out to DR for our family holiday on 7th July, I'm not at all worried. It's no different to our trip to Mexico last year as far as I'm concerned, I will only travel outside the hotel on TUI organised trips, and will be cautious, as I am usually when travelling in unfamiliar places. I'm sure you will have a great time!

pandatracks · 12/06/2019 16:27

I think that poster is getting places confused. Its been a few years since I went but definitely no armed guards!

Newmumma83 · 12/06/2019 16:28

I went to north Dominican a few years ago ... no armed guards then.

The people seem really nice, if the government does not advise you not to travel the travel agents won’t be able to do anything (was a travel agent for 11 years and this was always the case but haven’t been one for 4 years aomrules May have changed )
It used to be if you were 12 weeks ( I think ) before holiday you could change it for an admin fee ... but call and ask things can change x x

Witchofzog · 12/06/2019 16:28

I would avoid the mini bar and try to have drinks that come from sealed containers where possible. It looks like a lot of the deaths could be linked to the mini bar

TixieLix · 12/06/2019 16:29

We went to the DR on our honeymoon 29yrs ago and it was bad then. When my husband and I left the hotel to go into town, women would blatently proposition him, even though we were walking along holding hands. On the beach, we were constantly pestered by people selling stuff. If you pretended to be asleep, they'd shake you awake. Not just one or two a day either, it was constant. I doubt it's improved much over the years, unless you stay in a self contained resort where you don't have to venture out much.

Nicknacky · 12/06/2019 16:30

I think it’s highly unlikely to be anything to do with the mini bar. One woman who had a history of heart problems collapsed an hour after a drink. Most people who are on holiday will drink alcohol so it’s not necessarily suspicious they have died after a drink.

FromEden · 12/06/2019 16:33

I read that they think it could be due to home made alcohol containing methanol being sold in resorts as a cost cutting measure. One of the people who died became seriously ill after one glass of scotch. Apparently if you stick to beer that is opened right in front of you then you're likely to avoid this. I would still be worried though.

PineappleTits · 12/06/2019 16:34

I felt the same visiting Koh Tao after all the suspicious deaths and murders of foreign tourists. In actual fact I loved it and never once felt unsafe. Don't let it ruin your holiday OP. Just take precautions as you normally would and be aware of your surroundings.

FromEden · 12/06/2019 16:34

And the tainted drinks thing has been known to happen in Mexico also where the US even put out a travel warning about it a few years ago after several deaths and robberies.

BlingLoving · 12/06/2019 16:34

YABU to base any kind of decision on an article you read in the Daily Mail. Here's a more balanced view, from the UK government

Chasingsquirrels · 12/06/2019 16:35

We went to Punta Cana in March.
We didn't go out of the hotel (basically I wanted a week of warmth, pool, beach and sea) but other people went on excursions and were all fine.
Driving to/from the hotel my gut feeling was it was more "intimidating" that Antigua which I have been to a couple of times, but I think a lot of that is down to size.
The hotel food was completely fine, drinks as well.

The odds are that you will completely fine OP, but of course some people aren't fine everywhere everyday. There is always a small chance you will be one of those people.

blue25 · 12/06/2019 16:38

I've been doing some reading around these deaths as we were considering DR.

TBH it does look suspicious. There are now other previous deaths that are suspected as being linked. I wouldn't feel comfortable going there at the moment. But I agree with the PP who advised not to drink from the minibar

Original poster
flamed12 · 12/06/2019 16:41

Thanks. I called the travel agent who couldn’t understand me (first choice) and asked me to call back tomorrow. Doubt they’ll help very much.

The minibar is included in the all inclusive and we were looking forward to being able to enjoy it Sad

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 12/06/2019 16:43

You aren’t even staying at those hotels. Drink from the mini bar.

Bluntness100 · 12/06/2019 16:43

Dominican Republic has always been difficult, there is a huge amount of poverty and trouble. , more so than other Caribbean islands and a lot of staff and people from Haiti there too, which has its own problems and who bring those problems with them.

I wouldn't be scared to go, but I'd accept it's cheaper for a reason, and stay within the confines of the resort or on organised tours.

When we were there one dickhead member of staff told us white people were referred to as tampons, basically staff had disdain for the white guests, whilst acting professionally.

We had a good time, I wouldn't be scared to go, but quite frankly we would not go back. We didn't find it a pleasant place to be.

It's really not like going to St Lucia, Barbados or Antigua etc, but the price reflects this usually.

Hollowvictory · 12/06/2019 16:47

It's nothing like antigua!

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