Dominican Republic

[HelloCharming]

Anyone been and willing to tell me about it? We are going because of a work jolly (American company). The resort looks ok. What is there to do there or do you have to stay in the resort?

We only went out on travel agent organised excursions. Stayed on the complex the rest of the time

Have only visited as a cruise stop…went on a ship-organised excursion and was alarmed that the group was assigned armed tourist police to travel with us. So a hard no to leaving the resort.

PS we never felt unsafe but the implication of risk was worrying.

Yeah, I'm not convinced. I don't do very well at having to stay somewhere like an AI...I feel a bit trapped. We went to Kitts and Nevis and travelled round on our own and hired a car and felt fine (a few years ago now) went to St Lucia and did the same and didn't feel safe all the time....

DR isn’t the same as other Caribbean islands. We’ve hired a car in quite a few and the only issue we ever had was in St John in Antigua. I never would do AI - like you I find it claustrophobic. DR would be off my agenda I have to say because exploring is more challenging.

However people do it! I subscribe to Wanderlust magazine and they have ideas which I suggest you look at. You can access articles on line. It’s a magazine for intrepid travellers, not AI types! I would be aware of insurance though. Are you insuring yourself or is the company doing it? This might make a difference to plans and what you can do.

We got a really great deal to the DR a few Christmases ago.

We went to Scape Park which was ziplines etc. We also did a trip to a Cenote and a horseriding excursion.

We also did a guided visit to Santa Domingo - the guide was fabulous.

The kids did parasailing too, but that was a hard no from me.

Everyone does a deal to DR. It’s just one those places.

I didn't like DR. We ventured out of the resort once, and quickly returned! It wasn't advisable to leave the resort at all, advice may have changed though. Got food poisoning as well which just added to the stress of not being able to leave the resort.

That's what I'm thinking. This work do was in Nassau one year which in theory sounds great...but in reality we ended up not leaving the (very big) hotel as all the advice, including from people I knew who worked in Nassau, was ...don't.

I think DR might be the same. And we have been round the world, Addis Abbaba, far east bits of Russia, China before it became 'popular', deepest Indonesia....

I went there back in 2010. Was very underwhelming and I wouldnt go back. Not a patch on Jamaica that's for sure.

There’s enough to see safely in the Bahamas though! I’d just look at Wanderlust and be a bit more adventurous, as opposed to timid. You can follow the norms and stay in the complex but it’s not necessary.

Yeah we spent 4 days in resort near Nassau then flew off to a completely different island, hired a car, stayed in a local b&b and had a blast. It was a bit rough and ready but very safe….apart from the potholes. But Nassau didn’t appeal.

jusr trying to gauge if DR is a hire a car and drive around place. As said before did that in kits and Nevis and it was great, tried it in s5 Lucia, staying in a smaller non AI hotel, and it just felt like everyone else was in an AI bubble and it didn’t feel very safe all the time.

@HelloCharming Depends on your attitude to risk doesn’t it? Look at the places you can visit and decide if you want to see them. What car can you get? Are you ok with less than great roads and are you up for adventure? Do they have a high murder or assault or robbery rate of tourists? Or is it scaremongering? Keep you in your resort to spend money? Although AI - I guess you’ve spent it?

DR is fabulous. Been three times,

Las Terrenas is fabulous I hear, Cabarete is the kite surf capitol, an Irish beach bar and Thai food restaurant. Can't get better than that.

Local buses get you everywhere.

Wonderful place,Fabulous people,

And music. You tube, Elvis Martinez,