marco
Well-Known Member
anyone been?, i was thinking of going in May with the Mrs but have been put off a little with some Youtube videos of the begging and pestering on beaches etc, can anyone advise best part to stay and how their experience went
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Dominican Republic
- Thread starter marco
- Start date
bluetonium
Well-Known Member
Been twice. Once for a wedding and once for a couple holiday.
Stayed in Playa Dorada the firat time, it was like an enclosed hotel complex and they didn't recommend that you went out and about. We did, and were fine, one local guide there told us the locals on the island will never need to beg because of the amount of fruit and veg that grows naturally on the land. Did bodyboarding, jeep safari etc, all great fun.
The wedding was at dream punta cana, again a nice hotel but didn't get out much that time.
Both AI and was OK, drinks were served in both places in only plastic small cups though, which was a bit odd at the bar, been to better, and if you don't get out of the resort you end up feeling like you could be anywhere.
At both places the beaches kind of had reserved areas for the hotel, and it's supposed to be guarded. Walk to the end of that stretch and there is a sign saying you're leaving the resort's land and any further is at your own risk.
Regardless, was always a number of beach sellers hawking dvds, weed, hairstyling, genuine fake Rolex's etc making their way up and down, but didn't see actual begging - it's a poor place outside of the resort, but from what we saw the people were very proud to be Dominican and not at all downbeat. Possibly different now, that was almost a decade ago when we last went.
Stayed in Playa Dorada the firat time, it was like an enclosed hotel complex and they didn't recommend that you went out and about. We did, and were fine, one local guide there told us the locals on the island will never need to beg because of the amount of fruit and veg that grows naturally on the land. Did bodyboarding, jeep safari etc, all great fun.
The wedding was at dream punta cana, again a nice hotel but didn't get out much that time.
Both AI and was OK, drinks were served in both places in only plastic small cups though, which was a bit odd at the bar, been to better, and if you don't get out of the resort you end up feeling like you could be anywhere.
At both places the beaches kind of had reserved areas for the hotel, and it's supposed to be guarded. Walk to the end of that stretch and there is a sign saying you're leaving the resort's land and any further is at your own risk.
Regardless, was always a number of beach sellers hawking dvds, weed, hairstyling, genuine fake Rolex's etc making their way up and down, but didn't see actual begging - it's a poor place outside of the resort, but from what we saw the people were very proud to be Dominican and not at all downbeat. Possibly different now, that was almost a decade ago when we last went.
Ifwecouldjust.......
Well-Known Member
anyone been?, i was thinking of going in May with the Mrs but have been put off a little with some Youtube videos of the begging and pestering on beaches etc, can anyone advise best part to stay and how their experience went
Go all inclusive on a complex ...they tend to have entertainment / pools / private beaches with security.
better dead than red
Well-Known Member
Because of all the money people on holiday bring to the nation they take protecting tourists very seriously. The last thing they need is to lose a huge source of income because of crime. They have a tourist police unit to provide for holiday goers safety.Go all inclusive on a complex ...they tend to have entertainment / pools / private beaches with security.
https://www.tourism-review.com/trav...ding-safety-not-only-on-the-beach-article2451
It was 10 years ago and this is where we stayed, http://www.granventanahotel.com/default-en.html couldn't fault the place but do your research as it may have changed, had a quick look on trip advisor and it's performing ok.
We were on honeymoon, they made a real fuss of us, really well looked after. Did a couple of the organised excursions, one was safari type, pretty boring but nice to meet locals at organised stops. The other was a night out, quiz, meal etc, they didn't encourage us to go out wandering but that was no issue, beautiful beach, sun, sea, coral for looking at fishes etc, nice lazy holiday.
There were beach vendors but they were fine with a polite no thanks and just moved on, not a problem at all.
We were on honeymoon, they made a real fuss of us, really well looked after. Did a couple of the organised excursions, one was safari type, pretty boring but nice to meet locals at organised stops. The other was a night out, quiz, meal etc, they didn't encourage us to go out wandering but that was no issue, beautiful beach, sun, sea, coral for looking at fishes etc, nice lazy holiday.
There were beach vendors but they were fine with a polite no thanks and just moved on, not a problem at all.