Dominican Republic - What to know?

[mazda_gurl]

So I just booked a last minute trip to the DR for next Saturday.

Staying at the Occidental Allegra in Puerto Plata. Got it for a steal

I have been to mexico and cuba many times, but not the DR. What do I need to know about travelling down there?

My partner is American - she got hassled of course when we went to Cuba. Can we expect the same down there?

[CoolColombian]

I've been in DR before and seen americans and never heard of them having any trouble while there, actualy I was at the Blue Bay resort in the same complex where you are going, I loved my stay there, remember to go to the club that is in the little shoping plaza within the complex it was the hot spot every night! Enjoy.

[Oakley]

I have been to the Occidental Grande which I don't think is to far from the Allegra. Overall is was a really great time, the beach is exceptionally well kept, minimal amount of rocks and pretty much no coral to step on in the swimming area. There was a lot to do on the resort without having to travel outside of the grounds. As well as the bartenders are not stingy with the booze, especially after I tipped one, he always made sure my cup was full and would even bring drinks to me if I was laying by the pool where his bar was.

There were only 2 things I didn't like while staying there. One being the food was not very good and not much of a selection, mostly seafood. The other was always being hounded by the guys who want to sell you stuff, especially the ones selling the island excursions (we inquired about going on one around the 3rd day and the guy found our room number and phoned us every morning at 7:30 to ask if we wanted to go that day).

[PR3Y11]

loved it when i went. you'll have a blast. i stayed at an adult only resort with my gf when we went last year so that made the biggest difference to the trip. very relaxing!
everyone's very friendly and no hate towards americans there so you won't have to deal with any of that. if you can book a shuttle to your hotel do so cause the cabs will try to rip you off. if you're spanish isn't great, download google translate. it'll be a life saver lol
enjoy your trip

oh and go swim with the sharks that was really fun.

[SirWanker]

the beaches are great.....too bad the food is sub-standard and only ask for the top shelf stuff if possible; get Rx for Cipro if you can to take with you because any medical attention will require $US up front even with insurance.

[mazda_gurl]

Spanish will be a breeze as she is Mexican and is fluent in both english and spanish - yay! She came in handy in Cuba LOL

What is Cipro used for? Looks like a risky antibiotic and nothing more :(

Ill look into the cash upfront vs insurance thing. Id hate to deal with that while abroad :(

[vinnierap]

I have been to Dominican 4 times had a great time everytime I went. Make sure you bring, some Immodium, tums, advil, regular stuff. I would suggest staying onthe resort unless you are with a tourégroup of some sort. The people on the resort are good, but I wouldnt venture out alone. Have fun and dont forget the sunscreen..lol..

[DaveIrwin24]

Puerto splata they call it

[seelsy]

is it the occidental allegra playa dorado in puerto plata? if it is ive been to that same resort

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Dominican is great. Puerto Plata is the more budget conscious destination in the DR, but can still be good. Punta Cana in the DR is a lot, lot nicer in terms of beaches, resorts, food etc. al. as a general rule.

[SirWanker]

What is Cipro used for? Looks like a risky antibiotic and nothing more :(
Ill look into the cash upfront vs insurance thing. Id hate to deal with that while abroad :(

Cipro is for when immodium fails to do its job, especially on the day before the return flight.....

[JSI]

Mama Juana, that's all I will say.

[DaveIrwin24]

I was in Samana in June , which is near puerto plata, not a bad spot... But the water and sand isn't as nice as punts Cana , but the alcohol is free that's all that matters lol

[vinnierap]

Mama Juana, that's all I will say.

LMAO :thumbsup locals call it Dominican Viagara

[mazdabetty]

THREADJACK!!!!!

Here's an interesting question. Anyone happen to know about Twinrix/Havrix shots?

I think most of us are in the same age group, which means most of us should have gotten Hepatitis B shots in grade 7 or 8. Which means I wouldn't need Twinrix, but would still need the Hep A shot (aka Havrix).


Anyone have this done before?
Is it really necessary?
Has anyone gone somewhere like the Dominican without either of these shots and made it out alive? haha
Did your insurance cover the injection?
Is it really all just a big scam like swine flu shots? lol... (no offense to anyone who was actually affected by this), and,
Is one dosage enough? (Won't be able to get the second dosage before leaving)


Any information appreciated thanks! :huge smile

[Booostin]

Hepatitis A Inactivated & Hepatitis B (Recombinant) Vaccine/Twinrix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, "A 1.0-mL dose of vaccine contains 720 ELISA Units of inactivated hepatitis A virus and 20 mcg of recombinant HBsAg protein. One dose of vaccine also contains 0.45 mg of aluminum in the form of aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide as adjuvants, amino acids, 5.0 mg 2-phenoxyethanol as a preservative, sodium chloride, phosphate buffer, polysorbate 20, Water for Injection, traces of formalin (not more than 0.1 mg), a trace amount of thimerosal (<1 mcg mercury) from the manufacturing process, and residual MRC-5 cellular proteins (not more than 2.5 mcg)."

Mmmmm aluminum/mercury

[mazdabetty]

ahhhh.... lovely.

But at the same time...

Aluminum/mercury <---> Jaundice :s

[Booostin]

ahhhh.... lovely.

But at the same time...

Aluminum/mercury <---> Jaundice :s

Decisions decisions lol

[paulabreu]

THREADJACK!!!!!

Here's an interesting question. Anyone happen to know about Twinrix/Havrix shots?

I think most of us are in the same age group, which means most of us should have gotten Hepatitis B shots in grade 7 or 8. Which means I wouldn't need Twinrix, but would still need the Hep A shot (aka Havrix).


Anyone have this done before?
Is it really necessary?
Has anyone gone somewhere like the Dominican without either of these shots and made it out alive? haha
Did your insurance cover the injection?
Is it really all just a big scam like swine flu shots? lol... (no offense to anyone who was actually affected by this), and,
Is one dosage enough? (Won't be able to get the second dosage before leaving)


Any information appreciated thanks! :huge smile

lmfao, its funny that question "Has anyone gone somewhere like the Dominican without either of these shots and made it out alive? haha"

im dominican, came to canada 2 years ago, i dont think you really need any of those shots to go there, its pretty safe unless you do some crazy thing.

[KVS17]

Lol just came back from the Dominican last night actually. We had a good time, the resort was nice, and the food was ok. I would avoid the burgers though, we never had one that actually tasted like a burger. We went to the dreams punts Cana resort and it was beautiful. Only problem I can think of was that at night, the resort pretty much dies. There isn't anything to do, except go to the club, which plays the same music every night. We did a couple of excursions (dune buggy, and catamaran). Don't think either were really worth the money, they don't let you gun it wi the dune buggys so you pretty much have to drive in a straight line and follow the "speed limit". All in all it was a good vacation, make sure to bargain anything you want to buy, and don't let anyone take your luggage and tell you to follow them, they just want money and business from you lol.

[mazda_gurl]

Mamajuana - had a shot of it - jesus it was gross! LOL But I dont need viagra :p

The resort sucked - there were a lot of locals there. They allow them to rent the resort on the weekend. They totally took over and bullied their way through the buffet and bars to be served first. Many things were broken and took forever to get fixed......the food was the same thing over and over again and needed hot sauce to give hot sauce for flavor. Puerto Plata was full of aggressive people always wanting your money for a movie or a flower. I wasnt liked down there cause I have short hair - they didnt get the style and dont like girls like me......

I wont go back to Puerto Plata - Im not even sure I will go back to the DR. I have never really had a desire to go - we just did it as it seemed to be a good deal for last minute. I actually prefer cuba (food included) over PP......

[Booostin]

Sorry to hear that you didnt have the best time. CUBA ftw!

[06silver3]

Mamajuana - had a shot of it - jesus it was gross! LOL But I dont need viagra :p

The resort sucked - there were a lot of locals there. They allow them to rent the resort on the weekend. They totally took over and bullied their way through the buffet and bars to be served first. Many things were broken and took forever to get fixed......the food was the same thing over and over again and needed hot sauce to give hot sauce for flavor. Puerto Plata was full of aggressive people always wanting your money for a movie or a flower. I wasnt liked down there cause I have short hair - they didnt get the style and dont like girls like me......

I wont go back to Puerto Plata - Im not even sure I will go back to the DR. I have never really had a desire to go - we just did it as it seemed to be a good deal for last minute. I actually prefer cuba (food included) over PP......
Don't give up on DR yet.
If you ever decide to return, try out Punta Cana. It is on the other side and the resorts are beautiful. The food is excellent.

[mounir]

Sorry to hear that you didnt have the best time. CUBA ftw!

You can't go wrong with Cuba.

[mazda_gurl]

I know - Im just venting - I hear great things about Punta Cana all the time - I just cant seem to justify the cost for a week in the DR at some of the prices I see when I look. Samana and La Romana are also on my list of places I would have liked to see in the DR

I agree - Cuba FTW. But I will admit that it was nice being in a country where they had Pepsi and name brand products vs the local stuff the cubans have........

Im going away in January or February - it will likely be Mexico.......although Columbia is on the radar right now as well

[shu5892001]

You can't go wrong with Cuba.

:chuckle

Going to varadero on dec 14th, staying at the ilberostar varadaro resort

[Booostin]

I know - Im just venting - I hear great things about Punta Cana all the time - I just cant seem to justify the cost for a week in the DR at some of the prices I see when I look. Samana and La Romana are also on my list of places I would have liked to see in the DR

I agree - Cuba FTW. But I will admit that it was nice being in a country where they had Pepsi and name brand products vs the local stuff the cubans have........

Im going away in January or February - it will likely be Mexico.......although Columbia is on the radar right now as well

I am going to Panama in three weeks :) I went last year and it was amazing.

[CoolColombian]

although Columbia is on the radar right now as well

Great, you should try either San Andres Island or Cartagena in Colombia, I've been to both but I got to say San Andres has more of the Caribbean paradise appeal, white sand beaches and blue and green sea waters you will also find that the locals are more like Jamaican people, they speak a mix of English and their native language.