Anyone been to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic?

[Anonymous]

Going to an all inclusive resort....getting some people telling me the DR is not so safe....might as well be Haiti....watch out for Malaria (we are not going to the jungle - strictly the resort). Traveling with my 1 year old....any thoughts? I hate it when people try & scare me....should I be concerned for any reason?

[Anonymous]

That's not true, I'm Dominican and also worked for a hotel in the Dominican Republic, Now Im in Maryland, I can tell you that you will have a wonderful time with your family and do not worry about what people tell you, if you need reference please do not hesitate to contact me at [e-mail]

[jsteele]

We were in Punta Cana this August. It was great. Nothing to fear at all. We took all kinds of mosquito repellent, but then probably didn't use it once. The airport had the nicest officials in the world (the customs guys actually try to help you rather than being pains in the ass).

BTW, I've been to Haiti 7 times. There is no comparison between Haiti and Punta Cana (can't speak for the rest of the DR). I loved Haiti, but its not the same.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I went years ago, never felt unsafe, but did feel like the British in India in the 1800's. Drove by terribly poor people and felt wrong about going to resort among such poverty. Kinda didn't enjoy the vaca as much, but that is a personal thing. When they have to have guards with guns at the gate, I would rather go somewhere where I did not feel like I was exploiting a country and their people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I went years ago, never felt unsafe, but did feel like the British in India in the 1800's. Drove by terribly poor people and felt wrong about going to resort among such poverty. Kinda didn't enjoy the vaca as much, but that is a personal thing. When they have to have guards with guns at the gate, I would rather go somewhere where I did not feel like I was exploiting a country and their people.

I can understand where you're coming from, but tourism brings hard currency to the local economy and creates jobs. One of the negatives is the trash/pollution that high tourism creates.

I can't wait to go to DR. I've been talking to my DH about having a big trip there, some day.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:When they have to have guards with guns at the gate, I would rather go somewhere where I did not feel like I was exploiting a country and their people.

I don't think I saw a gun the entire time I was there. For a number of years, my work sent me to some of the poorest places on earth. I am very sympathetic toward impoverished people. But, by going some place else you are doing nothing to help the local people. You are simply depriving them of the income they might earn from your visit. What you can do to truly help is take a big stack of one and five dollar bills and hand out tips generously. A couple of five dollar tips might double someone's daily salary.

[Anonymous]

Mr. Steele, Let me congrats you,! thank you. you are a wonderful man, I'm Dominican and what you said is true, we just need people that help us not people that regret us, we really do not have the fault to born in a poor country, but maybe with a bigest heart of a rich country, people like last post. we are very HAPPY and friendly country when children go outside and play free of drugs and respect their parents.

God Bless you Mr.

[Anonymous]

PP here, that was the thing. I was pretty certain that the Dominicans were not making any money off of my visit. I didn't see ONE dominican working in the resort I stayed. Again, this was many years ago, but I'd wished I known that the countryside was so poor...and there WERE two men with huge rifles allowing cars in and out of a huge gate at our resort, hopefully that has changed. I have no problem visiting, helping, respecting a country for what it is, but I could not sip my fuzzy drinks while less than a mile away, people did not have a stone to throw. Left me feeling sad, guilty, and hopeless. So maybe it is wrong, but I would either prefer traveling to a country that is slightly wealthier or traveling to less wealthy country and be able to go out and help the local economy. Punta Cana offered neither, but again, maybe it is different. And I find something slightly ewww about handing out fives. I know, it is nice and helpful, but I find it vaguely insulting to give money to what I am imagining to be a proud people...I don't know.

[zumbamama]

I have a friend that travels to impoverished countries and brings the local artists/craftspeople business. She buys up a lot of their products to sell or recreate into jewelry in the states. She's built quite a business out of it and gives the artists she buys from a nice cut.

[Anonymous]

I think I might have been at the same resort as the PP--I too saw guys with guns guarding the resort. We were at an adult only place though so I doubt it's where the OP is headed. Still, hope you have a great time!

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:And I find something slightly ewww about handing out fives. I know, it is nice and helpful, but I find it vaguely insulting to give money to what I am imagining to be a proud people...I don't know.

The minute I posted my message I realized it would generate this reaction. I suggested handling out ones and fives as tips. Do you feel bad tipping your hair dresser? How about the guy who delivers your newspaper. Or, and this is more to the point, do you tip waiters at restaurants? At the resort we visited, we interacted with Dominican staff members constantly. The restaurants were managed by Dominicans, the waiters were Dominicans, the housekeeping staff was Dominican, the concierges were Dominican, the reception staff was Dominican, the managers with whom we dealt were Dominican. We tipped waiters and housekeepers just like we would any place else. We tipped the concierges. These were not "handouts", but tips for services rendered. The only reason I mentioned this at all is because many people don't tip at "all-inclusive" resorts. In fact, showing a little generosity to the porters and the bartenders will go along way toward helping them out. Certainly a lot more than avoiding a trip in order to have a clean conscience.

I also wouldn't want to go to a resort in a foreign country (rich or poor) that wasn't staffed by local people. I'm surprised that such a place exists in Punta Cana. I'd suggest looking at the reviews at tripadvisor.com to learn about the resorts and avoid any that have predominantly foreign staffs.

[Anonymous]

I am the one who went ewwww to the cash. I understand your point now, and I ABSOLUTELY believe in tipping for any service rendered...

[Anonymous]

I cannot tell you how wonderfull PUNTA CANA is, I had the good fortune of being born there and coming to the US when I was 1 year old.

I went there for the first time after that when I was 32 years old and having had the good fortune of being well traveled, I cannot stress enough how wonderful the locals were to me and my wife down there.

They were warm, friendly, social and really interacted with us in a way which I felt did not even exist. So to anyone who is thinking about going there, get on a plaine and go for it, I guarantee you will email me back a thank you!


That said does anyone know about summer camps down there for kids? I have a 4 and 5 year old and would love for them to spend the summer down there?

Any ideas would really help!!!!

you can email me at: [e-mail]

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Off topic, but curious what kind of work Jeff did in his previous life? Sounds interesting!

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Off topic, but curious what kind of work Jeff did in his previous life? Sounds interesting!

I worked on a number of USAID-funded projects doing Internet-related work in countries that barely had electricity, let alone Internet services. I helped establish the first Internet service provider in Georgia (fmr. Soviet Union) in 1994. That's how I met Maria (my wife). I helped set up a computer network for the Parliament of Haiti after the US troops occupied the country. Other countries in which I worked include Guinea Bissau in West Africa and Mongolia. I also spent brief amounts of time in several other former Soviet republics.