Is it really safe?

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Asa

Guest
Me and my boyfriend are planning a trip to the Carribean and he turned red when I suggested DR. He sad that it was not safe at all, we might as well co to Cuba or Haiti and get robbed he said. Can somebody please prove him wrong? I have read a lot about it and I'm dying to go! Any www pages that have information of this kind would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!
 
K

Katie

Guest
The Dominican Republic has at least half as many murders then does the U.S. Granted there is crime there but it mainly petty crimes, robbings, muggings, ect. Even then if you stay in your hotel or resort area these crimes don't happen. So yes there is crime there just like there is in any country. But, there are not nearly as many murders, rspes, and any other violent crimes as there are in countries such as the U.S. Not that there is any problem with the U.S. If your boyfriend still has a problem with the Dominican Republic, let him know this. Maybe then he wil change his mind. I am Dominican/American and ahve lived in both countries, and I feel just as safe in the capital there as I do in my town of 8000 people in Nothern Minnesota, if not safer.
 
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DR One

Guest
Yes!

I think you will find that the DR has one of the lowest per capita crime rates in the world. Yes it's safe.

Try doing a search within our archives on crime and saftey etc.

It looks like you come from Boston by your IP address (apologies if I'm wrong) and you are asking if the DR is safe? I know where I would prefer to walk around at 3am and it ain't Boston.

Just take the normal precautions. If you walk round with money hanging out of your pockets etc, then you of course will attract problems, that goes for all over the world.

I have lived here for two years and travelled all over and never had a problem. Actually the only trouble I have ever seen her has involved tourists vs tourists.

Haiti, now that's a different story!
 
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JD

Guest
Re: Yes!

RE walking in Boston: I don't think it is dangerous ANYWHERE to walk in Boston, not even Jamaica Plain or Dorchester, even late at night. But "DR One"'s comment makes me feel very safe going to the DR. If's the DR's generally safer than Boston, then it must be really, really safe!

Hey - glad to know other bostonians are checking out this board! :)
 
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Pam

Guest
hello,

I'm also going to the Dominican Republic this year and i've read a lot about crimes and stuff like that. If your staying at a resort or hotel you don't really half to worry. Just we smart about leaving your bag's on the beach while your swimming and things like that. It's like any other caribbean island or really anywhere in the world you just half to be careful wherever you go. Nowhere is safe anymore with keeping the precautions in mind! I hope you have the chance to visit the Dominican Republic because it seems like a really beautiful spot for a Caribbean holiday!
 
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Becky

Guest
Re: Yes!

I live 20 miles south of Boston...don't drive to Boston unless I have to...lock my car doors when I do...don't feel safe going to Brockton anymore..and avoid going there at all!! I lock car doors when traveling to work at midnight!!! Do I feel safe in DR?? YES!!!!
 
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Ellen

Guest
Yes!!!

Yes, it is safe here. Certainly safer than most U.S. cities and far safer than the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. Please, when you come - don't stay in your resort ... see the Dominican! People here are wonderful, extremely helpful and eager to make sure you are enjoying their country.

Tell your boyfriend not to be a wimp and come on down!!!
 
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Bill MacDonald

Guest
Re: Where is safe?

Alot of views on the same issue, and again too many opinions can cause confussion. In reality Boston is as safe or unsafe as you make it. I would never stroll in Boston Back Bay or any other area at those hours with out expecting to create a problem.

It is not as safe as some may make you believe, though KNOWING thi, s don't look for trouble.

Now in relation to Boston is safety a real comparison to Boston or more like another familiar city.

Oh and Bostonian's please don't try to correct me I worked in Back Bay for several years at youth center evenings and nights.
 
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Gary & Christine

Guest
Re: Safety/Common sense

Back to the issue at hand: Is the DR generally considered safe by regular travelers? YES!! We recently spent ten days in Sosua/Las Galeras/Samana and we flew into and out of Santo Domingo. That said, we stopped at roadside cafes, "bars", gas stations, etc., and even though we did not speak spanish, WE FELT SAFE. No one was menacing, or even rude. Every person we encountered was helpful, interested to know if we were having a nice trip, anxious to ensure we reached our destination without complications. We live in AL, I lock the doors to go 1 block (our house is in view of our business) and always lock the cars. The DR is safe, IF YOU USE COMMON SENSE. Don't go down a dark alley (DUH), don't flash a lot of cash or wear piles of jewelry, don't put yourself in a situation in the DR you wouldn't put yourself in at home, as far as getting around goes. Petty crimes happen out of necessity, there is so much poverty that people will steal to get things they desperately need, but it is not out of malice, greed, or meaness-just need- and there is very little of that type crime if you stay smart. If anyone is offended by this, our apologies in advance, we want everyone to travel to the DR, have a great time and send their friends.
 
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Patria

Guest
Re: Yes!

I don't like your comment about walking in Boston at 3:00am. Boston is very safe, now if you are talking about walking in Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, and other Bostonian neighborhoods like that, then yes it is dangerous to walk at 3:00am. As it is dangerous to walk at 3:00am in Guachupita, El Capotillo, etc. So, please be more specific. Boston (downtown, back bay, etc) is not dangerous. Or maybe you didn't visit downtown and the back bay area when you were here. My advise to Asa is that Santo Domingo is not dangerous, not if you stay away from the barrios. Asa, I hope you visit DR, you will not regret it.
 
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Loula

Guest
Calm down!!! We (two girls)were there 3 weeks in December. Traveled around - also well outside the tourist areas. Never had a problem. Sure you can go... Just tell your boyfriend to leave the big Rolex'es at home and use your common sense... Just Go!!!
 
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Jim Hinsch

Guest
Re: Safety - the reality

I must refer you to a prior post from October 9, 1998 that doesn't seem to be in the archives any more. Feeling safe and being safe are not the same thing. You might have felt safe, but that doesn't mean you were (or weren't).

How about some reality.

I've been traveling to the DR for over 4 years now, every 2-4 weeks. I love the country and I've been to many parts. There are safe areas and not so safe areas, just like any place. I'd say that you are not unsafe just because you do not look Dominican, but tourists have most certainly been victims of crime all over the country. Because one person or another has never experienced it doesn't amount to a hill of beans. I lived in New York City for 6 years and was never a victim of crime there or ever saw a murder. So what.

As one person told me after I was warned for having taken a late night stroll in a nasty part of Jersey and I said that I felt perfectly safe the whole time, "You may have felt safe, but you weren't."

Violent crimes against tourists are relatively rare, but it does happen, and when it does, it is almost always outside the main tourist compounds. Maybe that?s why they warn tourists not to venture out. While I think that is a little overkill, some common sense is surely in order.

Theft is much more likely. Don't kid yourself, there are a lot of poor people and every country has bad people. There are plenty of people that would do you harm if they are given the opportunity (we call them "tigres? and ?ladrones") so I don't suggest it wise to just venture out into the various barrios without some knowledge of where you are going, particularly at night. I'd say the same about my own country. As a tourist, you might be seen as someone worth robbing. After all, you are more likely to have money and less likely to do anything about it.

I get warned about this all the time by my friends in the Dominican Republic. I?m told about people even being set up by locals they became acquainted with, so that it looks like the robbery had nothing to do with their acquaintance. I?m told even to be wary about which motochochos to ride with real late at night, as they sometimes come in from outside areas just to take an unsuspecting tourist for a ?ride?, where down they road they?ve got friends waiting to conduct a little ambush. I thought they had been watching too much TV, so I asked around, and just about every motochoncho I spoke with said that it can and does happen. I?m also told that there have been cases where tourists are arrested because they are ?with? a local that has drugs. When the local is arrested, the tourist is arrested too, then extorted for money by corrupt officials. I?m told, ?Mucho cuidado con quien tu anda? (Careful who you hang with).

Some time back, I posted a story when a friend of mine and I were out in the woods on motorcycles and a group of about a dozen kids tried to ambush us. They put a rope across the trail and threw chunks of cinder blocks at us, but we got away. The kids looked like they were 10 year olds.

The laws in the Dominican Republic, like most Latin American countries, are based on Nepoleanic code, which in boils down to the fact that the police have the purpose of protecting the interests of those in power, not necessarily the public at large. While this does mean protecting tourists since they bring in the dollars to those in power, people are responsible for protecting their own property. Why do you think there are men with clubs or shotguns at resort entrances, on the beach, in front of cash machines, and outside banks and stores. Have you ever noticed that just about every building has bars on all the doors and windows, and the expensive places even have cyclone fences and broken glass coating the tops of cement walls? Most folks wouldn't dare leave a decent home unattended and go away for days at a time. Instead, they invite house sitters such as friends and relatives. Some hire professional security. There is a reason for this. There are a lot of thieves, and they will go as far as cutting through metal bars and breaking through walls.

My friend was pick-pocketed right in front of me in one resort town, but the thief ran so it didn't matter that we were aware of it. I've had many unsucessful attempts against me too.

So, by all means, venture out. The country is beautiful and the people wonderful and friendly. But be very wise. It is not a fantasy land where nobody would even think about perpetuating a crime, as some on this board would have you believe. As in most parts of the world, crime is lower in the countryside and less likely in daylight. So see the country, but be aware.

JimHinsch@CSI.COM
 
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Natasha Lopez

Guest
Katie:

I am not sure where you get this type of information (the DR having at least half the crime as the US does). I am really concerned with your post, especially since so many people have read it. We should be more careful about what we post, particularly on this thread.

Natasha
 
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Pam

Guest
Re: Safety/Common sense

Thanks Jim Hinsch for the the safety tips! Very much appreciated! I hope nothing like that will happen to me on my vacation to the D.R. Common sense is alway's the key!
 
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jim

Guest
Re: Where is safe?

boston was just voted one of the safest cities in the country,35 murders in 98.i just read the crime stats on puerto plata for 98,[ 67-murders]although most of them are in the barrios it just gives an indication that you should keep your wits about you when venturing into these areas,i've seen stuff happen that i won't get into,so if you don't act like a stupid tourist you can have a great time.
 
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ragnhild

Guest
Yes, my dear - you can go very very safely to the DR. We had two wonderful weeks at the south coast and at the east coast in November last year - and as we are very sofisticated travelers - I can insure you that we were very, very satisfied with our stay at both places. The people of DR are just nice, friendly and lovely. You better go and convince your boyfriend !! (PS ! We are Norwegian globetrotters)

Greetings from a new friend of DR, Ragnhild
 
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Tom

Guest
We can "GUARANTEE" you a safe, escorted vacation in the DR. Cost is $8,000.00 and up for four persons 24 hours a day, (6 days, 1,000.00 per additional) you receive transportation in Range Rovers, minimum of two former special service military personel (they will be adequately armed) 24 hrs a day, but you don't kneed it unless you are at risk of kidnapping or other high profile person that someone might be interested in. Your danger would not come from Dominican people, but others in your past.

In other words, we can provide you the same secuirty a visiting Official would receive, even "Nanny" service, but It's a lot of money for no reason

Tom
 
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Marie

Guest
I got this information from a book called the World book of facts. Put out by newsweek magazine!!!! And yes maybe WE should be more carful with what WE write!!
 
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Katie

Guest
I got this information from a book called the World book of facts. Put out by newsweek magazine!!!! And yes maybe WE should be more carful with what WE write!!