Need help onthis hotel Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus - LA ROMANA

woofer21 said:

My girlfriend and I (both in our 30's) and two other couples (in there 30's) are thinking about going to the Dominican Rep. We were told good things about this hotel IBEROSTAR HACIENDA DOMINICUS. I was wondering if anyone could give us some info.

I also have heard that the Dominican Rep was not a safe place outside the resort. I also want to know if this is true or not.

Any help/info would be greatly appreciated.

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Why do I have a starnge feeling that the weasel MOFI will be the first to respond. O.k Mofi all yours. Since you are the Ibeostar Specialist around. too bad you are not on the Yellow Pages or Paginas Amarillo. Have a good one man.

Yes your right....

never stayed at the hotel your asking about only been to Bayahibe beach many times and its beautiful...but about being dangerous outside the resort...yes!!!! very true. i just got back from La romana, stayed 2 months and i heard and saw enough for me to advise anyone who doesn't know that its not a good idea to wander off the resort unless you are with a dominican who is familiar with the area. or something like the tours they offer for tourists i always saw on the big buses. its sad but true. its just to dangerous. my husband whose from la romana tells me it didn't used to be like this 5-6 yrs ago, but now the crime is way out of control

audboogie said:

...but about being dangerous outside the resort...yes!!!! very true. i just got back from La romana, stayed 2 months and i heard and saw enough for me to advise anyone who doesn't know that its not a good idea to wander off the resort unless you are with a dominican who is familiar with the area..... but now the crime is way out of control

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This is just so blown out of proportion that it is ludicrous. Most of us who live here walk the streets, drive the highways and the byways, shop in the stores and generally go about our business without fear. Just the same as everywhere else, we lock our houses at night and we are possibly a little more security aware than a nice aseptic neighborhood somewhere up North. I drive up and down this country many times a month, and with flat tires, stopping for a juice/coke or whatever, I have never ever been afraid.

This does not mean one need not be careful! Obviously you need to look around you, check out the environment, and judge well. Also, don't walk around dripping with jewels. It is better to put on your scuffed backpack and leave your Gucci purse somewhere else.

Follow the rules that you would follow in your own country, and add a whole lot more caution as you are obviously out of your own country. But for heaven's sake, get out of the resort and see some of the country! Do you want to visit the DR, or do you want to go to a resort? That is the question. Many people combine those two goals very successfully.

Dangerous? Compared to what?

I really have to disagree with audboogie. While it seems crime has increased in the DR recently, I'm not so sure that impression isn't more a result of the rapid dissemination of "bad news" through the internet and other media than it is a true reflection of the crime rate. In any event, it is certainly safer than many other places in Latin America, and some in North America for that matter.

During multiple vacations to the DR, the only times I have ever ENTERED an AI resort were for the occasional dinner at the restaurants in Puerto Plata Village. I avoid getting falling-down drunk and use common sense. The only crime I've encountered personally has been having my heart stolen a couple of times, and I have no complaints about that whatsoever!

There are many, many DR1 expats living there, and although some live in gated communities, most do not, and those who do still live and go about their business in the community. Some bad things have happened, and they are discussed a lot, but that doesn't mean it is a particularly dangerous place to live or visit. Bad things happen everywhere.

If someone's idea of a vacation is to lay in the sun til they get skin cancer, drink "free" booze til they get cirrosis of the liver, and eat bad buffet food til they are morbidly obese, by all means they can spend all their time at the AI. Maybe even get "adventurous" and take a "monster truck" excursion. Sorry, not for me. I'll "take my chances".

Iberostar hotels

Haven't stayed at this hotel but have in all the other Iberostar hotels in DR and they are of a high standard, so I would expect no less form Hacienda Dominicus. It is also newer than the others.

Do get out of the resort though even if on an organised trip with your tour operator, otherwise what is the point of going? You may as well go to the nearest, cheapest warm place to your country if you don't venture outside the AI.