Has the curfew affected your vacation?

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Jayou360

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Feb 20, 2006
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I'm a reporter working on a story about the curfew, and was wondering if any foreigners who visit the DR regularly have changed their plans (or had their plans changed) by the early closing time for bars.

Feel free to post here or private message me. Thanks,J.
 
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Clampett 1

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Aug 11, 2006
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I have to tell you that the DR just isn't that much fun anymore. I just returned from a 10 day vacation there and it felt like it was missing something. Part of the fun when visiting the DR was staying up all night drinking, partying and having fun. Now, you have to plan early and that isn't that much fun anymore. The next time I have to go on vacation, I really don't think I will go there. I think that I will find me another spot to visit where I can party all night.

Joel Gomez
Leominster, MA
 
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Russo

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Aug 1, 2005
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I was in Puerto Plata in August for a week and stayed in the Playa Dorada Complex but the discos - Mangu, Crazy Moon and Hemmingways were not affected by the new curfew hours so it was business as usual. I know outside of Playa Dorada it was very different except for the weekends when everything came alive.
 
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Bob K

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Aug 16, 2004
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It is certainly niceer driving on the roads at 9 10PM. Now all the drunks are at the bars and discos already so not on the road getting there at that time.

Bob K
 
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jrzyguy

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May 5, 2004
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i gotta say...at first i thought about cancelling my next trip. Now i have simply postponed it till they get things straightened out.

I am not out getting drunk every night while on vacation....however while in the capitol...i cant immagine going to a club to go dancing or to hear some good music and be told to go home at midnight.

If i was staying in an AI resort i am sure this new rule would not effect me, however i am an indy traveler and as such i value the freedom to do what i would like (within the law).

I guess on my next trip i will spend less time pumping my toursit dollars into the economy at night...and will just have to spend my late nights with my novio at his place :)
 
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vince1956

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May 24, 2006
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Stiff rules include jail for scofflaw Dominican nightclubs

SANTO DOMINGO. - The Justice Ministry announced today Tuesday the beginning of a permanent campaign to close nightclubs, bars and businesses -including the arrest of their proprietors- which sell alcohol and which permit entry to minors .

In that regard Justice minister Radham?s Jim?nez instructed all Dominican prosecutors to proceed against those businesses that break the Law and Code for the Protection of Minors

More on http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=21346
 
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Beads

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May 21, 2006
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they should crack down on serving minors alcohol. it will get rid of a lot of other problems also at the same time .
 
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suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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Beads said:
they should crack down on serving minors alcohol. it will get rid of a lot of other problems also at the same time .
Click to expand...

Such as???

The curfew is definitely affecting my vacation. I'm currently here here in Santo Domingo and back to the hotel room as we were in ciudad colonial and everything closed at midnight. Even all the hotels (which I thought were exempt) are closed (Jaragua, Santo Domingo, Napolitano, etc)...I went to all these and even the casino if you want to stay they will serve you juices or water...this is madness in a country where a huge percentage of the economy depends on tourism...How can the country compete with other destinations where these restrictions don't exist? If I was a tourist I would most likely go somewhere else...

Definitely not the same DR from the past and it's obviously affecting a lot of people who make their living from bars and late night patrons.
 
Squat

Squat

Tropical geek in Las Terrenas
Jan 1, 2002
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The curfew is a good thing. I am very glad that finally the government seems to stick to its word. Tourism in Las Terrenas is totally booming at full blast, and the vast majority of visitors are not here to spend their nights drinking in bars, so there are no problems.
That said, a good amount of visitors are renting villas, and they can throw a party until 6:00am if they want, with all their friends, so it's fair enough.
I would say that for each "drunk" we loose as a visitor, we'll gain 10 other visitors who enjoys nice tropical landscape, rather than the wild nightlife.
 
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CFA123

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May 29, 2004
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It's changed the 'feel' of Cabarete significantly. Probably makes it a nicer place to live, and not quite as attractive for some visitors.

Streets are completely empty only a few minutes after the bars close. Certainly doesn't have the same party town feel that it did prior to the curfew. People are heading home by the time things used to really start hopping.

Everyone seems to have adjusted, not much choice to do otherwise.
 
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Ricardo900

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Jul 12, 2004
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It affects my vacation only non-weekend days, when the bars close down at 12-Midnight. I was hanging at Bembe(sp?) in Santiago and I looked at my watch and it was about 11:50, so I thought well let me get my last beer and nurse it until I leave, nope. At 12 on the dot, the music was turned off and lights went on, there was a guy at the door with styrafoam cups pouring everbodies drink "para llevar". Oh well, the new law is supposed to improve quality of life.
 
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laurapasinifan

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Sep 19, 2005
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I only go to the resorts once in a while, even though i go about 9 times a year there. If I go to the resort areas I am stuck with staying in the resort, instead of going any where I want to dance and enjoy the nightlife. This curfew has totally changed the landscape of the dominican night life...especially for the travelor who went there for the nightlife and partying. Where a place would start to gear up around 11 or so..it now is CLOSED at midnight!!!!!!!...that sucks for people on VACATION.
People on vacation dont want to hearother whine about who needs to be up at 2 am ....the vacationers do!!!!!!!!!!

I go to santiago mostly...and it has killed 5 of the 7 nights I had vailable to enjoy my VACATION.

I never get drunk...I dont want to nor need to....but I am loosing out because the establishment I want to go to are closing so early...as opposed to before.

they have changed the total picture of the dominican vacation scene...

I am sure they have puched a large percentage of vacationer to other countries

one persons view

bob
 
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curlyq

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Mar 20, 2006
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For me it has been only a small inconvenience. I visit the resort clubs in Playa Dorada as well as some in the city. You have you plan your nights if you visit the local clubs but if it's for the overall safety of the public I'm all for it.

curlyq
 
Squat

Squat

Tropical geek in Las Terrenas
Jan 1, 2002
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laurapasinifan said:
I am sure they have puched a large percentage of vacationer to other countries
Click to expand...

No, only some of the nightlife-loving people, who don't represent the majority of visitors... Otherwise most visitors don't even notice there's a curfew.

I think it is good that some bars are closing, as there was definitly too many of them in some touristic areas. Only the best ones remains in business.

Ok, I am not a tourist, but I can tell you that I have never seen such a FULL season here, and haven't heard a single complain about the curfew...

For those of you who like to go girl-hunting (this is what most gringos do when they go out at night, if not too drunk...), just go earlier... ;)
 
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laurapasinifan

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Sep 19, 2005
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well i dont pretend to consider quality of life issues for the non tourist, and i dont bedate wether the goverments plan is working or not....I only mention my view as to wether party style atmosphere enjoying vacationing adult men and women who have previously enjoyed the DR before the curfew, would consider going elsewhere since the curfew. I am sure many have chosen other places......how many is anyones guess.
I would not trust either the pro or the cons sides data on the issue because it would be biased towards that groups view I believe.

bob
 
M

Malibook

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Jan 23, 2002
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www.yourtraveltickets.com
I don't mind getting an earlier start to a night out but the hope that everybody would do this and bars would just get their money earlier was a wishful dream.
I still think the curfew is ridiculous but since Playa Dorada and the resorts are exempt, I can live with it.
I would think that the stepped up police and military patrols had much more to do with reducing crime than this misguided curfew.
 
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GringaRubia

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Sep 9, 2006
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What I noticed about the curfew was that it has taken dramatic toll on small businesses in the DR. I had not really considered fully what the impact would be to the bar owners. It took me by surprise just how devastating this can be to the livelihood of the bar/club owners. There are some pretty devastated people there, some the smaller places that relied on nighttime business have closed. One guy I know had such a great place, it was always fun and full of regulars playing billiards, dominos and dancing. A good crown, no trouble. He wasn't amking a killing but feeding his family and keeping shoes on his kids feet. It is like walking into a different world now. I guess the couple of hours a night could make or break a smaller place. I was not impressed. For the economic impact alone I think that there has to be a better way to make things safer without crushing those trying to make a living.
 
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suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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Well, we are always talking about how we want more money to be spent within the local economy instead of just the AI's...This is the exact opposite measure to encourage this.

I have two friends who went down with me about a year ago and loved it. This year there will be eight of them going and they decided to go to Costa Rica instead, because of this stupid law. These are all professional single guys who like to party and spend a ton of money in bars, clubs, food, etc...and don't want to be told they need to go to bed at 12:00 AM. I wonder how many more situations like that have happened since this was put in place.
 
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suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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2LeftFeet said:
Well, maybe people need to learn to adapt-- bring the party back to their hotel room :)!!!
Click to expand...

That's all find and dandy if you live in The DR and don't have a choice...but if you're a tourist and DO have a choice then you're going to go and spend your money somewhere else...
 
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