Safety issues outside resorts

[Black Dog]

It is dangerous; dangerous for the profits of the big hotel corps who make huge profits on the often Dominican produced merchandise they sell the tourists at 500% mark-up. With the very low prices of the A.I. packages, when you consider that flights are included + accommodation + food + drinks, these poor companies have to make a buck somewhere.

What profit will they make if tourism dries up because of these practices? and what about all the local businesses that rely on tourists coming out and about? and it's not the hotel that makes the profit on these hard sell excursions, it's the tour companies. The hotel probably makes a bigger profit if you are out of the resort after all, you've already paid for the food and drink so the less you consume the bigger the profit margin!

 

[swellsurfcampcabarete]

sarcasm

Black Dog I was being sarcastic; I spend a great deal of time on trip advisor persuading people to leave the AI's and see the country. I am no fan of A.I. and it's demise in the current form is already well in hand, at least on the North Coast.

If you read the post again and my previous post, you may see my sarcasm more clearly.

Personally, I'd love to see the growth of small independent hotels and more money in the local economy. My own staff receive approximately double that of the staff inside the AI's.

 

[Black Dog]

Black Dog I was being sarcastic; I spend a great deal of time on trip advisor persuading people to leave the AI's and see the country. I am no fan of A.I. and it's demise in the current form is already well in hand, at least on the North Coast.

If you read the post again and my previous post, you may see my sarcasm more clearly.

Personally, I'd love to see the growth of small independent hotels and more money in the local economy. My own staff receive approximately double that of the staff inside the AI's.

I got the sarcasm, I'm a black belt in it! LOL My points weren't meant to be preaching at you, sorry if it came accross that way, but they are, imo, very valid and the tour companies and hotels need to take a long, hard, look at what is going on at these welcome meetings etc and assess the longer term effect on their own business, never mind the greater good of the island! I believe that we are like minded on this issue :bunny:

 

[swellsurfcampcabarete]

Yes we are Black Dog. It brings us back the the whole point of the thread; educating tourists that with all usual precautions, there is a fabulous country to be explored; easily one of the most interesting and diverse islands in the entire Caribbean and with some of the friendliest 'natives' to boot. There's nothing to fear from exploring here and with forums like this, there's a wealth of good advice and pointers to help non Spanish speaking visitors enjoy it too.

 

[tbirdphoto]

Can anyone tell me about any personal safety issues if I were to get a hotel in the main area of Sosua and be able to enjoy walking around by myself to the beaches, casinos, etc. rather than stay at one of the resorts and never go out on the town at night.

YeeHaa, I have been reading this board for about a year and finally decided to join, so this is my first post, safety?........I spent 2 weeks in Sosua in may and I stayed at the Casa Cayena, it was quite the culture shock at first ( I am planning another trip as I write this) I walked around endlessly in the weeee hours of the morn many times, even out of the downtown area, no problems....one night really drunk walking back to the hotel within a quarter of a block of the hotel, someone knocked me down...a motoconcho, one guy jumped off slammed me down stole the only thing on me, a camera.....if I hadn't been drunk walking it would have never happened. I am going back I made some great friends, even a crazy canadian that just hangs out there.
The economy and the wage and the jobs for the working average Dominican sucks..(my bar tab each night was more than a monthlywage)
stupidity got me..never carry your passport or credit cards if you are drunk walking at midnight, Get to know some locals and have fun.

 

[Kyle]

whatever you do, have a good time. AI's do provide luxuries that local hotels cannot and vice versa. i would hate to hear you say "i went to the DR" but really all you did was visit a hotel in the DR. :ermm:

 

[Black Dog]

Yes we are Black Dog. It brings us back the the whole point of the thread; educating tourists that with all usual precautions, there is a fabulous country to be explored; easily one of the most interesting and diverse islands in the entire Caribbean and with some of the friendliest 'natives' to boot. There's nothing to fear from exploring here and with forums like this, there's a wealth of good advice and pointers to help non Spanish speaking visitors enjoy it too.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BrianK]

This was a great source of information that I really wanted. Thanks guys.
BrianK

 

[blkronin]

Thanks again for the info. My plan is to stay in Sosua for 2 or 3 weeks next March. I have been working as a civilian contactor in Iraq and will get a federal income tax break (pay no federal) if I am out of the USA for a year. But I want to leave earlier due to the stress. I heard from a guy over here the Dominican Republic was a great place and was inexpensive. Which is what I need due to the length of time I will need to stay. But since I will be by myself, I wanted to know about any security/safety issues.

I am in the Army National Guard and did a year tour in Iraq. The tax break for Civilian Contractors is for working in Iraq and Afghanistan. It covers income earned while working there as an incentive to get people to work in a hostile environment. It has nothing to do with being out of the United States for any period of time.

 

[BrianK]

Your are right.