Las Galeras - Unsafe?

K

Kimberlyand

New member
Mar 4, 2011
7
0
0
I recently read a review on tripadvisor.com - apparently someone staying at the Grand Paradise Samana (old casa marina) in Las Galeras got robbed by 2 men with machetes and balaclavas, on the path between Las Galeras and the resort. Does anyone know anything about this, and whether safety in Las Galeras has become an issue lately?

Thanks
 
R

reilleyp

Well-known member
Dec 12, 2006
1,422
920
113
safety

I have been visiting the Las Galeras area for three years, and nobody has ever bothered me, even at two o'clock in the morning. That is not to say that petty crime does not exist, however, it would be hard to find a place in this world, where there is no crime.
 
C

caipiranha

New member
Feb 15, 2008
128
4
0
Kimberlyand said:
... on the path between Las Galeras and the resort...
Click to expand...

I read about that at trip advisor, too. No, these people were not robbed between LG and the GPS (this path along the beach is safe because of the guards there, also at night we never had any problems), these guests were robbed "off the resort from the beach( to the right)", I think on their way to El Cabito.

I also love El Cabito, for me it?s a very special place I enjoy everytime at LG.

And yes, sometimes there were robberies on the path from GPS up there (as were at Madame, Rincon, Coson, Portillo...). I never had any problems outside the hotels, but I follow the rules for worldwide travelling.

Everyday lots of people are robbed out - worldwide. At lonely places/streets
you always have to be careful.

So don?t miss the El Cabito (or other peninsula?s highlights). And if you don?t want any risk - go with a group, ask one of the beach "boys" at GPS to guide you there or call the owners to organize a shuttle - they are sooo helpful.

Saludos
 
  • Like
Reactions: mountainannie
K

Kimberlyand

New member
Mar 4, 2011
7
0
0
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.

We were hoping that, and it won't change our plans to see the sights at any rate; we'll just avoid night time and looking like we have a lot of cash :)
 
C

caipiranha

New member
Feb 15, 2008
128
4
0
Kimberlyand said:
... we'll just avoid night time and looking like we have a lot of cash :)
Click to expand...

Until today robberies on Samana (most of them happen at daytime!) are not daily business, but the number is increasing year by year. And it?s not only cash - rings, watches, bracelets, cameras, 4 years ago at LT new Nike basketball shoes - nearly everything seems to be welcome.

In RD I never had any safety problems outside the hotels:pirate:, although travelling around alone many times, I avoid to be at wrong place at a wrong time :eek:

Seriously: Don?t run around with rings, watch, bracelets... Wear important things very next to your boby and an additional "official" bag, which can be robbed, around your hips. Perhaps ask the locals where to be careful actually, they can give you the most actual tips. In GPS you also could ask the guests with the silver-bracelets - they are not there the 1st time.

Have I nice holiday! (Sorry about that bad English)
 
K

Kimberlyand

New member
Mar 4, 2011
7
0
0
caipiranha said:
Until today robberies on Samana (most of them happen at daytime!) are not daily business, but the number is increasing year by year. And it?s not only cash - rings, watches, bracelets, cameras, 4 years ago at LT new Nike basketball shoes - nearly everything seems to be welcome.

In RD I never had any safety problems outside the hotels:pirate:, although travelling around alone many times, I avoid to be at wrong place at a wrong time :eek:

Seriously: Don?t run around with rings, watch, bracelets... Wear important things very next to your boby and an additional "official" bag, which can be robbed, around your hips. Perhaps ask the locals where to be careful actually, they can give you the most actual tips. In GPS you also could ask the guests with the silver-bracelets - they are not there the 1st time.

Have I nice holiday! (Sorry about that bad English)
Click to expand...

haha sounds good. Luckily I don't wear bracelets necklaces or watches or even earrings most of the time.. only thing I'll have on me is a small amount of cash if I'm going shopping, and maybe my camera. I'd be angry if someone took that!! haha.

Thanks for all the advice! Can't wait to be there.. We're doing the trip to el limon, hopefully a day trip to los haitises, as well as the mandatory boat ride to playa rincon... should be fun!!
 
J

Juniper

New member
Apr 15, 2004
406
4
0
Careful in Playa del Valle, very beautiful beach but very treacherous with very
strong rip currents.
 
K

Kimberlyand

New member
Mar 4, 2011
7
0
0
Juniper said:
Careful in Playa del Valle, very beautiful beach but very treacherous with very
strong rip currents.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I also read that online.

Honestly, I'm not sure if we'll have time to make it to del Valle anyways- we're only there for a week and we already have a few excursions planned.. due to the fact that we'll also want lots of relaxation time, we might not make it.
 
U

UStraveler

New member
Jul 14, 2011
2
0
0
Since I have friends in Las Galeras I am hesitant to post this but I am going to for the information and education of the public, it is important. I have been going to the DR for 3 years and spent a total of 6 months so I think that I do have deep knowledge of the Las Galeras I have stayed nowhere else on the island.

I got to know many people.
These are the incidents of crime that I have heard of in the last 2 years in Las Galeras.
1) An American friend was kidnapped over three days at gunpoint and robbed. She was not harmed but she was taken for ransom. She owns a home here in Las Galeras.
2) An Italian woman was raped while running on the paths surrounding the town by two men, she was also assaulted in her home. She was a resident but then left.
3) A few French couples homes were broken into and robbed blind two or three times. They also had homes.
4) A brittish woman and a Canadian woman were robbed at gunpoint, beaten, and shot (not dead) for less than $30 USD. They fled the island and were residents.
5) Most recently another friend was home alone in her house and two Dominicans entered and assaulted her and robbed her. She fled the island.
6) There were rumors about one of the more prominent restaurants being robbed at gunpoint, it is speculation however the owners have now fled the island also.

These are the cases that I know of... they are TRUE FACTS.
I know of no violence or robberies of tourists in though it seems that most of the violence is directed at women who own property or live in Las Galeras. This has been becoming worse and worse and the Police do nothing to stop these assaults.

I do not believe that Las Galeras is a safe place truthfully to LIVE> I do think that it is safe to travel to for a short time if you take precautions and be smart about this. Stay inside at night.

The violence is being channeled towards the residents that are white and European and if anyone denies it they are onlt harming themselves. These truths must come out.

I pray for all of the people in Las Galeras.
 
J

jypsygirl

New member
Jul 16, 2011
1
0
0
I stayed in Las Galeras in 2007 and it was pretty wonderful. We were considering coming back this December 2011, but after reading the post above, I'm not so sure. Can anyone else confirm that this area has gotten as bad as UStraveler says?
 
T

Tonydomrep

Member
Feb 22, 2009
226
2
18
Hello jypsygirl,

please read all the posts and not only the last one.

When going to a place you need to use common sence and thats it. Las Galeras is a nice spot. I am coming there several times a week.
In every place there a problems, there are no SAFE places in the world, IF you feel unsafe. Enjoy your holiday.
 
U

UStraveler

New member
Jul 14, 2011
2
0
0
Just responding

I wanted to clarify this because all of what I have stated IS TRUE and I KNOW IT TO BE TRUE.
I don't want to see tourists end their trips to LG, however it is a place where you need to be cautious. If you are a woman and you happen to travel alone, thats great I have been all over the world alone. Nothing has happened to ME in LG. But, there have been attacks on the residents as I have stated. There may have been tourist attacks that I am unaware of. In the US there are attacks and robberies every day.

The bottom line is - you need to be aware of who you fraternize with, who you trust, and where you go - with whom. Don't travel alone = especially at night in this town EVER! During the day it is still good to have someone with you if you leave the main roads - this is not a vacation escape where its safe to wander around town in your bikini carrying your wallet. Some travelers are plain stupid - I see it all the time.

I have been there for a long time, and nothing has happened to me, but I am careful. I don't let my guard down and I am always aware of people and their intentions. Its a time of great economic dispair in the the third world, we all know that. Be aware and you will probably not find a problem. If you act like you are on the beaches of Nice Fr. you are going to be in trouble... plain and simple.

I don't want to deter people from traveling but I want to educate people that this island is third world and it can be dangerous in every corner - even in the beach paradise of LG>

Go - take a nice time - but protect yourself.:cool:
 
C

caipiranha

New member
Feb 15, 2008
128
4
0
There are also other places in RD where residents were robbed in their houses.

UStraveler said:
There may have been tourist attacks ...
Click to expand...

Yes there were, number is increasing. And not only in Las Galeras. I heard of robberies at Playa Madame, Playa Rincon, Boca del Diavolo, also Samana, but in all these cases tourists had money, expensive watches, jewels and cameras. I never had problems outside the hotels, but I became very careful, too.
Saludos
 
P

potatohead

New member
May 10, 2012
113
0
0
Kimberlyand said:
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.

We were hoping that, and it won't change our plans to see the sights at any rate; we'll just avoid night time and looking like we have a lot of cash :)
Click to expand...
That's just silly. If your face is white, you have a lot of cash!
 
J

justdoit

New member
May 3, 2011
19
0
0
Hlywud said:
it could happer in Ottawa, ON just as easily as the DR
Click to expand...
No, not really.... Not sure what part of Ottawa or Canada you live, but going for a stroll and getting robbed at gun or knife point, that is highly unlikely... Regardless of the time of day... I'm not saying its impossible but really, the comparison is far fetched
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom