Don't listen to the LIES!

[Sosua Gal]

Thought this would grab your attention!

And here's my point:
Don't listen to what the Tour Reps at your hotel tell you!
They get paid very little, and so they make it up on commissions by telling you NOT to book anything outside your resort, or with anyone other than them! They will say ANYTHING to get you to book through them, even though there are legitimate companies out there with insurance, and that book on the SAME BUSES you would be picked up with- for half the price.
These companies (ie: Mel Tours) pay a lot of money for their licenses and there are very strict rules in this country. They are insured.

Here's an example:
Last Christmas, Mark and I went on a Paradise Island Trip with our visiting relatives, which we booked with Linda at Mel Tours. We payed $43.00. We got picked up at the Casa Marina and stopped in Playa Dorada on the way and picked up several people who had paid $90.00 FOR THE SAME TRIP! Get it?

These Tour Operators will even tell you it's not safe to venture out of the hotel OR to change money anywhere but through them...why??? So your holiday money stays in the resort! Do you think we'd be living here if Sosua wasn't safe? Do you think the Airlines and Tour Operators would be bringing in THOUSANDS of tourists each week???

Every day we meet people at Checkpoint that say- it's unbelievable how many people NEVER leave the resort because they went to the orientation when they arrived and had the FEAR OF GOD put into them by their rep!!!

Listen people! Some of the reps are amazing and will tell you the truth- but some make a bad name for the others and ruin the local economies by telling you not to go out of the resorts!

SOSUA IS SAFE. CABARETE IS SAFE. Nothing happens here that doesn't happen anywhere else anywhere in the world.

Just use your head, and don't carry more money than you need. And don't carry your passport- carry a COPY of it instead- same goes with your drivers license.

OK enough of my RANT!
Hope you respect my reasoning and see the REAL Dominican Republic.
More tips to come in the future!

[sosuadomrep]

Hi Colleen
you hit the nail on the head - LIES!

In 2004 we were told at our welcome meeting by our travel representative that we should not venture outside the Hotel complex as it was not safe to do so. If we wished to book tours we would be better off booking the tours with our travel rep as they would be fully insured, would be taken on tours that had been checked out with the travel company in other words assuring us that everything would be safe as long as we booked with them.

It was only in 2005 when we revisted Sosua did we realise that it was safe outside the Hotel. To be honest, we were so upset that we had been lied to the year before we decided to make our website about Sosua to try to help anyone searching the internet make their own judgements about the area.

We will be the first to admit that our site could do with a lot more information and we are always trying to improve it. We are passionate about bringing to people's attention the injustice that the travel companies portray of the area which seems crazy to us since why would they take us to a hostile place in the first place.

We have made many friends in Sosua and have not once felt threatened in the three visits we have made. With Restaurants and Bars, shops, the public beach, tour operators and much much more to see it seems a shame that so many people are scared into not leaving the Hotels.

This year at the ice cream parlour by your bar Colleen we met a couple who had been staying at Breezes in Cabarete. They were told not to come to Sosua because it was too hostile. They had decided to find out for themselves and were pleasantly suprised at how nice they thought the area was.
So a classic case of LIES! by the travel rep

If you are visiting Sosua and feel you would like to see the town we would suggest you to use the same amount of caution as you would do at home. Not much more to say on that.

Dean & Norma

[Spanky]

My wife and I first visited Playa Dorada a few years ago and were scared sh--less by what the rep told us. Needless to say we did "our own thing" the following visit and have subsequently settled very happily [AND SAFELY] in Sosua since Jan this year.
Well done Colleen for highlighting this blight on our part of paradise.

Spanky

[robyne2000]

I too will comment on the truth of Sosua. We first experienced Sosua on a taxi adventure from an all-inclusive. I fell in love and Sosua would be our new Paradise. While my husband was in University I traveled alone as well as on trips with alone with my son. As a single woman/parent I ahve never had any mishaps in Sosua. Play safe and it is no worse actually even better than any where in North America.
to come to a country as beautiful as Dominican Republic and not experience the Dominican culture is a shame. All-Inclusive resorts are fun but no where near show the real Dominican Republic or any other Island/Culture you may visit.
Please don't be scared. Sosua awaits you. Venture out! Have fun !!!

[Sosua Gal]

Thanks for the back up, guys!
I was worried I might have been to "harsh" with my words, but I am soooo tired of people arriving at our bar on their LAST day saying- "Oh, how we wish we'd known..."!, or telling us about the people they meet in the resorts that NEVER LEAVE.
Why on earth would you spend hundreds or thousands of hard earned dollars for a vacation, only to never see the real destination?
Yes, some come to just relax and read by the pool or beach and have a mindless holiday, but for the most part I think people are curious and WANT to get off the resorts!
SO DO IT PEOPLE!!!
Colleen

[benna]

I think Colleen brought up a good point. Bad things can happen ANYWHERE. You just need to use your head. Of course don't carry around all of your vacation dollars (or pesos!!) I don't carry around a ton of money.

The resorts are great to lounge by the pool, have some drinks etc. for a few days. But usually people do end up getting bored and venturing into town. The nice thing about frequenting the bars in town is that us expats are always willing to sit and chat with tourists and make them feel right at home.

[coppersun2001]

Boy oh boy this whole issue really upsets me. Sousa is a great place to visit, to work and to live. I agree wholeheartedly with all the above postings.

We started coming to the DR eleven years ago, however we were never told not to go to Sousa, but we were never told about it either. The tour guides at the resorts are probably getting kick backs from different tourist places. ( my opinion only)

When we finally ventured into the DR away from the resorts, we discovered a wonderful country with lots to offer. Then we discovered Sousa and have never looked back. We also fell in love with Sousa! and plan to retire there in about 5 years.

Let alone the fact that we also discovered two very wonderful people (Mark and Colleen)!

So all that read this thread, please venture out of the resorts, take a look at what the DR has to offer, use your heads regarding safety issues, and EXPERIENCE all that this country has to offer.

[DomRepEd]

Right, don't listen to the lies and spread the word...
My wife and I just arrived earlier this year and are here to stay. We're from Rotterdam, a big city in Holland. We are used to big city life and -problems and even then we feel safe at home. Overhere we must say we feel even more safe!
Crazy, you will say . But our family and friends coming over all are asking; "but isn't it dangerous on the street, can we eat outside our hotel, bla bla bla". The Trave Companies in Holland allready manipulate the people to stay in their resorts...

But WE are telling them to go out, take tours, go for a nice cold drink to Checkpoint and so on...

[rembrandvdb]

Sosua is save for me too,

I visited it 2 weeks ago for just a to short week
so plans are already made to visit it again next year.

It's a great country and Sosua is pretty save
And the tour opperator we had told pretty good things about the DR or Sosua. About the taxis the moped taxi and the little bars and things. not to forget the beautifull sosua beach which i did not visit :S next time i will certainly visit it.

What do you fokes know about puerto plata
is it a save place to go just as save as Sosua?

Greetz

Rembrand

[coppersun2001]

hi Remb,
From my thoughts and mine only, I am not a huge fan of Puerto Plata. I don't feel the same way as I do in Sousa but that is just me. To much crap in POP for my liking, however I believe Colleen does some shopping there so she might be the best one to ask.

We attended a celebration in POP and wow it was an eye opener, however we felt the people weren't as friendly there.

just my opinion.
Having said that we really liked Santo Domingo, and Punta Cana. We also like Caberate, but still think Sousa is the best.

[sosuatan]

boy i never thought i could agree with so many people, again Colleen great advice. love Sosua !! been to many island, the D.R. is my favorite

[koolkat]

There's a shady side to every city, town and country around the world. Best to inform yourself as much as possible about certain areas that are known problem areas, but by all means, explore your surroundings and venture outside the resort to experience the Dominican culture. Resorts and tour reps are concerned for tourists' safety, which is understandable. But, it's also in their best interest to keep you in the resort as much as possible so you will spend more money there onsite. Some people prefer that type of "safe" vacation. Good for them, but that's not the way we like to spend our time. It's much more fun and interesting mingling with the locals and learning along the way.

The first year we stayed in Cabarete and booked with our Sunquest Tour Rep who was Canadian-born, but she didn't put too much fear into us, just emphasized that the beaches are public and not to venture out by ourselves in secluded areas, beware of pick pockets, beach vendors, aggressive shop keepers, the water, driving hazards, sidewalks that suddenly plunge into ravines (no street lights in many parts of Puerto Plata that we walked through) traveler's diahrrea, prostitutes, staggering around drunk by yourself, walking alone late at night, drug dealers, pretty much common sense stuff in any city/country. Yes, we did encounter a few prostitues and drug dealers, but they didn't bother us. A firm but polite "No Gracias" worked every time. We did pay a premium for booking through the rep., but it was a learning experience for us and we're much more knowledgeable now.

Maybe if you're from a very small town or city where you've never seen a real life prostitute before, I can imagine the shock and horror! But, I would argue that by meeting locals and researching the areas you stay in well before you book, you will be much more informed and comfortable once you get there. An insecure, nervous person might be best suited to stay within the resort property.

I am more comfortable in DR than I am in Toronto or Winnipeg.

Last year, we ventured out on our own by foot through Puerto Plata and had no problems at all. Carried photocopies of our passports and not much money. No jewelry other than our resort issued wrist bands, basically tried to blend in and explore our surroundings. We didn't do any tours, just snorkelled, relaxed and hung around. Yes, we ate a couple of times from a street vendor and didn't get sick. I got food poisoning years ago from a food vendor in Ottawa, so it can happen anywhere, not just in the DR.

This year, we booked our tours through Linda at Mel Tours, and plan to do more exploring on our own.

Common sense should always be your #1 priority and we've always found the locals to be friendly and helpful. We're not very proficient at Spanish but at least we do try to speak some of the language.

[Sosua Gal]

Well said, koolkat, well said.

And may I repeat the words..."Just don't check your brain at Customs on the way in" !!!

[coppersun2001]

absolutely agree with everything posted, I just don't like Puerto Plata, have see lots in other cities round the world but do as you say feel safer in Sousa that even Edmonton. and that is saying something.

Geezeeeee Coll, more rules, rules rules rules, what da ya mean can't check my brain at the door., man that means I gotta think now ugh!!!!!

[Sosua Gal]

LOL I didn't say you had to use it...just make sure you remember to bring it...in case of emergency!