Don't listen to the LIES!

[koolkat]

No problem! It's great that there are forums like this to provide info. and dispel myths. I spent months researching the DR three years ago and joined forums just to learn as much as I could. Thank goodness! It was the first time that we travelled to another country, but I was confident thanks to the tips and advice from locals and other travelers. I have been disturbed by the behaviours of some tourists who tend to be rude and difficult, expecting to be waited on hand and foot at 3 or 3.5 star resorts. If you want 5-star service, stay at a 5-star resort and pay the 5-star prices!

Not every travel agent will give you the honest truth. It really is buyer and traveller beware. After all, the magazines, brochures and travel industry folks want you to spend your money so why would they say things to turn you off, unless the country you plan on travelling to really isn't safe, usually due to political and civil unrest.

I enjoy learning the DR history, practicing my limited Spanish and really taking it all in. Within a few days of our first visit, we both agreed that it felt like home to us. Isn't that strange? Keep an open mind, learn as much as you can beforehand and while you're there, be smart, be safe and best of all, have a great time.

Another thing that I love about the North Coast - *not* seeing big box retail stores, fast food chains (only saw a very small McDonald's at a gas station) and Robin's Donuts and Tim Horton's on practically every corner.

[gambitt]

I have to agree with everyone above... There are lots of areas in Toronto, Canada, that I would not go for an "evening stroll".

On the other hand, I stayed at the Bahia Principe in 2003, and a group of us Crazy Canadians did the snorkel excursion, and while we were out, we ran out of Rum!!!!

So, a group of us waked up to the store in Rio San Juan for more rum, coke, and ice. Everyone we met was very polite, and more than a few Hola's were exchanged.

We ended up pouring drinks, sitting on the side of the street, and sharing with any of the local folks, who happened by.

Apparently, "Yo Cananda!" is a common toast in this area!

[flopnfly]

I have experienced the Rep putting the fear of death into everyone at the orientation.

People walk away from the orientation too scared to step foot off the resort.

Last year at the Casa Marina I sat through our orientation, got the prices off our rep for the tours, said thanks and walked away. I walked out the front doors, turned right and headed down the street to book.

I tried to convince a few other people to join me, but they were too scared. How sad because they don't know what they are missing. They did their "souvenier shopping" in the hotel gift shop!!!

They paid an extortionate amount of money to use the resort computers to email home when just a few feet outside the resort was a perfectly good internet cafe at more than half the price.

I always venture off the resort and discover what I can.

Sosua and Caberete have a lot to offer, and I hope that people read this thread and get off the resort.

Running the Gauntlet in Sosua has become an adventure in itself :-), but please don't tell the vendors that you will stop on your way back if you have no intention of it.

Just tell them a polite no thank you, and they will respect you for that.

Just my two cents :-)

[Sosua Gal]

koolkat, gambitt and flopnfly:

Your comments are fantastic- and help prove our point- THANKS!!!

[Spanky]

It is now time for the Brits and other Europeans to venturing to Sosua, and once again, the reps [not all of them, though] are telling the tourists that it is not safe to venture away from the resort. What utter rubbish! If it were unsafe, the British and European authorities would not permit travel to this lovely place. So ignore the reps' lies and make a trip into town and beach etc., you deserve to see what goodies are on offer.

[coppersun2001]

Here here spanks! I totally agree with you! when we were there in Feb this is exactly what was happening. We got so fed up listening to people telling us that we shouldn't be going off the resort. this is totally crap. Sosua is safe, just make sure that if you wouldn't do stuff at home why would you do things there.
My hubby and I walked the village at all times of the day and night and never had any problems.

Use your head and you will be fine.

( ok getting off my soap box now)

[kelley]

I find all of this information very very true.

I am heading out to sosua in august - for 2 lovely weeks and am really looking forward to getting out and seeing whats behind the hotel walls!!!

I have already come to the conclusion, after my lasst visit to the dr that i will not book my trips with the rep, but will this time do it with somebody outside resort!!!