Help! Im going to the Dominican Republic on Thursday!

[nat_84]

Ok so Mr Ernesto the hurricane is floating about threatening to ruin my holiday in the Dominican Republic..

Reading weather reports and they read "scattered showers, SHOWERS, Showers, showers, scattered showers" something along them lines....

is my holiday ruined?

Or does this report mean..... maybe an hour of rain per day....?? because i know a lot of resorts can be like that?

HELP!?

[nickmo]

Ernesto is on its way to Miami, so forget that one.

You may have a few showers - its that time of year. Florence, Gordon and Helene are the next names to look out for. These have not yet been 'declared' so just go, and have a lovely time. The DR is a fab place and you really should explore - don't just sit on a beach and veg all the time......

If you really want some details, have a look at he hurricane watch site at: accuweather

[nat_84]

thanks for the brill advice.

I will certainly explore - plan to swim with dolphins, go on a safari, scuba dive and wind surf...wooo hooo..

[dot.hawkes]

if you swim with dolphins ask the tour gude are they swim free dolphins or caged working dolphins, if you go scuba diving make sure you have told your holiday insurers and take your own regulator at least, if you go out buddy up with at least 2 others and wear a bright yellow armband or dive cap, don't trust the local so called PADI guys unless they are qualified to Instructor level and at a minimum Dive master level. Do all the safety checks yourself and make sure you have surface cover timing you, sorry u prob know all this anyway but it always worries me.

[nickmo]

And if you are on the south coast, get along to the capital for a visit - superb place. You can get a guide for a quick walking tour - worth it to know what you are looking at...!Also , plenty of really, really good places to eat. Lots of cafes and street bars just to sit at and watch the world.

Diving is good - but do check the credentials as DH suggests above. Wreck dives are good if you are near a site - and do take a banana for feeding the fish! Horse trails can be a bit hit and miss though, but try and do the trip to Catalina Island. And do not buy mama juama - silly tourist drink - sticks and compost in a bottle with gin......

Do buy the over-proof rum - dirt cheap and worth every penny...!

Lots of info on hotels at the DR1 site at: http://dr1.com - enter the destination in resort reports for some background on where you are going.

If you are north coast, get into the central region and do some rafting too. The villages there are really 'wild west' towns and are set in stunning scenery.

Taxis are horrendously maintained - no brakes, broken windshilds, haphazard 'drive in the shade' style - but then the driver buys you an ice cream off the street vendors 'cos its hot and you're stuck in a traffic jam....just the most hospitable people and courteous.

Food is fantastic, beaches good in the main..just say no to the beach hagglers, they do respect your wishes I found while there for a bit - and just chill.

Just one comment to say that you will see some real poverty - it is a fact in the country that they are not in any way well off, and some parts of the country towns are dire, but if you travel with an open mind and respect the people, remember this is an emerging country.

Have a peachy time and enjoy it all..!

[nat_84]

thanks nickmo - ur obviously a regular. Maybe u can help me more specifically.

We're staying in breezes hotel in Punta Cana - any general knowledge of either the area or hotel??

I understand about the country as i spent 3 months in Ghana last year. So ive witnessed pretty bad poverty and horrible situations before.

ur knowledge is really helpful by the way - x

[nickmo]

Hi nat - review on the Breezes here

Punta Cana is reviewed here as well for a bit more info

The Eastof the country is devloped for all inclusive holidays. It will take a bit more effort to get out and about but once you realise the way the guaguas work - like a mini bus but cost about 3p for a trip - & be prepared to share with 137 others in a 7 seater though.......

Couple of basic and obvious tips too - take a stack of $1 or $5 bills for tips. Stick only to bottled water. Take a little bottle of hand sanitiser stuff - useful for the trips to the toilet outside the resort to try and stop stomach bugs from touching dirty toilet handles or whatever. Take re-hydration powders just in case, & a good insect repellent is useful too. If you do a rafting trip, do not ever swallow the river water if you go under - the upstream villages use it for the toilet...I can assure you.......

Expect power cuts - hotels have generators that can work....expect to be offered the occasional woman for a fee. - A polite no is enough. Unfortunate result of the 'rich' tourist but it only really is apparent in specific areas and wont be an unplesant constant thing.

You'll need your passport with you if you use the local banks by the way - they will also have a guy there with a pump action shotgun - don't take his photo....

Expect a bit of a barter if you buy on the street any souvenirs, and a really nice one is the naive art you'll see eberywhere. Pick a good one (easy to tell the better ones) and they usually have card tubes for you to carry it home - framed they lookbrilliant and are much better than some of the other stuff...

[nickmo]

Final points - if you do dive, the souvenir video of the dive makes you look 25% bigger than you really are due to the water refraction...be aware before you show the friends and neighbours..!

Food at most all inc resorts is pretty good, but do try the local restaurants. They will appreciate it anyway and the food available is generaly extremely high quality - steaks are 'big' there, and seafood is pretty good too. I would hope you would find the same standards I have in the past. I have some great memories of excellent meals - and I like my food....

Don't forget also that you will burn in sun through cloud at their latitudes, so make sure that you do use a good sun lotion. You may find a local offering their own potion - make your own mind up about that ....

Oh and brushing teeth - use bottled water or make sure you do not swallow the hotel tap water...

Shout at the frogs and crickets at night if you want - they will be likley to ignore you but they may stop for 3 secs. respite from the constant chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp...............you really know you are away from it then...... Brilliant stuff.

Have nice time.....................