Dominican Republic - Precautions

In the capital, dudes will try to shine your shoes for a few bucks.. I didn't want them to as I was wearing sneakers, but they are persistent little kids.. Once I figured I'd be nice and gave one of the kids a buck just for the hell of it.. Well that kid did not stop following me for many blocks, and then some friends joined in assuming I was rich and going to give everyone cash.. Uhm, don't do it.. Unless you are rich and want to be followed by alot of little dudes.... Find other ways to help the community is such is your desire.. It gets dangerous when the older guys notice. Luckily I speak spanish and can speak slang so I spooked them off.....

Take a few American Dollars, but have Dominican Peso as your main currency. Try to avoid Hotel-Run Casinos, you will probably lose rather than gain.

Dancing and nightlife, merengue and other folklore.Donot go along showing off, just be friendly and simple, avoid conversations with people that obviously want something from you and keep talking to you. When you go, for instance, to El Mercado to buy souvenirs, always bargain.You will find lots of restaurants, local food, Italian, French, American, Mexican, Argentinian, German...

En Rio San Juan no deben perderse de darse un baño en la Laguna Gri-Gri, es salobre, muy grata, ahí pueden tomar una yola motorizada que en minutos los pasea por la Costa Atlántica. Hay mucha vida nocturna, buenos hoteles pequeños, gente hospitalaria... pero tengan cuenta a la hora de comprar de que no les cobren mas de la cuenta. No ponen precios bajos. La comida es muy rica.

Samana is a beautiful place but as you will find out it is not the safest place to be as a tourist due to the adverse poverty of the DR but the place has unreal natural beauty and beaches, caves and various other attractions.

Great people, very colorful. Avoid side streets and those not very well lit, especially as you move out of the city center and don't speak Spanish.

Don't travel in motorcycles at night.

watch for areas like puerto plata...the beaches are dominated by sand mosquitoes...stay away. check out the food before you taste--especially sea food. Do some horse back riding and dune buggy--they're cool

Je vous conseille l'hôtel ou je me suis rendue avec ma famille.C'est l'hôtel Casa del Mare. Il a 4 étoiles plus,les repas sont excellents: c'est All in Exclusif.Les animations sont superbes et le petit village Bayahibe est à 5-10mn à pieds et le chemin c'est la plage...Avis aux fumeurs n'achetez que les cigarettes à l'hôtel ou dans les bureaux de tabac et pas chez les marchands ambulants. C'est de la contre-façon. Et puis en République Dominicaine elle ne sont pas chères. 1 dollar le packet.

Prendre de la crême solaire!^^