Travel to Haiti???

How safe is it to travel to Haiti by bus from Santo Domingo? Also getting around by bus while in Haiti being a "blanc" and by myself? Why doesn`t anyone use the chat room? It just seems easier then posting back and fourth?

No problem whatsoever to travel to Haiti, however I recommend the north-coast, and the region around Cap-Haitien, which is more relax than the Port-au-Prince area... It would be better for your first visit to go with a friend who's been there before, but if you don't have one, do your homework on haitian culture, learn some french or creole, hide your money and go for it ! Being white won't create animosity, just curiosity... No big deal... Just remember everybody will think you are rich, so they might ask double price for anything... get informed about the currency ( 28 gourdes=1.00US$ )... About the haitian dollar, 5 gourdes are 1 haitian dollars... Visit all the haiti's website (google = haiti)...

I have quite a few students from Haiti at the University and each and everyone of them tell me that it is NOT safe in Haiti, even for Haitians. Lots of crime in the streets. They DO NOT recommend travel there at this time. Just going by what the locals tell me......personally have not been there in over 10 years.

My question is..... " Why would anyone want to travel in Haiti"?

I go there every 3 months, spend a week or so, no big deal... Just have to be a little bit more street-smart, and have your cash reserve well hidden... Do not travel at night...

Haiti is a really fascinating place to visit, you won't find such a place in the America's, because of its lack of developement, it makes you travel into the past... But of course it's not for everybody, only for some open-minded, curious adventurers... The others can stay in the all-incusives in DR...
While living permanently in DR, spending some time in Haiti is refreshing...
Never listen to people scaring you with hearsays... Go find out for yourself...

They have an excellent rum in Haiti called Barbancourt. My cousin is a dentist and spent her first year out of dental school practicing (literally!) in Haiti. She really enjoyed the experience. Definitely read the book "Restavec" (see link) before going. It will give you some insight on Hatian culture. It is gripping reading also. I picked it up one evening and couldn't stop reading it until I finished the whole book.

Someone from Higüey told me that they went to Haiti and saw a person who had been turned into a dog but could still talk.

I don't know, I was in Haiti in June, travelled through on Caribe Tours from Santo Domingo to Port-Au-Prince. I was with my Dominican husband, and felt really unsafe.

No matter what, you are going to pay at least double the price of locals because you are white. And when we tried to barter, we were warned that bad things happen to those that don't pay the price! I really hated every minute of it and couldn't wait to fly back to Canada.

If you do go, remember that it is very much a poor country, so be street smart and safe. Their banks are not connected to our banks, which means you cannot use interac, so you are either forced to use VISA (not widely accepted, and not all bank machines will even be compatible with Visa) or carry cash. That worries me.

Also, for anyone flying out of Haiti, remember a $30 US departure fee at the airport. Gouldes are not accepted, neither is Canadian dollars. This can be a problem when you cannot use your interac bank card.

Given the choice, I favor the Dominican 100-1. Why stress out an otherwise worry-free vacation by travelling to Haiti? I never will again.