Why all inclusive?

Hi!

i have herd some rumers about all inclusive and the reason why theres so many all inclusive hotels in Dr. Can anyone here help me out?
In Dr, all the hotels, specially when you are using a travel-agency from Scandinavia, all the hotel (almost) are "all inclusive" hotels. I wonder WHY????? Is that because the crime-rate is so high outside the hotel-areas or is that because the hotel want to keep there costumers in ther area for earning more money on them?
Honestly, is it because of the crime and the lack of safety outside or?

Another thing... Is it really risky to have a apartment outside like, Sosua or Cabarete isnsted of inside the towns?...

The all-inclusive resorts try to keep the customers inside, and usually offer their guests guided tours or additional activities (of course for a small fee) through organizations which pay them comission in some way or another. I have been in the DR over a dozen times, never reserved a hotel, party until the sun comes up, and had $RD 500,- (€35) stolen from me once because I was stupid.

I think if you are aware of your surroundings and use common sense, the DR shouldn't be more dangerous than downtown Stockholm or Oslo. If you book without all-inc. you may experience more unique things (or if you take the all-inc, but go out on your own anyway). Lets face it - if you want all inc, you may as well go to Mallorca and save 7 flight hours!

Although the DR (more specific Sto. Dgo.) is giving San Juan and Kingston some competition, the crime rate isn't as bad as other places. I feel much safer in SD than here in the Wash. DC area for example.

So no, the reason for all the A-I resorts is not because of high crime rate, but because the DR decided to follow the A-I formula directed at mass tourism - keeping the people inside the complex, one price fits all, no tipping necessary, that Jamaica perfected. Even the non A-I existing hotels had to go A-I in order to compete with the mega A-I chains, unfortunately.

My husband and I have stayed at two smaller A-I resorts in the DR, but we are too much into other aspects of a hotel (good food, scenery, quiteness) to re-consider staying at an A-I again (well, maybe except for El Portillo :-))

You CAN still find lots of smaller hotels in the country that are not A-I. Hotels in SD generally operate under the EP plan, but if you want beaches, your best bet is to head to the Samana Peninsula or perhaps the southwest. Also, there are small non A-I hotels in Cabarete, Sosua and Costambar/Cofresi'.

Regards,
Natasha

I cannot add anything to Duck and Nat's posts. If you really want to feel you have visited the DR, met the people, sampled their hospitality well.........

Eddy is right, We have people come down and stay with us all the time that would not think of an all-inclusive, See the real DR and its warm and wonderfull people...
Good luck

Anette, the crime rate in the DR is by no means appalling. Yes, where petty theft is concerned, it is probably higher than in Scandinavia, but generally the DR is a very safe country to travel in.

The all inclusive idea is not only competitive (as described by others) it also appeals to people, like Scandinavians, who come from far away and have absolutely no idea of what to expect where the local price levels are concerned. Most have heard that the Caribbeans are expensive (which is true in most cases but not in the DR) and are then assured by the AI concept. At least everything is paid for, no unpleasant surprises! Or, as one of the Scandinavian tour operators put it: Your wallet is on holiday, too.

What most people don't know is that the DR is a cheap country to stay in as a tourist. Food and local drinks are very cheap, especially compared to Scandinavian standards. Eating out is affordable too. What is expensive is the imported goods, but you can easily live without them, the local produce is generally of a very high standard.

Why then go AI? It depends on what you want from a holiday. If the general idea is to be somewhere warm and tropical, by a pool or a beach and mingling mainly with other tourists and taking the occasional tour out but otherwise let yourself be entertained by the different games and shows put on by animation team of the hotel, the all inclusive is your best choice. This is exactly what you will get. As somebody else put it, you might as well have gone to Mallorca, but if you like your holidays like this, it is a good choice.

If you want to feel how far you have really travelled (and not only through jet lag), if you want to sample a different life style, a different rhythm in everyday life and a stunningly beautiful nature, then stay away from the all inclusives. They won't offer you that. Travel independently, it will also give you a chance to see more than just one place. You can travel very, very cheaply by bus in the DR. The big nationwide buses from Caribe Tours and Metro are fast, reliable, comfortable and - for a tourist with a high Scandinavian income - dirt cheap. The little local guaguas are fun, not at all comfortable and even cheaper.

Personally, I travelled around and stayed at a couple of different small hotels (go to Samana!!!) for nearly two weeks with my family (husband and two small boys, age 3 and 5). The last two nights we checked in at the Riu Mambo in Bahia Maimon outside Puerto Plata and it was a perfect way to end the holiday. Great hotel, beautiful surroundings. But I would have hated to stay there longer. The all inclusive concept is great for just relaxing, but I tend to get bored eventually by this kind of "summercamp for adults". But as I said: To finish off and digest all the different impressions it was ideal.

Regards,
Susanne

I want to be quiet, but this kind of question and the answers here.......it socks!
So if you able to read german go on the upper Link and dont read only my article, there are a lot of commends from readers with experiences.
And please dont bring this rumor in public that DomRep is a dangerous Country. This comes just from the resorts to scare their customers and let them spend all there money inside the resort (or only book the small trips by them), aditionel to there package. But there is nothing for the employees, (no tip because nobody carries a vallet:-( )or to the normal business in the country.....
But why I write here is the crime people are talking about. I know the DR more than 36 years, but not only the DR. I was captain in merchand-navy, so I been almost all over the world and use to live in severall countrys. Even all scandinavien country I know well........
So I can say that DomRep is one of the savest/secured country in the world. Of course since whe have tourism here, it increase in the last years. But this is happend in the whole world and in any big citys (doesn't matter if poor or rich)like St.D.,in the world you will find more crime, than.......
It's up to you if you later can say that you been in the DR (and starting to love this kindly country-with the almost harmless inhabitands in the world) or if you just know another beach (in this case, dont bother your poor body with that fly/trip and go to Mallorca*LOL*..)
If they sell only AI packages in scn. so use it, but near a natural grown city like PuertoPlata-Columbus/Colon was there 3 times why not you*LOL*?, St.D. etc.) and go outside to best cheap retaurants, drinks a.s.o., just make your own experience.
Anyway good luck and nice vac.
cu/charly

Charly, I read German very well, I have read your home page some time ago, and I really fail to see why the answers here suck! They are not all that different from your own. Most people here are agreed that all inclusive may not be the greatest thing that ever happened to the Dominican Republic.

Also, I find it difficult to see why it should be problematic to ask this kind of question. At least the girl wants to find out rather than just take whatever the tour operators or the rumours say at face value.

For Anette: Yes, you can actually go independently rather than all inclusive. Spies and Tjaereborg offer smaller hotels in the Sosua/Cabarete area, I think Ving Resor do as well. And you can do like we did: Just buy the plane ticket from the operators, most of them will let you do that, and arrange everything else yourself. It is easy through the Internet. Have a look at the hotels in Samana: El Portillo, El Marinique, Club Bonito etc. Most hotels in the Dominican Republic have their own web page.

Ha' en rigtig god ferie. Det er et fedt land, men sørg for at se det i stedet for bare at nøjes med turistversionen, for så er det rigtigt at man burde nøjes med en kortere flytur i stedet for at sidde fuldstændigt forkrampet i et overfyldt charterfly:-(

Regards,
Susanne

Hej Anette,
I agree with all the abowe written. Like Susanne, I will also advise you to book your tiket and just hit the road.
Well, if you are very adventerous you can book just the tickets and find the places to stay right at the spot. This would be propably the cheapest and most interesting way to explore the country (on my opinion).
I am a young skandinavian (blond, atractive) lady and did a trip like that to RD for two weeks few months ago. I did not have any problems and felt safe all the time. Ofcourse some of the local male´s were "grazy" to catch me in almost what evermeans, but they let me in peace as I did not courage them.So feel fre to have a great adventurous holliday in DR. The people and the island is just wonderful!!!
Besos Aino

I am very Sorry
this comments that the country are dengerouse
are not coming from the Resorts
because the resorts are all inclusive
and they want they clients to go out and splent money out
if you are in the country you know better then I who are making this type of comments and why

Thanks to have to guts to make this coment but you know wher ore who are making this coment
please the same guts to tell everyone the truth

Regards
Roberto