Getting Sick.,casa Del Mar. - Page 3

ChattyCathy · #21 03-03-2002, 08:20 PM

Hello there, My husband and I are going to be staying at the Riu Naiboa with our 2 munchkins.I hope it is not to far from the beach, that was all our agent could line up for us being we wanted 2 weeks.We have to leave for the Airport in 7 hours,and we really are excited! I will be sure to post our opinions when we get back,I am sure we will love it!

4 happy people. Cathy

SwanSong · #22 03-03-2002, 08:46 PM

Hi Cathy,
My problem was that when we originally booked out trip we booked and paid for a direct flight - no stop over. 3 days before we got "the phone call".
We had a huge hassle with the customs guy in TO. He decided it was our turn to be treated like the scum that got drug in on someone's foot. Grabbed our passports and went to confer with the boys in the back. Maybe he had to take a leak or something... I don't know.
Then we get to Buffalo after a mere blink in the air and we have to sit there for over the alloted hour because 2 people didn't get on the plane - but their luggage did. Can you say Red Flag for terrorism. So, they had to go root through the cargo hold to locate the people's luggage. Just as they find it... who should appear... why Mr and Mrs Spear's. They were sitting at the wrong gate apparently (I guess the 5 or so gates in the entire Buffalo airport are confusing or something??). After a round of applause for the Spear's and the replacing of luggage we were finally off.
I wont' even begin to go into the crappy flight home (screaming earphones, sarcastic stewards, drunken idiot passengers, grouchy customs, etc).
The week in between though was totally FABULOUS. In fact we so loved it that we just watched 1492 this afternoon. LOL The beach in Punta Cana is gorgeous. The resort was beautiful. The people were great. All around wonderful time.
I wish I was going with you!!! Have a blast!

ChattyCathy · #23 03-04-2002, 12:08 AM

Hi,I am sitting here laughing as I read your last post.I remember one of those flights from hell returning from Acapulco!Thanks for sharing.We leave for Pearson in 4 hours now,and I dont think I will be able to sleep

I hope everyone that we are picking up in Buffalo is ready

Will post when we get back..... Cathy

AZB · #24 03-04-2002, 10:11 AM

RosieRose,
I know casa de mar very well. Your chances of getting sick there are the same as getting hit by a flying dominican cow. Generally if you don't drink the water from tha tap or eat from the street venders (who use bad meat), chances are that you will never get stomach sick in DR. I have been coming here for many years as a tourist and have been living here for about 4 years now. The only few times I have ever gotten sick is when i was not being careful ex: eating from street carts , rotten dog meat etc.
Most tourists get sick in all inclusive resorts is when they walk up to the the bar and drink like maniacs and then get stuffed with food from all you can eat buffet as thou they have just arrived from Ethiopia. If you abuse your body like that, you will sure to suffer later.
Don't worry about getting sick in DR, just be careful with your consumption of food and beverages.

Michael · #25 03-04-2002, 11:31 AM

I just returned from a wonderful 8 days Feb. 25. I used basic common sense but I also ate some native dinners. The food and experience was wonderful. I returned from my vacation in better physical shape than ever. THE DR WAS FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

ROSEYROSE2000 · #26 03-04-2002, 12:13 PM

azb and micheal...thanks ..thats all i was looking for...i am excited and can not wait...

take care
roseyrose

Jim Hinsch · #27 03-04-2002, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZB
... Your chances of getting sick there are the same as getting hit by a flying dominican cow. Generally if you don't drink the water from tha tap or eat from the street venders (who use bad meat), chances are that you will never get stomach sick in DR.

My friend AZB, I disagree. I know lots of people that have gotten sick from staying at all-inclusives, and not from drinking the tap water, over indulging, too much sun, or the usual excuses. Getting sick at certain all-inclusives has been a well-documented happening for several years, where sometimes as much as 50% of the resort guests have gotten sick. The Dominican government took notice and many resorts have changed their kitchen procedures to help prevent this problem.

All this talk about too much alcohol, etc. is ridiculous. Sure, some get sick for that reason, but that is irrelavent and insignificant.

I've been sick real bad twice in the DR. Once at Bavaro Palace (my friends all got sick too) and once at the Melia Bavaro All Suites. Both are all-inclusives that claim they are 5-star resorts.

Being careful won't stop you from getting the kind of sick I'm talking about. The food was probably contaminated.

In over 100 trips to the DR, these are the only times I've been sick. I did not drink the tap water and did not eat from the street vendors that week (I do on just about every other trip).

Marc · #28 03-04-2002, 02:13 PM

Imodium is king in my books. It is not the difference between going to the bano a couple more times a day....try a few more times per minute! Montezooma's (sp) revenge is different than being "more regular", it means you can't keep an ounce of fluids down no matter what! And forget about wandering more than 10' from the restroom, or you ain't gonna make it.

But enough of those glorious images that I'm conjuring. Stay away from the water, and bring some imodium just in case. You can't live in a glass bubble. There are precautions to take, all listed previously. Relax, and get a great tan (aka burn..haha

).

marc

#29 03-04-2002, 02:31 PM

Having been to DR 9 times since 1985 I have never experienced more that the usual reaction ot the change in climate, water, and food. Nothing that a little immodium wouldn't fix. Have seen resorts in Cuba with 50% of guests going home sick, had food poisoning in Costa Rica and Aruba......contracted a very nasty water born problem called girardia here in Toronto......so it can happen anywhere. Perhaps I am now immune in the DR!

Please don't let fear of illness prevent you from enjoying food in local restaurants. While in Puerto Plata last time we ate the BEST seafood lovingly prepared by Elena at her beachfront restaurant at Playa Bergantine (extension of Paya Dorada) and none of us were sick. The freshest fish and seafood, great company (very nice, very informal family run spot) and not to mention excellent prices make it very worth the walk.

This is my first post of many to come. Can;t wait to get back there in July.

jjsk · #30 03-04-2002, 02:34 PM

I probably should have been more specific in my post, I don't want to influence anyone to not take the proper meds if they have terrible every-other-minute-risking-dehydration diarrhea...

I guess what I was thinking of was that when I was in DR we enjoyed the cocoloco's so much that we drank them everyday (even knowing we were taking a chance), so I got, well, super-regular _{how does one put this mildly?}, and my friend was pushing the immodium on me; "take this, take this", but I knew I didn't really have diarrhea, I just had drank too much coconut milk (and I was drinking plenty of water, always had a bottle of water in my hand, so was not worried about getting dehyrdrated). It was definitly not the food, and we never drank the tap water, so I knew it was just the change in diet/drink habits that was causing it for me.
Well, finally she convinced me I should take an immodium, and after that, instead of just having to go about every hour, I got gripping stomach pains every hour and was no longer able to go...

what a lovely topic for a nice Monday afternoon...