Sick from Food or water?

caribbean_bride · #1 07-25-2004, 01:53 PM

I have been hearing a lot about people getting sick from the food in DR at the all-inclusives. Now I am getting worried and wonder if i should have booked our trip to a different country?

Any thoughts? Should I not worry? Are there preventative measures?

Thanks

Ken · #2 07-25-2004, 03:35 PM

One sure thing is to avoid food that should not be outside the refrigerator long. Most AIs have a buffet table and it possible some "risky" foods may be on the table longer than is safe.

Why people get sick on a trip is hard to know, but usually it is blamed on something they ate at the hotel whether that is the case or not. I see tourists sampling something sold by a street vendor, something I would never do because the chances of getting sick are high. But I bet if they do get sick they blame it on an AI meal.

Bottled water is safe. Also besure to wash your hands with soap and water before handling anything you are going to put in your mouth.

No special precautions needed in the DR that you wouldn't want to take in any similar country.

When you say you have heard of a "lot" getting sick from AIs, I wonder from where you are getting your statistics.

caribbean_bride · #3 07-25-2004, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

When you say you have heard of a "lot" getting sick from AIs, I wonder from where you are getting your statistics.

Thanks for the reply.

I am getting my statistics from boards similar to this one and tripadivsor.com

I have been to Punta Cana before and didn't get sick and two coworkers have also been there before at different resorts with a big group of people and no one from either party got sick. So I try to keep reminding myself that those are people that I ACTUALLY know and there experience. But it still can be unsettling when you are going there for a wedding and bringing people with you.

Do you know if the water they cook with, and make drinks is filtered?

Oh....we are staying at the Melia Caribe Tropical.

Thanks

Ken · #4 07-25-2004, 04:46 PM

The water they make drinks with is filtered, as is the water used to make ice cubes. The water they cook with may not be, but boiling should take care of that.

Another thing to avoid, however, is fresh salad. Unless you are sure they wash the lettuce, etc., with filtered water, I wouldn't eat it.

Remember, too, that people get sick for different reasons. Sometimes just the stress of getting ready for the trip, etc., is enough to cause some people to have stomach upset on their vacation. So, too, can the change of food and water, even though it isn't contaminated.

I'm certain there is no reason why you or your guests are more likely to get sick in the DR than they are in any of the other islands or Mexico.

johne · #5 07-25-2004, 05:14 PM

AI use the same grill for grilling and cooking both meats and FISH. If you or your wife have fish allergies be extremely careful because the grill man isn't.
About the only thing that affects me are salads that I never eat at AI but then again I dont eat salads at restaurants here in New York.
After perhaps 25 trips to the Dominican Republic I got sick only once on shrimp I ate in a crappy rest. in S.D.(having said this I'll probably get sick on my next trip in Sept. }

Dolores · #6 07-25-2004, 05:35 PM

My speculation is that most people get sick because they are not getting enough hydration -- they are drinking lots of soft drinks, beer and alcohol (beware of the rum drinks and the piña coladas) and little water and juices, with lots of food and lots of sun.

For travel health recommendations, see http://dr1.com/travel/prepare/health.shtml

Jimmydr · #7 07-25-2004, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caribbean_bride

I have been hearing a lot about people getting sick from the food in DR at the all-inclusives. Now I am getting worried and wonder if i should have booked our trip to a different country?

Any thoughts? Should I not worry? Are there preventative measures?

Thanks

I was sick 2 days out of my 26 trips there in the last 8 years.

caribbean_bride · #8 07-25-2004, 07:36 PM

Thanks....

that makes me feel better.

ricktoronto · #9 07-25-2004, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caribbean_bride

I have been hearing a lot about people getting sick from the food in DR at the all-inclusives. Now I am getting worried and wonder if i should have booked our trip to a different country?

Any thoughts? Should I not worry? Are there preventative measures?

Thanks

NB: you hear the same thing about Cuban and Mexican and Costa Rican AI's as well. A mix of overdoing the food and drink and sun and a dash of folklore thrown in for good measure.

Stay away from the water including brushing your teeth and keep your mouth closed while showering.

bcmike · #10 07-25-2004, 08:22 PM

I travel to RD and MX often , which are the bastions for the "don't drink the water" phrases. ricktoronto is right about water in RD (as he is about all things RD) , don't sing in the shower! I DO drink the tap water in MX, without problems, but I only drink bottled water in RD, but past that, i don't worry about getting sick from food, and never have. Interestingly, when i come back from a trip from either pace, my body has a problem readjusting to US food. I wonder why?
I don't eat american fast food crap ever,sticking to beef,chicken and salad, although anymore the salads are giving me problems lol!

Carry Imodium with you, and take one 12 hours before you arrive, and you should be fine.

One other thing. For every person travelling with you, take at least two extra toothbrushes, cause i can guarantee that each of you will rinse a brush in tap water without thinking.Throw that one out, and remember to use bottled H2O the next time.