AI braclets

[melinda]

Going to Dr in March . Been reading the forums . See it mentioned a lot with negative conotations attached. Please explain.

Thanks Melinda

[duck]

The bracelets immediately give you away as being someone on a package tour. This is usually associated with not knowing the lay of the land (otherwise would have a more individual program), and therefore a good "target" for certain things.

Put it on loose enough to slide over your hand in case you want to go outside the camp.

[joecanada]

The a-i bracelets are there to identify you as a guest in your resort or to distinguish you from the non-ai guests in your resort if your resort offers non-ai packages. Many resorts do not allow unregistered guests at any time, so a bracelet is a simple way to know who's who without having to stop everyone at the gate.

It's true that on this forum many people are anti a-i, some with more legitimate complaints than others (although we offer a-i, I myself am not a huge fan of the concept). There is a belief that, off the resort, ai bracelets let the dominicans know that you're not a local and therefore know nothing about what things are supposed to cost.

My own opinion is that Dominicans know who's a Dominican and who's not, and the lack of bracelet is not going to convince them you come from Moca. Likewise, in a community as small as ours, everyone knows who's a local and who isn't. Your fluency and accent when you speak Spanish is another dead giveaway as to your status. Slipping your bracelet off is not suddenly going to confer upon you resident status and pricing. Learning some phrases in the local language will do much more in that regard.

Basically, people are going to pay according to how well they understand the pricing, not whether or not they wear a bracelet.

[HOWMAR]

I agree with joecanada, a tourist looks like a tourist, a local looks like a local, bracelet or no bracelet. Much too much importance has been given to not wearing a bracelet, especially if you are blonde haired, blue eyed with pale skin.

[Tor]

Gringos will never been taken for being "locals" But it's prety obvious that the vendors are more agressive towards the "bracelet people" than others.

[planner]

I agree with Joe - you are spotted as a tourist regardless of the bracelet. However I have been told that the bracelet gives the vendors and indication of how much to charge you for items. Nicer hotel = higher prices.

One idea, is to either remove the bracelet off the resort or at the least turn it inside out so the white side shows. Makes it a little more challenging for the vendors maybe....LOL

[carina]

Originally Posted by planner

I agree with Joe - you are spotted as a tourist regardless of the bracelet. However I have been told that the bracelet gives the vendors and indication of how much to charge you for items. Nicer hotel = higher prices.

One idea, is to either remove the bracelet off the resort or at the least turn it inside out so the white side shows. Makes it a little more challenging for the vendors maybe....LOL

I think this is not how it really is, as the vendors on the beaches are working in different areas and have split the beaches in "working areas"...
In the city, very few vendors knows the difference between the AI hotels...

[Malibook]

Just do some research and educate yourself and it doesn't matter if you have an AI bracelet or not.
There was a thread called 'Price of things in DR' or something like that.

Remember that it is a buyer's market HUGETIME.

Many tourists go to the opposite extreme and offer ridiculously low prices but it is a two-way street and most of them are not interested in spending any money anyways.

[Tor]

Ofcourse the bracelet makes a difference. I see it all the time, how the wendors very agressivly proposing those who flasshing those bracelets, while others like myself is left alone. Ofcourse I'm recognized as somebody who lives there. But that the bracelet is a magnet to the wendors, thats for sure.

[planner]

Yes the bracelet can be a magnet, coupled with pasty white skin, or sunburned peeling skin..........marks you as an easy target.....LOL

Carina in the city some vendors may not know, but the ones on the beach ALL know which hotel is which and charge accordingly. It is exactly the same in Sosua.