just got back-report

chad · #1 07-26-2002, 08:20 PM

just got back from a week stay at the paradise beach club in pureto plata. overall i would have to say we were pretty dissappointed in the dominican republic. maybe our expectations were a little too high, but i didn't think there was going to be so much hassle. you couldn't walk two feet in any direction without being bothered by some salesmen or vendor. I expected some of this but to a lesser extent. i've been on quiet a few vacations in the caribbean and this made this one the worst by far.

The least bothersome part of our trip was being at our hotel. the rooms we decent ( we had a 1 brdm), the service was average, and the vendors on the beach only bothered you every five minutes (as opposed to every two). The food was average for buffet food, after a couple days you really get sick of it.

One of the days we took a trip to pureto plata city and saw some of the sites there. of which the impressive i would have to say was fort of san feilipe (we didn't go to mt isabela).

Another day we took a trip to sosua beach. i've read so much great stuff about this town and beach i could hardly wait, only to be dissappointed. the beach's water was nice, barely any waves and crystal clear. but the trip there, the town, and the back part of the beach (where the vendors are) was absolutely disgusting. maybe it's just me, but i don't want to see this kind of thing when i'm on vacation.

i really made an attempt to have a great vacation, and do the things recomened on this site. like, getting away from your resort to see the rest of the country. but the farther away from my resort i got the more i wanted to go back. where people aren't going to rip you off every chance they get.

i understand there are people like this any where one goes, but there seems to be a dissproportionate amount of it going on here.

it doesn't seem like there's any kind of regulation of any sort, and it seems neither the government nor the people of the dr have an interest in the tourist. which is fine by me, i've learned my lesson and i will not be traveling back to the dr anytime soon!!!

ricktoronto · #2 07-26-2002, 10:01 PM

When you go to a developing country you aren't getting Americans waiting on you , you get enterprising people without a pot to **** in 1/2 of the time to sell stuff to survive. Ditto with 100% beach cleanliness.

Advice avoid all of Central and South America, Asia, and Africa too.

bob saunders · #3 07-26-2002, 10:52 PM

I've stayed in resorts in Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Samana, and Sosua and never been bothered by the Vendors. A simple No Thank you worked for me. If you want to go to a place with great sun, beach and relaxing attitude and less aggresive vendors go to Hautulco, Mexico.
For me the driving and the garbage are the onlt things that bother me in the DR and for the most part I can look past them and really enjoy myself.

Hillbilly · #4 07-26-2002, 11:14 PM

While I happen to live here and a lot of those things just sort of bounce off us, I can see whay somebody would be bothered a lot by what we feel is "normal" ..

Sad to say I feel the same way about Sosua and the environs, and would not go there except to sell cigars or have a beer with friends...We do go to an all inclusive, which wasn't all inclusive when we first started to go ther, by the way...and we sort of enjoy being tourists for a week.

I think that you would enjoy a less hectic environment, I mean, after all we happen to have 54,000 rooms here, and you seem to be perfect for the East Coast: Bavaro and Punta Cana would be perfect for you.

Unless you are really adventureous, it is not wise to go native...

HB

That's me on a good day!

Larry · #5 07-27-2002, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chad
just got back from a week stay at the paradise beach club in pureto plata. overall i would have to say we were pretty dissappointed in the dominican republic. maybe our expectations were a little too high, but i didn't think there was going to be so much hassle. you couldn't walk two feet in any direction without being bothered by some salesmen or vendor. I expected some of this but to a lesser extent. i've been on quiet a few vacations in the caribbean and this made this one the worst by far.

The least bothersome part of our trip was being at our hotel. the rooms we decent ( we had a 1 brdm), the service was average, and the vendors on the beach only bothered you every five minutes (as opposed to every two). The food was average for buffet food, after a couple days you really get sick of it.

One of the days we took a trip to pureto plata city and saw some of the sites there. of which the impressive i would have to say was fort of san feilipe (we didn't go to mt isabela).

Another day we took a trip to sosua beach. i've read so much great stuff about this town and beach i could hardly wait, only to be dissappointed. the beach's water was nice, barely any waves and crystal clear. but the trip there, the town, and the back part of the beach (where the vendors are) was absolutely disgusting. maybe it's just me, but i don't want to see this kind of thing when i'm on vacation.

i really made an attempt to have a great vacation, and do the things recomened on this site. like, getting away from your resort to see the rest of the country. but the farther away from my resort i got the more i wanted to go back. where people aren't going to rip you off every chance they get.

i understand there are people like this any where one goes, but there seems to be a dissproportionate amount of it going on here.

it doesn't seem like there's any kind of regulation of any sort, and it seems neither the government nor the people of the dr have an interest in the tourist. which is fine by me, i've learned my lesson and i will not be traveling back to the dr anytime soon!!!

Well Chad I guess it depends on what you are looking for.I agree that the vendors are a MAJOR pain in the ass and far too agressive.Also,Sosua is full of pickpockets.There are other annoyances like lunatic drivers,electricity problems,corrupt police,ect.But on the flip side,the food is terrific(in my opinion),the women are beautiful,the "atmosphere is stress free(if you avoid the vendors),the sites are serene,the weather is warm and the presedentes are cold.Also,accomadations are very inexpensive.Try going anywhere in Europe and see how much a week or two costs you.Upon weighing all factors,the DR is my favorite place to go.Sorry you were disappointed.
Just my opinion,
ILoveDR

Ken · #6 07-27-2002, 04:19 PM

Vendors can be a problem, but you can avoid the problem by not making your "tourist" status so obvious. If you walk down the street in your bathing suit, shirt off or unbuttoned, barefeet or flipflops of some sort, there is no hope. But if you dress like I hope you do at home in the summer, then you can avoid much of the hassle.

When walking down the street, just keep walking. If some vendor tries to accost you, just smile, wag your index finger from side to side, and keep moving. Same when at the Sosua beach or anywhere else where there is a concentration of vendors.

I realize that everyone has a different tolerance threashold when it comes to things like vendors. But if you keep your cool and keep moving when you don't want to be pestered, and wag that index finger (which is understood by every vendor in the DR), you can reduce the bother considerably.

Even so, everyone is not suited to vacation in the DR, or anywhere else. I can think of a lot of posh (vendorless) places in the world where I would feel uncomfortably out of place.

chad · #7 07-27-2002, 09:29 PM

thanks for all the positive replies. i was afraid i was too harsh. maybe there are other places in the dr that would be more suited for us (like hillbilly said, east coast) but i think we'll be holding off on that for quite some time. thanks again, everyone on this HAS been very helpful and has been one of the more peasurable message boards to be a part of!!!

Charlene G. Pic · #8 07-28-2002, 09:49 PM

Chad I agree vendors are a problem in the carribean in general.
We've been to several islands in the past 4 years, just came back
from St. Maartin in June and I have never seen such a small island
with just about all of the population trying to sell you something. But I do like to buy some of the stuff as gifts and reminders of our
vacations. In December we will be going back to the DR, Punta Cana, and you can walk the beach for miles with out being pestered to buy something. The resorts usually have security guards posted on the beach to keep them away, along with time share vendors. I really enjoy the northern part of DR, but I love the beaches of Punta Cana, you should really look into it. Char.

Tor · #9 07-29-2002, 04:40 AM

Never had any problems at Sosa Beach, just love the place. In fact the vendors at the Casa Marina beach in Sosua are far more agressive.
re Ken:
When you are going to the beach, you are usually dressed for the beach, or what ?

Ken · #10 07-29-2002, 09:07 AM

Yes, Tor, you dress for the beach when you are at the beach. Thought about this after I posted, but hoped that the fact I was talking about walking down the street would tell people I wasn't talking about the beach.

What I was referring to are the people who walk the streets looking as though they think they are on the beach. Can't believe these people "dress" that way at home.

If you are walking from your hotel to the beach, in Sosua, for example, my recommendation is to wear a shirt and shorts over your bathing suit. Little trouble to dress appropriately for your surroundings and blend in with the people around you.

Look around; you don't see Dominicans going about their daily business looking as though they should be on the beach.