Our Cabarete trip - Page 3

KeithF · #21 12-22-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

Much to the charaign of other members, I'd recommend staying at an AI resort the first couple times - especially if it's your first trip out of the country. The differences in culture can turn a great experience into one like what was posted.

Well I'll take their chagrin too, as will Denymay565 by the sound of it, good advice IMO. The AI's are a good way to experience the country without having a 'daily' pressure. I'd recommend AI's to first timers but encourage them to do some trips (Monster Safari etc) and later in the holiday, perhaps take the gua-gua from Playa Dorada into Puerto Plata. If they enjoy the gua-gua, head to Sosua or Cabarete the following week. Indeed, this is exactly the advice I gave to someone this morning who is going to PD late next year. THen, hopefully, once they've built up some confidence, they will become repeat visitors and more atuned to life outside the resort next time. A more experienced traveller will have no problems going AA instead of AI.

CommTHOR · #22 12-23-2006, 01:06 AM

Culture shock tends to be the one thing a lot of people overlook when they are planning a vacation. No amount of planning can truly prepare you for the experience. I certainly agree that experience in travelling will help a lot, but each new culture has its own quirks. I had no issues driving around on a motorcycle all around South-East Asia, but there's still no way I'd try it in the D.R. just yet.

1st Trip: Total AI experience. Pre-packaged everything.
2nd Trip: Off the resort every day.
3rd Trip: (Doesn't count) Introduced 3 family members to the D.R. (Who incidently WILL be coming back)
4th Trip: A certainty!

Caz · #23 12-23-2006, 06:55 PM

Sad to hear such an unhappy trip report - perhaps some people should just stay home? We stayed at El Magnifico several times and liked what we found there, before moving here permanently. We also found the Dominican people sweet and helpful - perhaps attitude says it all?

Foxee · #24 12-24-2006, 02:14 AM

Perhaps the very first line of their report says it all- this was their first trip out of US and as such they did not know what to expect. Seems like their report was honest, and they went to lot of trouble writing the detailed report, perhaps because they had a long and detailed list of expectations from their first overseas trip?

TeamIssy · #25 02-12-2009, 03:50 AM

I must say, that is definitely not the Cabarete I have been to. To all considering going I would ignore this trip report. Not to say it wasn't real or their opinion isn't valid, but I think many people will find Cabarete a great place to visit, very different from what was described.
On the language barrier, remember communication is a mutual effort. Why should someone try to accommodate you when your talking AT them in a language they don't understand, as though if they should know English?
Having been there twice with my family when we spoke 0 Spanish, we found that trying is all that matters. Greeting with hola , and saying gracias seemed to be all that was needed to break the ice. In general we found the Dominicans very friendly, as a matter of fact, often times the Dominicans were far more fun than the other tourists.
On tourist traps and hustles; your first trip to a place like D.R. you will fall victim to at least one. At restaurants, all ways look at the menu before you sit down. Even if you do sit down, hesitate to order anything until you get a menu at any "nicer" restaurant. In regards to being harassed by vendors, that a slight laugh followed by any form of "no". Also looking like your familiar with your surroundings was a big help when walking the main strip of town, the first time we walked along we must have screamed easy money, because we didn't pass a shop with getting offered a "special price". By the second time we came, we got only "invitations" to look around.
On the airport incident, the porters were taking advantage of that couple, and it was partially the couples fault. No contract was agreed upon, i doubt the couple even said yes to help, so they had no obligation to pay a cent. I think if they try to get you for more than 2 dollars, Refuse to pay, make an attempt take your bag from them (not violently or with force) if they don't surrender, its time to go Ugly American on them. I mean raise Hell, make a scene, get red faced and yell into their faces at close distance. Get the attention of other tourists, they may well be your only allies in the airport. Although i don't advise it, using physical intimidation would be a better plan at the airport than anywhere else, since even if a fight erupts, you have airport security and police near by, and possibly more important, fellow tourists.
By the way these are just my ideas and thoughts not fact, I'm almost sure a big time dr1'er will find something I said to disagree with, and try to discredit me as a source of information. So if you just found this post via Google, take this advice and what ever criticisms of my advice with a grain of salt.

JDJones · #26 02-12-2009, 11:05 AM

[QUOTE=cork2win;469169] The only superior attitude I see is from those here who think the DR is paradise and treat anyone else who doesn't see it that way as an elitist jackass.[/QUOTE]

Right!

If the shoe fits.....

(a shameless attempt at humor)

ghost722 · #27 02-12-2009, 12:41 PM

Uh, you replied to a trip report that is over two years old.

JDJones · #28 02-12-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghost722

Uh, you replied to a trip report that is over two years old.

What can I say, I'm bored. I've been laid up for 3 weeks because of an accident..

ghost722 · #29 02-12-2009, 01:29 PM

Not you, I meant the person before you.

jmsunlinenet · #30 02-22-2009, 04:19 PM

I thought this was an interesting and reasonable account.

The problem is that people who don't travel a lot don't always understand that the "research" they do is skewed, because much of the materials they find will be tourist industry propaganda, which, to put it politely, puts the best gloss on things. Hence it won't say things like "the diving is crap in the winter time" or "most of the night clubs play dreadful American boom-boom music".

Folks, the purpose of tourism is to redistribute some cash from people in wealthy countries to people in poorer countries. At least the reviewers contributed funds to native Dominicans, whereas had they stayed at an all-in, nearly all the money they spent would have been repatriated to a rich country.

I think the reviewers would have done better had they spoken some Spanish, but at least they made some effort to see something of life outside the USA or Canada, so they should be commended.