What's happening in the Dominican Republic now after the hurricane? What should you be wary of in the Dominican Republic? What to do if you were robbed

Return flights from Punta Cana Airport, which has resumed operations, will depart to Russia on Friday, September 8. And Azur Air’s first import flight from Moscow took off early this morning. Let us remind you: the day before, the air harbor in Punta Cana did not accept or dispatch planes due to

According to the testimony of those who are in the Dominican Republic at the moment, there is no serious damage there: some streets are flooded, most hotels were not damaged. Tourists who were previously relocated are returning to their rooms. Some of them spent the night in the assembly halls of hotels, others were placed in rooms where guests were already accommodated. At the same time, some were forced to pay for additional days of stay on their own.

Unconventional business breakfast from PAC GROUP

“We thought it would be an ordinary business breakfast, we were prepared to listen and record for a long time, but here it is! Very cool!" This review, overheard on the sidelines of the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow hotel, perhaps perfectly conveys the mood of the participants in the first intellectual business game for tourism professionals.

“Their return flight has been postponed from September 7 to 8, and the hotel is demanding payment for a night’s stay,” travel agents in professional communities report. The tour operator’s response on this matter caused an ambiguous reaction from retail: “Considering this situation as a force majeure circumstance (force majeure), we inform you about the need for additional payment of the cost of hotel accommodation for an additional day directly by tourists in the holiday destination.” Some agents were outraged by this position of the service provider, believing that at a crucial moment there was no solution to the problems.

Meanwhile, according to lawyers, the tour operator’s approach in the current situation looks logical. Moreover, this also applies to clients who lost a day of rest due to a flight postponement. “Force majeure is a circumstance that temporarily releases both parties from fulfilling their obligations - both during the period of its effect and upon the occurrence of the consequences caused by it. In essence, everyone remains “to their own”: after all, the supplier cannot be responsible for “Irma,” explains Alexander Kartoshkin, lawyer at Atomic-Audit.

At the same time, according to the expert, tourists have the right to send their complaints to the legal department of the tour operator or contact Tour Assistance. However, the association explained that these problems are not within the scope of its activities. “Solving such issues is beyond our competence. The association exclusively deals with the evacuation of tourists from abroad in the event of bankruptcy of a tour operator,” the site says in response to a request.

If the Dominican Republic is the goal of your vacation, dangers for tourists should not interfere with your vacation. Here, as in other popular tourist destinations, there are things to watch out for. The information below will help you avoid trouble and fully enjoy your vacation in an exotic country.

What to fear in the Dominican Republic

1. Crime. There is practically no terrorism in the Dominican Republic. However, from time to time, often before elections, riots and clashes with local police occur. Therefore, it is better for tourists not to appear in poor areas and not to attend demonstrations.

Street robbery or pickpocketing is quite common, as is fraud and car theft. The most attractive object for criminals is a passport; in their opinion, it represents the greatest value. It’s also worth keeping an eye on your pocket money, credit cards, driver’s license, airline tickets - it’s best to leave all this in the hotel safe. It is better to make photocopies of documents; they will be enough to carry out any actions.

While on the street, do not count your cash.

Street robberies occur at night and even during the day. In this case, robbers commit crimes alone or in a group, on foot or on two-wheelers. Watch out for motorcyclists or cyclists passing by, and do not hold a mobile phone or camera in your hands or on a lanyard. It is better to carry your mobile phone in your inner pocket.

Do not leave valuables in cars, as thefts or thefts directly from the car are not uncommon here. It is better to leave money in small bundles in different places. This way, in case of theft, you will have at least some funds left. Leave large sums in the safe and take with you as much as you need. Try not to pay with large bills in bars or show the contents of your wallet.

Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach; it is better not to take them with you at all.

Use caution when using ATMs.

After drinking alcohol, it is better to go to your room, as tipsy tourists are a target for scammers. Do not travel around the country alone, it is better to travel in groups.

If you have a credit card, be careful too. Use only those ATMs that are located in bank branches and in serious establishments. After you leave the country for some time, keep an eye on the balance on your credit card, as scammers may postpone their scams until the owner leaves.

There have been cases when tourists have been slipped counterfeit banknotes, so currency exchange should only be done at exchange offices.
2. Natural hazards. Dangers in the Dominican Republic They can also wait in nature. Jellyfish that are found near the shore can leave burns. More poisonous individuals are not found off the coast, but they can be encountered while diving. Under no circumstances should they be touched.

Be careful when swimming, as there may be sea urchins on the bottom.

Sea urchins also pose some danger. The thorns, which can be stepped on, do not break and dig into the leg, after which they dissolve only after a few weeks. At the same time, they cause severe pain. Therefore, when walking on the reefs, wear shoes, and if you get needles in your feet, pull them out immediately.

The eight-pointed star, which can also be found, is very poisonous.
3. Weather features. Some weather events pose quite serious hazards in the Dominican Republic. From July to August, tropical cyclones, powerful torrential rains, squally winds and hurricanes often sweep across the country. At this time, tour operators sell tours very carefully. In order to avoid troubles, listen to the media about weather news and recommendations that they will give you.
4. Road traffic.

On the roads of the Dominican Republic, be extremely careful and attentive.

If you rent a car or drive around the country in your own car, be careful on the roads. When they see tourists driving, locals may deliberately throw themselves under the wheels in order to receive financial compensation later. You need to stop only at the request of the traffic police (the distinctive inscription AMET on the car), since there is a possibility of being stopped by scammers in police uniform. Remember how dangerous locals behave on the road, be extremely careful.
5. Health. When traveling to the Dominican Republic, purchase an insurance policy to avoid additional costs. Bring glasses and sun cream as there is a high level of solar activity here.

In the Dominican Republic, do not even think about drinking tap water.

Don't drink local tap water, buy mineral or purified bottled water.

In the Dominican Republic, there are frequent cases of infections: Dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, tetanus and others characteristic of a tropical climate. Maintain personal hygiene and do not purchase questionable food in cafes and stores.

A lot has been written about the fact that there are dangers in any country, and not only you are interested in this issue. Much depends on how your vacation goes, not on certain circumstances, but on you and your foresight.

In the Dominican Republic, you can catch some kind of infection that is transmitted through the most common household means, not to mention all kinds of insects. In order for nothing to happen to your health, you need to follow basic rules of personal hygiene, wash your hands, it is better to eat vegetables and fruits without peeling or wash them well with boiled water, and in some cases, heat them. No matter how popular this resort was, cases of cholera and other infectious diseases are common here. If you have doubts about a product or establishment, it is better to refuse, as the consequences can be unpredictable.

When you buy a vacation package or search for information about a hotel or resort, you will most likely come across beautiful photos, with clean beaches and crystal clear water, but it's as simple as that. For the Dominican Republic, such a phenomenon as typhoons is quite normal and they are not so rare. It all depends on the time of year. To avoid such troubles, it is best to come to the Dominican Republic from December to April. At this time, typhoons are very rare. And don’t be lazy to study the weather forecast before your trip.

You should not communicate closely with local residents, try to keep your distance from them, especially considering the fact that part of the local population still believes and practices the Voodoo religion. Nobody knows how such communication may end.

As practice shows, tourists are most interested in such a danger as sharks. It's no secret that sharks are in the Dominican Republic and are periodically seen close to the shore. Previously, local residents fed these fish, but now, in search of food, they attack not only people, but also boats and yachts. Don’t worry, this behavior of sharks is not systematic, but rather periodic, but still, before you get into the water, ask the hotel staff where it’s best for you to swim.

Diving enthusiasts should also be careful, as there are indeed shipwrecks off the coast of the Dominican Republic that attract many scuba diving enthusiasts. But all places are equally safe; there are those that are serious not only for health, but also for life. It is best to dive with an experienced instructor.

There is also fraud in the Dominican Republic, where would we be without it. Some species are developed simply perfectly. As a tourist, you will hardly be able to tell the difference between a real policeman and a scammer. Tourists who rent vehicles can become victims of pedestrians who throw themselves under the wheels, and while you are wondering why, yours will be robbed to zero. If strangers make you any lucrative offer, then you should refuse it, since it is most likely a scam.

I immediately advise you to abandon the idea of ​​paying with credit (bank) cards. The Dominican Republic is not a country where such operations take place as quickly as possible and do not raise any doubts. Financial fraud in this area is normal in the Dominican Republic. Only upon arriving home, you may discover that a certain amount of money has disappeared from your card, and you are unlikely to understand how and where this happened. And it is useless to go anywhere. It's best to pay in cash.

This is not final, but only an approximate list of the troubles that can happen to you in the Dominican Republic, but in general the country is very pleasant, peaceful and comfortable for relaxation.

Motorcycle taxis are popular among Dominicans, with up to three people sitting behind the motorcycle drivers. Such transport is very cheap; you can get there within the city for 40-70. But is the cheapness worth the risks? We think not. It’s easier to take a regular taxi, fortunately they are acceptable.

Conclusion two - be careful when crossing the road

Dominican drivers do not know the traffic rules, and they do not look at the road very carefully. If so, then tourists should watch very carefully. It is better to wait and let passing cars pass than to risk being run over by them.

Keep an especially close eye on children! Do not allow children to play near the roadway.

The photo on the left shows the sad consequences of an accident in the Dominican Republic, click on the photo to enlarge.

Don't drink tap water

Tap water in the Dominican Republic is not considered drinking water; it may contain pathogens of dangerous diseases, even cholera. Do not brush your teeth with this water. English-language guidebooks do not even recommend washing her hands.

Antiseptic wipes

Having arrived in the Dominican Republic, tourists find themselves almost on the other side of the earth. Naturally, not only other people live here, but also their own bacteria and microorganisms, to which the Russian body and its immunity are not accustomed.

A good habit is to wipe cutlery, dishes and even sun loungers on the beach with antiseptic wipes. It is highly recommended to do this in the first days, then optionally.

Marine flora and fauna

Remember that bites and other injuries from marine life are not covered by travel insurance. This applies not only to the Dominican Republic, but to all countries in general. Be careful with the inhabitants of the Caribbean Sea.

Don't use credit cards

The Dominican Republic is one of the leading countries in the theft of credit card data, their cloning and theft of money from bank accounts. Don't take unnecessary risks, use only cash.

Don't attract thieves and robbers

The Dominican Republic has a high crime rate, street thefts and robberies of tourists are common. The main thing that will keep you safe is not to attract the attention of criminals.

Don’t wear expensive jewelry, hide your wallets in your inner pockets, don’t flash cash, but rather take the necessary minimum amount of money with you on excursions. If you take an expensive camera or video camera with you, try to hide it in your bag. If you have an expensive phone with you, try not to take it out unless absolutely necessary.

The first rule is that the less your wealth is seen, the better.

Car thefts are very common here. Thieves run up to the car, snatch bags, wallets, phones or cameras, and then quickly retreat on mopeds.

The second rule is never leave valuables in a rented car, taxi, or even on a tour bus.