Anyone moved out here or know anyone that's moved out here?
Giving it some serious thought after seeing a recent(ish) A Place in the Sun programme and also following some extensive DR property/life-in-general research.
I was giving it some thought too until I went there. Have you ever been? It sounds nice but is in fact one of the most disgraceful crime ridden backward places it has ever been my misfortune to visit as well as being the Benidorm of the Carribean. I would never consider buying there, living there or ever visiting again. Sorry to be so negative
would also like to know where he went to have also done alot of research into DR very interesting and appealing there is crime everywhere in this world including the UK - although we live in spain and yes there is crime here but we are looking for a move and DR sounds a good place value for money
Tourists in DomRep are very sheltered and guarded by security. The locals can't afford for the tourists to be physically harmed as the resultant bad publicity would stop their major source of revenue. (Didn't stop an alleged rape of a tourist by an employee of a resort hotel I stayed in. Allegedly happened off site and the hotel and tour operator didn't want to know.)
However, the sex industry is pretty massive, mostly fuelled by a certain element of tourists. There are plenty stories on the Net and you just have to look at the discussion boards - plenty of threads asking about girls or boys available between certain dates, etc.
Have never been to the south coast. Santo Domingo seems quite cosmopolitan from what I have seen/read so maybe it's better there.
Well I have been to the DR three times and spent months travelling round the island on my own.
I can honestly say that it is a fantastic place to be. The people are great and that was whether I popped into the hotels, where the reps try to distract you from going off the hotel (all about the money) or whether I was hanging out in a ghetto in Las Americas, Santo Domingo.
I have been all over the island and I can say yes it is a poor country and when people are poor some may try and befriend you or do what they can to get money off you. I think you can expect that in a poor country.
As far as crime goes, I see it no different to anywhere else I have visited. In fact, I have always felt safe in DR, be it the North or South.
I would say go over, rent a place for a few months (after all it isn't that expensive to do that) and suck it and see.
Just because I would definitely give it the thumbs up, it doesn't mean that you will like it.
All depends on your age, character, mindset etc oh and you'd better love merengue (as there's no escape)
Originally posted by Nell34: Not Puerto Plata for a start. Very seedy.
Tourists in DomRep are very sheltered and guarded by security. The locals can't afford for the tourists to be physically harmed as the resultant bad publicity would stop their major source of revenue. (Didn't stop an alleged rape of a tourist by an employee of a resort hotel I stayed in. Allegedly happened off site and the hotel and tour operator didn't want to know.)
However, the sex industry is pretty massive, mostly fuelled by a certain element of tourists. There are plenty stories on the Net and you just have to look at the discussion boards - plenty of threads asking about girls or boys available between certain dates, etc.
Have never been to the south coast. Santo Domingo seems quite cosmopolitan from what I have seen/read so maybe it's better there.
Nell34 My 16 year old daughter was also raped by a resort emplotee when we visited Puerto Plata last July. I have received no help from the Dominican authorities - the hotel attempted to make us go home and forget it ever happend - I am now seeking to prosecute via the UK authorities or at very least to force the Dominican authorities to take us seriously. Can you please provide me the name of the resort where the rape you refer to took place as we are sure that this guy has committed this offence before and probably will again if not stopped.
