BlondieEm,

You'll find lots of information on the Caribbean thread. If you do a search for the Domincan Republic, you'll get pages of information. Weather is always a difficult one to answer because October is is still in the hurricane seasons and can be unsettled. You could get 2 weeks of glorious weather, then again you could get a catagory 5 hurricane come through! You'll find lots of weather information on Wunderground and the dedicated Caribbean weather thread. You can get weather history and averages on Wunderground for the region you are looking at staying in. You don't say where abouts in the Dom Rep you are going? But yes, it is safe. So is Jamaica for that matter!! I'd shoot the travel agent that said it wasn't and put you off going. As long as you use common sense, you'll be fine. You wouldn't go walking the steets at night down a dark alley for example wearing a gold ring on each finger and have an expensive camera in your hand. I wouldn't do that in parts of the UK and many other countries in europe. As long as you take precautions, you'll be fine. Doing normal every day activtes you won't have a problem. It's a different way of life in the Dom Rep. You'll see people (farmers) walking around with a machette in their hand. It doesn't mean they are going to mug the next person they walk past, it's a work tool and quite normal to see it. We aren't of course. Of course crime is a problem, it is everywhere you go but take a sensible approach and you'll be fine. Most hotels have security staff to keep you safe. Refer to the following thread regarding vaccinations / malaria. How much money you need depends on what you want to do when you get there. If you want to realax on the beach all day and stay in an all inclusive, then you'll need very little. If you want to see a bit of the country (recommended), then you'll need to take the cost of trips in to account.

You are only asking the same sorts of questions as we all do when you want to travel a new part of the world!

Darren

So helpful Darren thanks a lot for taking the time to reply . Just looked at the weather history, as long as I'm reading it right - it seems quite good. Going to go check the other stuff, thanks again.

Oh by the way, we are looking at Playa Dorada and Bahia Maimon area.

Em

HI Em, we're off to the DR for the second time in August. We stayed in Bahia Maimon last time and think you'll have a fab holiday there. We're trying further south this time, although we did consider another visit to the North. Enjoy!

Don't forget to check reviews HERE

It is a beautiful place to visit but the Dominican Republic is nothing like you might be used to in many European holiday destinations. Most of the hotels are pretty isolated with no nearby shopping streets to wander up and down. There are some shopping malls outside of the hotels in the Bavaro area and Sosua in the north and Bocca Chica in the South are small towns with hotels on their doorsteps.

It is also pretty undeveloped when compared to much of Europe. Outside of the hotels you will see a very different way of life, I have to admit I was pretty shocked on my first visit but once you get to the hotels you wouldnt know what's going on outside. Most are huge complexes with acres of tropical gardens with the accommodation set out in buildings within. The beaches in the South and East are more white sand with the North, being on the Atlantic, more yellow. Some hotels are so large they offer little trains to ferry the guests around their premises.

The weather is hot all year round but there will also be tropical rain showers, which are very heavy but usually very short and not at all a bother because they are also very warm. Hurricane seasons runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. Historically most tropical storm/hurricane activity in the Dominican Republic's part of the Caribbean has taken place in the months of August and September. We had three days of a tropical storm last Sept/Oct and spent most of the time in the pool, where you're going to be wet anyway.

I've always felt very safe there I just take the basic precautions of not flashing too much wealth and wear my bag either across my body or round my waist to prevent the motor bike snatches that seem to be occurring in many places all over the world.

You won't need a lot of money if you don't intend doing any excursions. 10 US$ each for your tourist card to get in and 20 US$ departure tax each but please check because I have heard rumors that it might be increasing slightly this year. Other than that I usually take plenty of 1 dollar bills for tipping, which you don't have to do but please remember the staff work very long hours for very little pay and it makes a difference to their standard of living.

Travel insurance is very important, medical treatment in the Caribbean is very expensive. You should also take advice from your doctor in regard to any inoculations and malaria prevention that may be required.

I could go on forever but I think I've answered your basic questions, please don't hesitate to ask further, I love to talk about the DR.