We just retuned from a 3 night stay at the Melia Caibe Tropical. May 22-25th. The night we returned home one of our group got very sick.He has been sick since then, went to the doctor and now is in the hosp. with what we think is either E-coli or salmonella?(we are waiting to hear back from him as we speak)
I was wondering if there is anyone else out there who had stayed the same time we did and if they are also sick?
I wrote a few E-mails to the hotel today(not on the phone,for fear they would just not understand what I am saying)...but I have had no reply yet and really don't expect one.
If this has happened to anyone let me know if there was a way to get our friend a refund of some sort-- I feel really bad for him.
I wrote to travelocity, who we booked thru and they said there is nothing they can do---"they were not the one's who served us the food"-- some reply on their half.

Was this is the DR? It would be helpful if could specify the location.

Oooops--- the one important thing I left out..."Yes"--- the Dominican Republic---
Thanks

We stayed about 5 years ago in Punta Cana. My husband became deathly ill as soon as we returned home. We were there for a week. There were many people at the time, who were going to various places and different resorts who were reporting problems of sickness. I would say more people travel there who do not get sick but many do. My husabnd ran a fever chills and extemely bad stomach problems for several days then it just passed. I hope your friend is well soon. No you will never get any money back from anywhere I am sure.I do know we were told before we went to avoid sea food at all costs. My husband didn't listen. Not sure if they were related. Good luck.

I don't think it is unusual to get sick in the Dominican Republic. A group of 8 of us went to the Iberostar Punta Cana over New Year's. Everyone, except for my husband, had some type of digestive system problem. I avoided problems throughout all the trip, but I got violently ill on the flight back home. I did eat everything everyday: seafood (shrimp, octopus, calamari, lobster, langoustines), different types of fish, pork (loved the cochinillo during New Year's), meat, salad, fruits, etc. I did drink and brushed my teeth with bottled water, so it was not the water, it was the food. I'm not one to shy away from food on vacation, but I did pay the price and was throwing up all the way back home.

For reference, I have only gotten food poisoning like that once before - in the central part of Mexico (Guanajuato) - and I have been travelling extensively throughout Europe and Latin America since I was a child. I grew up in Puerto Rico and I DON'T have a weak digestive system. But, as I said earlier, it is not unusual for people to get sick in the Dominican R.

I don't think you should expect a response from the hotel and I don't think there was anything 'unusual' occurring while you were at the Melia. I think it is all part of the risk of travelling to a less developed country, where your immune system may not be used to the food-borne bacteria there.

The reason for the this problem is the huge resorts. It is impossible to keep that much food at a consistently hot temperature. I mean come on folks, they are preparing food for thousands of people in a tropical setting.

My husband got sick in Mexico a few years ago at a "mega resort." Since then we avoid them and we've had no problems.

Greenie

Lots of people drink way too much alcohol and when they get alcohol sick, they blame it on the food. And for the one who said, it's not the wayer because I drank bottled and brushed my teeth with bottled. What about the ice in your drinks?

Ronnie