JJR

Is bottled water a must in the DR.? I've been to many islands, south america and all over Europe and I've always drank tap water. Is this going to be a problem for me Or should I stop being cheap?

SandyFeet

Stop being cheap......I never drink tap water anywhere, including my home. When away I even brush my teeth with bottled water. Why chance it? Buy bottled water.....theres no sea monkeys in it.

tivertonhouse

It's never a question of being cheap in the DR where bottled water is a very very good idea. And doesn't cost the moon, either.

Karin

Please, go with bottled water. Don't take a chance. It costs very little..... might even be provided by the resort, and it's worth it. Resorts provide purified water. The tap water in your room will most likely not be purified. Outside the resort, don't take chances.

gail

If you are feeling cheap, imagine how you will feel if you find yourself confined to your room with some intestinal ill for a day or 2, wasting the money you spent on your vacation!

jacketwatch

I guess I will be devils advocate. If you have been "all over" and have not gotten sick I doubt you will get sick in the DR, at least if you are staying in a good resort. You stomach is probably well acclimated to "foreign" bacteria. Check with the hotel to see if the tap water is purified. Usually it is at good resorts. Outside the resort use common sense.

SandyFeet

Never say never.......
If I had to pick 1 place to drink bottled water, it would be DR.

Why risk ruining vacation, and your health for a few $$?

I have gotten sick from various food and water, and not on vacation! It is not fun, and you do not have the same medical treatment as you do at home. All it takes is 1 little parasite and you are finished. You will need to take a porta potty with you everywhere and a long dose of Flagil (antibiotic) which also makes you sick, but kills the bacteria.

Last year my husband got food posioning from seared tuna in a very busy, upscale restaurant in Florida. He was so sick and in bed (and the bathroom) for 3 days. We had to call the hotel doctor....nothing to do but keep hydrated with gatorade and watch his temp. That was lots of fun, espically at almost $700.00 per day!

Buy the water!
Also remember to eat fully cooked food and peel all fruits..Although you cannot detect any food poisons or bacteria, you can take steps to avoid getting sick. Contaminated food does not taste any different. Do not eat any salads (anything with mayo) or meats that is warm or sitting too long or sitting in the sun.

jacketwatch

Does one have to buy bottled water in Fla. too? Sorry folks but this all seems way too over the top for me. I have had tap water at good resorts in the DR, Mexico, all over the Carib. Fiji, Europe, etc. No problems. One can get food poisoning anywhere. JM2C.

mq

I think everyone's tolerance is different. And each island may have different kinds of bacteria. I didn't have any problems in Punta Cana. But one person in our group did on my 2nd trip there (nothing that really affected her vacation). The 1st trip, nobody had problems. I think it was more from drinking too many fancy rum drinks.

I didn't drink the tap water, but I did brush my teeth with it. There was a sign above the faucet warning not to drink it. Bottled water was provided in our rooms with no additional charge. And it was very easy to get in the restaurants in the resorts.

If bottled water is readily available, by all means, drink it and reduce the risk.

tom42

Drinking bottled water in the DR is way over the top? I don't think so. WHile it's true that you can get food poisoning anywhere, why take actions that increase your risk? There is no good reason not to drink bottled water in the DR - If you can't afford bottled water for a week, then what are you doing in the DR anyway?

Lorio

Ok... get the bottled water thing but what about ice cubes in drinks?

Lori

scuba2work

Drink bottled water!

Have been to Honduras 2 times and have realized that the reason why my family and I had horrible gas, was because the coffee was made with tap water.

Bad gas is the perfect way to ruin a trip!

jacketwatch

Normally the better resorts have purified H2O so w/i that structure it should be OK. Outside I'd be careful. AS for Guatemala as a less traveled spot not built for tourists in the same way as the Dr or Mexico bottled H2O there would be wise.

anna_k

Drink bottled water in the DR, you resort will probably provide it. The ice cubes are normally made with purified water so those are safe.