Dominica Republic comparison to Cuba
 

Normally I have travelled to Cuba in the winter months but this year I went to the Dominican Republic instead. The situation is not good in Cuba right now and you can’t get a flight to there from Canada anyhow. I have travelled to Cuba for 30 years with my family and by myself. Many trips to Santiago, Holguin and early on to Varadero. The cost to go to DR is a fair amount more versus Cuba. My hotel was a 3 star and I would consider it a bit better than a 3 star in Cuba. The food is better at a DR resort but to be honest that’s about all. The beaches are the same but I miss the people of Cuba. I miss that Cuban vibe. The nightly entertainment shows are superior in Cuba. I usually go off resort in Cuba but I only went to a church in the DR. Surprisingly many of the roads were just dirt. My resort in DR was heavily guarded the same way I remember Cuban resorts being many years ago. The DR is not considered safe like Cuba off resort though Cuba is well known for petty crimes. All things considered I really wish to return to Cuba for many reasons. I am looking into other destinations in the Caribbean but it is said that there is no place quite like Cuba. If you have any suggestions then let me know. Let’s see how things work out in Cuba.

I would think that much of what you describe depends on which place you went to in the DR and where you stayed.
Where did y9u stay?..You are allowed to name the resort and it might help people planning a vacation int he DR.

You stayed at an all-inclusive? Do you think you made some generalizations about the country based on your visit to only one resort, and leaving the resort only once? Do you leave your resort when you visit Cuba?

You say the beaches are the same in both countries.. Can you really claim that if you visited only one beach in each country?

"The DR is not considered safe" outside your resort?? Really??? Where does this info come from??

The DR is not considered safe like Cuba off resort

Where is that information coming from? I also have never heard this. I've been to the DR several times and did not stay at a "resort" with "nightly entertainment shows" and traveled around independently by bus or rental car, staying in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and Sosua. Never been to Cuba to compare.

I never wrote that it was my first time to the DR! I should have written that this was only my opinion. True, different locations in both Cuba and DR have varying beaches but overall I can not imagine one being a heck of a lot better for beaches. At the hotel they told me not to leave the compound after dark but maybe that is because of my age. I have never been told that in Cuba. I think that it is common knowledge that there is potential for violence in the DR as is listed on the government website. Stayed in Punta Cana area. It was not far from the airport.

I have never been to the Dominican Republic so I am not one to compare them but from what you have generalized about Jhenry, I have heard from other people I know, that have been to both. Especially regarding price, on-resort food and off-resort safety.

The violent crime section for DR lists warnings that have never applied to Cuba in the past . Given the current situation regarding Cuba, I am not sure how much more of a safety risk there is there now.

Canadian Gov’t travel advisory for Dominican Republic

Prices to the Dominican Republic have soared because of the Canadian airlines suspending their flights to Cuba. I have been to both more times than I can count. Resort wise, I enjoy the Puerto Plata area over Cuba. During normal times, a 2 week P.P. trip is similar in cost to anywhere in Cuba. The food, drink and other amenities are usually better. The town itself is interesting and there are lots of things to see and do. The finicular up the mountain, walking the malecon and the old fort are all worthwhile. Off resort, I'll take any place in Cuba over anywhere in the DR.

We have been to both countries as well although more trips to Cuba. I agree that on average the resort life is a bit better in DR. Beaches depending on which part of either country you are at.
For safety, as with off-resort travel, I would feel safer in Cuba regarding violent crime. One time in DR we witnessed an attempted car-jacking brawl right on the highway. Not that Cuba is 100% free of this kind of thing but Cuba is definitely more controlled by the authorities.
For shopping, DR is superior with more variety of goods but also quite expensive in tourist areas.
Therefore I agree with the OP on most points although his/our missing of Cuba can sway our opinions.

I've never been to the DR either. But then again, my situation and complete dedication to Cuba is a bit different than others. My best friend here in Canada is originally from the DR. I've heard countless stories about what life is like there outside of the resort areas. The main reason why my friend has been living here in Canada for the last 12+ years is because his wife was walking their two very young sons to the supermarket to do some shopping together and 2 guys on a motorcycle pulled up along side the sidewalk beside them and pointed a hand gun at her head demanding she hand over all of her money. That happened TWICE! That was the last straw for my good friend - the immigration process immediately began afterwards to move his family to Canada. It was all about keeping his wife and his children safe. Of course the bandits were never identified - helmets with dark visors hid their faces.

However, I have an open invitation to visit the DR at any time with my best friend and his wife... along with my Cuban wife too whenever she's in Canada on her TRV. Both have parents that are millionaires in the DR. His father owns a casa that's like a palace in Santo Domingo - 10 bedrooms, maids, gardeners, tennis courts, membership at the local country club. They own a 50 foot long yacht too. Someday we'll get there. I'm sure we'd be kept safe within their gated compound. Terry

I don’t think that I have ever heard of gun violence in Cuba. Looks like we have some agreement other than posters 1 and 2 about safety in those countries. I hope that more pro-DR people post on this thread about their likes and dislikes to even it out for sake of argument. Many years ago I lost my wedding band in the sand in DR. Too much lotion. Finders keepers I guess. I have been to quite a few beaches around the Caribbean over the years poster one. I lived temporarily in cities Santiago and Bayamo in Cuba and I stopped going to the state of Florida years ago. Even my wife doesn’t care to go there anymore.

Jhenry, gun violence does happen in Cuba as well - but nothing to the extent experienced elsewhere in the Caribe. It's limited to the barrios of la Habana - definitely a BIG CITY problem most everywhere. Terry

Before more people treat me like a novice, I have travelled to Cuba for 30 years. Cuba is going through a very rough patch right now and I remember it being similar when I first started going there. Tourism became Cuba’s gold but the pandemic, which nobody saw coming, put a dent in that prospect. They should have been putting more effort into fossil fuels and renewable energy harvesting and look at the situation they are in now. Before Cuba I regularly travelled to Mexico and Florida but gave up on both of them. I have travelled around the Caribbean islands but no place compares with Cuba in all aspects. My sincere hope is that Cuba stabilizes for the citizens and us regular travellers. Now let’s hear from some lovers of DR.

I'm curious as to why you gave up on Mexico? Where did you go in that country??

You are much much more likely to get in a gun fight in any other decent sized country in the Caribbean and Central America including the DR, USA and Mexico. It’s not a common concern for tourists in Cuba. In Cuba you have to be on guard against the sweet-talkers, petty-thievery and the odd chico (or chica) with a machete.

One time I went to the pool with some Cuban friends in Santiago and one of the kids had a toy gun that looked surprisingly life-like. When the waiter came by, I noticed that he forgot my drink. I pulled the fake gun on him and… his eyes bulged out and almost fainted! We had good service after that! Jjjjj

I mentioned in my earlier post in ways, for resort goers especially, why the Dominican can be better than Cuba. I would rather not have any kind of health emergency in either country, but the Dominican has far superior hospitals and access to any kind of medications. And in the DR, you can pretty much buy whatever you want whenever you want it. In Cuba, many items can be hard to find. Also right now Cuba is experiencing fuel shortages of all kinds. Leading to higher prices and long lines for gasoline for locals and tourists alike. Power outages are a constant problem in Cuba. Even on some resorts. For independent travellers, Santo Domingo is an interesting old city. Unfortunately there is lots of poverty, beggars and hustlers around.

SimonT
You seem to like both Cuba and the DR for different reasons. Which one do you feel safer travelling around?

Jhenry, Cuba is by far a safer destination for travelling around.

Back in the day when Fidel was still alive, the mantra at that time about foreigners in Cuba was that they were Fidel's children, and nobody touches Fidel's children. That's still the case today even though he's no longer with us.

Many years ago back in my single days, I made a Cuban friend out at Playa Santa Lucia north of Camaguey city. I asked my amigo at that time... if you and I got into a fist fight together, what would happen when the policia arrived? He said... NO! NO! I would never do that with you because you're one of Fidel's children. After having a good chuckle over his response (an expression I'd heard many times before about us yumas), I insisted on having him answer the question though. He said that the policia would arrive and determine that you're a foreigner and they would tell you to go on your way. Then they would throw me to the ground and begin beating me with clubs and kicking me and take me away to prison for 8 years. Just for a fist fight with a foreigner. But ironically, if two Cubans were to get into a fist fight together and the policia came to take them away, they'd end up in front of a judge who would merely fine both of them $5 USD and tell them that he never wants to see their ugly faces in front of him again.

It's a two tiered justice system in Cuba - always has been. That's why I tell all of my friends and family in Canada that when I'm there in Cuba, I'm an untouchable. My Cuban friends and family members often refer to me as being muy guapo - which to the uninformed about Cuban espanol and Cuban slang doesn't mean so much that I'm very handsome - it means that Terry fears nothing. And that's absolutely true - I'm never afraid of anything when in Camaguey city, or Cuba in general, because I'm still one of Fidel's children. That hasn't changed. Terry

"Getting in a gun fight???"

I'd like to know how many posters on this forum have ever had that experience, in any country in this world!!!!
Is that something people actually worry about when deciding where to travel??

Well, sometimes they SHOULD worry about that, ekscrunchy. We lost a dear friend of Cuba a number of years ago - Tomas - when he inadvertently followed a number of other hardcore independent traveler friends to Medellín Colombia for a vacay there with them where he was shot point blank in the forehead in a Plaza in broad daylight by a young Colombian street TUFF. A negotiation about a Colombian girl had gone BAD apparently. You just never know when it can happen - unfortunately, Tomas forgot that he wasn't safe in Cuba anymore. Terry

Oy , vey! Sounds bad!! But, avoiding a gunfight is about the last thing I would ever think to worry about--anywhere!!! Let's just hope I stay lucky!

Of course safety is a concern when looking into travelling somewhere. Why wouldn’t it be? It is part of the reason I stopped travelling to Mexico and the USA and came to appreciate Cuba. Look at post #7 again from Wessislander. Where do you get your information that the DR is so safe as you wrote in reply #1. ??????

Oye! Bueno, ekscrunchy, Tomas was hanging with the wrong crowd in Medellin Colombia. Staying away from the jineteras, their chulos, and the cocaina does wonders for one's health and remaining safe if visiting other countries outside of Cuba. RIP Tomas. But anywhere there's an abundance of hand guns around, one also needs to worry about getting caught in the crossfire as well. Terry

Safety concerns of anywhere we travel is a definite factor in our decision. A common problem we have heard about is the snatch and grab. This can obviously happen in Cuba too. You can meet some annoying people in Cuba but we have never witnessed any sort of violence there. Tourists are protected better than the citizens in some ways it seems.

Wess, scroll up to my #17 and give that a read - that explains it all. However, I was once at the annual carnival in Camaguey with Yudith and a few friends. On a side street off the main drag, there was a lot of women screaming, so we immediately turned our gaze in that direction. All of a sudden, 6 young Cuban guys came running out of the crowd into the main drag carrying another young guy who had been stabbed 3 or 4 times. His torso was completely covered in blood and he was unconscious too. His blood was all over his friends as well. They put him into a bici taxi and sped off to the hospital as fast as the poor guy driving the bici could peddle. The next day, we heard that the young guy had died before he even got to the hospital - he didn't make it. Apparently he had been knifed because he had been talking with some other guy's girl - a common theme. Violence Cuban on Cuban is fairly prevalent in Camaguey city - I've seen my fair share of it first hand. But Wess, it's extremely rare when it comes to foreigners in Cuba for the reasons that I already explained in my #17. Terry.

I don't think I should continue in this conversation since I've not been to Cuba..

About the DR, I've been a number times and have many friends who go often on holidays and managed to avoid gunfights. When I was small, and after my parents stopped vacationing in Cuba, we'd spend Christmas with family friends in Santo Domingo, but I'm talking a hundred years ago.. I'm sure crime happens, just as I'm also sure that there is crime in every country. Would not stop me from going, but I like Mexico more than any of the Caribbean islands I've visited.

I've been to Mexico many, many times and hope to visit again soon....even lived there, long ago....never had any issues (although did witness actual crossfire for the first and only time in my life, in Acapulco in the 1980s!) I love Mexico and would not be afraid for one second..all this takes into account that all of us have some common sense and are not going to be wandering into "bad" neighborhoods at night--whether we are in Puerto Plata, in Mazatlan or in Habana.

I'm more worried about falling down and breaking something than I am about partaking in a gunfight or being mugged. And the goes for my home city, New York too, where there might be more handguns per capita than in most cities in our world. Don't get me started on THAT issue!

RIP Tomás.

100 years ago! ekscrunchy, you are being funny. Us Cuba travellers are passionate about Cuba. Like I said before, I have never been to the DR and from what I have always heard about it, it is not for me. But what do I know?

I guess if you compare the DR to Haiti, then it would be considered safe. Maybe not so safe compared to Cuba. I have never been to Jamaica either but have always heard that it can be dangerous there off-resort as well.

I hope that you continue posting on the Cuba forum. NYC is still my favourite city in the world. Hope to return there when the current federal regime is gone.

I've also done a fair amount of Mexico travel. Merida is one of my favourite destinations in the south. I'm actually thinking about going in May. Puerto Vallarta still has it's charms, but does have way too many tourists. I've also spent about a year in Cozumel during my life time. Peaceful and charming island. You do hear about some tourists being victims of crime in Mexico. Much of that has to do with the amount of visitors. They had 45 million tourists last year. Cuba had 2.3 million.

Thanks for contributing to this thread ekscrunchy. I did not mean to bash Mexico, DR, and the USA but once I found Cuba I didn’t want to go back to the others but we still tried other Caribbean destinations once in a while. We have also done cruises in the Caribbean. Some of them departed out of New York city. Our trips to Mexico were always to resorts. My parents were robbed at the airport in Mexico many years ago. The tour operator that sold them their package actually reimbursed them part of their initial cost. I don’t think that would happen today.