We won a vacation we don't want!
 

I'm a sales guy, and I am way ahead in a contest for a 5-day vacation at a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic next January. Judy tells me the last thing she wants to do is loll on a beach surrounded by poverty stricken people just outside a fence. When we choose a vacation, we travel around, meeting people and learning about the country's history and culture. So...

1. Can anyone tell us if and how that's possible visiting the DR, and if not,

2. Does anyone want to trade vacations, or buy ours? It won't officially be mine until January.

Thanks,

Steve

Hey Steve,

Do you know that the vacation place before participating in the contest?

If you don't like the people around the beach, then better you can stay in the luxurious hotel and enjoy the Jacozzi.

Dominican republic is also a decent place to visit.

If seeing poverty stricken people is a problem for you, you need to avoid most of the Caribbean islands.

If you guys truly like meeting people and learning about their culture, maybe you should try meeting some of the poverty strickened people and you might just be surprised at how warm and inviting they are.

Traveling around meeting people, how is it any different than traveling DR?

You're not going to India, Africa or Haiti, but even if you did sounds like a traveling oxymoron? You only like meeting people in expensive places?

Forgive me, but maybe offer it to the guy whose sales comes in second--sounds like a grateful thing to do!

Hmmm...did I offend some people? Not my intention, and I apologize. Yes, I am sure that the people of DR are as wonderful as human beings are all around the world. If we are going there, we don't want to just meet the ones who work at the resort!

So I will start another thread soon without the other comments, simply asking for advice on how to get out and experience the best of the island.

Steve

Do some research. Make a plan. Rent a car or jeep and drive around the island. Dominican Republic is beautiful. No reason you have to limit yourself to sitting on a lounge chair by the pool.

"Judy tells me the last thing she wants to do is loll on a beach surrounded by poverty stricken people just outside a fence."

Pretty sure this is what people (might) find offensive. Not the nicest way of saying it. I am about as (UN)politically correct as they come, and this sentence took me back a few steps....just sayin.

Peace

Again, I'm not seeing a problem here. You can explore the DR on your own. Just because SOME people choose to stay behind the fence of their luxury resort doesn't mean you have to.

I'd trade you a stay at the Boston Ritz Carlton but it's backed by a homeless shelter, St Francis House so Judy would likely put up a fuss even though in January she wouldn't have to worry about lolling on a beach.

Perhaps the OP did not state things very well. Maybe Judy would feel there was something morally wrong with living luxuriously while others are experiencing such poverty.

If that is what the OP actually meant, here is a suggestion. Sell your vacation and donate the money to a charity that is building schools or something like that, or sell the vacation and use the money to finance a trip to work somewhere for an organization like Habitat for Humanity.

Thank you, Sassafrass. You are exactly right. I did not express myself well. We volunteer at homeless shelters and prepare dinners for the hungry In our town. We give monthly to Habitat for Humanity, and also Partners in Health operating in Haiti. It's the idea of luxuriating while other suffer nearby that makes us unhappy.

Your idea of selling the vacation sounds great! Any suggestions on how to do that?

Bravo Steve! One of the most rewarding things I have done was work on a habitat for humanity house. I also volunteered for years cooking at a shelter, certainly makes you appreciate what you have.

Also, congrats on being a super salesman.

As to the vacation. First, you work hard and are rewarded for it. So, if you want to go and enjoy a few days of R & R, there is no wrong in that.

OTOH, you might see if any of the organizations or hospitals you support have major fundraisers, and auction off things like trips. Are there any volunteer opportunities that you might be able to do from a base at the resort so you enjoy the reward while also helping?

If the trip is to a resort affiliated with a large chain, you might be able to exchange it for another location.

Give the trip to someone you think deserves it, but could not afford it.

Maybe others will have more ideas.

Sassafras has pin pointed the dilemma so well and has offered great alternatives. I would be at a loss to even begin to think of any other ideas. Maybe if you belong to a church or there is one you like you could raffle it off and donate to the money for whatever the church is into, or for education or if you have a heart for a particular charity then raffle it off and donate the money. Congrats for being a super salesperson and you and Judy sound like nice people.

I know I'm repeating my post above, but you could accept the trip, then plan a more adventurous itinerary than sunbathing at the resort! DR is a very interesting island.

I am also repeating, but my thoughts are that that we as travelers to helping other countries by tourism. Many countries rely on tourism. That is my take on it, always different ways of looking at things.

The city of Santo Domingo is interesting. I've vacationed once in Puerto Plata at a local hotel and another time rented a house in Sosua. I think the DR is worth a look.

Suze so do I. We took a tour to Santo Domingo and found it to be full of history and interesting facts. I just returned from New Orleans and saw the homeless, and some sad things (people not in there right mind yelling and talking to no one)these are things one will experience in an city environment any where within in any city here in the U.S.

Thanks to all! My challenge is that I don't officially win the thing until Jan. 1st, and the vacation starts two,weeks later. I can't sell it before I own it, so Ali will start another post now asking how to see DR.

Is the winning vacation even transferable? Many are not. Go enjoy!!! Bring school supplies and visit a local school.

Inakauadavidababy great idea. Steven turn it into a positive experience. Use the trip to do some good and view it as a positive rather than a negative. When given Lemons make lemonade etc.etc. and all that good stuff!!!