Is the Dominican Republic Safe? Don’t Listen to the Internet

The internet is scary, y’all!

Unfortunately, this is especially true when it comes to world travel. Across the web, people are wondering if the Dominican Republic is safe for travel. From government travel advisories to message boards to Fox News, if you listen to everything you read or hear you’ll never even step foot out the door.

While researching for my weeklong adventure to the Dominican Republic, the internet nearly convinced me that my planned road trip to the rural Southwestern part of the country was a bad idea. Here is a sampling of the “warnings” I came across:

• The roads are deadly!
• The car rental agencies won’t accept credit card insurance!
• The car rental agencies won’t let you rent unless you pay for exorbitant insurance policies!
• You’ll get robbed in the Colonial Zone!
• You won’t be able to get by in the Southwest without strong Spanish!

And now it’s even worse! For whatever reason, the media is obsessed with stories about tourists dying at Dominican resorts. While understandably troubling, the reality is that according to the FBI, there has NOT been an uptick in the number of U.S. citizen deaths reported this year. So let’s just nip that in the bud right now. You’re more likely to die in the US than you are in the DR. Fact.

In the end, I’m so glad I didn’t let all the negativity deter me. My trip to the Dominican Southwest turned out to be one of the best (and easiest!) adventures I’ve had to date. So, what was the reality? Let’s go point by point.

The Roads are Deadly!

Ok, so this isn’t totally inaccurate. The Dominican Republic actually ranks as having the 5th deadliest roads in the world as of 2018, with 34.6 deaths per 100k people. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind that will lower your risk dramatically and give you a great experience if you choose to drive (which you TOTALLY should if you know what you’re doing!).

Do NOT drive at night! Seriously, just don’t. There are no street lights anywhere – not even in the cities – and drunk driving is a real problem. Drive during the day and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Might makes right. Experience driving in other developing countries, or at least in places like New York City, comes in very handy. There are few traffic laws, and those that exist aren’t really followed. Drive defensively, but also be assertive when you have to be. Right of way tends to go to the driver who forces themselves into an intersection first.

Do NOT stop if you see (or are in) an accident. I know this is completely antithetical to how we handle these situations in the US or western world, but here you can be arrested and held indefinitely if you are at the scene of an accident when the police arrive, even if you’re a tourist.

Rental Car Agencies

Cover your bases. I made three separate reservations (no credit card # to reserve) with three different rental agencies to cover my bases. Fortunately, my experience with Alamo was completely painless, so I didn’t need the other two, but I’m glad I had flexibility in case I’d needed to negotiate the insurance situation. Alamo accepted my Chase Sapphire Reserve primary car insurance, and I only paid for the Additional Liability Insurance.

Additional Liability Insurance (ALI): ALI is ESSENTIAL to buy if you’re renting a car in the DR. This insurance protects you if you’re in an accident that causes injury to another person, and you want to avoid jail – which I’m guessing you do. Just get it. It’s not included in credit card coverage, and if you include it when you make the reservation, it’s often cheaper.

Safety

There was not a single moment in the Dominican Republic where either I or my blonde-haired, blue-eyed girlfriend felt sketched out or unsafe, whether we were in the touristy Colonial Zone or in the rural Southwest. Obviously, that’s not to say things can’t happen, but the odds are incredibly low, despite all the sensationalism in the media. Don’t let the news stories scare you. And honestly, if you’re terrified about the rash of incidents at resorts, I’ve got a great solution for you: DON’T GO TO A RESORT!

At the end of the day, just take the same precautions you’d use in any major city in America. Don’t walk alone at night if you can avoid it, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t display your valuables. Do those three things, and you’ll be fine.

Can I get by without much Spanish?

Yep! Obviously, being fluent – or at least conversational – in Spanish is hugely beneficial if you venture outside the capital of Santo Domingo. However, the extent of my Spanish is a few thousand Duolingo points, and though I wasn’t able to have long, complicated conversations, I was able to understand and more or less be understood. Don’t let the language barrier stop you. But DEFINITELY download Google Translate to your phone so you can look up anything you need to say!

Verdict?

Read the horror stories, take necessary precautions, but don’t let them keep you from visiting this beautiful country full of incredibly friendly, hospitable people. If you take the basic precautions I’ve listed in this post, do your research, and plan accordingly, you’ll have an unforgettable trip!

Any questions? Comments? Feel free to leave them below and I’ll do my best to get back to you!

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