10 Things Not to Do in Dominican Republic

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We've already told you about some awesome things to do in the Dominican Republic, but what about the things NOT to do there? To stop you receiving Chiclets from a Colmado, or making off with a Sanky Panky you’ll want to hear our list of 10 things not to do in the Dominican Republic!

1) Don't Forget to Relax
The Dominican Republic has an easy-going rhythm of life accentuated by the sea. This is the perfect place to kick back and relax. So if you have a hectic day-to-day life and you want to hit pause for awhile, you’ve come to the right place. Or you could just soldier on with your daily slog and stay at home. Sure.

2) Don't Trust a Sanky Panky
You'll find them on the beach or at resorts. These hunky, adorable men may look just perfect. But beware! They'll try to conquer your heart, just to get a marriage visa to your native country, marry you, then abandon you. So, be wary of these Sanky Pankys.

3) Don't Expect to Ride Alone
You can always fit one more person into a bus or public taxi. So if you and your 3 friends are happily travelling to your destination in a taxi cab, don’t be surprised if the driver suddenly stops to pick up another person! Sharing a ride is a very normal thing here.

4) Don't Forget About Music
The African and African-Cuban influence is deeply present in the local dance cultrure, with merengue being the dominant beat, typically played by a three-person band. There are festivals throughout the year, and international merengue celebrations that attract music lovers from all over the world.

5) Don't Forget to Bring Change
A "colmado" is primarily a local convenience store. However, they don't usually have too much change. So if you buy something with a big note, and they don't have enough money to give you your change, they'll try to pay you nine chiclets or anything of a similar price. So unless you want to fill your wallet with chewing gum sweets, bring some loose change!

6) Don't be Precise!
Here, if you say "chin" once, that means "a little bit", but if you say "chin-chin" then it means a "tiny bit". Unless you say "un poquito" which is kind of "a bit". So forget trying to be accurate!

7) Don't Forget to Haggle!
In Dominican Republic, they love bargaining. They expect you to negotiate down to the last cent. But be wise, don't wear expensive jewelry if you want to get a cheap offer, and if you see something you like don’t rush in and try to purchase it straight away. Look round and compare.

8) Don't Forget the Golden Rule!
We don’t get tired of repeating that when travelling, you don’t always know where your food has come from. So always remember these three rules: Cook it, Peel it, or Forget it! And you'll enjoy a trip with no unfortunate mishaps...

9) Don't Forget to Try Alcanfor
While the rest of us might use camphor to keep our clothes moth free, Dominicans go one step further. Alcanfor is a plant that they use for medicinal purposes to treat arthritis, asthma, back-ache, bronchitis, flatulence, headache and many other conditions. Some even pop some in the pot when cooking sweet dishes.

10) Don't Stop Being Cautious
Due to political unrest, unstable economy and high unemployment, there is an important level of crime lurking in the Dominican society. You should take great care with your valuables at all times. Tourists are often conned into various compromising situations.

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