Come on Professor Dreadlox what can be wrong with this....Not hiring enough Iranian and Pakistani gardeners and housekeepers for you....I know you will come up with the negative here ....I can hardly wait

Wow .. sounds like more progress .. not sure if Casinos could be considered a reliable indicator of economic development .. but it's still better than nothing .. right?

not according to the socialists and the redistributors who want to follow in Comrade Bobs footsteps

this is a wonderful news for those interested in working in the tourism industry which is the main artery for the dominican economy. if you are a dinamic, enthusiastic and a person who loves meeting people from other nationalities this could be your chance to earn some money, help your family and maybe someday get married and secure a permanent residence from another country. i am personally giving you this advice because of my past experience. www.empleateya.net

Is it nice to go to such a resort? Does anybody have experience with this? Because it is quite remote from the urban areas... If you book a flight to that destination, is it possible to enjoy your holiday without feeling emprisoned? Just wondering guys, somebody whom actually visited such a place please tell me.

Dominicans are naturally hospitable people and do a wonderful job at the resorts .. the resorts are typically "all inclusive" so you can relax and not worry about breakfast .. comida .. sena .. a great place to relax .. take in the sun and sand .. enjoy the merengue .. enjoy the warm tropical waters .. enjoy this beautiful island and it's beautiful people ..

buenoha,

There areplenty things to do and if you want to get away from the resort you go on the guided tours or better yet rent a car and take a few days to explore other areas of this beautiful isalnd.

It's not Amsterdam but I assume that you want to enjoy the sun beach and good dominican rum.

I don't think you will be disappointed .

I am an American living here for 14 years.. and it keeps getting better every year.

My last trip to Amsterdam was a lot of fun stayed at the Krasnapolsky not the greatest hotel but definitely a great location.Besides the boss paid for it so who can complain.

Most resorts .. especially the ones with casinos .. would like to keep their guests on site .. but you need not stay put .. rent a car .. make sure you get full insurance coverage because the roads can get rough and there may be thieves admiring your rental car .. check the vehicle condition carefully and inform the rental car company of damage spots to the vehicle before taking it out .. traffic can get very dense in large cities like Santo Domingo and the driving can get a little tricky so insurance is definitely a good idea. If you see the locals going the wrong way up a 1-way street, running red lights or stop signs .. never try to imitate them. Avoid driving at night .. oncoming cars rarely dim their headlights .. avoid getting too drunk .. use common sense .. if the police stop you pretend you don't know a word of Spanish .. smile a lot .. show your rental contract .. keep saying "Turista" over and over .. don't argue too much with them .. and you will be OK.

Ola, Primos
It's great to hear that everybody is on the same page for once regarding PROGRESS, as one who was born in the D.R and lives in the U.S and has visited the DR many, many times in the past and refuses to be a traffic slave [TAXI = $$ } GC gives some very good advice [ just don't forget to use your car horn and high beams, it may save your life ] there is no dought in my mind that after all is said and done we can come as ONE after all, regardless of what our beliefs are, we are all seeking paradise right !.....I just hope that this new resort will pay it's employee a fare and descent wage, after all, all will benefit ..."THE MORE YOU MAKE, THE MORE YOU SPEND".

By the way, if you did'nt know the word "PRIMO" ....Its used when you see one more then just friends........but as Family in the Tiano way, De la Isla, de QUISQUEYA.

Mrios: In the Taino Way, "Taino", Guarionex, Bohio, Hamaca, Barbacoa, Huracan, right?

Right primo?

Well, what do you say of Mexican's opening Resorts in La Provincia de La Altragracia, while the U.S. is crawling with ill-eagle Mexican brazeros? Rather stange, not?
However, if more jobs are offered I beleive it will be beneficial to the natives looking for employment. I just hope they don't pay those employees in 'Mejican Pesos'; They are worth even, less than the RD$ Pesos.
Progress is welcomed. My question is will they take up all the coasts of that eastern most province with their beachfront hotel resorts; From Boca de Yuma to Sabana de La Mar? If you're a native and you can't afford to stay in, or if you don't work at one of these gizmos, will you be able to bathe in the Ocean?

Arsenio,
I would like to see more Dominican owned Hotels, resorts and "Gizmos" as you say, and your right the locals can't even afford to vacation or bathe in the oceans of these resorts, about 1 month ago I was at one of these resorts in San Pedro de Macoris, I was the only Dominican born on vacation in the whole damn resort, while I was there I treated my fellow Country Men and resort Employees with respect and honor and when it came to tipping it was done with U.S dollars "A hand up, not a hand out"
Please someone correct me if I'm wrong......But.
Theres a Law that says anybody can purchase land in the DR and have the same rights as DR Citizens ? besides the Dominican land owners/sellers banked $$$$$ on such sales.
I feel your resentment, heres what I did, I bought some land about 75 yards from a semi private beach and will soon build a house and in a couple years I will retire and live on my land in the DR, I bought this land as a future home...NOT AN INVESTMENT.

But if someone offers you 4 times what you paid you would not be able to sell it fast enough and buy something else

Your probably right, but.....Try more like 100 times. The idea of living in paradise WOW ! I've lived in big Cities here in the U.S just about all my adult life and believe me when I say enough, is enough....Theres things in life you just can't put a price tag, being in touch with nature that's "THE TIANO WAY' [ taking only what you need, no more ] I believe that is why Man was put on this earth to begin with anyway, don't get me wrong I like money just like everybody else, I just try not to let it dictate my life, that's all.
On my last visit to the DR I took great pleasure in meeting relatives, eating mango's from my very own mango trees, making new Friends, making contact with the locals and drinking a cold one, in closing I'll leave you with this thought , sometimes man will look in all corners of the earth for paradise and never find it, I've been blessed, I plan on building a all green house....."Take care of Mother earth, and she will take care of you".

Paradise is anywhere you feel comfortable and also where your mind is at. Most people that work in resorts are semi-employed and a handfull may be fully employed. These are seasons jobs and of course many workers depend on tips to compensate their regular income. Many are just existing on such wages which does not reflect the costs of living. Just cause people are being hire in large numbers does not mean that this is progress. Real progress will be reflected when individuals and families rise from one class to another -- upward movility. Remaining in the same situation does not reflect progress -- again most will be semi-employed just as others are in other resource. Nothing is not better than nothing is just nothing. People need a future and a real hope of a future to motivate them to work towards that goal or goals. In D.R. the general population is humble but a dedicated group is destroying that to say " you are all aliked ". Its great to live in D.R.

Hector,
In reading your last comment it was very well SAID, True the DR sadly like many other Latin American Country's have a long way to go, but we have to start some where on my last visit to the DR I was amazed to see such fertile land scape the DR produces some of the best Coffee, Tobacco, and Spices that would rival any other Country in the World. Here is my take on SOME SOLUTIONS, I see a need to Educate our youth, the DR Gov. needs to be more active on this issue, Say no to Drugs, and for God's sake respect our Woman, we all have Mothers, Grand Mothers, Sisters, Aunts, Wifes and Girlfriends [too many Fatherless Children out there]. The DR needs a strong Middle Class, with poverty comes crime. I have said this in the past ,any Country can never invest to much in there Youth................. "A Country who does not put there Youth first, is a Country with no Future". Someone has to step up to bat......And I don't mean baseball.

the BIG issue...something that Cuba answered many years ago when they found tourism as a source of growth, is education. At this time, the quality of service is not the fault of the employee in the DR...they know no other way. There was no formal training in the hospitality field.

One person said to me last week...something interesting....."Dominicans all want a job...they just don't want to work". Strong words, but again, there is some truth to it. Most of it comes from being expected to jump through hoops for those who have everything...or at least appear to have....all for a wage that hardly makes sense. At the end of the month after being displaced from thier families 100's of miles away...paying for twice monthly traansportation home and living in an expensive area such as Bavaro, for many the cause...is not worth the sacrifice.

in your opinion mike ..but..stop looking at this deprivation with traditional gringo values ...these are opportunities not guarantees to el dorado....you cannot give away a vibrant economy it is many years away from critical mass ...a lot of these guys will open small businesses and if the government does not tax them to bankruptcy let see what happens ....dont let your guilt get you down its not healthy....Mike the service is worse practically everywhere else in the Caribbean .....its all in the attitude

SO TRUE PRIMOS...SO TRUE......Even "Castro the asshole" realizes this, after talking with many Cuban/Americans here in the U.S the fall of "Castro the A" and his Henchmen could mean bigger economic problems for the DR, just think!!!!!!!!
1. Cuba is closer to the U.S then the DR.
2. Cuba is twice the size of the DR.
3. Let's not forget the early 1950's and it's economic prosperity which rivaled that of Las Vegas.
4. Cuba can rival the DR in Cocoa, Sugar, Coffee, Tobacco and spice production.
5. Cuba can also rival the DR in low cost vacations in old Havana [ i could see the tour guides now]
6. Millions and Millions of U.S bucks that will flow into Cuba.
7. Cheap labor, second only to China.
8. We in the U.S would lose more then half of the Cuban population of Miami to Cuba.
AND SO ON.....NEED I SAY MORE....NOW DO YOU GET IT ??? WHEN I SAY.....DR WAKE-UP AND GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS, WE LACK MEN..THAT'S REAL MEN WHO WILL PUT THERE PERSONAL BULLS**T