TRAVELLING TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

We’ve been fielding many questions and concerns about the safety of travel to the Dominican Republic. Beyond the tragedy of the situation there are some logistical questions that should be answered. In General, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispanola with Haiti. The two are geographically separated by several mountain ranges that bisect the island. While Haiti suffered tremendous damage because of poor building standards, the Domincan republic was fine. The resorts are all intact and operating as normal and Punta Cana, the most heavily touristed area is over 400 miles from Haiti. Below is the relevant information related to travel to the D.R. and how it may affect you:

Where?
MAP OF HISPANOLA

What’s happening now?
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE DOINICAN REPUBLIC MINISTRTY OF TOURISM

What can I do to help?
If you are travelling to the Dominican Republic, you can help the people of Haiti. Tourists are using extra bag space to carry aid items like blankets and clothing to the island. Though there is no official mechanism to do so yet, we are in contact with regional authorities and are trying to coodinate an effort to bring in needed supplies. We will post that info as soon as it is available.

What can I do to protect my travel investment from against natural disasters?
Buy travel insurance.  Not only does it cover cancellation and interruption, but travel coverage can also provide you with emergency services like evacuation and medical coverage in the event of disaster, politijcal uprising and disease outbreak.  Coverage varies by destination and price, so ask your Bright Getaways travel professional to go over all your options for your next trip.

I have a trip to the D.R. planned in the next few weeks.  What happens now?
If you are scheduled to depart for the Dominican republic in the next 30 days, we will be reconfiming with your resort at various intervals before your departure to ensure a smooth trip, but if you would like to speak with us ahead of time, please feel free to call us at 201-360-4536.