Live the same

I have not encountered danger in the Dominican Republic, but I have heard many stories about robberies, including armed ones. A couple of times I saw guys on motorcycles snatching bags from tourists on a bus. In hotels they will tell you that it is very dangerous outside the hotel, that you will be robbed or killed. This is not true. Such risks exist in any country, if you dare to go to the wrong areas. I lived there for several years, and nothing serious happened to me, although there was one incident - but I went to the wrong place.

For many, boredom is a bigger problem than danger. Bavaro, where I lived, is a strip of hotels, behind which there are houses for rent, several supermarkets, one cinema and about two dozen bars and cafes. There is also a strip club 😅  Out of boredom, many start drinking, since rum is cheaper than beer and of excellent quality. Some also experiment with drugs, which, as I was told, are easy and cheap to get. This often leads to many problems.

How do people (non-locals) live outside of hotels? There are many options, but in Bavaro, where I lived, it’s mostly apartment buildings where you can rent a place. Such buildings or complexes are usually fenced. Depending on the rental price, there may be additional services: security (often useless, even though they are armed with rifles, sometimes even non-functional 😊), the quality of maintenance staff (mantinimiento), gated parking, internet!!!, a pool, or proximity to the ocean.

I know of a case where a security guard and a mantinimiento staff member robbed the apartment of my friends. They were caught, but the guard was simply transferred to another location. Rental prices range from $250 to several thousand dollars. My favorite apartment cost $550. It was just 157 steps from the door to the Atlantic Ocean, and I lived there for more than two years.