How safe is Dominican Republic for travelers?

The pattern that repeats

Theft from motorcycles is the characteristic crime here.

• Riders snatch bags and phones from pedestrians as they pass, and reach through open car windows at traffic lights.
• Walk with your bag on the side away from the road. Keep the phone away entirely when you are near traffic.
• Keep car windows up and doors locked in city traffic, particularly at junctions.
• Armed muggings do happen in daylight, including in residential districts. If it happens, hand everything over without hesitation.

Where and when

• Resort zones in Punta Cana and Bávaro are heavily patrolled and see very little of this. The tourist police, CESTUR (still widely called Politur), exist specifically for visitors.
• Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial is fine by day and warrants ordinary caution after dark. Some outer barrios should be avoided entirely.
• Do not walk on unlit beaches at night. This is where a disproportionate share of incidents against visitors occur.
• Avoid remote areas after dark, and do not display jewellery, cameras or an expensive phone.

Things worth stating plainly

• The FCDO records reports of sexual assault against foreign visitors, in some cases involving hotel staff or other guests. Do not walk alone at night, be careful about drinks left unattended, and be wary of invitations from strangers.
• Drug offences carry severe prison sentences. Do not carry anything for anyone, and never leave your bag unattended at the airport.
• Excursion operators are not regulated to European or North American standards. Check for lifejackets and functioning equipment yourself, and walk away if it looks wrong.

Scams

• The fake E-Ticket sites are the big one, charging up to USD 90 for a free government form.
• Card cloning at restaurants and standalone ATMs.
• The "closed hotel" taxi routine, where a driver claims your accommodation has shut down and takes you to a place paying commission. Call your hotel.
• Short-changing on dollar transactions, particularly with unfamiliar peso denominations. Count it.
• Timeshare and excursion touts on the resort beaches, who are persistent rather than dangerous. A firm no works.

Weather and ground

• Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking September and October. Follow the local forecast, and follow hotel instructions if a storm is coming.
• The country sits on an active fault line. Earthquakes are possible and a coastal tsunami risk exists. Know your hotel's assembly point.
• Rip currents kill swimmers on the north and east coasts. Many beaches have no lifeguard and no flags. If you are caught in one, swim parallel to the shore rather than against it.