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Home / Articles and Features / Staying Safe as a Tourist in the Dominican Republic

Staying Safe as a Tourist in the Dominican Republic

by Shane Barclay

Having lived in the country for 2.5 years and having traveled there annually with tour guests every year since 2020, my experience is that the D.R. is no more dangerous than many American cities that tourists wouldn’t think twice about visiting.

Sure, petty crime is a risk. There is widespread poverty on the island, and it is possible that you could be a target as a tourist. Vehicular traffic patterns are notoriously chaotic and pose a risk if you are not on the lookout. But the violent crimes that you hear of in other Latin American countries – kidnappings and spontaneous shootouts in the street, for example – are not something that I have ever been concerned about.

I consider myself a cautious and risk-averse person, so my willingness to be responsible as the leader of a group of tourists to the Dominican Republic makes my perspective clear.

STEP Enrollment

I recommend enrolling in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This program notifies the State Department that you are in the country. The benefits of STEP are:

  • Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country.
  • Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
  • Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

If you enroll, you will need to enter contact info in the DR. Put your phone if you plan to use it or use mine: +1 (646) 391-3130. Our hotel addresses are:

Crime in the Dominican Republic

The US State Department currently has a Level 2 Travel Advisory on the Dominican Republic, meaning that they advise travelers to “exercise increased caution” due to the level of crime in the country.

The State Department says that you should:

  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Follow the advice of resort and tour operators regarding local safety and security concerns.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Country Security Report for the Dominican Republic.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergencies. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

I am confident that our group will have a carefree and safe time on the trip, provided that all guests do the following:

  • Stick with the group. Do not go out on your own, especially at night.
  • Be “street smart” – don’t wear jewelry or accessories that may be tempting to a thief or show that you are wealthy.
  • Be mindful of cell phone use – only have it out when necessary, and keep your head up.

Be Careful When Walking

I think that the biggest risk to our group’s safety is someone tripping and falling or being hit by a vehicle.

Trip hazards are common. Urban infrastructure is not good in the DR, with uneven sidewalks, potholes, unfinished construction, and other pedestrian hazards.

Further, you will notice that vehicular traffic is crowded and unpredictable. Traffic laws are mere suggestions, and you should never assume what a car or motorcycle will do.

Therefore, you must be careful. Please follow these tips:

  • Take your time; we don’t ever need to hurry. Embrace the “island time” pace!
  • When you cross the street, look both ways…twice. Cars and motorcycles will come from directions you’re not accustomed to being aware of.
  • Notify those behind you of any trip hazards – “watch your step” and pass it on until everyone hears it.

Emergency Info

You have the phone numbers and contact information for your tour staff listed on your itinerary. You can also contact tour leaders via the the tour guest WhatsApp group.

  • Call 911 for an emergency: police/fire/ambulance.
  • An American citizen with a severe emergency in the DR can call the Embassy at 809-567-7775.
  • Canadian Embassy: (809) 262-3100 or (809) 455-1730.

If an emergency occurs and you’re not with the group at a game or outing, make your way to the hotel if and when it is safe, or proceed to the nearest shelter if advised to do so by the local authorities. You will have detailed itineraries with map links and phone numbers. We advise you to carry a hotel card too. As soon as possible, contact JapanBall staff to advise of your status. JapanBall staff in the US and Japan will endeavor to account for all tour guests and share information with guest-provided emergency contacts as needed.

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