Another aborted holiday plan
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
January 19, 2016 10:01am CST
I have now booked a one week trip to Turkey, which will be from 2 weeks today. Meanwhile I have been scouring the holiday sites for something different later in the year.
One excellent destination that I discovered was the Dominican Republic. The average prices for this place are far better than most long distance places, but it seems that it is not quite as idyllic as one would expect.
As a matter of form I checked the UK Government travel advice website, not that it ever really deters me from travelling. In this case the reports were definitely enough to make me rethink the whole idea. There were several warnings about violent crime and the mugging of tourists, although I often ignore such things. The main concern was the health situation.
It seems that recently they have had several cases of dengue fever, which is certainly not a very pleasant disease. This is one of the few diseases that can not only be fatal but has no known vaccine as yet.
The website advises trying to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, which is rather absurd and useless advice. Avoiding violence and dangerous areas is easy enough, but avoiding mosquitoes is virtually impossible.
18 people like this
17 responses
@garymarsh6 (24026)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 16
Avoiding mosquito bites by having marmite on toast for two weeks before you go. They do not like the smell of Thiamine and B12 complex so steer well clear of you. I was eaten alive many years ago but since doing this have never been bitten.
6 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24026)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 16
@JudyEv Yes Judy. You could give it a whirl on your next travels although I would still use conventional treatments just in case.
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
19 Jan 16
I was going to tell you "forget about this place". We booked a two weeks vacation there... after 3 days we were at the airport finding a way to go to the United States before coming back to Europe. The mosquitoes are horrible there, the crime is pretty bad, but also the police is pretty bad.
3 people like this
@rebelann (117237)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Jan 16
Hince the reason I don't travel abroad.
Those pesky mosquitoes seem to find ways into even well screened windows.
But if you spray a peppermint mixture upon yourself and your clothes you might be able to thwart them off, they don't seem to like peppermint.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Much of the southern Americas have mosquito problems and few resources are aimed at eradicating them. I avoid such places too. Why take unnecessary chances?
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
20 Jan 16
@ElizabethWallace They can be hard to avoid unless you limit yourself to cold climates.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
20 Jan 16
@Asylum I avoid all if them. Too many diseases to mess around in areas where they live in large numbers.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
25 Jan 16
Yes, I don't think it's easy to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, unless we hide ourselves inside the hotel room for all day long or perhaps apply the mosquito repellent solution all over our body, but that cannot be sure mosquitoes won't come to us as well.
Hope you will get to find another good holiday destination soon. It seems like it's not easy to book a vacation. 
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Jan 16
You might as well take cruise!
I think after the Paris incident, cruise liners are having deep discount for Europe trip.
You can travel multiple countries in one single cruise, and you do not have to worry about extra cost if you do not plan to play in the casino or take shore excursion.
I am sure you can roam around the port.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
31 Jan 16
Have to say it isn't a place that appeals, read some terrible things about exposed buffet style food in the heat and crime. As for mossies there is that new disease which is prevalent in the south Americas and the Carb islands, it would ruin your hols if you got bit on the first day. You really should give the Greek mainland a go for an idyllic destination.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
20 Jan 16
Good you found out about it before your plans got finalised.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
22 Jan 16
How about Puerto Rico? It is quite an interesting island.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
23 Jan 16
@Marilynda1225 I love Bermuda it is gorgeous and say in April would be much less expensive becasue the water is still too cold to swim.
@Marilynda1225 (91115)
• United States
22 Jan 16
I've been to Puerto Rico and it's beautiful. Bermuda too
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Jan 16
Do you go on holiday to mostly try to see a bit of the 'world'? You pick interesting places to visit. Does Turkey have tourist attractions, I've never heard of anyone going there for vacation.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Jan 16
My wife lived in Turkey for nine years as a teacher on US air force bases and would love to see it again. There seems to be some unrest there these days. I hope you write about the trip.
1 person likes this
