Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[teamfozz]

I usually travel on a budget, stay in hostels, and eat the local food when I travel. When I go to the Dominican Republic this spring, I'll be 5 months pregnant. This trip will be a whole new experience for me because we'll be staying at an all inclusive resort, still to be decided. My question....

I know tap water is unsafe in DR. Having no experience with AI resorts, will the food be safe to eat there? Should I avoid salad, fruits, and ice cubes like I normally do when I'm travelling?

Also, staying inside the AI resort will not be my thing. I'd like to go to Samana Peninsula to go whale watching, and get out of the resort to explore as much as I'm able. Should I stay in Punta Cana or Puerta Plata?

Thanks for any advice!

[starlagurl]

Yes the food will most definitely be safe at an all inclusive resort. You're not the only one from outside of the country staying there! They have to cater to intestines from all over the world, so they'll make everything safe for you.

On the other hand, all hotels are different, you never know what the policies might be at your particular hotel until you ask.

So, I would personally ask once I got there, what kind of water the fruit and vegetables were washed with etc. etc. Just to make sure.

[corinneconley]

I would still avoid salads and fruits you don't peel, but you should be ok. I've always been fine in resorts, but I have had family members get sick at them.

[semi-backpacker]

In my opinion, the resorts are nicer in Punta Cana, but Puerto Plata is more accessible to the rest of the island, so it depends on what your preferences are. I would recommend staying at a 4 or 5-star resort regardless of which city you choose. There are always good deals even for these types of resorts. If you need some recommendations on Punta Cana resorts, let me know! I'm not as familiar with the Puerto Plata ones.