Looking to Travel in the Future?
Check Out the Changes I Saw During My Trip to the Dominican Republic
Fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic. During that trip, I fell in love with the gorgeous island and vowed to return as soon as possible. Well, it took me quite some time to make it back to the area that I consider paradise. The changes I encountered during my recent visit are considered the new normal while traveling. However, those changes did not dampen my spirits or the love I felt when I stepped off the plane and onto the island.
The Dominican Republic has implemented numerous Covid-19 requirements. Those requirements did not affect my visit in any way though. I was still able to have a fabulous time while knowing I was very safe in everything I was doing.
I was not shocked by all the new requirements implemented by the Dominican Republic, because I made sure to stay up to date with all the changes as my travel dates got closer. Therefore, I knew that I would need to have a Covid-19 test with negative results. That test had to be within five days of my arrival to the Dominican Republic from the United States.
The negative test allowed me to explore the island as I normally would during a trip there. Of course, there were many unique differences as I was having a good time. I needed to maintain six feet between anyone else and myself. This is the social distancing requirement around the world, so it was really nodifferent than what I was already doing back home.
The Dominican Republic also has a mask requirement. You must wear a mask when you are outside your hotel room and are unable to social distance. Obviously, I was able to keep my mask off on occasion. However, the only times I really had mine off was when I was eating and drinking.
The first thing I noticed when I went to check into my hotel is that there was hand sanitizer at every entrance and exit.
I quickly discovered that this was common at every business I entered during my vacation. My hotel, as well as many of the other businesses I went to, had markings on the floor to ensure that everyone knew where to stand to maintain the six-foot social distancing rule. It was quite nice to see that everyone on the island was serious about keeping people healthy by providing the necessary tools.
While I expected the hand sanitizer to be right there at the entrance when I went to the mall, I was surprised the employees there were also doing temperature checks. I did not have a temperature, so I was allowed to enter the mall to do some shopping. However, they were turning people away who had temperatures that were higher than the allowed number.
I was very happy to see that all the beaches, restaurants, and other businesses within the Dominican Republic were open and ready for me to enjoy. I had been slightly concerned that I wouldn’t be able to do everything that I wanted to during my visit. However, I didn’t need to worry.
The best part about my visit was everything on the island was very clean. I didn’t see masks discarded on the side of the road, businesses were taking their extra cleaning protocols seriously, and everyone was working together to ensure the safety of others.
Was this the trip to the Dominican Republic I imagined I would have when I returned after fifteen years? Yes and no!
Yes, because this was the same beautiful island I had visited all those years ago. The attractions were the same, the resorts and hotels were even better, and the locals were just as welcoming. No, because never in my lifetime had I thought that I would need to wear a mask and maintain my distance from everyone else while on vacation. However, those little changes honestly did not affect my vacation in any way. I still enjoyed every moment I spent in the Dominican Republic.
The curfew the island implanted did not even hamper my experiences. Yes, I needed to be back to my room by seven o’clock in the evening during the week and five in the evening on the weekends. However, that still left plenty of time for fun throughout the rest of the day.
If you are worried about traveling with everything that is going on right now, I would like to encourage you to check out the Dominican Republic.
They are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe, while allowing you to have an amazing vacation at the same time!
You can check out all the Covid-19 travel guidelines here to see what you need to know for your next travel adventure!