I'm sure you have seen the bad press going on in the Dominican Republic. There have been multiple deaths regarding food poising, drink poisoning and murder. Originally our trip was booked for the week of July 12-19, but because of the many issues this place has been encountering we decided to cancel and go to Jamaica instead (casual right).

It's terrifying to think that these American tourists went to the Dominican on vacation with no worry in the world, just for the whole trip to turn completely upside down. These victims had absolutely no idea what was coming for them and it's terrifying to think this could've been me or someone else I know. Although these stories have made headlines for the past month or so, it truly isn't getting the attention it needs. There are so many questions left unanswered. For example, why was the booze poisoned? Why was a man dressed up as a worker attacking a vulnerable women who just wanted to get a snack? Why are Americans getting attacked when they've done absolutely nothing wrong? It's sad that some resorts are losing ratings due to these tragedies because not all places in the Dominican are having the same issues, but that's what happens when similar instances occur over a short period of time.

Whenever you travel out of the country make sure you are constantly aware of your surroundings. It's also in your best interest to join some kind of message board for the resort or place you plan on visiting because chances are those posts are very accurate and you know what to expect prior to arriving. You probably already know these tips, especially when traveling out of the country, but sometimes we get too caught up in the moment and forget that sometimes we aren't always safe.