[TheWatchGuy]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

That is the scary thing, most people shouldn't feel like they are in any danger drinking out of their mini fridge in an upscale hotel... but here we are.

i mean, most people know not to take the drinks from the mini bar in the room. The prices are killer

[ferizzo]

Sad stuff. I go to DR about every other year (wife's family from there). We go to Punta Cana for a couple days whenever we are there, but definitely agree that there are better places to go in the Caribbean. Unfortunately this is going to crush the country as tourism is a big part of their economy...that and baseball, which also took a hit with the Big Papi incident (bad press).

[nyalpine90]

so the drinks in the mini bar were poisoned???

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

so the drinks in the mini bar were poisoned???

Yup. There was another story that a woman took a bottle of soda and it turned out to be bleach. She said she still doesn't have her taste buds back a year later.

[nyalpine90]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Yup. There was another story that a woman took a bottle of soda and it turned out to be bleach. She said she still doesn't have her taste buds back a year later.

I rarely touch mini fridge drinks...so the hotel staff is culprits

you can tell when bottle has been open, i always check bottle caps.

[Alfisti]

I've never been a fan of going to sketchy places with resorts to save a few $$$. Went to Cuba twice and was stunned as to how trusting vulnerable westerners were.

Just zero awareness that they are walking targets. i could never relax, shonky locks on the doors, a lax attitude to safety, corruption at all levels, dodgy police ... get me outta there.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by TheWatchGuy

i mean, most people know not to take the drinks from the mini bar in the room. The prices are killer

So they died from shock after seeing how much the drinks they opened cost?

[NEfan508]

we try to blend in whenever we travel, no domestic sports shirts, no watches/jewelry and stay away from hotels (airbnb) mostly

sucks to go on holiday in some places being on guard so much

Learned this from my parents visiting Miami Florida every winter as a kid, it was so ghetto late 1980's/early 90's

rental cars back then had markings Hertz/Enterprise etc. they learned tourists were being targeted by stickup crews, changed policy years later

Bahamas, Puerto Rico, LA, Miami, and Cancun all have sketchy areas (every place does) just be aware of your surroundings and enjoy, all will be fine

Way Off Topic: we have a new member in the miller clan, 8 weeks old Danialia, we need another championship in Boston, it's been months since the last...

Poor child has lived her life without seeing a championship parade on Boylston St

Bruins on Wednesday will fix that, that's Sox, pats and B's all within 6 months

[NEfan508]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

So they died from shock after seeing how much the drinks they opened cost?

Chemicals from (weed killer) into room ventilation, multiple guests (different) rooms got Sick, 2 couples died

per cnn news story last week

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

I rarely touch mini fridge drinks...so the hotel staff is culprits

you can tell when bottle has been open, i always check bottle caps.

Well, this wasn't your normal mini bar. These were not the little bottles which are sealed. On the news this morning they showed a video of the inside of the refrigerator/mini bar. They were full sized bottles, upside down and you just put your glass underneath and it pours a measured shot. Someone can easily screw with the contents.

Did you guys hear about the other story of the woman who was beaten in DR recently?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...-m/1365388001/

I went to Punta Cana back in 2007 I think. It was an extended family trip - there were about 50 of us. It would not have been my choice but for families of 5 or 6, it was affordable. The resort was nice and clean. The food sucked, the service sucked. They tried but just didn't get it.

I'm sorry but it was too third world for me. I knew on bus ride from the airport to the resort I would not be returning. Firstly, I don't want to be somewhere that I must stay behind gates. And the thought of God forbid something happening and one of us needing medical attention was terrifying.

No thank you. Agreed that you need to be vigilant anywhere you travel but there are plenty of safe places to vacation.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by NEfan508

we try to blend in whenever we travel, no domestic sports shirts, no watches/jewelry and stay away from hotels (airbnb) mostly

sucks to go on holiday in some places being on guard so much

Learned this from my parents visiting Miami Florida every winter as a kid, it was so ghetto late 1980's/early 90's

rental cars back then had markings Hertz/Enterprise etc. they learned tourists were being targeted by stickup crews, changed policy years later

Bahamas, Puerto Rico, LA, Miami, and Cancun all have sketchy areas (every place does) just be aware of your surroundings and enjoy, all will be fine

Way Off Topic: we have a new member in the miller clan, 8 weeks old Danialia, we need another championship in Boston, it's been months since the last...

Poor child has lived her life without seeing a championship parade on Boylston St

Bruins on Wednesday will fix that, that's Sox, pats and B's all within 6 months

Agree everywhere has sketchy places so you should watch out for yourself. But no one expects to be killed in their hotel room.

BTW, FL solved their problem from the 80's, they past conceal carry and stand your ground laws. The violent crime problem went away. My son lives in Tampa in an area which is in transition. He said there is petty crime in the area, if you leave something in your yard or leave your garage open things get stolen, but people will not break into your home since no one know who is packing a gun and if you do break in you could die.

[NEfan508]

Originally Posted by Maestro

Agree everywhere has sketchy places so you should watch out for yourself. But no one expects to be killed in their hotel room.

BTW, FL solved their problem from the 80's, they past conceal carry and stand your ground laws. The violent crime problem went away. My son lives in Tampa in an area which is in transition. He said there is petty crime in the area, if you leave something in your yard or leave your garage open things get stolen, but people will not break into your home since no one know who is packing a gun and if you do break in you could die.

I did not see those other reports (mini bar) that's just weird

My wife still asks for disposal cups bottled waters/sodas cups @ restaurants we don't know

I'm a contractor, I often work on restaurants, I see them before customers do 7am, RATS! mother fuc*+#s climb & jump around all night, most kitchens do not clean cups @ proper heated temps, fountain soda machines are great for fizzy drinks but the problem is Jery likes it too, licks the tips

people get mildly sick from eating out all the time due to sanitation but death form a mini bar sounds more deliberate

To make your stomach turn more, local pizza places, think "sals pizza & subs" often keep soda pallets and dry goods in the basement, rats likely have an orgy on top of your Diet Coke can...

[ferizzo]

Was going to appreciate your post until the bottom portion!

Congrats on the new addition though!

Originally Posted by NEfan508

Way Off Topic: we have a new member in the miller clan, 8 weeks old Danialia, we need another championship in Boston, it's been months since the last...

Poor child has lived her life without seeing a championship parade on Boylston St

Bruins on Wednesday will fix that, that's Sox, pats and B's all within 6 months

[NEfan508]

Originally Posted by ferizzo

Was going to appreciate your post until the bottom portion!

Congrats on the new addition though!

I have another teen boy that literally thought the patriots are in (every Super Bowl) I told him he's CRAZY it's only been 9 appearances since 2001 it's more like a 50/50 chance they'll be in, lol

Btw, most fans here loved the 2001-2007 teams the most, new batch more drama queens and the city's seen plenty of parades already, less excitement

Same as I was a fan of the 96-2001 yanks (full of guys to root for) or I'm getting old?

[ferizzo]

I used to live in MA for a while before they started winning. Like you said, lots of guys to root for on the Pats/Sox. Once they started winning my buddies started getting annoying (I am a Giants/Mets/Knicks fan) so I started disliking them. They still have likable guys but overall can't stand the teams!

Nah, not old at all...I still remember some of those teams...oh wait, that just means I am old as well!

Originally Posted by NEfan508

I have another teen boy that literally thought the patriots are in (every Super Bowl) I told him he's CRAZY it's only been 9 appearances since 2001 it's more like a 50/50 chance they'll be in, lol

Btw, most fans here loved the 2001-2007 teams the most, new batch more drama queens and the city's seen plenty of parades already, less excitement

Same as I was a fan of the 96-2001 yanks (full of guys to root for) or I'm getting old?

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Well, this wasn't your normal mini bar. These were not the little bottles which are sealed. On the news this morning they showed a video of the inside of the refrigerator/mini bar. They were full sized bottles, upside down and you just put your glass underneath and it pours a measured shot. Someone can easily screw with the contents.

Did you guys hear about the other story of the woman who was beaten in DR recently?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...-m/1365388001/

I went to Punta Cana back in 2007 I think. It was an extended family trip - there were about 50 of us. It would not have been my choice but for families of 5 or 6, it was affordable. The resort was nice and clean. The food sucked, the service sucked. They tried but just didn't get it.

I'm sorry but it was too third world for me. I knew on bus ride from the airport to the resort I would not be returning. Firstly, I don't want to be somewhere that I must stay behind gates. And the thought of God forbid something happening and one of us needing medical attention was terrifying.

No thank you. Agreed that you need to be vigilant anywhere you travel but there are plenty of safe places to vacation.

Uh, yeah. Exactly. I'm an very cautious guy by nature so I never considered a trip to the DR and never will. I have traveled out of the country on a few occasions and I never once forgot that I was no longer in America and that the rights and freedoms that most of us take for granted no longer exist when you leave this country. It's a sad reality that all travelers need to remember if they are going to do international travel safely. Also, too many people do international travel thinking budget first and safety second, third or fourth. Bad idea. I'm shocked at how many people travel to places where the State Department has travel bans in place!!! Maybe it's my legal background and the fact that I worked on Capital Hill for years, but I can't fathom people not checking out this stuff before booking international travel.

PS: Don't anyone get me started about why I dislike cruises and issues with Maritime law....

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

PS: Don't anyone get me started about why I dislike cruises and issues with Maritime law....

by all means get started. do all laws go out the window once you leave port?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

by all means get started. do all laws go out the window once you leave port?

The casino doesn't open until about 100 miles out of Long Beach harbor

[bimmerfrk]

Was there once, the place sucks. Everyone is all nice to your face the second you turn around they just cant stop talking nasty shit. I dont know if its a cultural thing but they dont appear to like Americans much and at least to me appear very envious. Hence why i think all this is happening on the island. Someone is just too salty about their life and needs to hurt others to cope with it.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

by all means get started. do all laws go out the window once you leave port?

Ugh, I am a lawyer, but not a Martime lawyer so my knowledge is very general. Here it goes, Maritime law is a difficult area of law when it comes to sorting out jurisdiction. Generally speaking, when in international waters, the home of the ship (whatever flag is on the ship) determines the laws that apply on this ship. But it is not always that clean cut because of territorial, contiguous and internal waters which also affect jurisdiction. To take it a step further, when in territorial and internal waters, the laws of that country apply instead of the laws of the place where ship is registered. This is why American victims of crimes that take place on cruise ships often do not receive justice. Also, you might think that suing someone civilly will help, but often that route is a minefield too. You might think taking a cruise on an American registered cruise line will help, but, to my knowledge, no American registered cruise lines exist (and if they do you are out of luck when in internal, territorial and contiguous waters). Why do you think that is???

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

The casino doesn't open until about 100 miles out of Long Beach harbor

That's because the casino is illegal within a certain distance of American shoreline. They have to wait until they are clearly in international waters and under jurisdiction of the country where ship is registered.

[LuvMyE92]

Here's a recent story about possible causes:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/domini...-of-a-lifetime