Introductory Provisions and Terms
The company "Two Bananas" offers travel services, including excursions, tours, trips, visits, recreational and cultural. Any individual accessing the Site and accepting these Terms and Conditions is a "Buyer". Hereinafter, "Two Bananas" and the Buyer will be collectively referred to as the "Parties".
By using the Site, the Buyer agrees to these Terms and Conditions, which immediately enter into force at the time of the start of using the Site.
Any booking made on the Site through the booking form, e-mail or other communication sources presented in the Contacts section automatically means the Buyer's full agreement with these Terms and Conditions and his obligation to pay the full cost of the Services booked by him.
If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, please do not access or use the Site.
It is completely prohibited to copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, broadcast, transmit, make available to the public or in any other way use the content of the Site site, including texts, images, URLs, pricing information, etc., for except for personal, non-commercial use by the Buyer.
The Buyer may use the Site solely for personal, non-commercial purposes and / or to make a request to book the Services offered on the site. Buyer agrees not to use this site to make speculative, fraudulent or false claims. The Buyer also undertakes not to use robots or other automated means on the Site.
The terms and conditions may be supplemented, changed and published in an amended form on the Site at any time and without additional notice.
1. Booking Services
1.1. Booking of Services and the procedure for their confirmation between "Two Bananas" and the Buyer is made electronically, starting from the moment the Buyer sends a request for booking an excursion or service. By submitting a booking request, the Buyer understands and accepts the Services as described on the Site and accepts these Terms and Conditions.
1.2. The process of booking Services includes the following steps:
"Two Bananas" accepts the application and checks the availability of the date of interest to the Buyer;
After the Parties agree on the dates, "Two Bananas" sends the Buyer instructions for paying for the Services (if payment is not provided for on the day of the service or the excursion);
The Buyer undertakes to confirm the booking by making 100% payment for the cost of services, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.
1.3. The booking is considered completed at the moment of sending the "Two Bananas" booking confirmation by e-mail or other means of communication to the Buyer.
1.4. Prior to completion of the booking, the Buyer must inform about his specific needs and services that may be required due to his physical condition, otherwise, "Two Bananas" does not assume any special obligations, liability or compensation in connection with these needs of the Buyer.
2. Cost and payment
2.1. The prices on the Site are indicated in dollars and if, by agreement of the Parties, the Buyer makes a part of the payment on the day the Services begin in another currency, the cost of the Services will be calculated at the rate of the National Bank of the Dominican Republic on the current date.
3. Rights and obligations of "Two Bananas"
3.1. "Two Bananas" undertakes:
Make these Terms and Conditions available to the Buyer by publishing them on the Site.
Give the Buyer a confirmation of the booking of the Services by e-mail or other means of communication after receiving payment for the Services.
Provide booked and paid Services in accordance with their description provided on the Site.
Inform the Buyer that "Two Bananas" is not responsible for services and products provided by third parties.
3.2. "Two Bananas" has the right:
Change the schedule, route or sequence of visits to attractions due to unforeseen, unavoidable or other similar circumstances.
Terminate the provision of the Services if the Buyer makes their provision difficult or impossible by their rude or indecent behavior. In the event that the Two Bananas guides assess the Buyer's behavior as inappropriate and disruptive in places of visits, especially in religious and cultural places, such Buyer will be denied further provision of the Services without reimbursement of his expenses and compensation for the cost of the Services.
4. Rights and obligations of the Buyer
4.1. The buyer undertakes:
Agree to the Two Bananas Privacy Policy, booking, payment and cancellation policies as set out in these Terms and Conditions.
Provide the information necessary to make the booking.
After receiving confirmation of the booking, check the information indicated in it, and in case of detection of errors, inform Two Bananas immediately.
Purchase travel insurance while visiting the Dominican Republic.
Pay the full cost of the booked Services on the day of the excursion or service.
Arrive at the meeting point with the Two Banana guides without delay.
Be personally responsible for being physically able and willing to participate in any activities/activities included in the booked Services and to wear appropriate clothing.
Conduct yourself in a proper and decent manner, as well as with respect for local laws and traditions.
To independently take care of personal belongings, because "Two Bananas" is not responsible for the safety of the Buyer's personal belongings.
Compensate immediately and on the spot for any damage caused to Two Bananas and / or third parties during the provision of the Services, if the Buyer is responsible for causing such damage.
4.2. The buyer has the right:
Receive the Services in accordance with their description on the Site, the booking confirmation and these Terms and Conditions.
5. Cancellation, modification of conditions and termination of the provision of Services
5.1. Cancellation or modification of the Two Banana Services:
5.1.1. "Two Bananas" may cancel the provision of Services in whole or in part due to circumstances that arose beyond the will and desire of "Two Bananas", and which cannot be foreseen or avoided (force majeure), including declared or actual war, civil unrest, acts of public authorities , sanctions, epidemics, blockade, earthquakes, floods, fires and other natural disasters and other similar phenomena that prevent the "Two Bananas" from fulfilling their obligations.
5.1.2. "Two Bananas" reserves the right to change the date or time of the start of the provision of the Services, as well as the right to change the route, in the event of unforeseen circumstances specified in clause 5.1.1., Without incurring obligations to pay compensation and indemnify the Buyer.
5.1.3. If the provision of the Services was interrupted due to the occurrence of the circumstances specified in clause 5.1.1., "Two Bananas" has the right to withhold payment for the actually rendered Services.
5.1.4. If "Two Bananas" cannot complete the provision of the Services due to the occurrence of the circumstances specified in clause 5.1.1., then, at the request of the Buyer, "Two Bananas" may refund to the Buyer a part of the amount paid for those Services that were not provided, according to the "Two Bananas" calculations.
5.1.5. "Two Bananas" may terminate the provision of the Services without compensation to the Buyer if the Buyer makes it impossible to provide the Services through its rude and inappropriate behavior. In addition, in this case, the Buyer is obliged to compensate the damage caused by "Two Bananas" in the amount of the full cost of the Services and other losses.
5.2. Cancellation of booking and provision of Services by the Buyer:
5.2.1. The Buyer has the right to cancel the booked Services. Cancellation is made by sending a message by e-mail or other means of communication indicated in the contacts section. A previously unpaid tour must be canceled at least two days before it takes place. If the excursion or service was paid in advance (as required by the internal rules of the company and the cooperation agreement with the contractor "Two Bananas"), a 100% refund of the amount is possible if there is a good reason for canceling the excursion or service, as well as advance (at least 4 days) informing "Two Bananas" ".
5.2.2 If on the start date of the tour / trip the Buyer did not appear at the appointed time at the meeting point, then Two Bananas reserves the right to withhold the full cost of the Services.
6. Liability of the Parties and Dispute Resolution
6.1. For all matters not regulated by these Terms and Conditions, the Parties agree to be guided by the laws of the Dominican Republic.
6.2. Any complaints from the Buyer must be voiced to the leaders, guides or managers of "Two Bananas" immediately and must include an argument regarding the inconsistency of the Services described on the site and the Services provided to the Buyer. The Buyer agrees to cooperate with Two Bananas and wait until his valid complaint is resolved on the spot, as well as accept the proposed solutions to continue the provision of the Services. If the Buyer's complaint cannot be resolved immediately and on the spot, then the Buyer has the right to send it, along with documents confirming his correctness, by e-mail or other means of communication. Two Bananas will resolve the complaint within a reasonable time and in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. Refunds, after considering the complaint, can be made in the amount equal to the unproven part of the Services, according to the calculations of "Two Bananas", but cannot exceed the full cost of all the Services provided.
6.3. "Two Bananas" is not responsible for services/products provided by third parties.
6.4. "Two Bananas" is not responsible for injury, damage, loss, accidents, delays or deviations from the schedule, expenses or other problems for the Buyer in connection with the breach of obligations on the part of hotels, transport companies or other companies and persons providing services, included in the Services purchased by the Buyer.
6.5. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under the laws of the Dominican Republic, it will be removed from the Terms and Conditions and the remaining provisions of the Terms and Conditions will remain in full force and effect and continue to be enforceable.
Insects in the Dominican Republic are inhabited by a wide variety, but mosquitoes bother tourists the most. Moreover, one of their species is able to carry the dengue virus. The most effective way to keep mosquitoes away is with mosquito nets on windows and doors.
In dry weather, when there is almost no rain, mosquitoes are practically not a concern. In hotels, bushes and other plants are sprayed with special solutions so that various insects do not breed in them.
On vacation in the Dominican Republic, you should take repellents to be protected from the very beginning of your stay in the country.
In Juan Dolio and some other resorts, midges are especially common - quite annoying insects in the Dominican Republic. During the day they are not in the sun, but at night they cause some discomfort. Therefore, when walking in the evening, it is better to wear a sweater or blouse with long sleeves and trousers. To rest in the shade, you will need repellent.
1. Do not open windows in the room. If you want to ventilate, then it is better to do it during the daytime. Use the air conditioner in the evening and at night.
Turn on the ceiling fan with the windows open at any time of the day, as mosquitoes avoid air vibrations.
2. Wear clothes that cover the skin of the arms and legs when outdoors during the hours of insect activity.
3. Use OFF brand or other brand mosquito repellent sprays that have strong protection against insect bites.
To prevent problems on vacation, avoid contact with insects, use protective equipment and dress appropriately. At night and in the evening, even in the city, use a flashlight.
Guests staying at the hotel may have less trouble with insects as the area is usually treated and there are screens on the windows and doors. Personal protective equipment against bites can be purchased directly on the spot.
Dominican Republic is very beautiful country, characterized by amazing nature and wonderful conditions for recreation. It is very popular with Russian tourists, but many dangers await them here, as in many other countries.
Social dangers
Tour operators assure tourists that there is no crime in the Dominican Republic, but this is not at all the case. The Dominican Republic is included in the list of Caribbean countries with a fairly high crime rate. Fraudsters and pickpockets regularly operate here, so to ensure the safety of yourself and your belongings, you should follow some rules:
If you have any problems, there is no point in contacting the police - they are corrupt and look at tourists only as a source of income. It will be better to contact the tourist police - they will be more useful.
natural hazards
In addition to the dangers associated with people, there are many natural hazards in the Dominican Republic, especially those associated with the local fauna. There are no sharks in the coastal waters here, and their attack on people has never been recorded at all, so you should not be afraid of predatory fish. There are no poisonous snakes here, but you can meet a huge boa constrictor, which, however, is also not dangerous to humans.
But jellyfish pose some danger. Small jellyfish are often found off the coast, leaving burns like nettles - the locals have the same attitude towards them as we have towards nettles. More poisonous jellyfish are not found off the coast, but you can see them if you are diving. In this case, you can not touch them, especially if they look really beautiful and bright.
Also a rather unpleasant inhabitant of local waters is the sea urchin. It is very easy to step on, and its spines easily break off, remain in the leg and resolve for several weeks, causing severe pain. So when walking on the reefs, you should wear shoes, and if you get thorns in your foot, you need to immediately pull them out. 
Eight-pointed starfish
A tourist has a chance to find an interesting starfish with eight rays, but you can’t touch it - unlike other stars, this one is highly poisonous.
Under no circumstances should corals be broken! This is not only prohibited by law, but also somewhat dangerous. Microorganisms live on corals, which can not only slightly burn your hands, but also cause serious damage. In addition, corals may, after separation from the general massif, look not nearly as colorful as in the sea.
Almost all infectious diseases registered in the temperate zone are found in the Dominican Republic, but there are also tropical diseases proper.
Transmissible infections transmitted through vectors - mosquitoes: Dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, wuchereriosis, leishmaniasis. Infections of water bodies and soil: schistosomiasis, leptospirosis.
As well as diseases that are characteristic of other countries: swine flu, acute intestinal infections and helminthiases, rabies, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, HIV / AIDS, sexual infections.
Necessary preventive measures:
1. Vaccination according to the vaccination schedule, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hemophilic infection type b, rubella. Check your vaccination certificate or honey. map.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is important for adults and children, especially if the stay in the country is more than 3 months, as well as at risk (hepatitis patients, chronic renal failure).
A tetanus shot more than 10 years old will not work. If you plan to stay in an area where you will not be able to receive timely medical care, you need to get revaccinated.
2. When entering the Dominican Republic, an international certificate of vaccination is not required. There is only a list of recommended vaccines.
Rabies. Vaccination is recommended for those who plan to stay in remote areas where medical care is difficult, as well as those arriving in the focus * of infection. To prevent rabies, avoid contact with wild and domestic animals.
Typhoid fever. Most do not need vaccination against typhoid fever, the effectiveness of the vaccine is not high and is 50-80%. It is shown only for those entering the epidemic focus *.
Hepatitis A. Vaccination is indicated for persons who have not previously been vaccinated, arriving at the source* of infection, as well as those with hepatitis.
Yellow fever. Vaccination is indicated by persons arriving at the source * of infection.
Malaria. There is no vaccine. Chemoprophylaxis is carried out to persons at the entrance to the focus * of infection, but this does not prevent infection. The combination of chemoprophylaxis (chloroquine) and bite prevention is optimal.
Vaccinations must be carried out in advance before the trip in order to have time to develop immunity. Consult an epidemiologist or infectious disease specialist about the presence of outbreaks of infections and indications for vaccination. Currently, according to WHO, additional vaccination is not required.
3. Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids to prevent infection with hepatitis, HIV infection.
4. Avoid swimming in fresh water, chlorinated water and the ocean are not dangerous.
5. Protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially at dusk: use mosquito nets, repellents.
6. Water for drinking, making ice or brushing your teeth should be boiled or bottled drinking water. Milk is pasteurized. Meat and fish are heat treated. Vegetables should be cooked, fruits should be peeled.
7. It is advisable to have a certain supply of medicines with you that facilitate digestion when changing meals (for example, mezim, penzital, smecta).
8. When seeking medical attention, inform the doctor about the fact of being in a tropical zone.
9. Before the planned trip for preventive purposes, visit your doctor and dentist. Take care of medical insurance.
There is a share of risk when traveling to any country, including tropical. Knowing and observing reasonable preventive measures, you can avoid trouble.
In my notes about the Dominican Republic, I wrote a lot about the people of this country and how easy and calm everything was there.
And yet, consider the issue of security separately.
I will immediately show you the most dangerous gangsters that I met in the Dominican Republic :)
The first late in the evening in the area for the locals, and the second in the forest.
These are the gangsters
What else can be said about safety ...
Of course, there are nuances to consider in order to stay safe.
And all these nuances are standard. The main thing is not to forget about them.
Do not keep large sums of money in your hands in plain sight, do not leave valuables anywhere, do not walk around dark areas at night with money in your hands or expensive equipment in plain sight, and so on.
Local Russian expats generally agreed with me that the Dominican Republic is safe and the police are adequate. But still gave one important advice.
There are no police on city beaches at night - and there were cases (with Russians) when someone decided to go down to the night sea from the embankment in Santo Domingo, and a knife was stuck in him there. Values were taken. Fortunately, the man survived. They said that the local gopniks don't even talk like they do in Russia. They just silently stick a knife, take away valuables and run away. In this regard, be careful at night.
At the same time, both Russian expats and the Dominicans themselves told me that they don’t remember a single message that someone was at least robbed somewhere during the day, not that they caused any damage :)
In general, in terms of precautionary measures, nothing supernatural.
And finally, one Dominican woman who gave me a ride said something brilliant and simple:
“Well, in your own country, with a lot of money right in your hands, a camera and a laptop, you won’t walk around a dark, unfamiliar suburb and approach people who look like bandits? Same with us! Standard precautions are the same everywhere.” :)
Therefore, on the journey, I had to joke, taking such photographs with captions:
<< The Dominican Republic is a very dangerous country. It is worth going outside the hotel and that's it - people with weapons are everywhere :( >>
In fact, there are many armed police in the capital near the historical center and the main cruise port. Yes, even a kilometer from here - a military unit. Therefore, people in uniform with weapons. Where they are - there is nowhere safer :)
<< It was worth going outside the hotel, when the gopniks immediately came up and offered to give the camera for good: (They still smile, like I’m not going anywhere ...>>
I already wrote about baseball players - nice guys :) They like to be photographed :)
<< The Dominican Republic is so dangerous for independent travelers that it is better not to go without a knife. Street gangs are everywhere. But... the best defense is an attack. So I decided to create my own gang. There are three of us so far. Me and my black bro - with a machete, and the third, behind us - "blinked out" - a dangerous person, he doesn't even need a knife. Beware of gangs in the Dominican Republic! >>
And it’s not at all necessary to create your own gang in the Dominican Republic)))
<<The safest thing in the Dominican Republic is to be local. Therefore... Meet! Me and my new Dominican family on a picnic! Are we really cute kids?>>
But you can create your own family in the Dominican Republic! :) Love is such a thing ... who will argue with you :)
And generally speaking...
How can it be dangerous in a country where Putin leads? :)))
Safe travels for all!
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INDEX
=== Other posts about this trip: ===
