Tourist death count at Dominican Republic resorts rises [Another one]

NY Post ^ | June 10, 2019 | 7:52am | Updated | By Lee Brown

[Red Badger]

Another American tourist died while vacationing in the Dominican Republic — bringing the recent spate of mysterious deaths to six and prompting an investigation by the FBI, according to a new report.

Robert Bell Wallace, 67, of California, died after drinking from the minibar in his room at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana, his niece, Chloe Arnold, told Fox News.

“We have so many questions,” Arnold told Fox. “We don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

It is the same hotel where David Harrison, from Maryland, died last year, and his family is also now questioning his sudden death on the island.

Their families came forward after seeing how three other Americans, including an engaged couple, died suddenly last month within five days of each other at another all-inclusive resort on the island. Another death there last year is also now under the spotlight.

Arnold insisted her uncle, an avid traveler, had been “fine” until he had a scotch from his room’s minibar while at the hotel for his stepson’s wedding.

[trisham]

David Ortiz was just shot in the back there. It’s a serious injury.

[JJ_Folderol]

My thought also.

[Red Badger]

There’s always FLORIDA!......................Home of FLORIDA MAN!.................

[gathersnomoss]

Want the Carribbean experience? Key West. Americans everywhere. And you are safe 24x7x365.

[trisham]

Anna Maria Island, Florida. Bermuda. The Carolinas. Hawaii, if you’re west of the Mississippi, it’s not a terrible flight. Scotland or Ireland. There are many places to visit that are relatively safe.

[married21]

Some of the Virgin Islands are American. Are they worth a visit? I enjoyed a little cruise excursion on St. John back in the 90s.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Methyl alcohol?

[surrey]

We used to go to St. Thomas, every Christmas, but we saw it go down hill. We took the whole family to St. Croix and felt very unsafe walking around the town. Hubby had money stolen while on a snorkeling cruise and my son had things taken from his room. I don’t think St. John is quite as bad. The only places we felt safe were Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman.

[Red Badger]

The smell would be a dead giveaway...................

[3boysdad]

I heard Key West was full of fags?

[Keyhopper]

Nothing but fags in Key west.
Sanibel island is a better choice

[NativeSon]

Bermuda.

[DoughtyOne]

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[trailboss800]

Many years ago my wife and I took an extended vacation in the Caribbean’s. When visiting several grocery stores, we noticed that every glass/plastic bottle and jar had been opened, some of the contents removed and something added back to make the bottle/jar appear full again. We mentioned it to the staff (locals) and they laughed and said it’s the way it’s always been done. Out of curiosity, the wife and I spent 20 minutes searching the shelves without finding a single sealed container. We each bought a bottle of orange crush soda and left the store. Once outside in the sunlight, we could see foreign matter swirling around in the soda bottles. We poured them on the ground and left. Neither my wife or I got sick because we followed a strict diet. We ate fresh fruit mostly oranges. We bought fresh fish from local fishermen, we boiled all of our drinking water. No local alcohol, no store purchases, no eating out at local spots.

[Red Badger]

......and you lived to tell about it................DR is now off my list.................

[Red Badger]

To die?.................

[gathersnomoss]

Sanabel Island is very nice. You know, it depends on where and with whom you hang out. Took my daughters to KW in April. Stayed at a home with a pool. Biked throughout and around the island. Never drove.

I frequented Sloppy Joe’s, The Green Parrot, Irish Kevin’s, Captain Tony’s, The Schooner, Hogs Breath, Sunset Pier, Rick’s, Smokin Tuna, Blue Heaven, Salute on the beach, Geiger Key Marina (excellent food). Beware of DWB arrests.

I was hit on, not by men. You have to choose where you are going. That goes with the territory, any territory.

[Liz]

CBS NEWS.COM

Mexican resort served “poisonous” alcohol to woman who died, family says. Abbey Conner died at a resort in Mexico after allegedly drinking tainted alcohol.

The family of a young woman who died after possibly drinking tainted alcohol is now suing the Mexican resort that served her. Abbey Conner drowned in a pool at an Iberostar hotel and resort in Riviera Maya after drinking while on vacation with her family in January 2017. Her family alleges that the resort knew the alcohol they gave the 20-year-old was “poisonous.”

Conner’s family said her death was an entirely avoidable tragedy, at the hands of an Iberostar hotel and resort. Now, nearly two years later, they have filed a lawsuit asking for the resort to be held responsible.

Abbey Conner had only been at Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar for a few hours in January 2017 when her family says hotel staff served her and her older brother Austin tainted alcohol at a hotel pool.

Soon after, her family said, Abbey was found by hotel staff floating face down, while her brother was drowning nearby in shallow water. Abbey later died at a Florida hospital; her brother survived.

According to the new wrongful death lawsuit filed in Florida and obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the resort knew “that alcoholic beverages being served” were “tainted, substandard, poisonous,” and “unfit for human consumption.”

A few months after Conner’s death, her mother Ginny McGowan warned people about drinking in Mexico.

“It’s been a nightmare, it’s horrific,” McGowan said. “Be very, very careful of what you eat drink and you don’t know what’s necessarily in a drink or food.”

After Conner’s death, Mexican authorities raided 31 establishments. They seized around 90 gallons of alcohol being kept in unsanitary conditions. In February, the Journal reports, tests found about 235 gallons of a different seized supply of alcohol contained dangerous levels of methanol, a chemical commonly used in windshield washer fluid.

Kathy Daley previously told CBS News, she believes she drank tainted alcohol while staying at an Iberostar Hotel in Mexico.

“They said I couldn’t get out of the pool and I wasn’t even able to stand up in the pool,” Daley said. “They said I was vomiting all over the place and they had to call the hotel doctor.”

Daley does not appear to be alone. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, since Conner’s death, it has received more than 200 reports from U.S. tourists who had similar experiences at luxury resorts in Mexico.

“We thought we were, you know, safe in a 5-star gated resort but it’s apparent that you’re not,” McGowan said.

Iberostar Hotels and Resorts told CBS News in a statement it does not comment on pending or existing litigation. The State Department has previously warned travelers to consume alcohol in moderation in Mexico and immediately seek medical attention if feeling sick.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[Afterguard]

The British Virgin Islands are actually superior to the USVI in my opinion. About 1/10 population, very low level of crime, strict law enforcement, and really friendly people (there are exceptions of course, like everywhere).

And the sailing is awesome!

[woodbutcher1963]

I would only go to St. John. St John is mostly national park. St Thomas and St Croix have always had their sketchy areas. However, if you get in trouble you are in the USA.

I would recommend the British Virgin Islands. They are much safer in general than the USVI’s. They did get hammered two years ago by the two hurricanes.

I would also recommend the Cayman Islands. The Cayman’s have a higher per capita income than the USA.

Another consideration are the ABC islands. Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. They are all very safe except for Natalee Holloway.

Before you go anywhere consider IF you are going to a third world country and what the standard of living is. The richer the country, the more likely they are not going to steal from you. If the economy is entirely dependent on tourism. They are less likely to steal from the tourists.

Even in Hawaii you do not want to go into certain parts of Honolulu. The problem there is like any big city, there is a drug problem. Plus, they have a homeless problem. If you had to homeless somewhere, Hawaii is the place to be.