Dominican Tours & Travel

I received this email yesterday:

Hi Anthony.

First of all, I just returned from Santo Domingo and had the BEST time. I loved the country and people that I saw and met and can't wait to go back.

Now, unfotunately, I had an experience with a gay tour operator and I am hoping to can help get the word out to your readers and friends about them:

Dominican Tours and Travel.
CABARETE COLORS HOTEL.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Phone: 809-967-1491 DOM REP
www.cabaretecolorshotel.20m.com
www.dominicantoursandtravel.20m.com
Av. Winston Churchill esqu. Correo y Cidron #2B, Sto, Dgo, Dominican Republic.

I contacted them about a full day tour from Santo Domingo to Saona Island and sent them via Money Gram the fee of $175, plus the $14 fee to send....a total of $189. The tour was to have taken place this past Friday, July 25 and I was to have been contacted at my hotel the night before to confirm. When I had not heard from them by 7:30 I emailed and called and received no reply. No one contacted me and the tour did not take place. Although I can absorb the financial loss, I hate to see things like this mar the impression visitors have of your beautiful country. I was SO disappointed!

Thanks for any assistance in warning people about this guy and company.

Stephen Browning
Palm Desert, California

I have sent the company this email and asked for their response. If I receive a reply I will be posting it here for all to see. In the meantime, if you don't know of a company personally, or gotten a recommendation from a reliable source, don't wire money to anyone. This just doesn't pertain to the Dominican Republic, this is anywhere. Use a credit card. That way, if you don't get the services promised you can let the credit card company take care of it.

Buyer Beware!

Update (7/31/2008): I received a response from John Rodriguez, from Dominican Tours & Travel, stating they never received the money. Stephen forwarded me the email correspondence, along with a copy of the receipt from MoneyGram. I am awaiting further response from the company.
Update (8/2/2008): Still no response from the company, but I have heard from a couple of other people who have similar stories to tell. I heard from a travel agent in Venezuela who told me about paying monies and receiving nothing. So again, be careful of this company. Several people are starting to put warnings on different gay travel boards. Don't send money to anyone that you don't know by wire transfer. Always use a credit card, this way you can dispute it later with the credit card company. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!