Dominica: Tips & Practicalities for Visitors
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- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- Overview of the Caribbean island of Dominica and providing useful information for people visiting there that isn't the typical influencer stuff. I discuss some of the challenges you may have with transport on the island as well as tips for hikers and costs of visiting. We had an amazing time visiting there, and wanted to share some useful tips.
If you would like to support the channel, please visit Patreon.com/geographyking
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Blue Oyster Cult - "Some Enchanted Evening" (1978)
0:00 Intro
1:04 General Overview
2:58 Transit and Getting Around the Island
7:56 Tips for Hikers
12:21 Cost & Budgeting
14:35 Beaches
I am Dominican, born and raised and I approve all that you have said about my beautiful country. It's 100% true with no exaggerations. I have one grip and it's that you did not stress on how friendly the people are, and making mention of the many more things which a person can do while there. There's a lot to do and no one will certainly be able to do it all in just a week though.
I’m glad you left this comment then, all the guides I’ve seen say while the people may welcome you into their garden or kitchen, give you advice, etc; employees are not held to the same behavior and hospitality standards as what is normal in the US.
So when bloggers and vloggers mention the “bad service” which they got at the store they went to - or especially the government service building they dealt with - it’s easy for their viewers to assume the people aren’t as friendly
Hey man. I’m from DA too. Where are you in the United States? I live in San Francisco California
This is why he has such a good channel, he’s not afraid to dive into niche things he’s interested and passionate about. I’ve been thinking about Dominica ever since he discussed it in an earlier video. Thanks king!
Somehow it’s all catered to my interests, too 😂
Hi there! I just spent a week in Saint Lucia and am now in Dominica. I was absolutely terrified of the roads given how treacherous they were between Soufrière and Castries in Saint Lucia. So far they seem slightly better here!
A beautiful island with wonderful people and you often have sites to yourself if you visit outside of cruise ship day trip times (eg 8-11am and 4-6pm). Cheers.
i like your no nonsense approach to travel videos. very helpful!
I took a public transport “bus” from the NE side there down to Roseau & was told to come back to the area with the vans by 5.. but at 5 they said the last one left and to “hitch a ride” haha. I managed to find one of the vans to take me a couple miles, but then got to the big traffic circle in the jungle and couldn’t get anyone to give me a ride.. then it started pouring rain.. they had little covered bus stops though so I was able to wait under there. I actually called the place I was staying and someone was able to come and get me.
… What an ordeal! Glad you got back to a place safe
Same thing happened to us, but without the rain. Ended up in the back of a pickup truck.
@@GeographyKing I’m glad you were able to get a ride! One guy drove by me about 5 times before asking where I was going then said he was not going that way. 🤷♂️
Wasn’t the first time I’ve missed public transport far away from where I needed to be though haha,
I think it definitely helps keep you calm when random things happen while traveling in the future, having that experience! :0)
Super beautiful country over there!
Excellent video containing accurate and enlightening information that will be useful to aspiring tourists and curious viewers.
I appreciate the info without the filler (rambling, sponsors, gimmicks). I found this very helpful.
I've visited here and absolutely loved it
Great info. Ive been to many islands in the Caribbean, and Dominica is next on my list. Thanks for clarifying the transport situation.
The Nature Isle of the Caribbean. Lived there 20 years ago and enjoyed it, having a dirt bike is a good way to get around. The local Domincans speak French Patois to each other which is different than English Creole
I speak a little bit of French, and it was interesting to hear the French patois. I was having a hard time differentiating between English and French creole/patois and often couldn't tell which one was being spoken.
@GeographyKing understood. there are a lot of caricom citizens from other islands on each island so there may be an originally Antiguan or Barbadian residing in Dominica who speaks English creole.
@GeographyKing lol sometimes we 🇩🇲🇩🇲 blend english with French creole lmao 😂😂😂
This is my bucket list Island in the Caribbean! Thank you for this video. There’s not a lot of info on Dominica out there. I can’t wait to experience it for myself! 😄
This is the best and most accurate description of Dominica, things to do and how to get around on Dominica I have ever heard.
You had me laughing and crying throughout the video, because everything you were saying is true, especially the stipiness and mudiness of the trails and tracks.
Great video, Great discription👍🏼
I just went and this video was a large reason why. I stayed on the east side of the island. We rented a car and it was like playing Mario kart just to get around. One of the coolest places I’ve ever been to.
Spent 10 days there with rental car and most of what you’re saying spot on…the hikes are extremely difficult which really surprised me…and fresh water was one of the easiest!!! However the people were one of the best experiences of my travels…
How was the driving? We are about to go and I can't decide whether to rent a car or not. Would you rent a car there again?
You are spot on. Dominica is a beautiful island. I was born there and visit the island again in 2016 and went on many tours for 10 day.
I went there last year. I rented a car and am glad I did. This way I could go where I wanted when I wanted. You're right about the roads. That was the one thing I really didn't like. They are narrow, twisty, and steep. I didn't like when someone came up behind me. A lot of times they would beep their horn and pass me. I felt like I was holding up traffic.
The food was excellent, especially fresh squeezed juice. The people were friendly. When I first got there it was already dark because my flight was delayed and I had a hard time finding my place to stay. I actually went to the wrong place, but someone knew where I was supposed to go and helped me get there. My flight layover was in Puerto Rico, not Miami. I believe there are more flights to Dominica out of there than Florida.
I would absolutely go back. I'm not much of a hiker, but there are still a lot of things to do. My favorite place was Jungle Bay. It wasn't cheap, but it was a nice place and had very beautiful gardens of fruit trees. I really love the people. Everyone I dealt with was friendly and welcoming to me.
Hi Kyle,Great video.May I recommend Bantayan Island ,El Nido,and many more in the Philippines.Out if 194 plus countries ,the very friendliest people,Also inter island flights and ferries are very reasonable,You can rent a house for 200 a month You will be safe and welcome,.All the best,Happy New Year.👍🙏🌊🇵🇭🌺🏝️🦈
Very fair and accurate evaluation. We have been to Dominica twice mixing pleasure ans business. Great Country, Dominicans live on their own terms, either you love it or its not for you.
Up hill, both ways, but without any snow!
I did the fresh water lake as a young teen ans it was easy...but I tried again many years later and I turned back...was super scary.... its like I had no fear in my teens and now as an adult Dominica hiking kicks my butt lmao
Kyle. I really love this one! It's been on my radar for a while. When i first started looking into it, I could only find ONE self published guide book.
This place is unique to all the usual Carribean islands in it's terrain. It's also very geologically active! Hot pools and such. Really cool, and fits my life theme of exploring the lesser explored.
I'm a hiking/backpacking nut too. But hiking 3 miles to a hike? Yeah. I get it.
I’m so glad you posted this. I’ve been wanting to go here since 2019 (but the pandemic ruined it), so now I’m saving to go there & will probably use some of the places in your video as a personal itinerary
I lived on St Thomas and people are so polite and hitchhiking is everything there as well. We lived on the north side of the island, people are willing to pick you up and take you down the mountain into town. It's a different way of live compare to here.
Alot of people I knew were from Dominica. Said what an beautiful island with waterfalls and beauty.
I never really have looked into Dominica before. Now I want to go! You did a great job, as always!
Thanks for sharing your trip and experience Kyle
great video kyle. always curious about your travel experiences. nice to see you get abroad as well. really enjoyed the morocco trip earlier too
Kyle, I work at an auto auction and have yet to see the elusive Ford F 950 but I will keep an eye out,lol
Thanks for your honest and informative outlook on rivernica Kyle
Brilliant expert review. Thanks for the effort.
very impressive, you did magnificently.
Nice summary, Kyle. As I am way past the point in my life where i can hike even easy stuff (bad knees), I’ll never go there, but i appreciate you sharing your photos with us.
I did move to Dominica. Imagine that place after a category 5 hurricane! Had one go directly over my house. It was a decent into madness. Had to rebuild a river, got $0 from the bankrupted insurance company and it took a year and a half to get the power restored. Damn near died 3 times. The deaths on the roads are a very real thing too. Fun fact: Dominica hasn't had a functioning postal system for 6 years. Great place to visit but seriously, do not move there. Everything on Dominica is a struggle. Everything.
Shout out to Coulibistrie.
You sound like someone who supports the opposition party ....Nowadays everywhere is a struggle in life so to discourage people by telling them not to move there is wrong . ...
@natureislandempress361 Every place has its challenges but there are different levels to it. No, not everywhere is a struggle on par with Dominica. Not even close.
There are places where most things work. Places where there is never a line at the bank. Places where traffic laws are enforced, mail is delivered, and playing country music for the whole village at full volume at 7am is considered to be unacceptable behavior.
@@ThePelagicHermitsounds like Bougainville
I would do it again for sure…I’m in the US so had to drive carefully on the left…oddly enough it seemed strange but then it just kicked in….just go slow if needed and it was great…many twists and turns and the ultimate convenience was well worth it…
howdy kyle! great idea about dominica. thanks!
Thanks for the Dominica review, I honestly knew nothing about it!
Was waiting for this video, I'm from there!
I hope you can go back there and hook up with some of the locals that really know the really cool spots . I’m from Dominica and in the seventies, I was the guy with a n older family friend who had a bus and we took folks like you around to trafalgar falls, emerald pool and they always had a ball, and that rum punch packs a punch but there’s more things to do and especially after the new international airport is built in two years , you’ll be alright . We’re also , as we speak building the largest cable car for sightseeing to the boiling lake and beautiful scenery.
You did perfect .
Your last few videos have been doing well!
I lived in Dominica for more than a year just south of Portsmouth and up the hill from Roseau. I think you got photos of every beach they had almost! I was studying medicine there, but I went on a number of excursions and hiked up a mountain or two. It was fun and I recognized many of the photos you took. Did you try the beer-flavored ice cream in Portsmouth?
I recommended Dominica for filming locations (OK, me and about a dozen Hollywood writers who followed me down there to get stories from me), I think Pirates of the Caribbean had several scenes there, including the river and the springs where they have strong men helping you go up the waterfall?
I heard that my medical school packed up and moved off the island, but I saw it listed on your map.
Ross University medical school relocated to Barbados after Hurricane Maria, but there is a new school that has recently begun at the same campus site. I didn't have any specialty alcohol drinks or ice creams but did drink a lot of local juice.
@@GeographyKingThe replacement school is literally accredited out of Kazakhstan. Some form of BS for sure.
I keep on telling you that you are a supporter of the opposition party you are just a hater of the present government.
@natureislandempress361 I moved to Dominica with no biases toward either party. Don't know much about the opposition. But I did indeed grow to hate the party in power after seeing how they operate. But I guess The Chinese Communist Party is the real power now. China is not cool.
I enjoyed your commentary! Let me increase my steps on the stairmaster 😅
That’s amazing
Nice video I'd love to visit sometime
I live in Dominica.. And you really did your research which is 100% accurate.. ❤
Except that he said we drive on the wrong side of the road. Not correct, we drive on the left side. 😢
@@wildearthlover9958 Lol to him we drive on the wrong side.. He's used to driving on the right side of the road in US
always a thumbs-up bc always excellent presentation. . . :>/
Great Video Geography King. Been to St John’s a couple times and love it. Haven’t heard of this island. Looks and sounds like a hardcore St. John’s with less nice beaches.
Is there any camping, especially backcountry camping on the island? With the long trail seems like there might be.
There's limited backcountry camping. It's designed more as a series of day hikes to a small town, then stay in a guest house or cottage. There has been talk of formal camping along the trail, but nothing has come of it yet
Nice video from a Dominican, born and raised. But did you say that we drive on the wrong side of the road? It is always fascinating to hear Americans say that. Could it be that we drive on the left side instead of the right like other countries besides the US?
Thanks, Kyle. My family is considering a trip to the Caribbean and your videos are helpful. Dominica looks pretty, but the difficulty of getting around and the intensity of those hikes is kind of off putting.
You can do easy stuff like the beaches Rivers diving and Sulphur springs...its great for kids.... very kid friendly island... you need to rent a car or hire a driver/tour guide
Great video. Where is the best place on the island to base yourself if you're interested in hiking?
Sounds like I need to buy a stair master six months before I go! Looks beautiful!
😂😂😂
Certain places you gotta love. Your environment.
Hey Kyle!
Where can I find your other channels (I think you have two more, do I remember correctly?), especially the one about California? I thought they might be linked somewhere on your main channel here, but I can't find anything
Edit:
Also, I am right now watching your Mr. Beat interview. So cool that I wasn't the only kid with a fascination for maps :) Although I wasn't quite on your level, I still looked at them for extended periods of time, imagining what certain places might look like. No cars involved in my case, though XD But, two years ago I finally went to a beautiful little valley about 60 km away from my hometown that had caught my eye on a map of my Bundesland (state in Germany) that I had in my room as a 6 yo kid. It looked really cute on the map, and indeed it is in real life! A trip over 25 years in the making, haha :D
Also also, glad to hear that you're not gonna run out of video ideas for a looong time! Bc I really enjoy what you're doing here.
With that I take my leave, if I may, oh Geography King!
What about renting a motorcycle or electric bike? I did that when I stayed on a small island and it was well worth it
People do have motorbikes, but I'm not sure about rentals. It'd definitely be an exciting experience. Lots of people ride crazy there
Nice video! Renting a scooter would be perfect for getting around such island! (Something like a Peugeot XP400 would be ideal!).
Maybe someone should start one of those golf cart rental places like you see on Culebra PR and I think Catalina Island off California?
It's beautiful but the pictures trigger my major fears of mountains. I have always been scared of driving in mountains with drop offs and the hikes, yikes. I thought the Sierra Nevadas and other mountains in CA were scary hikes. But it is very beautiful to see.
Wonderful and thank you for sharing your gifts, knowledge, and love of travel.
Hi,
My name is Phil Mungai and I am a graduate student at the University of Denver. I will be graduating in June and I have been looking for affordable and accessible housing for a while without success. I am a quadriplegic and use a power wheelchair to get around. I also want to travel the world and be an ambassador for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. I think we are all part of the same system and we all help each other and learn from one another. That is the true essence of being human and travel and cultural exchange is a great conduit for that connection.
I'm studying human rights and your videos inspire me to keep going so I want you to know that what you do really matters and don't ever give up! I've seen all your videos since the very first one and I hope to travel the world as well and experience all of the places and cultures that I can.
Just a quick note, mentioning the local currency and best ways for money transactions would be great! (Like, are cards accepted, where to exchange currency etc)
Kyle, you’re certainly more optimistic and maybe things have improved there, but as a former medical student on the island, I have very little good things to say about this place. While of course some people are nice, most viewed us as walking wallets. Almost everything is over priced even though relatively, some things may be cheap. Additionally while the natural beauty is remarkable, it’s not anything better offered elsewhere. Ultimately I don’t think Dominica wants to be a tourist destination and they seem to not be trying very hard to be one. (Also one thing you missed is the native population center - the name escapes me, although it is a tourist trap.)
I can assure you things have gotten much worse since Maria and Ross leaving. The student apartments are full of Haitians trying to get to Guadalupe. Haitian migrants do not spend like US medical students. The James Store is all that is left from those good old days.
You are Dominican and also an opposition supporter in disguise.
There are short hikes as well - as little as 10 minutes, and not as treacherous. Also, the popular beaches are easily accessible with no hiking needed. Next time, try Mero Beach or the Purple Turtle Beach.
visit again,and bring some more folks with you.
The transportation problem it’s a deal breaker for me…I just can’t. We went to Puerto Rico and did a cross island trip west, south, and east back into San Juan in a rental… it was the freedom to do and go as you please that made the trip fantastic. If you are saying roads in Dominica might be too dangerous to drive if you are not used to them?? Well, I believe it and maybe Dominica goes down further on my list of places I want to go too..ok so Peru takes 1st place now..
lol haven’t been home in a while 🇩🇲
Did you hire a guide to do your hikes? Leaving January 30th for Dominica.
In general, the food is very expensive ie $6.00 per dozen eggs... Sometimes they don't have any for days... Same with other common items.
Hitch hiking is common for true... we called it bomb a ride in my day lol... hahaha
❤❤❤❤... but we speak French creole as well as English, bc Dominica was once a French colony...most people have French heritage
We are planning a 9-10 day stay. Would you recommend splitting up where we stay? Or picking a more centralized location? We will be renting a car and have a lot of experience driving in the Caribbean. Also, I have heard many places require a travel guide- can you shed any light on that? Thanks!
Split it up. I went for 5 days and stayed in 4 different places. The first and last days were at places right near the airport. I stayed 2 nights in Roseau and 1 night at Jungle Bay which is just south of Roseau.
Wow. Sounds like ankle-snapping heaven. No thanks!
Good on you for hiking these trails. You get any harder than the white mountains in steepness and I'm out.
One things for sure... no matter how much food you eat in Dominica, you will lose weight lmao
Are there ferries from Guadeloupe or Martinique?
Yes.
Another argument for Key West.
As a Caribbean person I definitely not paying 100US I rather use public transport.
Are there a lot of flies and mosquitoes? What are about snakes and spiders?
Flies are certainly around like in all tropical and temperate areas; however, not a disruptive nuisance. / Mosquitoes are certainly present, albeit more so in the rainy season but nothing a good repellent cannot nullify. / Snakes (non-poisonous small black and larger boa constrictors) are found in the bushy interior regions of this volcanic island. / Spiders are present with the docile, non-poisonous Tetragnatha species being the most prevalent.
No mention of bugs or heat?
Yes. Lots of both.
Living in Tennessee, I didn't find the heat and humidity bad. It was 79-83 degrees while we were there and the bugs are no worse than the southeastern US. Just the same sunscreen and bug spray we use here and we were fine.
🐐
“Ford F950” LOL
Why is it the princess of wales fault for them driving on the left? 🤣
Yeah, she wasn’t even born when they started driving on the left!
They drive on the left because they were a colony of Great Britain before independence 3rd November 1978!
Nice video, but we don’t drive on the wrong side most of the island drive on the left. Americans people have the illusion every thing they do is right everyone else is wrong 😢
How do you determine which is "the wrong side" of the road??
Stupid question all country and island have they own law!
@@user-qi8kw7yb8c exactly
I chuckle every time Americans say that ignorance. I live on St Thomas and they say the same not realizing that the world does not begin and end with the United States.
You'd move there! Wow. How about raising children in this country, is that feasible, assuming you have them?
We don't have kids, but it'd be fine for kids. It's a simpler, more laid-back lifestyle with less luxuries, so it's not for everyone.
don't just bring thighs of steel, but also water.
Rip off taxis
Excellent video! You have convinced
me not to go to Dominica.
Same here.
Rent a car ... or hire a driver
The word “sketchy” is derogatory. :-(
They speak FRENCH CREOLE lol
Once you’ve driven 🛵 in south east Asia or India nothing is scary anymore