skchin

I have been to Haiti twice in 2 years. Haiti is not a war zone, just has a lot of poor people. So make sure you get car hire to pick you up and drop you off and everything will be fine.

longtimereader firstimeposter

I haven't been and booked this one with a short layover in PAP. However, I know a lot of people who have gone there on huminatrian / mission type work and no one seems to have issues. Obviously a very poor country so I wouldn't do / wear anything fancy (I.e. walking down the road talking on your cellphones). I think you'll be fine.

Madone59

Hauteboy just did a Haiti weekend trip report - give it a read, looks safe to me (says the guy doing a same day turn) maybe PM them with questions.

CDKing

Where points are credited does not make a difference in lounge access. The rules of the lounge visited apply. AA does not consider Caribbean international when it comes to lounge access.

AS lounge only applies on Alaska air operated flights

nk15

This is correct for Delta domestic lounges but not for United domestic lounges, where if you credit to a foreign FFP you get domestic lounge access. I am not sure about AA, are you positive about this?

a9504477

No need to actually credit to the other FFP. You need to have *A gold status with another airline to get into UA lounges on domestic itineraries but can still credit to UA.

nk15

Wow, that's actually cool, are you sure that you can do this straight up, without switching where you credit during the process?

CDKing

I never had to switch numbers to use non-UA *A access when traveling domestically on UA coach. Some really poor agents have told some in the past they needed to but it was incorrect information. It also wasn't a class of service rule it was an alliance elite rule.

Alaska and Virgin were the only US carriers to give domestic F lounge access based on class of service alone. Different carriers may have a different definition of International when it comes to class of service lounge access but AA Caribbean does not get access under OW status nor class of service.

https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

nk15

I also booked this as a 3-4 day vacation, going to the best resort but I am also concerned about security and mostly health safety, reading all these health risks, malaria, cholera, typhoid, all mosquito diseases, you name it, it's there, and I don't have most of the vaccines...Even people in the best resort commonly report diarrhea, etc. We will also stand out very much, so that's a bit of a concern...I have to make a decision by tonight as well...Looked into flights to nearby airports, driving to DR, etc., all seem no go. Is anyone else booking this as a short trip or vacation?

TravelingNomads

The food will be cooked and you can just avoid ice and drink bottled water and order drinks straight or beer/wine. I've heard that most of the resorts use filtered water, but bottled would likely be even safer. I've read that the mosquitoes are a bigger source of the stomach issues, not to mention Zika and whatnot. Most resorts spray for them, but have your own. We ordered one that is supposed to be stronger than DEET with less harmful ingredients for humans. I can't recall the name off hand unfortunately, but you should be able to google it. As far as safety, you could likely sign up with tour group operators vs touring it alone. Others just suggest staying at the resort which usually has guards outside.

We were looking at going to the Dominican Republic and asked our kid's pediatricians (two different ones) whether they thought those vaccines were needed. They both said no, not if we were just going to be there for a week long vacation. It's more recommended for those living there long term.

nk15

Thanks, that's a bit more re-assuring, but this is on the higher end of risk for Caribbean I think. I agree on staying in the resort (they actually ask you to sign waivers to leave the resort on your own), guided tours, only bottled water, etc., but still not sure if this is worth the higher stress...There are also reports of ATM scams in the resorts, language barriers everywhere, hospitality services significantly lower than average, etc. Tough choice, as I am also on the fence about this for some additional personal reasons as well, but I have spent a lot of time putting it together and don't want to let go, lol...

TravelingNomads

You can exchange your money ahead of time at your bank or at the airport and can use a CC which will be easier to cancel if someone tries to scam you. Maybe just bring along extra $ to tip with to make sure that you get premium service. Money speaks.

I haven't personally been to Haiti, but my husband used to live in the Dominican Republic and seemed to really enjoy it. He did have a personal driver for safety reasons, but that was years ago. Maybe another option is to fly into Haiti and then take another cheap flight there to another safer vacation spot? I don't know what their cheap carrier airlines are, but if you're only going for a few days, you could probably get away with carryon only luggage.

nk15

There are almost no direct flights on google in the region, I have to search fringe local air carrier websites. The logistics are tough to go somewhere else and back within my timeframe, and it will be hard to pull this off by tonight, I am also very busy. I always bring cash for tips in the Caribbean, but the hospitality culture is not quite there, I have read reviews that say tipping doesn't do much, they don't even give them water after check out at the resorts, lol...So this trip should be taken with lower expectations, but I have to decide if it is worth the hassle. In all honesty probably my only chance to ever go there though...Unless I move into volunteer work...which maybe I should do.

nk15

I am surprised by this, I thought your FFP airline "pays" for your lounge access and you have to credit miles to them or something like that. OT though.

j1194

Does anyone know if you have to clear customs for a 1 hour lay over? (MIA-PAP-MIA)

Looking at a same day turn around with an hour but have heard conflicting stories.