How to survive standing in the mud and battling mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic (that may or may not carry malaria)

If you’re planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, there’s one thing you might want to prepare for—mosquitoes. On a particularly ill-fated vacation there, I learned this the hard way. Not only was it one of the worst trips I’ve ever been on, but it also cost me more than any other holiday. While I won’t go on a full-blown rant about the experience, let’s just say it was rough—my boyfriend got sick, then I got sick. The only highlight of the trip was an off-road adventure to Damajaqua Cascades—also known as the 27 waterfalls near Puerto Plata. Luckily, it was also the one day neither of us was ill, which made it even more enjoyable. Continue Reading