E-Ring stolen from safe in Majestic Colonial Punta Cana

Okay, I have to say that as I read the responses to this thread, I became very upset at some of the reactions posted. I really think we shouldn't assume that because her ring cost 25k, that she has the money to just replace it/extend her vacation... Hopefully she did have insurance to cover the amount of the ring, and hopefully her insurance/legal results covers the cost. However- The point of her story is that her ring was stolen from her! I cannot imagine being in her shoes!

 

Just to speak regarding my own planning, most of my friends have had weddings that cost somewhere between 20-40k. For my own budget, I decided to purchase an expensive (at least to me) e-ring, and opt for a low key, inexpensive destination wedding. I figure that the ring will last forever, but the wedding is just one day, and I didn't want to blow thousands of dollars on a nice meal for 100 of my closest relatives that I see twice a year. So, now I have a 17k ring, and I'm going to have a 7k wedding/honeymoon. I have a good job, but I am by no means a wealthy person, although I could see others hearing the price of my ring and making incorrect assumptions - as many of you have about this poor girl mentioned on this thread. My Fiance and I made a decision regarding how to allocate our funds, and we have no regrets about our decision- however we could definitely not afford to replace it if something like this happened to us. This girl has the right to own and wear her ring, and that does not make it "obnoxious" as someone stated somewhere on this thread. Although she may not have legal rights in the DR, it still is appauling to me the treatment she alleges to have received from the hotel.

 

Also, just on another note, when I bought my ring, it was explained to me by my jeweler that chlorine can damage my ring. I am extremely careful, and always take my ring off when swimming, showering, etc. I've never been down south, so I've been relying on other friends, and this message board to learn the dos and don'ts to travelling. This is the first I've read of or heard of anything going missing from hotel safes. Had this girl not shared this story, I absolutely would have brought my e-ring with me. I want my ring in my photographs, and would have assumed that my e-ring would have been safe in a "safe" while I was swimming. That being said, thanks to this story, I don't think I'll be bringing mine with me anymore (especially since I'm getting married at the Majestic Elegance :S) So thanks for posting this story, and let's not be so judgemental of this poor girl - her wedding was a disaster for crying out loud - way worse than an ugly cake, rain on the wedding day, and other miscellaneous complaints I have read from other brides' wedding experiences!

 

Thanks SSNM for asking the right question, "Now my question: What are measures that other people take to prevent theft/loss? Maybe someone has a unique strategy they use?"

 

Whether that bride's story is 100% accurate or not, this story is a great caution to those of us who are newbies to travelling down south, and rather than reading about everyone's opinions on her 25k ring, I'd rather read about others' answers to the above question.

 

And thanks Dmitri for the link to your thread! Very informative!

Thanks for the cudos Tara! I was hoping that this topic would engage further discussion on travel safety and not on the particulars of this case. It could have been a $2 ring and it would still have hurt me as much (I hate to lose things let alone have them stolen).

 

Thanks for your perspective too on cost. It should definately be acknowledged that people choose to spend their money differently and that should not be judged by anyone but the spender.

 

Here is the link again to the travel safety post:

 

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t40699

So I did not read all of the posts on this thread, however I did read the story about the e-ring being stolen on another site.

While there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for anyone stealing anything from a hotel room-the truth is that noone should ever leave anything in ANY hotel safe. I have a friend who worked at one of the most prestigious hotels in NYC and always told me you NEVER EVER leave anything in the safe.

The hotel has access to these safes, and there are staff members who will steal and never get caught. It is unfortunate since this is supposed to be "safe" place for your valuables.

I travel often, and have been to DR numerous times and have never and will never leave anything in the safe. I rather hide my things in my luggage and put a lock on it.

It's a lot more difficult for someone to break your lock than to just open up a safe they have access to.

Another good trick is to not have them clean your room every day-put the do not disturb sign up..and leave the TV on so it sounds as if someone is in the room.

When you do need clean towels, they will provide them for your without having to clean your room. Every two days or so, I allow them to clean-WHILE I AM THERE.

You must take all precautions to avoid things like this. That goes for any place you travel-not just DR, or Mexico or anywhere else where the people are less fortunate.

I truly feel for the girl who lost her ring- I can not even begin to imagine her pain..and I know that even if she does end up purchasing another ring, it will not replace the sentimental value of the original.

But we must all take this as a lesson learned-never leave anything in the hotel safe!

 

PS-Tara-I am also getting married at the Elegance!

Yes, sad to hear, I felt your pain and frustration while reading your post. I have heard of things getting stolen before, and how no one helps, you feel alone and that makes it more frustrating...almost like "why bother" anymore.

 

I think it is a false sense of security when they say that there is an inroom safe, especially a computerized card that opens the safe. You think it is all good and safe, but in reality, there are many that can access it.

 

Our resort has safes in the rooms but with an actual key not a computerized card...my fiance joked and said that he bets all the rooms have the same key! They do however advise you to not keep your room card with your safe key...no brainer!

 

I will bring my e-ring, but I will wear it the whole trip, and leave most of my jewlery at home, this way, no fear of losing it or getting it stolen...

 

hope all works out well for you and put closure to your whole episode...all the best!

 

M.

This is just another lesson about why you shouldn't bring valuables with you on trips where you will be staying in a hotel room... this could have just as easily happened anywhere else, its just a matter of the wrong person at the right time!! I will not be taking my e-ring off AT ALL when I go to Dominican for my wedding, but then again I don't ever take it off anyway. I feel so sorry for her, the panic that must have ensued upon finding it missing and the frustration when noone was of any help.

 

Keep going with this until you get the justice you deserve... whether it (miraculously) be the ring back, or compensation for it. Even though nothing could replace the ring itself, when someone takes something from you nothing feels better than justice in whatever form!!! *hugs* You have a whole crew of ladies behind you on this board, that's for sure!! Keep us updated as the case progresses!

This story is awful and I do feel for her if any of those things happen. I would be devastated if my ering was stolen. I know how much time my DH spent designing it and paying for it so I wouldn't even know what to do. I do hope that this girl was smart enough to get insurance on it. I know that's one of the first things I did.

 

My DH is Dominican and his parents live on the island. He begged me to leave my ring at home when I went last October to plan our wedding...and I did begrudingly. When I told him this story last night he was like see I told you, you shouldn't bring it with you and we agreed that I would leave it at home for our wedding even though we have insurance on it. He is super protective of it....doesn't want me to wear it in the pool for a week straight. There would be much more hassle than it is worth to me to prove that anything happened to it. I am sad that I won't have it for our pictures but I love my wedding band and will just wear that...

OH MY GOD! I have the chills. I want to cryyyy for you! That sounds so horrible! I cannot ever imagine going through what you went through. I am sooo sorry for all your troubles! I don't know what else to say... nothing I will say will make it better--but I am so sorry.

SoontobeMRSV,

 

Yay for the Elegance!! Since you're going before me, I'll be awaiting your review!!

sorry Tara, nothing against you, but your jeweller doesn't know anything about diamonds. Diamonds are the hardest stone period. They go through a process called caustic fusion. Technicians use Hydrocloric acid, and caustic soda beads in a furnace that reaches 320C. This process burns away everything except a few types of minerals including the diamond. Diamonds NEVER get harmed.


Guys, imagine how many people visit this resort on a dialy basis, yearly basis, and how many stories do you hear of people being robbed? How many brides visit these resorts? People wouldn't continue if they didn't feel safe. I had never been out of Canada or the US before and I even knew better to bring a suitcase lock and put all my valuables in there.

The Dominican police are corrupt. Even locals admit that and fear being falsely arrested. Keep in mind communication problems. My fiance is dominican and even though I speak slow, and clear, he still won't understand what I'm saying. There is no way she was refused to make a call. All she had to do was go back to her room and use the phone there.

I feel terrible that her ring was stolen regardless of anything else that happened or what was said. I just don't want anyone to be afraid to go. The Dominican survives on tourism. I honestly don't believe everything the bride posted.

If you are on Facebook, there is a group for Majestic Colonial Brides.

 

"Eileen" posted her story and people commented on it. Then she removed it. that thread is at Majestic Colonial Brides!! Discussions | Facebook

 

Eileen also posted on Trip Advisor. then another person named HAPPYCAMPER029 posted a review. You can see copies of these messages on the same facebook group on this thread Majestic Colonial Brides!! Discussions | Facebook

 

Please ladies, don't worry about your wedding! Use a suitcase lock, and you'll have a fantastic time!