Caitlin M. stayed at the Luxury Bahia Principe Esmeralda in Punta Cana in November 2019 and reported a deeply traumatic experience. While the staff initially appeared polite and helpful, they persistently encouraged her and her friend to attend the COCO Bongo nightclub. There, they were escorted to a VIP area by a resort representative and introduced to several people, including a man claiming to be a Hard Rock Café bartender. The next day, Caitlin agreed to meet this man again, but what followed was horrifying—she believes she was drugged, raped, and left unconscious on the beach. After managing to return to the resort, she informed security about the assault, but her concerns were not taken seriously. Guards allowed the assailant to approach her again and appeared to mock her situation.

Caitlin stated that the resort staff showed a shocking lack of empathy and professionalism, and she felt humiliated when some employees laughed at her the following day. Though she filed a police report with the help of the head of security, she was left with the impression that no real action had been taken against her attacker. She strongly warned others—especially Americans and women—against staying at the Luxury Bahia Principe Esmeralda or visiting COCO Bongo, stating she believes tourists are specifically targeted. Caitlin shared her story publicly to raise awareness and help protect future travelers.

Read the original story on TripAdvisor (9 may 2020)