Dominican Republic Transportation

[Diana Lambdin Meyer]

Hi all -

  I'm doing a working trip to the Dominican Republic next week and am trying to get a feel for the public transportation or whether we should rent a car. We're on a rather tight schedule and one day we need to get from Punta Cana to La Samana and back.

  Another day, we need to get from La Romana to Santo Domingo and back

  What would you recommend - public transportation or renting a car?  And just looking at maps, websites, it looks like a short distance but rather rotten roads.  Would you agree? 

   Thanks.

[Allan Lynch]

Hi from Santo Domingo.

If you are doing the capital, I don't know what to tell you. Traffic here is insane! We're being driven around, but after what we have faced I think I'd rather try driving in Paris.

There may be some traffic lights, but mostly people edge into traffic (or shoot into it). There are a lot of car horns.

We're going out in the country on Friday, so I'll have a better idea then.

Otherwise, in the city you would have to cab it. A small beat up green van/bus was pointed out to me as being one form of local transportation. And they did just open a subway - it's just north and south right now.

FYI - it's about 35 pesos to the US dollar.

Allan

[Hal Peat]

I didn't go from Punta Cana to La Samana, but I might try that route myself sometime in the near future because I need to get up to La Samana. Maybe you should check out the routes for the two nationally operated private coach lines - they're very good, clean and comfortable with air conditioning, not like going on Greyhound, and I took them roundtrip from Puerto Plata back down to Santo Domingo without problems. Otherwise, there's something called a guagua which are like small vans that carry way too many people but at dirt cheap prices. Of course, you only get way you pay for - although if your sense of humor and nerves are up to it, it could be a good story in itself to describe. Then there are those taxis - typically hauling about 8 passengers per car and no seatbelts. Another thrill ride. You could also check out the appropriate forums also on their country site DR1 (www.dr1.com)

[Cynthia Boal Janssens]

Hi Diana...I am down here right now with Allan...we are at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise conference in Santo Domingo.

What I am telling you is that you do NOT want to drive in Santo Domingo...the drivers here are absolutely crazy. But maybe driving would be okay in the countryside. I imagine so. Cindy

[Diana Lambdin Meyer]

OK, we certainly won't drive in Santo Domingo - the thrill ride cab rides sounds like Cairo Egypt - another wild and wooly place for automobiles. Any additional insight on the rural areas would be great. Cynthia - I'll see you at VEMEX.

[David Paul Appell]

I've not driven in DR recently but from what I hear Santo Domingo is in fact still a bit, shall we say, chaotic ("lanes? bah -- for wimps!"). However, the stretch out from SD to La Romana is OK, especially once you get past the airport.

I once drove from Puerto Plata to Punta Cana (west-south-east), and that was certainly an adventure. At one point I ended up in a dry riverbed.