Dominican Republic Info
Joined: 14 Nov 2006
Posts: 17
Home Country: dominicanrep
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 Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:27 am Post subject: GETTING AROUND IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
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GETTING AROUND IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
AIR
There are regular flights between Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samaná, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata by Air Santo Domingo. Planes may also be chartered. For more information, contact the airline directly.
ROAD
Traffic drives on the right. There is a reasonable network of roads, including the Sanchez Highway running westwards from Santo Domingo to Elias Pina on the Haitian frontier; the Mella Highway extending eastwards from Santo Domingo to Higuey in the southeast and the Duarte Highway running north and west from Santo Domingo to Santiago and to Monte Cristi on the northwest coast. Not all roads in the Dominican Republic are all-weather and 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for wet weather. Checkpoints near military installations are ubiquitous, though no serious difficulties have been reported (those near the Haitian border are most likely to be sensitive). The speed limit is up to 60kph (38mph) in cities and 80-100kph (50-63mph) on motorways. Driving at night is not recommended because of poor lighting and and signage. Keep doors and windows locked at all times and, legally, seatbelts are required to be worn.
Bus: Cheap and efficient air-conditioned bus and coach services run from the capital to other major towns.
Taxi: Travelers are recommended to hire tourist taxis or radio taxis that can be arranged in advance. Avoid unmarked taxis.
Car hire: There are several car hire companies in Santo Domingo. Minimum age for car hire is 25. A credit card is required for car hire transactions. Insurance is compulsory. A national or International Driving Permit is accepted, but is only valid for 90 days.
URBAN
Santo Domingo has flat-fare bus and minibus services, and an estimated 7000 share-taxis called Carro de Conchos. These operate a 24-hour service in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata. Hotel taxis are also available. In old Santo Domingo, the streets are narrow with blind corners, so care should be taken, particularly as Dominican drivers have a tendency to use their horns rather than their brakes. Horse-drawn carriages are available for rent in tourist areas for tours around parks and plazas. |
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