Santo Domingo vs POP airport

[tony the tiger]

I have heard of people saying that it is cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo and take a bus to Sosua. Need some info on this. Got a couple friends that dont want to pay $550 to fly into POP when they see flights for $340 to Santo Domingo. How long is the bus ride to Sosua? Does bus pick you up from airport? How often do buses leave? Im assuming cabs can take you also but im guessing its not as convenient. Dont mind me, im just asking so i have all info correct. Also here that there are much prettier women in the capital. Is it worth it to stay there for a night before leaving? Are the nightclubs around or close to airport with hotel access like Sosua? Please advise, help me out fellas.

[JD426]

You may want to check out the JET BLUE TO POP thread.
Prices to POP have supposedly come down a lot.
When they were recently as high as $700+ it was definitely worth it, but Now supposedly they are around $400- $450 ??
check Kayak.com for your dates.
So if you consider your valuable time spent on the road, chances of missing your flight on the way back (its been known to happen) , and taxi fares to and From the airport to the BUS station..
it may not be worth it right now.

[Skynyrd]

I have heard of people saying that it is cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo and take a bus to Sosua. Need some info on this. Got a couple friends that dont want to pay $550 to fly into POP when they see flights for $340 to Santo Domingo. How long is the bus ride to Sosua? Does bus pick you up from airport? How often do buses leave? Im assuming cabs can take you also but im guessing its not as convenient. Dont mind me, im just asking so i have all info correct. Also here that there are much prettier women in the capital. Is it worth it to stay there for a night before leaving? Are the nightclubs around or close to airport with hotel access like Sosua? Please advise, help me out fellas.

ok, you would have to take a nice size cab ride from SDQ Airport to Santo Domingo because the Airport is out in the boonies..The spend the money on a hotel if you chose to stay the ONE night..so you are up to lets say 60.00 -70.00 Bucks..then the clubs are hunt and find unlike Sosua and unless your Spanish is on game or you do alot of homework on these threads casa are a pain to locate.
Then the Bus ride..you have 2 choices Metro or Caribe..thats another Taxie to the bus stations, then your bus ticket and a Long Ride to other side of the Island in (even in Summer) a Freezer of a bus on bumpy roads.
its been years since I took the bus the guys can chime in but I recall it being 4 or 5 hours at least.
so if its worth all that to save the 200 bucks air difference go for it.
Try to price the flight to Santiago Airport.

[cervezalover]

I have heard of people saying that it is cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo and take a bus to Sosua. Need some info on this. Got a couple friends that dont want to pay $550 to fly into POP when they see flights for $340 to Santo Domingo. How long is the bus ride to Sosua? Does bus pick you up from airport? How often do buses leave? Im assuming cabs can take you also but im guessing its not as convenient. Dont mind me, im just asking so i have all info correct. Also here that there are much prettier women in the capital. Is it worth it to stay there for a night before leaving? Are the nightclubs around or close to airport with hotel access like Sosua? Please advise, help me out fellas.

The bus ride from Santo Domingo to Sosua i going to take you round about 4,5 to 5 hours depending on traffic. The Metro bus is faster because it has only 1 stop in Santiago compared to Caribe tours. A ticket from Santo Domingo to Sosua is going to cost you 380 pesos or 10 dollars. Their base in Santo Domingo is on Avendia W. Churchill. The first bus from Santo Domingo to Sosua is going to leave at 7 am, 11am,4pm.
The metro bus will drop you of in the center of Sosua right next to a gas station. The caribe tours bus will drop you off in Los Charamicos. Bring a jacket for the busride.

http://www.metroserviciosturisticos.com/

http://www.caribetours.com.do/

[adios]

If you're already a couple of guys you could also share the cab ride from SDQ to POP.

[yayow]

To me the main question is do you mind losing the 5 hours that you will lose each way assuming you take the bus. The fare from POP to Sosua by taxi will be about the same for a taxi from SDQ to either Caribe Tours or Metro stations. The approximate $10 fee for the bus ride is negilible.

Those 5 hrs each way however you can never get back, and you could have a lot of fun and fucking while in Sosua with those extra 5 hrs.

[TNT72]

To me the main question is do you mind losing the 5 hours that you will lose each way assuming you take the bus. The fare from POP to Sosua by taxi will be about the same for a taxi from SDQ to either Caribe Tours or Metro stations. The approximate $10 fee for the bus ride is negilible.

Those 5 hrs each way however you can never get back, and you could have a lot of fun and fucking while in Sosua with those extra 5 hrs.

I've tried many times to save some money, and fly into STI. It's just not worth it. And, if you take the bus back, and your flight is delayed and you'll miss your connection....well, I just paid for a taxi back.

And the one time I missed my flight in SDQ, I had to buy another $550 ticket. Just not worth it in my opinion.

[uncle ruckus]

Just not worth it in my opinion.

Agreed 100%. If you're going to Punta Cana, fly into PUJ. If you're going to Santiago, fly into STI. If you're going to Sosua, fly into POP. The difference in airfare will not be worth the hassle and time lost in getting from the farther airport to your final destination. The only possible exception is if you're renting a car and are comfortable driving yourself around.

[deezl]

Agreed 100%. If you're going to Punta Cana, fly into PUJ. If you're going to Santiago, fly into STI. If you're going to Sosua, fly into POP. The difference in airfare will not be worth the hassle and time lost in getting from the farther airport to your final destination. The only possible exception is if you're renting a car and are comfortable driving yourself around.

Unless you're flush it may depend a lot on how flexible your travel schedule is. If you're lucky or flexible you can get a flight into POP for under $450, if your dates are pretty hard set you may be looking at a $700+ ticket. You can fly into STI just about any day of the week for under $350. If you're looking at just a $100 difference in flights then fly into POP, it'll save you a lot of time and hassle, but if the difference is $350? Fuck that, I'd be flying into STI. $350 goes a long way once you're on the ground. That's 4 st's and 3 tln's, a couple nights in a villa or (if you're part of the Canada crew) 225 presidente pequeños!

No way would I fly into SDQ if my plan was to be on the north coast. 8-9 hours sitting on a bus? That's a shitty way to start and end a vacation.

[JD426]

Agreed 100%. If you're going to Punta Cana, fly into PUJ. If you're going to Santiago, fly into STI. If you're going to Sosua, fly into POP. The difference in airfare will not be worth the hassle and time lost in getting from the farther airport to your final destination. The only possible exception is if you're renting a car and are comfortable driving yourself around.

There are other exceptions, but ok, well go with that.
I like STI OVER POP, for many reasons though, and the girls at the Jet Blue couter know me already and I get a free upgrade to extra legroom seat every single time on the way back , so thats a $40 value right there and the bus is only 1 hour 50 mins to & from Susua, but they fucked up the bus schedual recently from santiago TO sosua as they only run like every 4 hours, and Caribe is a sloppy mess with no AC which I will never take again, but i digress.
SDQ is a diff ballgame, I agree, and hardly ever worth it..way too many things can go wrong.

[longhairdontcare]

I did a cab from SDQ to Sosua. Never again! Buddy took us through the mountains and I swear he was aiming for every pothole in the road! He was passing in the curves. It was crazy! On the way back, we took the bus. It was nice and comfortable and the air conditioner was working over time. Definitely cheaper than a taxi.

For some reason, the price from ATL is ridiculous. So yes, I would do it again, but take the bus instead. Or even try Santiago and then take the bus.

[Jimmydr]

I did a cab from SDQ to Sosua. Never again! Buddy took us through the mountains and I swear he was aiming for every pothole in the road! He was passing in the curves. It was crazy! On the way back, we took the bus. It was nice and comfortable and the air conditioner was working over time. Definitely cheaper than a taxi.

For some reason, the price from ATL is ridiculous. So yes, I would do it again, but take the bus instead. Or even try Santiago and then take the bus.

I only take it when I get bumped and rerouted and the airline pays for it.

[Irie]

I only take it when I get bumped and rerouted and the airline pays for it.

This whole discussion gets me beside myself. I've read up plenty from all of you here and have never had to commit to taking the taxi or bus from STI or SDQ. And I've considered it several times.

No matter how I search out my next ticket down there, the prices have always been relatively the same in the neighborhood of $900 to $1100. All of those times, $200 for the inconvenience and lost time never made sense to me.

Now with the whole AA debacle (which was always my best and most direct choice), I don't even have a good option from an efficiency standpoint. No more straight shots to MIA then POP while enjoying 8 hour total travel time.

I'm researching yet again from both sides of the coin and no matter how I spin it, the quickest shot at the relative same price (in the most timely manner) continues to elude me. No bien!

[BorisDaBulletDodger]

In the case that you are thinking of renting a car my resume

http://news.insearchofchicas.org/for...nd-Blackbeards

This upcoming trip might be the first time I am going without a rental car

[TNT72]

This whole discussion gets me beside myself. I've read up plenty from all of you here and have never had to commit to taking the taxi or bus from STI or SDQ. And I've considered it several times.

No matter how I search out my next ticket down there, the prices have always been relatively the same in the neighborhood of $900 to $1100. All of those times, $200 for the inconvenience and lost time never made sense to me.

Now with the whole AA debacle (which was always my best and most direct choice), I don't even have a good option from an efficiency standpoint. No more straight shots to MIA then POP while enjoying 8 hour total travel time.

I'm researching yet again from both sides of the coin and no matter how I spin it, the quickest shot at the relative same price (in the most timely manner) continues to elude me. No bien!

I can save over $400 for a R/T ticket on AA, if I fly into STI.

BUT!!.........I have a nine hour layover in Miami each way.

Hmmmmm....How much am I going to drink on a nine hour layover?

A hell of a lot more than $200 each way!!!!

Plus a taxi or bus ride. No thanks!

[Seville]

I can save over $400 for a R/T ticket on AA, if I fly into STI.

BUT!!.........I have a nine hour layover in Miami each way.

Hmmmmm....How much am I going to drink on a nine hour layover?

A hell of a lot more than $200 each way!!!!

Plus a taxi or bus ride. No thanks!

Just so you know. I found it was much cheaper to buy a ONE-WAY ticket.

[TNT72]

Just so you know. I found it was much cheaper to buy a ONE-WAY ticket.

The way I do it, it would be cheaper for me to buy ONE-WAY tickets. I paid 2 change fee's this trip, for almost what the Jet Blue crowd pays for a R/T ticket. I paid $300 in change fees!

[yayow]

Just so you know. I found it was much cheaper to buy a ONE-WAY ticket.

Can you even buy a one way ticket to a foreign country if you don't have an ID from that country, in the case of the DR a cedula.

Last time I came to the DR from NY I had to buy a r/t ticket and just didn't use the return portion

[JD426]

Can you even buy a one way ticket to a foreign country if you don't have an ID from that country, in the case of the DR a cedula.

Last time I came to the DR from NY I had to buy a r/t ticket and just didn't use the return portion

Them boys dont pay attention, do they.
The rules are being enforced, NO more one way tickets for US residents to the DR , you have to show proof you have a round trip pass or have a VISA , or you will be forced to buy a Ticket on the spot, or miss your flight.
there are posts about it on another thread, but I guess some guys think its all BS..
3 seperate expats, diff flights, same experience. just a coincidence ?..
If you put yourself in this spot, you may find yourself paying the cost of a whole Round Trip fare, for the return leg alone. I would love for someone to disprove this though.

The way I do it, it would be cheaper for me to buy ONE-WAY tickets. I paid 2 change fee's this trip, for almost what the Jet Blue crowd pays for a R/T ticket. I paid $300 in change fees!

Ive gotten hit with this one too, but it was more like $330 +
In the future, you may find it cheaper to just WALK away , and look online for a new one way back home, which might be a lot less than that ridiculous $330 change fee. You may even find that SAME flight, for a lot less, which really pisses me off.

I'm really NOT happy with what jet blue has been doing recently , especially if they are selectively "enforcing" this policy, but its not like they have a gun to our heads. Delta is right there with the cheaper fares.
My forced return tickets last time, which was close to $400, the freaking plane was like half Empty, and not one of the extra legroom seats up front was taken.. borderline criminal if you asked me.


.....
Edit.
Was doing some reading, and may have found a loophole to beat them at their own game,. there is also a thread on DR1 from 2010 on it as well.

Buy a One way ticket, and if forced to buy the return ticket at the counter , buy a MORE expensive "REFUNDABLE" return ticket.
once you land, immediately Cancel the Return ticket.. Then enjoy your stay.. and look for the return online at your leasure. With another Airline is probably a good idea.
If you "THROW away" a return ticket, IE u dont pay the Change fee, nor show up for your flight, and then simply book another one way home soon thereafter, and you are still in their System, I am reading that they CAN refuse to let you board your flight, and take away your mileage , even Ban you, etc etc..
Not sure how accurate this is, so maybe someone can confirm.
what a racket they got.

[deezl]

Edit.
Was doing some reading, and may have found a loophole to beat them at their own game,. there is also a thread on DR1 from 2010 on it as well.

Buy a One way ticket, and if forced to buy the return ticket at the counter , buy a MORE expensive "REFUNDABLE" return ticket.
once you land, immediately Cancel the Return ticket.. Then enjoy your stay.. and look for the return online at your leasure. With another Airline is probably a good idea.
If you "THROW away" a return ticket, IE u dont pay the Change fee, nor show up for your flight, and then simply book another one way home soon thereafter, and you are still in their System, I am reading that they CAN refuse to let you board your flight, and take away your mileage , even Ban you, etc etc..
Not sure how accurate this is, so maybe someone can confirm.
what a racket they got.

you don't even have to do that. new FAA regulations require all airlines to give customers a 24hr window to cancel a booking - so you can just book a return flight (any return flight) the day you're leaving and then cancel it when you arrive at your destination.

yes, if you throw away a return ticket, the airlines don't like that and there are steps they can take to make you regret it (like charge you the higher one way fee - and not even tell you they're doing it, just gets charged to your card without your knowledge or consent).