Renting a Car vs. Taxis

[Don Tomas]

I normally rent a car but didn't this trip, thinking back (hindsight is 20/20) I should have rented.

Friday:
Taxi $50 for 7 of us to Blackbeards-El D paid
Hitched a ride to Frank's FREE
Taxi from Frank's to La Canita RD$300
Taxi from La Canita to Blackbeards RD$300
Total: RD$600 (US$20) but could have been more with taxi from airport.

Saturday:
Trip to PP FREE
Trip back RD$100 (moto)
Taxi to PP RD$400
Taxi to BB RD$300
Total: RD$800 (US$27)

Sunday:
Taxi to PP RD$500 (pitched in more for people to Sosua)
Caribe Tours to Santiago RD$80
Taxi to casa de novia RD$100
Taxi to Caribe Tours RD$100
Caribe Tours to PP (for 2) RD$160
Taxi to BB, to PP, to La Canita, to Cabana RD$1,000
Total: RD$1940 (US$65)

Monday:
Cabana to BB to Caribe Tours RD$600
Caribe Tours to Santiago for 2 RD$160
Caribe Tours to casa de novia RD$100
Casa to Kelvins RD$100
Kelvins to Rancho Tipico RD$80
Rancho Tipico to Pasions RD$200
Pasions to Cabana RD$200
Total: RD$1440 (US$48)

Tuesday:
Cabana to Casa to Caribe Tours RD$200
Caribe Tours to PP for 1 RD$80
PP to BB RD$300
BB to Sosua to Airport (Escort King was out of cash) RD$1,100
Total: RD$1680 (US$56)

Total in taxis: RD$6460 (US$216)

If I rented a jeep: 4 days * US$48/day = US$192! Minus 6% for paying cash = US$180.50

Yes I need to move around a lot and the Costambar taxis are THIEVES!!

I should have rented a car, I am positive Jayman & El D would have chipped in for gas especially for the the trips to Sosua and from the airport to BB.

Oh well Live & Learn!

[Escort_King]

Yes we would have helped with gas money... but then you would have been stuck driving our fat asses around.... lol.... not really but it would have had to have been a big car

[the_Jayman]

I like JThomas's idea of renting a driver for the week ! !

[the_Jayman]

we got a couple of guys lined up . . . about $400 for a nice van with driver for the week (5 days ish). $100 a head.

[JDR]

we got a couple of guys lined up . . . about $400 for a nice van with driver for the week (5 days ish). $100 a head.

Sounds sweet!

[Don Tomas]

I always rent a Jeep, I could have gotten a 7 passenger Suzuki LX7 (XL7 in US) for that price.

[Don Tomas]

we got a couple of guys lined up . . . about $400 for a nice van with driver for the week (5 days ish). $100 a head.

Will he drive to other cities? (other then Sosua to Puerto Plata)

[B_J_Lover]

DT, good point and observation. I'm fairly scared to drive in DR, but it would be so helpful getting from Sosua/POP/Santiago.

Can't be any worse than driving in NY, right? I've done that successfully many times. lol

[the_Jayman]

Santiago, Sosua, Caberetta, Costemba . . . no problema.

We also talked to him quite a bit and told him about our schedule which for the most part would just be runing us from the villa to Sosua. Keep in mind this is me and El D and we don't move around that much.

and Sosua to Franks daily.

[Don Tomas]

The only dangerous driving in the DR is on the highways at night imho.

Driving in the cities at night is cool. Sure people run red lights but there is still an order to it. People only run red lights on main streets aka normally you would have the right of way if there was no lights. And in Santiago and even Puerto Plata is ok because the streets are lit, either though street lights or the places of business along the street.

In Santiago it's even better, more traffic means less speeding!

Never drove in NYC.

[Escort_King]

We have the guy and will find him a place to sleep maybe the van at worst....

[Bug Boy]

If you're used to driving down country roads at night and used to driving in large cities (NY, Chicago) in the day, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Nevertheless, driving down country roads at night is dangerous and "fender-benders" are bound to happen in heavily congested areas regardless of where you are.

Therefore, make sure that you get enough insurance (whatever that is for you.) When I drove on the south coast (better roads), I got the minimum; however, on the north coast (pothole roads), I get additional insurance to cover tire and windshield damage.

1. Get "enough" Insurance Coverage!
2. Speak "enough" Spanish (enough to be able to ask and follow a motoconcho to where you need to go.)
3. Don't drive drunk!!
4. Don't drink and drive at night (daytime's ok... )
5. Have a city and country map w/ you at all times
6. Have a photocopy of your passport and drivers license in the glove compartment (don't hand over the real thing!!!)
7. DON'T EVER RELY ON A DOMINICAN GIRL (any type of female) for DIRECTIONS (they have no sense of direction!!)
8. Plan out your trips, but accept the fact that you will get lost some of the time as well.
9. Have a spare tire and jack in the trunk and know how to use them!!
10. Wear your seatbelt.
11. Rent from a reputable major American car agency (Alamo/National, Avis, Hertz, Budget.)
12. Have some fun!!! There's nothing like cruising down the street w/ a 4-1 (whore-to-tourist) ratio and "Gasolina" cranked-up in the car (oh yeah... make sure that the car has a CD-player.)


-Helpmann 8)

[Don Tomas]

1. Get "enough" Insurance Coverage!
2. Speak "enough" Spanish (enough to be able to ask and follow a motoconcho to where you need to go.)
3. Don't drive drunk!!
4. Don't drink and drive at night (daytime's ok... )
5. Have a city and country map w/ you at all times
6. Have a photocopy of your passport and drivers license in the glove compartment (don't hand over the real thing!!!)
7. DON'T EVER RELY ON A DOMINICAN GIRL (any type of female) for DIRECTIONS (they have no sense of direction!!)
8. Plan out your trips, but accept the fact that you will get lost some of the time as well.
9. Have a spare tire and jack in the trunk and know how to use them!!
10. Wear your seatbelt.
11. Rent from a reputable major American car agency (Alamo/National, Avis, Hertz, Budget.)
12. Have some fun!!! There's nothing like cruising down the street w/ a 4-1 (whore-to-tourist) ratio and "Gasolina" cranked-up in the car (oh yeah... make sure that the car has a CD-player.)

1. That's a given
2. See #1
3. Then I would never be able to drive!
4. I drink & drive anytime I am behind the wheel.
5. Done
6. Done
7. Very True
8. I never get lost, I just explore new places!
9. I have them but never used, that is what pesos are for! Get a flat and a few 100 pesos, never change your own tire, besides you get dirty.
10. I only wear them when AMET is working.
11. I have heard of them being WORSE then Dominican companies, read various reports on DR1. They have American company names ONLY, they are franchieses that's it. I personally rent from Adventure all of the time.
12. ALWAYS!

[Bug Boy]

11. I have heard of them being WORSE then Dominican companies, read various reports on DR1. They have American company names ONLY, they are franchieses that's it. I personally rent from Adventure all of the time.

Maybe, but I trust Alamo.


-Helpmann 8)

[psriches]

11. I have heard of them being WORSE then Dominican companies, read various reports on DR1. They have American company names ONLY, they are franchieses that's it. I personally rent from Adventure all of the time.

Maybe, but I trust Alamo.


-Helpmann 8)

Alamo is the cheapest name brand company in DR. Good choice!

[LM]

Kevyboy and I shared the cost of a rental car for the week....came in really handy...with all the driving between Puerto Plata and Sousa....nighttime driving is a bitch though, a real bitch...will rent again though..

[Jthomas]

Here is the way it works with my regular guy.


He is there waiting for me at the airport.

Takes me where ever I want to go when ever I want to go everyday.
This includes whoever is riding with me whether it be a chica I want delivered or picked up, a buddy I want dropped off or picked up...what ever.

He stays with me during my day/night until he either drops me off somewhere for the night (ie: cabana) and then he picks me back up at designated time. Unless I tell him I will be here for X amount of hours come back then.

If I am eating something and he is hungry I pay for him to eat. If I am drinking and he is thirsty I pay for him to drink.

Since he knows the kind of women I prefer he has also been known to have a new list of 19 year old spinners ready for me.

We use his car and his gas. I have not paid extra for gas (propane).

He acts as a interpertur for me if necessary (comes in handy for phone calls and when the chicas get talking to fast) He also speaks some english and understands spanglish so communication with him is not a huge problem.

I pay him at the end of the trip in full (and he does not even count it)

I trust the guy and he has never fucked me over or let me down.

I got him from a Canadaian friend of mine I met down there about 3 years ago. He continues to use him as well when he is coming down. The only problem is if there is a conflict with his regular customers being there at the same time.

[LM]

Jthomas2003....see Canadians are always helpful...

[Escort_King]

If he has a van he may be a better deal than the one I got - but this van is nice and new... how it will be in 3 or 4 months of DR weather and roads one never knows....

I will keep in touch and when it gets close we can see what his availability is like.....

check if he has access to a van if possible....

[sicpup71]

i liked driving there only thing was the bright lights blinding me, all road were fine to me no close calls or anything