Luggage Theft on Caribe Tour Bus

[el toro]

Hey fellas. My Dominican gym training partner here told me to be very watchful of my luggage at the stops when taking the bus from SD to Sosua. We all know like in many poor countries sometime Dominicans steal.

Has anyone had any issues with having their luggage stolen while riding on Caribe?

[psriches]

I only bring a carry on bag when traveling on Caribe Tours. And if it doesn't fit up top, i sit in the last seat and place my bag on the floor. The attitude in DR is "no importa", so i make my decisions based on that. So i'd never place my bag below the Bus because there's no security or accountability.

[Citynights]

I only bring a carry on bag when traveling on Caribe Tours. And if it doesn't fit up top, i sit in the last seat and place my bag on the floor. The attitude in DR is "no importa", so i make my decisions based on that. So i'd never place my bag below the Bus because there's no security or accountability.

always take the metro.....bags are ticketed...you can only receive a bag with a ticket...the SD to sousa run only stops once at a rest stop, ST, PP, Sousa...:iconTU: just in case step out at the stops always check to see which bags are off loaded....

[natmatt]

Hey fellas. My Dominican gym training partner here told me to be very watchful of my luggage at the stops when taking the bus from SD to Sosua. We all know like in many poor countries sometime Dominicans steal.

Has anyone had any issues with having their luggage stolen while riding on Caribe?

Your training partner is correct. i have a favorite that I keep in contact with that takes the
bus from POP to SD regularly. She put her bags below and got on the bus. When she arrived
in POP, the bag was gone. Apparently, someone either took it after she put it below or one
of the first persons who got off the bus took it. She had to hire a lawyer to get the bus
company to give her some money for her things.

[WSJ3_Sith_Lord]

Hey fellas. My Dominican gym training partner here told me to be very watchful of my luggage at the stops when taking the bus from SD to Sosua. We all know like in many poor countries sometime Dominicans steal.

Has anyone had any issues with having their luggage stolen while riding on Caribe?

I use Caribe Tours all the time and I have never had any problems with anyone stealing my luggage.

Not to say that it couldnt happen but all they would get would be underwear and toothpaste.

[Chief Papi Lindo]

always take the metro.....bags are ticketed...you can only receive a bag with a ticket...the SD to sousa run only stops once at a rest stop, ST, PP, Sousa...:iconTU: just in case step out at the stops always check to see which bags are off loaded....


i was going to take caribe tours next week...i guess ill be on metroooo..thnx for the info!

[Mr. Smooth]

I will also be taking the bus from SD to Sosua next week. I was wondering which one to take. Looks like the Metro would be the better choice. I understand it is a quicker trip (fewer stops than Caribe) and the stop is right there in El Batey.

I saw their schedule from the Metro website that had been posted from a bus thread from sometime back. I see they have an 11:00am departure from SD to Sosua. Is that still current? Has anyone ever been denied a seat due to a soldout bus on that particular run?

I will be going on a Wednesday so I am hoping that there will be seats available.

[Chief Papi Lindo]

I will also be taking the bus from SD to Sosua next week. I was wondering which one to take. Looks like the Metro would be the better choice. I understand it is a quicker trip (fewer stops than Caribe) and the stop is right there in El Batey.

I saw their schedule from the Metro website that had been posted from a bus thread from sometime back. I see they have an 11:00am departure from SD to Sosua. Is that still current? Has anyone ever been denied a seat due to a soldout bus on that particular run?

I will be going on a Wednesday so I am hoping that there will be seats available.

what day?

http://www.metroserviciosturisticos.com/rutas_horarios.html

http://caribetours.com.do/index.php/viajes/get_travel

[Citynights]

I will also be taking the bus from SD to Sosua next week. I was wondering which one to take. Looks like the Metro would be the better choice. I understand it is a quicker trip (fewer stops than Caribe) and the stop is right there in El Batey.

I saw their schedule from the Metro website that had been posted from a bus thread from sometime back. I see they have an 11:00am departure from SD to Sosua. Is that still current? Has anyone ever been denied a seat due to a soldout bus on that particular run?

I will be going on a Wednesday so I am hoping that there will be seats available.

if you have a chance you can buy a ticket ealier...

[ebl1702399]

Hi Guys, I have a question. I will be headed to SD on Thursday, spend the night in Boca Chica (Madejra hotel) then on Friday catch the Metro to Sosua for the weekend (Terra Linda). On Monday I want to catch the Metro back to SD, my flight is leaves at 4:00. What its the latest bus I can catch from Sosua that morning so as to not miss my flight from SD?

[Mr. Smooth]

what day?

http://www.metroserviciosturisticos.com/rutas_horarios.html

http://caribetours.com.do/index.php/viajes/get_travel

March 21st

[jose1234]

Hi Guys, I have a question. I will be headed to SD on Thursday, spend the night in Boca Chica (Madejra hotel) then on Friday catch the Metro to Sosua for the weekend (Terra Linda). On Monday I want to catch the Metro back to SD, my flight is leaves at 4:00. What its the latest bus I can catch from Sosua that morning so as to not miss my flight from SD?

I think if you are taking Metro Bus service from Sosua, there is only one choice and that is at 8am (their web site inidcates they want you to buy your ticked one half hour in advance). You will see the schedule at the bus station located right in town at the Texaco gas station. If you take Caribe Tours back, their buses leave at 20 minutes past every hour. I believe its about a 4.5 hour ride to the Santo Domingo bus station. The taxi ride is about/approximately $40 to $45 from the station to the airport and I don't know the time. I never did this and perhaps someone else can correct me where I am wrong. Cost for Caribe Tours bus is about 330 pesos and 380 pesos for Metro. :iconTU:

[Chief Papi Lindo]

I think if you are taking Metro Bus service from Sosua, there is only one choice and that is at 8am (their web site inidcates they want you to buy your ticked one half hour in advance). You will see the schedule at the bus station located right in town at the Texaco gas station. If you take Caribe Tours back, their buses leave at 20 minutes past every hour. I believe its about a 4.5 hour ride to the Santo Domingo bus station. The taxi ride is about/approximately $40 to $45 from the station to the airport and I don't know the time. I never did this and perhaps someone else can correct me where I am wrong. Cost for Caribe Tours bus is about 330 pesos and 380 pesos for Metro. :iconTU:

there are 3 choices isnt there? unless i am reading it wrong 7, 11 & 4..

[el toro]

I'm taking the bus from SD to Sosua next Saturday (17th) if anyone else happens to be going then.

I like the every hour schedule Caribe offers and it's a cheaper cab ride to Las Americas station.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Appreciate it!

[TNT72]

there are 3 choices isnt there? unless i am reading it wrong 7, 11 & 4..

His flight leaves at 4pm. It takes at least 4 hours on Metro. If he takes the 11, at best he'll arrive at 3. Then has to take a cab to the airport. Can't make it. So, his only option is the 8am bus.

OP, if your not an early riser, either take a look at Carribe, or head to SD on Sunday. I pushed it to the last day this past year. Then overslept. Missed my flight the next day and had to buy another ticket.

[jose1234]

His flight leaves at 4pm. It takes at least 4 hours on Metro. If he takes the 11, at best he'll arrive at 3. Then has to take a cab to the airport. Can't make it. So, his only option is the 8am bus.

OP, if your not an early riser, either take a look at Carribe, or head to SD on Sunday. I pushed it to the last day this past year. Then overslept. Missed my flight the next day and had to buy another ticket.

I dropped off a customer at Metro (next to the Texaco gas station in Sosua) this morning. The office there did not open until 8am and the bus left at 8:20 am. The cost was 380 pesos and no extra charge for a large bag. The 11am bus is too late. Don't forget that the roads are often poor and anything mechanical can break down in this country and often does. Also, the bus could get into an accident. One of the downsides of leaving at 8am is that I believe Rocky's doesn't open for breakfast until 8am.

[dukes1963]

I've done the roundtrip Santo Domingo to Sosua probably 5-6 times on Caribe. I usually try to get a seat by the window on the right side to keep an eye on luggage being offloaded, especially in Santiago. Ive never had any problems, also when putting my luggage in, I usually try to put way in the back of luggage bin so somebody has to climb in if they want my bag.

[El-Rey]

Ive done the trip on Caribe tours a few times and never had any issues. I can see how someone would steal it though but most people Ive seen already have too many bags with them to go steal another.

I duno

[Rubicon]

Having only ridden the Metro from Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo we had a stop in Santiago going and coming. Almost everyone got off the bus if for no other reason than to stretch their legs and grab something to eat/drink. I'd assume someone could get off the bus during the stops and watch to make sure their luggage isn't being removed. Does it not work similarly for Caribe?

[eldorob]

Almost everyone got off the bus if for no other reason than to stretch their legs and grab something to eat/drink. I'd assume someone could get off the bus during the stops and watch to make sure their luggage isn't being removed. Does it not work similarly for Caribe?

Yes, and even if you go for a snack you can usually keep an eye on the bus.

And if you plan to watch from the bus, don't sit right over top the luggage compartments cause the doors slide straight up and block the windows. Best place to watch from the bus is to sit on the right side, directly to the rear of the last luggage door.

Allow me to spice up this boring thread with one of Jimmy's old girlfriends....

http://news.insearchofchicas.org/forum/imagehosting/68164747707ca7cea.jpg

[Jimmydr]

Yes, and even if you go for a snack you can usually keep an eye on the bus.

And if you plan to watch from the bus, don't sit right over top the luggage compartments cause the doors slide straight up and block the windows. Best place to watch from the bus is to sit on the right side, directly to the rear of the last luggage door.

Allow me to spice up this boring thread with one of Jimmy's old girlfriends....

Click to see pic (http://news.insearchofchicas.org/forum/imagehosting/68164747707ca7cea.jpg)

She was fun, way back when.

[el toro]

You guys raised some excellent points on how to best watch over the luggage.

I'm going for 8 days this trip and last year took just a carry on duffle bag for 6 days and paid $200 pesos to housekeeping for wash my clothes a few days in. I'm pretty much packed and going to do the same thing this time. Partially because it seems easier to carry a duffle when on the move and also I really hate giving the airline $50 RT in bag fees.

[MrHappy]

Having only ridden the Metro from Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo we had a stop in Santiago going and coming. Almost everyone got off the bus if for no other reason than to stretch their legs and grab something to eat/drink. I'd assume someone could get off the bus during the stops and watch to make sure their luggage isn't being removed. Does it not work similarly for Caribe?

Yep.. that's how it's done.

[balcoach]

You guys raised some excellent points on how to best watch over the luggage.

I'm going for 8 days this trip and last year took just a carry on duffle bag for 6 days and paid $200 pesos to housekeeping for wash my clothes a few days in. I'm pretty much packed and going to do the same thing this time. Partially because it seems easier to carry a duffle when on the move and also I really hate giving the airline $50 RT in bag fees.

what airline you flying?
most will give you one bag gratis on the international trips?
I have a problem with over packing!!!

[Apos]

Having only ridden the Metro from Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo we had a stop in Santiago going and coming. Almost everyone got off the bus if for no other reason than to stretch their legs and grab something to eat/drink. I'd assume someone could get off the bus during the stops and watch to make sure their luggage isn't being removed. Does it not work similarly for Caribe?


Yep.. that's how it's done.
I took the Metro from Sosua to Santiago SAturday, bought the ticket in advance, 200RD, on Friday and was the only bag for Santiago under the bus.

The bags going to Santiago go in the rearmost compartment and those for SD the front. The bags were not ticketed at lest mine was not. Not sure about SD.

The bus left on time but was delayed behind a political parade, LLego Papa!, and arrived about 20 minutes late. The driver and those waiting to connect were PISSED! :rolleyes:

Not much different than Caribe tours in terms of bus, comfort, etc...but it did seem not as frozen cold compared to Caribe Tours.

I enjoyed the ride. :D