Puerto Plata

[Marc Anthony]

Hmmm. At first, my main concern was of the car getting broken into while I was at the beach, and dealing with the hassle of insurance claims. Of course, I would never rent the car while in a metro area, like San Jose CR or Santo Domingo. That's crazy. But I have rented cars in Mexico (Cabos) and Costa Rica whenever I was on the coast, and have never had problems. I just make sure to drive only in the daytime, and very very conservatively. I always make sure that I am covered with insurance, both collision and liability. I'll be driving to the beach and back to whatever hotel / resort. Going to party at night, we would probably take a cab anyway, even with the rental car.

This is only my second time to the DR. I suppose someone who has been there many times and knows the "system" can manage. But if I am basically driving to and from the airport, and along the main coastal road, is it really that big a risk? Is it a type of thing where you have heard some horror stories, etc. Or is it a truly common thing for tourists to get in trouble with their cars along the coast? Are police officers routinely actively trying to screw tourists, like in some parts of Mexico?

Http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ngerous-roads/

The DR is THE most dangerous country for highway fatalities on the planet currently. A drunk moto concho runs into you while you are standing still, you go to jail until they sort things out. In jail you and several dozen new close friends and a bucket share a small cell.

Lot's of guys report driving all the time with no problems but don't go into it thinking the biggest problem is getting the car broken into at the beach. Yes the police routinely try to squeeze bribes but if you have an accident everybody will line up to share the jackpot.

Read some of the reports about driving accident adventures so you are properly paranoid and not doing it without a clue about the risks.

Notice from the map in the Washington Post story that Mexico and Costa Rica aren't in the same league.

[Mr Gogo]

Ok, I'll let report on how the rental went. Hopefully it goes fine.

BTW, if anyone else is thinking about it, I got my rental at Alamo at STI, with liability insurance included, for less than $30 / day. Splitting it with my buddy, that's $15 / day each. That was just too cheap to pass up. I'll do my best not to end up in jail!

I rent a car from Alamo 70 percent of the time in the DR, and its no problem. Make sure you check the spare and don't rent one of those cheap cars that looks like an egg. The cops know cheap gringos rent those. If you get pulled just play "dumb gringo" and they will get frustrated and move on. I've been reading your posts and you seem like a defensive driver. Watch for motochonchos turning left in front of you from the right shoulder lane. Slow down when you see kids playing near the street and be prepared if that kid does some stupid shit. The open roads are cool to roll. Don't give cops the "I hope he doesn't fuck with me " look.

If something does happen involving a person its best to take him to the clinic and pay him off. If he goes to the hospital the police will get involved. Don't drive on the north coast at night. It has many roads there that are deserted and very lonely should you have an emergency. Pot holes will pop up out of nowhere at night. SD has more traffic and people and more safe to me at night. But trolling the streets of SD now has become risky because of the new law.

The secret is that you can meet some nice girls on the side of the road needing a ride. If they are going to work trade numbers and hook something up for later. Some might be up for a quickie at the cabana to make money that would take them two weeks of work on their low paying job. You seem like a mellow dude so you will have a ball. Don't be one of those ass holes that goes to the DR to play tough and disrespect the people and the culture. There is to much value in going with the flow than going against it.

[Manny51]

you can get from sosua to costambar with high speed public taxis for the cost of half a gallon of gasoline. for double the price you can have two seats. tourist taxis are expensive. possibly they are affiliated with the taxi mafiosi in the us.

i think it is ok to drive a rental car, but try to look like a businessman, not a monger and you will get less hassle. do not drink and drive under any circumstances.

ok, i'll let report on how the rental went. hopefully it goes fine.

btw, if anyone else is thinking about it, i got my rental at alamo at sti, with liability insurance included, for less than $30 / day. splitting it with my buddy, that's $15 / day each. that was just too cheap to pass up. i'll do my best not to end up in jail!

[OldKool]

i do not rent in the dr. i am sure most times it is very safe. however the potential for desaster is just not worth it for me. when i go to the north coast i stay in sosua. no car needed. when i am in sd i use cabs. the one time you hit something with a rental car you are in a panic which you have no control over. i keep things simple and max my fun.

you can get from sosua to costambar with high speed public taxis for the cost of half a gallon of gasoline. for double the price you can have two seats. tourist taxis are expensive. possibly they are affiliated with the taxi mafiosi in the us.

i think it is ok to drive a rental car, but try to look like a businessman, not a monger and you will get less hassle. do not drink and drive under any circumstances.

[Frannie]

what's with the attitude? i was asking manizales for his personal opinion, as he has been to the dr over 40+ times. no one is talking to you, so keep your attitude to yourself.

i like the freedom of coming and going when i please. i have read the forums. it seems that a taxis are controlled by the taxi mafia, charging something like $40 for a ride from sosua to costambar. i am paying $115 for a car for four days. and having a car lets me fly into santiago, which is much cheaper. you basically get the car for free. from an economic standpoint, its the smart move.

you can get from sosua to costambar with high speed public taxis for the cost of half a gallon of gasoline. for double the price you can have two seats. tourist taxis are expensive. possibly they are affiliated with the taxi mafiosi in the us.

i think it is ok to drive a rental car, but try to look like a businessman, not a monger and you will get less hassle. do not drink and drive under any circumstances.

[Manny51]

I refuse to rent a car in the DR because I won't take the risk however remote of getting into an accident and going to jail because someone gets hurt. When I was at FOD I talked to a guy who visits the DR frequently and he has not once, but twice hit moto driverswhile driving a rental car, fuck that. There have been numerous reports of guys going to jail due to accidents over the years. I can afford other means of transportation. I look at it this way. 99% of the locals don't have cars and they get around the island, right?

Economically speaking it may make sense to some people that have gotten screwed over by the thieving taxistas but I have the numbers of three taxi drivers who are as reasonable as it gets on the north coast. I have also somewhat learned to use the publicos, I still need to learn more about their routes though. I only use motoconchos on secondary roads and for short trips only, I hate getting on them but I do it.

Hmmm. At first, my main concern was of the car getting broken into while I was at the beach, and dealing with the hassle of insurance claims. Of course, I would never rent the car while in a metro area, like San Jose CR or Santo Domingo. That's crazy. But I have rented cars in Mexico (Cabos) and Costa Rica whenever I was on the coast, and have never had problems. I just make sure to drive only in the daytime, and very very conservatively. I always make sure that I am covered with insurance, both collision and liability. I'll be driving to the beach and back to whatever hotel / resort. Going to party at night, we would probably take a cab anyway, even with the rental car.

This is only my second time to the DR. I suppose someone who has been there many times and knows the "system" can manage. But if I am basically driving to and from the airport, and along the main coastal road, is it really that big a risk? Is it a type of thing where you have heard some horror stories, etc. Or is it a truly common thing for tourists to get in trouble with their cars along the coast? Are police officers routinely actively trying to screw tourists, like in some parts of Mexico?

[Manizales911]

That is why I commented on your saying "accidents are not my main concern". They should be. Easier to replace your billfold than your legs.

I couldn't agree with you more Charles. While on my last trip I saw what looked like a fatal accident on my way to Maimon for a seafood lunch, a car and one of those trucks that they use for hauling produce, it wasn't pretty. Those sights solidify my beliefs, but to each their own.

[Manizales911]

Thanks Manizales! Looking forward to your report.

One quick question though, as I am finalizing my plans. I am thinking strongly of renting a car. I went to be able to go the 27 waterfalls, and kiteboarding / surfing when I want. I will base in either FOD or Oxygen.

I see that you have been there many times. Do you think that renting a car is a good idea? The local taxi fares seem pricey, something like $44 just to check out BB. Splitting it with a friend of mine, by my calculation, a rental car would be a great deal. Is there something that I am missing?

My main concern is vandalism and theft, not accidents. I would only drive on the main coastal road and have no intention of going inland. Do cars get vandalized or broken into left and right?

Also, my trip will coincide with the Merengue festival in SD. Have you been there before, and it is the festival worth it? Its weird, everything I read about the festival said it is over 2 weeks long, but this year, it is only 2 days long. It seems that it might be dying.

Thanks in advance!

I refuse to rent a car in the DR because I won't take the risk however remote of getting into an accident and going to jail because someone gets hurt. When I was at FOD I talked to a guy who visits the DR frequently and he has not once, but twice hit moto driverswhile driving a rental car, fuck that. There have been numerous reports of guys going to jail due to accidents over the years. I can afford other means of transportation. I look at it this way. 99% of the locals don't have cars and they get around the island, right?

Economically speaking it may make sense to some people that have gotten screwed over by the thieving taxistas but I have the numbers of three taxi drivers who are as reasonable as it gets on the north coast. I have also somewhat learned to use the publicos, I still need to learn more about their routes though. I only use motoconchos on secondary roads and for short trips only, I hate getting on them but I do it.

[Charles Pooter]

Fatal accidents are extremely common, forty times as frequent per driver mile as in the UK.

Sorry, that was an exaggeration. I should have written "forty times as frequent per vehicle occupant mile" (reflecting the fact that vehicles in the DR would carry a lot more occupants on average). And of course the other main reason for so many deaths is the extreme unlikelihood of expert medical attention arriving promptly at the scene and the low level of expertise and equipment in all but a handful of private hospitals in the two main cities. However mangled someone is in a UK or US accident their lives will normally be saved, but in the DR you could be left to bleed to death for something comparatively minor.

That is why I commented on your saying "accidents are not my main concern". They should be. Easier to replace your billfold than your legs.

[Charles Pooter]

What's with the attitude? I was asking Manizales for his personal opinion, as he has been to the DR over 40+ times. No one is talking to you, so keep your attitude to yourself.

Manizales is indeed a knowledgeable and balanced poster whose opinion you rightly value, but anything posted on the open board is fair game for anyone to stick their oar in. If your question was only for Manizales' eyes you should have sent him a PM. But it is better to post on the open board so all can benefit on those occasions something new and useful is posted.

I like the freedom of coming and going when I please. I HAVE read the forums. It seems that a taxis are controlled by the taxi mafia, charging something like $40 for a ride from Sosua to Costambar. I am paying $115 for a car for four days. And having a car lets me fly into Santiago, which is much cheaper. You basically get the car for free. From an economic standpoint, its the smart move.

You make out a good case, but you should be aware of the downsides. Fatal accidents are extremely common, forty times as frequent per driver mile as in the UK. And there are many scams practiced on gringo drivers by police and others. You should make sure you have access to the Casa del Conductor service included in your insurance. This will insure that if do have the misfortune to be involved in an accident where someone is injured (or fraudulently claims to be injured) you will be taken to a sort of cheap hotel with access to a phone, food, and medical attention if needed, instead of being thrown into some fetid shithole with a dozen naked hoodlums for three or more weeks while the police, the lawyers and any real or invented witnesses squabble about how much they will screw out of you and how to divide it up.

You seem to have already made up your mind without the benefit of Manizales' wise advice, so I will just wish you "Happy Motoring!"

[Manny51]

Why? Are you some sort of Teflon superhero?

There are plenty of posts here on the advantages and disadvantages of renting a car. Read them, and be aware of the issues before you decide.

But if you are just going to motor up and down the main road that eliminates one of the commonly cited reasons to renting a car, the ability to get off the beaten track. You can do that without needing private taxis, though I am surprised cost is an issue if you can afford Oxygen

What's with the attitude? I was asking Manizales for his personal opinion, as he has been to the DR over 40+ times. No one is talking to you, so keep your attitude to yourself.

I like the freedom of coming and going when I please. I HAVE read the forums. It seems that a taxis are controlled by the taxi mafia, charging something like $40 for a ride from Sosua to Costambar. I am paying $115 for a car for four days. And having a car lets me fly into Santiago, which is much cheaper. You basically get the car for free. From an economic standpoint, its the smart move.

[Charles Pooter]

My main concern is vandalism and theft, not accidents.

Why? Are you some sort of Teflon superhero?

There are plenty of posts here on the advantages and disadvantages of renting a car. Read them, and be aware of the issues before you decide.

But if you are just going to motor up and down the main road that eliminates one of the commonly cited reasons to renting a car, the ability to get off the beaten track. You can do that without needing private taxis, though I am surprised cost is an issue if you can afford Oxygen

[Manny51]

I spent six days there recently and have not posted a report yet, I have been too busy. The reason for the conflicting reports is that the liveliness of the resort literally changes hour by hour. They get a TON of transient traffic through there, both locals and tourists, so it can go from dead to jumping in no time, I was amazed. Also, this time of the year is low season for the entire island and FOD will be booked solid one day and near empty another. When I was there there were several days that they were almost full and several days when they only had a few rooms booked but even when there were only a few guys staying there there were times when the bar was packed.

There was always at least 15-20 girls there, always. I booked my stay there with intentions of using FOD simply as a home base but I ended up spending more time than I had planned to because I had such a good time. I have been to the DR at least 25 times and this trip ranked right near the top.

WTF.

Thanks Manizales! Looking forward to your report.

One quick question though, as I am finalizing my plans. I am thinking strongly of renting a car. I went to be able to go the 27 waterfalls, and kiteboarding / surfing when I want. I will base in either FOD or Oxygen.

I see that you have been there many times. Do you think that renting a car is a good idea? The local taxi fares seem pricey, something like $44 just to check out BB. Splitting it with a friend of mine, by my calculation, a rental car would be a great deal. Is there something that I am missing?

My main concern is vandalism and theft, not accidents. I would only drive on the main coastal road and have no intention of going inland. Do cars get vandalized or broken into left and right?

Also, my trip will coincide with the Merengue festival in SD. Have you been there before, and it is the festival worth it? Its weird, everything I read about the festival said it is over 2 weeks long, but this year, it is only 2 days long. It seems that it might be dying.

Thanks in advance!

[Manizales911]

hi guys,

going to be in northern coast dr at the end of the month. thinking about visiting fod.

i've been seeing a real mix in the reports. some say its great, others say its dead. has anyone been able to figure out any pattern to it? for example, is hopping on friday and sat night, but dead mon-th?

i spent six days there recently and have not posted a report yet, i have been too busy. the reason for the conflicting reports is that the liveliness of the resort literally changes hour by hour. they get a ton of transient traffic through there, both locals and tourists, so it can go from dead to jumping in no time, i was amazed. also, this time of the year is low season for the entire island and fod will be booked solid one day and near empty another. when i was there there were several days that they were almost full and several days when they only had a few rooms booked but even when there were only a few guys staying there there were times when the bar was packed.

there was always at least 15-20 girls there, always. there have been reports of only a handful of girls being there, you have to look around, there will be pockets of girls sitting at various spots around the resort. also, keep in mind if the bar is dead some of the girls might be in the back where some of them live and also sitting outside of the bar area. the other thing to keep in mind is that the girls come in three shifts versus two shifts at bb's so the inventory changes all day long. i strongly dispute the reports that the pickings were slim or that the quality was suspect, that is simply not true. i have been to the north coast many many times and have stayed at both bb's and fod as well as in sosua and the quality in my opinion is definitely better than bb's.

i booked my stay there with intentions of using fod simply as a home base but i ended up spending more time than i had planned to because i had such a good time. i tend to create my own party atmosphere anyway but the staff was real cool peeps and me and my wingman just had a blast staying there. i have been to the dr at least 25 times and this trip ranked right near the top.

i will post a long assed report including some photos for guys to judge for themselves, just don't know when.

any senior members that need specific info don't hesitate to pm me. i'm not trying to be an a-hole but i constantly get pm's from guys with zero or one report and it's like wtf.

[Manny51]

Hi guys,

Going to be in northern coast DR at the end of the month. Thinking about visiting FOD.

I've been seeing a real mix in the reports. Some say its great, others say its dead. Has anyone been able to figure out any pattern to it? For example, is hopping on Friday and Sat night, but dead Mon-Th?