Santo Domingo

[QUOTE=RobbyBurns;1918181]I would like to avoid the "rip-off" taxi fares from the airport to the main bus terminal in central Santo Domingo, so that is why I am inquiring about a bus from the airport to the main bus terminal.

Any help--or suggestions--will be greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]That I know of, there are no"main" bus terminal. Parque Independencia and Parque Enriquillo are the two major terminus. These are the places that are connected by "buses" that go to airport but finding such a bus is going to be a challenge if you are new and strapped for time. Transportation from SDQ to the city has been an subject of much discussion on this forum.

Caribe or Metro, bus lines traveling to Santiago and north have their own terminus. And hence finding a bus to those locations is unlikely unless you are familiar with the territory and willing to change buses as well.

People have spoken of taking Uber but we have read of taxi drivers protesting against Uber and so the latest status is unknown. In operations research it is said, you can either optimize time or optimize expenses but not both. My personal thought given your constraints of time, is to take a cab. The fare should be negotiable and others might be able to give you an up to date amount.

[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1918453]That I know of, there are no"main" bus terminal. Parque Independencia and Parque Enriquillo are the two major terminus. These are the places that are connected by "buses" that go to airport but finding such a bus is going to be a challenge if you are new and strapped for time. Transportation from SDQ to the city has been an subject of much discussion on this forum.

Caribe or Metro, bus lines traveling to Santiago and north have their own terminus. And hence finding a bus to those locations is unlikely unless you are familiar with the territory and willing to change buses as well.

People have spoken of taking Uber but we have read of taxi drivers protesting against Uber and so the latest status is unknown. In operations research it is said, you can either optimize time or optimize expenses but not both. My personal thought given your constraints of time, is to take a cab. The fare should be negotiable and others might be able to give you an up to date amount.[/QUOTE]I would just take the plane to Santiago. The three additional hours will soon pass and you can take something along to amuse yourself. I have flown from Florida to Newark to Santiago to get a cheaper fare. It was not too bad. You are going to spend the whole day traveling anyway.

[QUOTE=RobbyBurns;1918181]The reason I ask is because I then want to take a bus up to Santiago. The "direct" flights from my city to Santiago have to first go through JFK in NY, and that is going in the opposite direction from where I live. It will take 10 1/2 hours of "airplane time" (including layovers) if go through JFK.

If I fly to Santo Domingo and I can make the bus connections, I can get to Santiago in only 7 1/2 hours.

I would like to avoid the "rip-off" taxi fares from the airport to the main bus terminal in central Santo Domingo, so that is why I am inquiring about a bus from the airport to the main bus terminal.

Any help--or suggestions--will be greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]You could try to share a taxi with somebody on your flight.

Uber is your friend.

[QUOTE=RobbyBurns;1918181]The reason I ask is because I then want to take a bus up to Santiago. The "direct" flights from my city to Santiago have to first go through JFK in NY, and that is going in the opposite direction from where I live. It will take 10 1/2 hours of "airplane time" (including layovers) if go through JFK.

If I fly to Santo Domingo and I can make the bus connections, I can get to Santiago in only 7 1/2 hours.

I would like to avoid the "rip-off" taxi fares from the airport to the main bus terminal in central Santo Domingo, so that is why I am inquiring about a bus from the airport to the main bus terminal.

Any help--or suggestions--will be greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Frannie;1918549]I would just take the plane to Santiago. The three additional hours will soon pass and you can take something along to amuse yourself. I have flown from Florida to Newark to Santiago to get a cheaper fare. It was not too bad. You are going to spend the whole day traveling anyway.[/QUOTE]I should have added the point that by the time you land at SDQ and arrive on the bus at Santiago, you will probably have used up most if not all of the three hours you saved yourself from sitting in the airport in NY, so the time savings will be minimal.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1918549]I would just take the plane to Santiago. The three additional hours will soon pass and you can take something along to amuse yourself. I have flown from Florida to Newark to Santiago to get a cheaper fare. It was not too bad. You are going to spend the whole day traveling anyway.[/QUOTE]Hey Frannie,

Thanks for your advice. (And thanks to the others who answered my question, too.) That sure is a roundabout way to get to Santiago. I am amazed that you saved money by doing that. I hope you saved at least $200.

The only way to get to Santiago by plane (on the same airline) from my city is to fly up to JFK. Another way is to split the airlines, such as Jet Blue and Spirit or Allegiant and Spirit. But the Spirit flight arrives in Santiago at 1:54 am.

Am I really doing all this just to meet a gorgeous young woman I met on Latina Cupida? LOL.

It is not that hard to do from SD. The flights can be $ 200 less then POP. You can get to SD by 3 pm. There is a publico that leaves from terminal on the 2nd level. 100 pesos will get you to center city SD. 250 pesos will get you to carib tours which runs to STI every hour. You should be in STI by 7 pm. Another good option is spend the night in SD. Pickiup a girl or meet someone you already know. Having a date in SD is a fun time. You can take in a movie stroll the mall with your sweetie.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1918588]I should have added the point that by the time you land at SDQ and arrive on the bus at Santiago, you will probably have used up most if not all of the three hours you saved yourself from sitting in the airport in NY, so the time savings will be minimal.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Prtyr2;1917924]Crowne Plaza is the hotel closest to ground zero in santo domingo mongering. Literally half a block away you have 3-4 choices.[/QUOTE]Santo Domingo gets better every year.

[QUOTE=RobbyBurns;1918833]Am I really doing all this just to meet a gorgeous young woman I met on Latina Cupida? LOL.[/QUOTE]I damn sure hope not. Because the chances of her showing up are probably slim. Don't end up like this guy: [url]http://mashable.com/2016/08/02/dutch-man-waits-girlfriend-10-days-chinese-airport/[/url]

I have had only one no show in 6 years and I think we got our signals crossed. My cupid hookups have all been excellent great sex and GFE. A little bait makes it happen like clock work. Find out what she wants perfume a cheap phone will bring them running. Most of the girls are not hard core and will treat you with great affection. Invest a little time on whatap or slkype and you will have a anxious willing lady ready to bang your brains out.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1919332]I damn sure hope not. Because the chances of her showing up are probably slim. Don't end up like this guy: [url]http://mashable.com/2016/08/02/dutch-man-waits-girlfriend-10-days-chinese-airport/[/url][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=RobbyBurns;1918833]Hey Frannie,

Thanks for your advice. (And thanks to the others who answered my question, too.) That sure is a roundabout way to get to Santiago. I am amazed that you saved money by doing that. I hope you saved at least $200.

The only way to get to Santiago by plane (on the same airline) from my city is to fly up to JFK. Another way is to split the airlines, such as Jet Blue and Spirit or Allegiant and Spirit. But the Spirit flight arrives in Santiago at 1:54 am.

Am I really doing all this just to meet a gorgeous young woman I met on Latina Cupida? LOL.[/QUOTE]It is only a couple of hours from North FL to NY. It is not like crossing the Atlantic.

[QUOTE=OldKool;1919312]It is not that hard to do from SD. The flights can be $ 200 less then POP. You can get to SD by 3 pm. There is a publico that leaves from terminal on the 2nd level. 100 pesos will get you to center city SD. 250 pesos will get you to carib tours which runs to STI every hour. You should be in STI by 7 pm. Another good option is spend the night in SD. Pickiup a girl or meet someone you already know. Having a date in SD is a fun time. You can take in a movie stroll the mall with your sweetie.[/QUOTE]Yes, but not $200 less than STI. And 4 hours to get to STI negates the three hours saved by flying to SDQ.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1918549]I have flown from Florida to Newark to Santiago to get a cheaper fare. It was not too bad. You are going to spend the whole day traveling anyway.[/QUOTE]Man, that is doing waaay too much. Time is money as well!

It's a two hour drive from the Santo Domingo airport, rental cars are $30 to $50/ day.

[QUOTE=OldKool;1919312]It is not that hard to do from SD. The flights can be $ 200 less then POP. You can get to SD by 3 pm. There is a publico that leaves from terminal on the 2nd level. 100 pesos will get you to center city SD. 250 pesos will get you to carib tours which runs to STI every hour. You should be in STI by 7 pm. Another good option is spend the night in SD. Pickiup a girl or meet someone you already know. Having a date in SD is a fun time. You can take in a movie stroll the mall with your sweetie.[/QUOTE]

During my recent visit to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana I used the facilities of Hotel Palacio and Hotel BQ. Palacio is located in zona colonial, BQ is located in Bella Vista area. These hotels are not budget hotels so if you are looking for a budget hotel you have to go to other place. Both hotels have good wi fi but BQ has the best wi fi I have ever used in the Dominican Republic. Both hotels are multiple guest friendly without additional charge. BQ has an excellent buffet breakfast, varied and delicious. They have 24 HR. Room service. The minibar is expensive. My room in tower 2 was nice, with ice cold air conditioner, the way I like it. The hotel was fully booked during my stay, July 22 to 25. They have a rooftop pool and club, the pool party on Sunday pm Was nice. This was my first visit to BQ and second to Palacio.

From now on BQ is going to be my first choice in Santo Domingo. The area around the hotel is very nice, they have several restaurants nearby, a nice supermarket almost in front of the hotel and a small mall with a food court and movie theathers only a couple of blocks away. You can see street girls along the Sarasota Avenue by night, mostly from hotel Embajador to the corner where Chilis and Tratorria Pizzarelli are located. Some girls were pretty but I do not tried any of them. There were a lot of street girls from Catalonia hotel (former Hilton) to Dollhouse.