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Planner!

So glad your home and on the mend....Your a real trooper! Love your gutsy attitude too! What an inspiration you are!

RE: earthquake....interesting...Do you have them regularly?

Hope all is well for the isla....

Thanks Glauriel! 

Earthquakes are not uncommon. Dome theorize small ones release pressure without damage so the big ones don't blow.... I am all for that...

Very common here  and don't even think about them anymore. 

Bob K

Love that theory!  Hope its true... In Hawaii we had tremors alot where it would rattle the dishes but maybe it was the same thing just blowing steam...

Wish me well have hotel booked but what a nightmare trying to find good tickets. Guess should have done it other way around...Just found deal on hotel that was going to expire. Didn't know it was such a MAZE to get through for tickets. When I find good price but want to keep looking just in case the first one disappears? Don't get it...Its like a moving target. Going to try going directly to airline sites.

Hope to see ya in a couple of months! Maybe you can wear your dancing shoes again by then!

Glauriel

I am sure to be dancing by then honey!!! IF not look for me in the looney bin.....

We have plenty  of room with us in the looney bin!

Bob K

Wooo hoooo I am coming over.....

If you end up there sure you will be in good company! Maybe you can teach them how to dance!

Hey guys/girls...

How long would it take to go from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata? Having the darnedest time finding affordable tickets to Puerto Plata or Santiago in July.  Getting panicked (almost) someone suggested getting cheaper flight to Santo Domingo and then taking bus up...Seems like crazy long haul for one day but hey can't hurt to ask. We are so looking forward to coming and now this happens. Have petsitter and hotel all set just need affordable tickets. SOOOO frustrating. When I looked in Dec they were around $400 so thats what I expected now...Oh no thats no the case now at all. WOW! Didn't have the cash then or the dates either. If anyone knows if this is a decent option please let me know, thanks!

Glauriel

It is a very long trip, and not necessarily cheap.  Depending on when you arrive you may have to overnight in Santo Domingo as you will miss the last bus.
However if you get in at a reasonable time then you need a cab from the airport to the bus at a cost of about $30 or so.  Also after you land and clear customs  plus get the cab and the ride over it will take you an hour or much more depending on traffic.

Then bus to Puerto Plata is about $10 and assuming you don't have to wait at all for the next bus (not likely so figure 30 min waiting time) it is about 4.5 hours on the bus. 

Then in PP you will need a cab to your hotel so another $25 or so and 20 min or more depending on where it is and traffic.

So total will be 6-7 hours or more and $60 or so.  Then you have to repeat the same process in reverse and if your flight home is before 1pm or so you will have to stay overnight in Santo Domingo. Again adding cost.

If you are not going to fly to Puerto Plata then look at Santiago.,  From here it is a $100-110 cab ride. and a bit over an hour.

Bob K

Thank You Bob,

Most insightful!  is it really that much for a cab from Santiago to Puerto Plata? Thats sounds insane for an hour ride. Is it because of being a traveler or is that normal? Glad I'm asking now and not on the ground there. Trying hard to find a flight into Puerto Plata but only a few seem to go there and they certainly have raised the prices since I was looking in Dec/Jan.  So another question. If we are in Puerto Plata and want to visit Santiago will it also cost $100 or so to do that as well? Guessing yes. Just didn't expect that. Think Puerto Rico is way cheaper for public cars than that or it was -taking them from San Juan to Ponce....Hmmmm, need to recalculate how and where. Anything else you can think of let me know. Appreciate it really I do.

Glauriel

P.S. if travel in the isle is that costly no wonder my friends from there never visited other parts, I had found that confusing guess not anymore.

Yes the normal cab ride is $100 + tip from the airport in Santiago to the resorts in the Puerto Plata/Sosua/Cabarete area. but that is for up to 4 people and luggage so if there are 4 of you it comes to $25  a person.

Fares to POP tend to be higher but still you can find a good fare if you watch and book early.  I am going RT POP to EWR (Newark) next week for $520 US.  AND it is a bit higher because I am starting in POP and not in the US.  Still a pretty good fare.

BObK

And taxi from airport in SD to POP will be about US 200 each way! Count on 4 hours after you clear customs. I can set you up with a good taxi from SD if needed.

She was asking about cab from Santiago. I think she already gave up on the Santo Domingo Flight.

Hope she finds something.

BObK

Just threw it out there.

Guys, you are awesome with your advice...

Its just that I have a set budget set aside for this trip AND will be traveling with a young child....Those two things certainly must factor in.  She wouldn't do well don't think if we are "traveling" for too long. If I was alone that would be different, plus have a set budget. Back in Dec/Jan when saw cheap flights didn't worry cause thought it was standard. Now I'm kicking myself. It would be soooooo disappointing to have delay in order to "pad" the budget for this trip. Am hoping can come up with extra income not needed for the usual expenses to set aside to make this happen. We have been looking forward to this for so long now. On many levels its really needed too. Will keep you posted.

Good luck

Bob K

Bob, may I ask what airline? Also thinking that maybe where your flying from might be an issue. I am leaving from the DC area in Virginia

It is with United POP to EWR and return 10 days later.

Bob K

WOW! Thats cheaper than I'm finding. UNLESS we want to leave at 6am from here and do anywhere from a 19 hr to 24 hour layover in Miami airport...Not! Certainly not feasible with a young child in an airport that not sure of the safety of doing that. Also don't know anyone there to call and visit for that time. Short delay not bad but these extended delay flights are the only ones so far in budget. Very frustrating. Not giving up yet! Have airline alerts coming and also my mom is watching too, she's good at this stuff.

Again look at Santiago. It is only a one hour cab ride.  We have a driver with a new modern van who will meet your plane. Cost is $100 + tip.

Bob K

just a little info on taxis from pop to Puerto plata and taxis from Santiago to Puerto plata.
to get cheaper prices taxis you must schedule ahead before you get to the airport. I arrived at pop, had no phone to make a call for a taxi so had to pay 2000 peso's, about $50, I didn't plan ahead. make sure you have peso's when you arrive. I don't know if there are ATM's at the airport and the exchange rate at the airport is expensive. I now can call marlo who will hook you up with a taxi that will  charge 1000 peso's  ( about $25 )from pop to Puerto plata,  he speaks English, his vocabulary is good but he mumbles, not too clear. his phone # is 809-906-1430. from Santiago to pop he also can get you a taxi for around 2000 peso's ( about $50 ). I would call marlo a few days before arrival, give him time to verify price and schedule for pop and Santiago. hope I've helped, good luck

Actually Michael fares from the airport are posted and adhered to.  So if you paid 2000RD you got taken.  Getting a cab at the airport is simple and fees are set and you do not need pesos but can pay in dollars. IN fact the fares posted on the board are in dollars not in pesos.  You DO NOT need to reserve in advance and you WILL not get a better fare that way. 

Also there is NO PRIVATE cab that will take you from Santiago to Puerto Plata for $2000RD ($46 US). It will cost him that much in gas alone.

Not sure when or how you traveled but your experience is not the norm.

Bob K

Thanks guys...If I may ask what is the norm for a tip? Wouldn't want to tick anyone off... I may consider Santiago again. Its so confusing to keep trying to figure all this out. I get a headache everytime I look for a ticket online...Makes my head spin. But keep looking for that magic flight to appear. The other option is that I generate some extra income really soon that can afford two of the $800 tickets...(the thought makes me choke) but we so do want to come. I laugh now when I remember how I thought my budget was going to be enough for 4 tickets if we ended up needing them! Ha! What did I know? Not much back then obviously. Live and learn. Also out of curiosity what is the going rate for gas? its currently about $3.39 here right now. Tomorrow that could change again. Bob may be inquiring about your friend as things get closer and are confirmed. Know July is going to be hot. Think the summer here though will prob be a good warm up for that. VA summers remind me of the ones we had in Texas where you laid in bed and all you could do was sweat! PR well you just got used to being that way all the time except for the "winters".

hi bob, you are right about airport taxi rates being posted in dollars I forgot about that and I did pay $45 as posted. I was tired and gave the driver 2000 pesos and was happy about it. but, I was there and left may 13th this year and I did get a driver that took me to pop from costambar for 1000 pesos. can't see any reason that the price wouldn't be the same from pop to costambar. another driver who I forgot about in my last post will also do the trip for 1000 pesos. of course they both started asking 2000. all you have to do is tell them you have another driver that will do the trip for 1000 pesos

Glaureil
Gas currently is $5.80 a gallon for regular. Let me know about the cab guy. He does the Santiago run all the time and we as well as our friends and clients use him all the time.  He speaks perfect English as well.
July is HOT here and always the chance of an afternoon shower but certainly not every day.

Keep us posted

Bob K

Forgot, Tip for a cab is usally 10%  max and in the cities tips are not the norm for cabs.  IN tourist areas ... yes

Bob K

We don't normally tip cabs here. Most are owner operated!

Change of subject -   my day yesterday.

It was an adventure.  Friends took me shopping. I am on crutches and not getting around very well so getting to a grocery store is a bit challenging.  They came and got me, loaded me up and off we went.  It almost didn't happen as we had some rain in the morning - just enough to wet everything down. Crutches + tile floor + water = disaster.

It dried up and off we went to Nacional. Guess what they gave me a motorized scooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh hoooooooo.  Yup i am a maniac. Almost took out a couple of displays. Hahahahaha

They were awesome, people were helpful and I got out of there without taking any lives, but just about had a 4 year old trying to hop on with me.

thanks to my friends for their help, they schlepped my bags in and helped put away too!!!! 

And last night I was exhausted by just that............and hopping around on crutches all day.  I am getting better...........

TODAY  -  Tricom made a service call for a small problem I reported. No biggie but hey sunday service call!!!!!  Almost 2 hours later we are not quite resolved.........guess it was more then I thought...... But I am still impressed!

Glad you are getting out and about.  A couple years ago after a bad bicycle vs SUV accident (I was the bicycle) I was wheel chair bound for a few months and then crutches for 3 more months the a cane for 10 months. During that whole time is was unbelievably impressed by the help offered by the local Dominicans.  Pat NEVER had to load or unload the wheel chair and rarely in town had to push me down the streets. In the stores or banks when in the chair, crutches, or can NEVER waited on line always was ushered to the front.   There was always some there to help and NO ONE would take any money from here... amazing  One time in the bank the manager told the guy at the front of the line to let me go first (on crutches at the time) he said no.  So she went up and closed that tellers window, opened the next window over and asked me to come up. It was pretty funny.

So I understand how you are being treated.  Hope you are on the mend.  You need some good health karma.

Bob K

Yes it is truly amazing to me how kind people are!!!!!  they do it because they want to! not for any other reason. 

And thanks for the karma.  I am thinking this is the last thing............LOL

Wow! Planner what an amazing tale of true goodness in people...it is wonderful to hear! Really touches my heart to here you are so well treated. And you too Bob! Don't think you'd find that here or it wouldn't be the norm anyway. Impressive!

Bob, thanks for the info. It is appreciated..

Glauriel

You are welcome. 

And no I think there is a bit more of willing to help here than elsewhere.

Bob K

This culture is about community and family. They take care of their own. I am grateful I am part of that.

I think of DR as my home, not.just where I live.

Planner you are right if it is "somewhere you live' then you are not part of the DR., just passing through.

Bob K

Planner you are right if it is "somewhere you live' then you are not part of the DR., just passing through.

In fact on the rare occasion that I go back to the US  that is just it I am going back to the US for  a visit.  When on the plane retuning to the DR I am "going home"

Bob K

Hey there...Don't you have a birthday coming up or did I miss it? Still hippity-hopping? Are you still coming on the 22 or is that on hold?  Will talk soon...love

Still hopping for 11 more.days. Yes my birthday.is Wednesday.

As of.Wednesday NO more bad luck, viruses, nasty mosquitoes, or falls!!!!

22nd is under discussion, I will keep you posted.....

From the north coast.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bob K