Colonial Zone Questions

[dulce]

Another option on how to get to the Colonial Zone is to ask at the hotel if any of the staff offer taxi services on their day off. I have done this often. The price is reasonable and they will stay with you and take you anywhere you want to go. They will take you back to JD when you want also. It works out for both parties. You get a personalized service and they get to add income to the small pay they get at the hotel. Plus they will probrably speak good English and take you to the good places for bargains.

[RonS]

Dulce suggests a good option. One of the best things that I did when I first visited the DR was to find a taxi driver that I negotiated a good price with and let him know that I would use him to take me around the city and when I returned to the airport at the end of my visit. The expectation of future employment is a good negotiating tool and I have developed good relationships with some of them over several years and count on them to pick me up at the airport, transport me to and pick me up from some of the sites that aren't within walking distance, and, in some cases, to negotiate sales at Dominican, as opposed to Gringo, prices from merchants.

[jrzyguy]

Originally Posted by RonS

Dulce suggests a good option. One of the best things that I did when I first visited the DR was to find a taxi driver that I negotiated a good price with and let him know that I would use him to take me around the city and when I returned to the airport at the end of my visit. The expectation of future employment is a good negotiating tool and I have developed good relationships with some of them over several years and count on them to pick me up at the airport, transport me to and pick me up from some of the sites that aren't within walking distance, and, in some cases, to negotiate sales at Dominican, as opposed to Gringo, prices from merchants.

Very good advise Ron. I always have the indi spirit and like going it alone on the guaguas. but then i do speak "some" spanish and feel comfortable. (And i am usually on a very strict budget jejeje).

If one has the $$$ to spend tho...most definitely get a guide. You lose money tho...cuz what you save in haggeling you will paying him for gas and lunch etc.

The OP has a couple of months. He should pick up a good english to spanish book and would do fine on a guagua.

I personaly really like the guagua...everyone singing along to the radio etc. I have not ever had one remote problem. As a gringo tho....you just have to know the fare and have the EXACT fare in your hands. Then you have to know how to change the bus on the highway (its easy) and then you have to know where to get off the bus. (again...just ask anyone for parque indepencia).

Just one word tho. One goes thru complete culture shock from going to juan dolio into the city.

you are going to have a BLAST! just be aware in the CZ as in ANY tourist area that there are scammers. You have done well by finding DR1 and getting some really good advise.

[RonS]

I'm like Jrzyguy, I love to travel using the guagua. You get a wonderful exposure to the Dominican people that you don't get in a private taxi. And, its less expensive. But if you're a first time visitor, you may be a bit intimidated, although there really isn't any cause to be. After my first few visits and I adjusted to being in the DR, I quickly learned that the guagua and Caribe Tours Bus/Metro are the way to go.

[karlheinz]

Highly agree with the Guagua's for Boca Chica, Juan Dolio to C.Z. trips, My last trip was in march, trip out was on a large a/c US style bus with video included. It was $RD 80. The trip back was one of the EXPRESS guagua's and the costs was $RD 60 ($RD34 = $US 1.00 or thereabouts) whats not to like?? Get to the Main Highway in Juan Dolio, find the bus stop and take the first EXPRESS to Santo Domingo, some will take you to the Duarte neighborhood and others may take you right to Independence Park at the foot of the zone. Depends on time and traffic from my experience. Ask for the zone and sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. Even from Duarte it's $RD 150 to the zone.

Have fun, mix with the locals, look and see what they are paying if your unsure.

Karlheinz

[Jan]

Feel free to contact me if you want a Gringa to show you around the Zone.