Colonial Zone Questions

abberboo · #1 04-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am going to the DR Saturday. I have a few questions, I definetely want to go to the Colonial Zone. I am staying in Juan Dolio. Should I plan that the Colonial Zone be a day trip and spend all day there? Also, when I take a cab from Juan Dolio, I guess in reference to Santo Domingo, is the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo, or north, west east or south of it? Sorry for the dumb question this is my first time visiting for a week. I have seen/read that its going to be about $30-$40 us from Juan Dolio to Santo Domingo will it be around that same amount and also are cab rates in the DR priced per cab or per person?

Thx!!!

Skippy1 · #2 04-09-2008, 08:44 PM

Ok Colonial Zone would take you about 1 hour to walk around but if you intend looking at the various musems about half a day. Watch out for the many money changers and tourist guides who will divert you into their buddies shops as they get commision. Be firm but polite and they will leave you alone....if thats what you want that is?
A cab well not sure where are coming from (Country that is) but the cabs here are very different ......private taxi or public car.
PC are cheaper but you risk life and limb not to mention all your possesions. Priced per person.

PT they have to be called mostly the hotel can do this for you. They are much better but still make sure you get the price agreed before you start the journey. Priced for the cab normally but not always????
Coming back is not so bad as there are many Taxi's available. Advice try not to go alone anywhere and do not be side tracked down an alley way on your own.
Stick with the crowds and you will be ok.
Price seems a bit high to me but like I said get the price agreed before you go anywhere. You can get a bus to Punta Cana ...4 hour journey .....for less than 10 dollars so dont be taking the first price...haggle.

This goes for any trinkets you want to buy......dont be surprised if you see the same thing you haggled for and got half price somewhere else for half that price.....get the picture????

Skippy!

Matilda · #3 04-09-2008, 10:13 PM

10$ to Punta Cana from Juan Dolio - I think not!!!! If you are feeling brave get the bus to the Colonial Zone for 70RD$. It takes about an hour and you can get it from anywhere on the main highway. Ask the bus driver for the Zona Colonial and he will take you there. It is best to get a guide when you are there and they wil approach you. Make sure you see the cathedral and the museum, maybe the amber museum too, and then walk down El Conde the shopping street. When you are ready to leave ask for Metro, Juan Dolio and the taxi will take you to the Juan Dolio bus station. Once on the bust ask them for your hotel (if Costa Caribe, Talanquera) and they will drop you at the motorway entrance to hotel or if Capella ask for Metro Juan Dolio or if Albatros ask for El Tanque Juan Dolio. The latter two you can get motorconcho to your hotel. If you need more instructions just pm me when you get here.

Matilda

Skippy1 · #4 04-09-2008, 10:22 PM

Made the trip Santo Domingo to Punta Cana Occidental Grand flamenco 2 months ago by bus cost 320 pesos each. current exchange rate is roughly 10 dollars US...but if you know different who am I to argue.

Can,t believe you are recommending to use a motoconcho do you really think they are safe??

Skippy1

jrzyguy · #5 04-10-2008, 02:50 AM

i've taken the guagua from boca chica (a little closer than juan dolio) many times. It usually runs about 40 pesos. very clean and good air. rather than ask for zona colonial tho i ask for parque indepencia (sp?). you are let off a block from el conde (the main strip)

I Have always felt safe in the Zona. But a word to the wise...wear long pants and try not to look like a typical tourist.

Definitely check out the cathedral and fort ozama (but decline a guided tour).

The only trick to taking the guagua (bus) is that you have to change the bus on the highway. And just find out the exact fare B4. its really not that hard and it is kinda fun.

If you plan on making a night of it...then arranging for a taxi back might be a good idea. Just have your hotel give you someone to call.

As a solo traveler i have never had any problems in the Zona. But it is always good to keep a look around just to be on the safe side.

johne · #6 04-10-2008, 06:03 AM

Yor're staying at the Embassy Suites according to your prior posts. The cab to SD is very expensive. If you don't mind a min. of $100 round trip OK. If not use the public transit but take some precautions as you would in ANY city with a lot of people.There is a shuttle bus at Embassy that will take you to the main gate/hyway for no charge.
Make it a 3/4 day trip with public transit and you'll be fine and have a lot of fun.Travel after and before commuter's traffic just like in ANY other big city.

Cell phone and camera inside your bag. Small change in pesos available in your pocket. No large sum of money. The room safe is free. Use it. Passport in safe.Long pants. No Hawaian lays. No white sun block on your nose-blend it in. Leave the cowboy hat at the hotel and wear ball caps. Either NYY or Mets. Don't take a picture of the lady carrying a chicken on the bus. If you don't know the words to the songs there're singing don't sing. Go to both cafes on both ends of El Conde. Lemon ade in Paco's and Capuccino in the one in front of the park. (name escapes me).Pizza in between.
If you don't speak Spanish and get lost here are the key words/meta tags you need in English.
1) Gua-Gua
2) Boca Chica
3) Juan Dolio
4) Public(o)
5) Tourist Police(stand in front of park where you'll have your Capuccino)

A half of block from this park is a new (what is the name of the chain folks?) that is American. Never have been in there but I'm sure they have heard all of your questions for direction many times before.
Good luck
john

BTW-are you bringing your laptop? (your PM to me)

RonS · #7 04-10-2008, 06:59 AM

Ditto on all the previous posts. You may want to book into one of the less expensive hotels in the Colonial Zone for a night, a day trip will only leave you wanting more. Here is a great website, Complete Guide to the Colonial Zone, with all kinds of info. Enjoy!

The Complete Guide to Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Tourist Information, Restaurants, Night Life, Hotels, History, Monuments, Maps, Music, Businesses, Folklore, Calendar, Language and So Much More.

drmc · #8 04-10-2008, 10:40 AM

the previous posts are very accurate in their advice about the Col. Zone ...I would second the reccomendation about getting dropped off in the Parque de Independencia ...then you can see that and start out on Calle Conde, browse the shops on that street and end up (just by walking to the end of the street) at the cathedral. If you can get a basic map you will easily be able to find the Panteon (gaurded flame), museums, sun dial, and fort Ozama ...those are all within very close walking distance and could easily be done in an afternoon. I think the fort costs 30 pesos, while everything else I mentioned has no admission costs. Unless you are interested in thurough explanations of everything you are seeing and someone to answer all of your questions, I would not recommend a guide. But, I am the kind of person who prefers to wander around and see things on my own without being on someone elses time (and money). Its just a matter of personal preference.

abberboo · #9 04-10-2008, 12:01 PM

Thanks everyone for the info. The hotel is free for us so we didnt mind taking a PT to Colonial Zone for the day and back, the hotel being free (we used Hilton Honors award points) is affording us to be a bit more extravagant than we normally would be. I thought cab from Juan Dolio to Santo Domingo was $30-$40 us but I see from the above posts its suonds like its more like $50 each way (not per person i hope!)

That being said, I like to save money too of course who doesnt so I am open to taking the bus, when we visit Barbados we always take the public transit system busses and they are so cheap and we never felt like we were in danger or anything but have never done it in the DR.

Thanks for everyones posts its very helpful to a newbie visiting the DR!

I am excited and nervous at the same time about getting around in general.

Johnne - I think I am going to bring the laptop and also try to use computer in the business center too.

abberboo · #10 04-10-2008, 12:16 PM

Oh one more thing I did go on this site last night The Complete Guide to Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Tourist Information, Restaurants, Night Life, Hotels, History, Monuments, Maps, Music, Businesses, Folklore, Calendar, Language and So Much More. and thats where my questions came about. This website is incredible. I cant get over how much content is on it. Wow~