SDQ Taxi Drivers and the Tourists they try to rip off - Page 2

DRNED · #11 11-04-2009, 12:53 PM

$40us?

Is there not public transport into the city from the airport, I was, under the impression you had a metro link n alsorts?

Not great arriving for the first time and getting stung before you even get a breath of warm air!!

Chirimoya · #12 11-04-2009, 01:28 PM

You can only get taxis from the airport. There are guaguas that run to the capital that you can catch from the main road but that is a long hike from the airport and not doable or advisable for first-time visitors, especially with luggage.

The Metro is in its early stages - at the moment only one line is running and it does not serve the airport, and I'm not sure if the long-term plans include the airport. The Metro links the dormitory town of Villa Mella to the north of the city with the Centro de los Heroes, the area where many government offices are located, at the end of Ave. Winston Churchill/Jimenez Moya.

DRNED · #13 11-04-2009, 02:43 PM

It sounds like they can pretty much charge what they like if this is the case. $40 sounds far, I am going to Ave Abraham Lincoln, is this far from the airport?

Thanks!

jalencastro · #14 11-04-2009, 03:18 PM

I do agree drivers tend to charge whatever they want to foreigners who are easy targets, I am no exception even though I am Ecuadorian I clearly do not look Dominican and am easy prey. Speaking spanish helps somewhat, but what works best is sticking to your guns and negotiating skills and like many users have said on this thread: STICK TO A PRICE and agree to it and go from there.
That being said, the lowest fare I have paid to get a ride to the airport from the MegaCentro mall in Eastern Santo Domingo was $500RD, and another $200RD more to go to Boca Chica [I convinced the driver to wait for me at the airport and then take me to the Hamaca Resort for a few more pesos]. So a total of $700RD for Capital to Airport to Boca Chica is good enough for me!

Good luck to everyone and keep hustling the cab drivers!

Chirimoya · #15 11-04-2009, 04:19 PM

Has anyone else done this recently? US$30 or less used to be the going rate.

jalencastro · #16 11-04-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Has anyone else done this recently? US$30 or less used to be the going rate.

I forgot to mention on my post I did this taxi ride last summer [Sept 2008]. I know Megacentro is not the center of the capital but $500RD is definately less than $30US!

DRNED · #17 11-04-2009, 05:15 PM

Oh, here we go with the currency thing again, this is quite funny now. The new landlord wants to be paid in US$, the pricing is all in US$, everything I am being quoted is in US$, but it is cheaper in Pesos, lol.
I was confused by all this before, but now I give up trying to understand what people want and in what currency. We have just got a load of US$ today so that's what everyone is getting. I'm just going to have to take a few hits on the initial introduction to how this all works, hopefully it will become clearer once amongst it all.

Thanks

Chirimoya · #18 11-04-2009, 06:13 PM

Taxi drivers will accept pesos or dollars, and probably euros for that matter. The price from the airport is quoted in US$ because most visitors do not buy pesos at the airport and will pay the fare in dollars.

jalencastro, I can see how the fare to the Zona Oriental would be less than to central SD.

Rbh44 · #19 11-04-2009, 08:38 PM

My last trip I arrived at SDQ and the taxis out front wanted $35 to the Colonial Zone. I pulled out US$25 and said basically, "this is it, who wants it". I got a ride for that price immediately. I was in Cofresi and took a cab to the bus station in POP, a cab ride I had taken before for RD$300. When we arrived the driver said "Thirty dollars". I asked him again how much and he said the same thing. My Spanish is extremely basic but I was able to tell him he was crazy and there was no chance I would give him thirty dollars. I put US$7 in his hand and told him "no mas, nunca". His reply, With a big smile on his face? "Ah, Usted no es un turista". I just walked away shaking my head. Always set a price first and remember EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE. A side note. I was at beach in Boca Chica and one of the venders tried to screw me. I was with a Dominican and was letting them deal with the vender because of the language thing. I didn't even have the amount of money he wanted with me. He wanted me to leave my passport and return. Finally I got ****ed. I put the amount of money I actually owed him down and told him no more. If he didn't like it I told him he could call the Police and have me arrested and I'll call the US Embassy. He decided he did not want the police involved and we left.

bienamor · #20 11-04-2009, 10:19 PM

Any of the Hotel taxi stands will cost triple what Apolo, Rondon, or any of the other commercial companies. They will tell you that is because they are going back empty. For instance taxi stand at the Nepolitano will cost you 400rd to plaza central, Apolo or the others no more than 150rd. Negotiate at the airports, there are posted prices, but they can be knocked down. Always get the price up front.
The good thing over taxi's in the US is if your stuck in traffic your not paying for the wait time.