Taxi Rates from POP Airport

[Larry]

Originally posted by Ken
You are wrong, Larry. The rates are posted on a very large sign at the airport clearly visible to anyone taking a taxi. Additionally, every person who requests taxi service is told the rate by the driver before anybody gets in the taxi.

Ken,
The rates are also posted in large numbers on the taxi stand in Sosua. They are the same as you quoted and they are gringo rates. They charge Dominicans about half of that. Whenever I arrive at the airport and dont rent a car, I use the method I described and it always works. Whenever I approach the taxi stand in Sosua and ask "how much", they tell me the gringo rate of 15 bucks and then when I haggle, they come down to 10 bucks. I dont get the Dominican price of 7 or 8 bucks but I get the Spanish speaking savvy Gringo price. Actually, as soon as I shake my head and haggle, they give me a look of respect and nod their heads and come down a little. Sorry to burst your bubble because I know you live there Ken but I am right and it works for me.
Larry

[Ken]

Maybe so, but I have found recently that it is a lot tougher to bargain with taxi drivers than previously. Maybe this is because it is the high season. I tried the other night, arguing with them in Spanish, but they refused to budge. I was surprised.

But I rarely use taxis. Even if you negotiate, they want too much. For example, on Sunday my wife and I had to go to the airport to meet the mother of a friend who lives in Samana. We walked up to the highway, flagged down a publico driver who was starting his run to Puerto Plata, offered him RD$100 to take us to the airport and rode there in the same comfort we would have paid a taxi much more for. My wife and I always use the publicos whenever we can. For RD$120 you have a taxi to Puerto Plata and for RD$400 you have a taxi for the round trip who stays with you during your shopping.

[Boh]

What is the current per person rate (Sosua to Puerto Plata) compared to booking the entire publico? I think we paid RD$15. per person last January (Sosua to Puerto Plata). What is the cost per person from Sosua to Cabarete?

[jsizemore]

LAst time I took a taxi i shared it. It should be flat rate for the cab load.
John

[Ken]

Boh, the current publico rate from Sosua to Puerto Plata is RD$20. Guagua is RD$15. These are daytime prices. Publico charges RD$5 more at night. Don't know about guagua at night because never take it.

We rarely take the whole publico, unless we are in a particular hurry or my wife has shopping to do in POP (we don't have a car and see no need for one). But what we, especially she, frequently do is buy an extra seat so have front seat with driver instead of having a 3rd person squeezed in.

Re cab, yes price is for the cab, not per person.

[Boh]

Thanks Ken, I owe you a presidente.

[Jane J.]

But what we, especially she, frequently do is buy an extra seat so have front seat with driver instead of having a 3rd person squeezed in.

I like to do that, too, but always feel like such a jerk when the car stops to pick up other passengers and they try to get in the front with me and I'm like "sorry, buddy... I'm a spoiled gringa and I need the whole seat!"

[tired_boy]

Is a particluar method of transport preferable at night, or is it all the same.

When we visit we will want to get from Sosua or Caberete late at night (maybe 2 men, maybe 2 couples) to Playa Dorada

[jsizemore]

youmay start out as two men but you know it wont be long before you are two couples lol
John

[tired_boy]

i meant it will either be myself and my mate or us two and our wives