travel times

[muriel]

We are planning our first trip to DR and need some help with travel times from points within DR. What is the most practical mode of transportation, and how much time should we allow to get from: 1) LaRomana to Santo Domingo, 2) Santo Domingo to Santiago, and 3) Santiago to Sosua? Thanks in advance.

[jaded1]

You really need a guide I live there for a month and there very few street signs and a map unless youre any army ranger forget about it there are only a couple mane highways the beat is route 1 I know its 3 hrs from santo domingo to Santiago another hour to puerto plata and samana is about another 45 minutes . This has more to do with Traffic and bad roads than it does withdistance. All of these are on route (autopista) 1. But watch your speed this is one of the only patrolled for speed areas. The police can be bribed for like 500 (15$ US) pesos but if you don' t speak fluent spanish youll have hell of a time getting that price and alot of hassle so just dont speed. Watch out for (policia acostada) sleeping Police These are speed bumps in the middle of nowhere with little or no warning

[Jimmydr]

Originally Posted by muriel

We are planning our first trip to DR and need some help with travel times from points within DR. What is the most practical mode of transportation, and how much time should we allow to get from: 1) LaRomana to Santo Domingo, 2) Santo Domingo to Santiago, and 3) Santiago to Sosua? Thanks in advance.

Santo Domingo to Santiago 2.5-3.0 hours

Santiago to Sosua 1.5 hours

[Dolores]

Originally Posted by Jimmydr

Santo Domingo to Santiago 2.5-3.0 hours

Santiago to Sosua 1.5 hours

Since the expansion of the highway some four years ago, the trip to Santiago from Santo Domingo is done in two hours. Some people can make it in an 1-1/2 hour. The distance is actually 155 kms.

From Santiago to Sosua the distance is 95 kms. What takes most time is crossing through Santiago and Puerto Plata cities.

La Romana-Santo Domingo is 110 kms. Recommendation is to stick to the highway that borders the sea. There is a short cut, but you could get lost and end up missing the left, and having to go through an area of Santo Domingo that is very traffic-congested.

From Santo Domingo to Santiago is easy -- make sure you visit Centro Leon in Santiago.

[Jimmydr]

Originally Posted by Dolores

Since the expansion of the highway some four years ago, the trip to Santiago from Santo Domingo is done in two hours. Some people can make it in an 1-1/2 hour. The distance is actually 155 kms.

From Santiago to Sosua the distance is 240 kms. What takes most time is crossing through Santiago and Puerto Plata cities.

La Romana-Santo Domingo is 110 kms. Recommendation is to stick to the highway that borders the sea. There is a short cut, but you could get lost and end up missing the left, and having to go through an area of Santo Domingo that is very traffic-congested.

From Santo Domingo to Santiago is easy -- make sure you visit Centro Leon in Santiago.

Santiago is only 32 miles from Sosua.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by Jimmydr

Santiago is only 32 miles from Sosua.

Thanks everyone for the information about distance and time. Is driving the best way or is Caribe or Metro an option to and from most of those cities? I checked the Caribe schedule and know about their schedule between Santo Domingo and Santiago. What is best way to get from LaRomana to Santo Domingo? I have read on this forum that driving a rental can be expensive and risky regarding being stopped by police. What do you recommend?

Thanks again.
Muriel