Some time ago (years, I think), I asked a question about which bus company I should choose for a two-day trip from Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo. I was advised that Metro was the best choice. I have used Metro several times and have been very satisfied. However, for this recent trip, I chose to return on Caribe Tours as suggested by a friend who has lived here for 25 years. Mistake on my part! The Caribe terminal was HUGE and very busy. First difficulty was figuring out where to buy a ticket (around the corner and hidden from the entrance) and to do that i had to review a large sign with destinations and the relevant ticket booth number. OK, #13. Then the attendant couldn't hear me and I couldn't hear him...but I got my ticket purchased for the 2 o'clock bus. He said I should go and sit in the waiting room for an announcement for boarding. Luckily I didn't. I went directly to the boarding area where a LOT of buses were parked in front of numbers (not the same number as the ticket window, of course). I started asking anyone in a Caribe shirt/uniform for the Puerto Plata bus and got nowhere. Then i started asking other travelers.... Puerto Plata? No one knew. But I kept asking and finally got the information I needed. The Puerto Plata bus would be at the #1 stall (now empty). No queue, just a bunch of people standing around. I waited 45 minutes and heard lots of announcements for other locations and stall numbers but never, not even once, did i hear anything about Puerto Plata! So finally, the bus driver arrives and sits in the bus for 20 minutes before opening the doors. At Metro, the ticket taker is very helpful, making sure I don't need help boarding (i used a cane for stability). But not so with Caribe. The bus also stopped in La Vega and twice in Santiago. I got off to use the restroom and again no help from an attendant. Metro's staff is much more helpful. There were more than 10 buses in the Santiago parking lot and i made a mental note of my bus location. But when I returned, it had moved. No signs! Some other travelers thought to make a mental note of the bus number (059), fortunately! We made one other stop at Imbert to let someone off and then on to Puerto Plata. My friend was waiting at the door and provided helping arm. The drop from the final step to the ground was really far! I reached down with my cane but might have toppled without her help. Overall, I have to say, the difference in price (75 pesos more for Metro) was probably important to some travelers. And Caribe has buses more frequently on the Santo Dominto/Santiago/Puerto Plata route. I also understand that Caribe has some express buses, which would be an advantage if the timing was right. But for overall on-time performance, cleanliness, ease of use, and simplicity, I will definitely stick with Metro for the future. I'm not complaining about Caribe. My trip was fine and we arrive safely. But my preference is Metro...just my opinion.