First Visit to Santo Domingo

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anng3

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Jan 12, 2007
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We are taking the Metro bus from Sosua on Tuesday getting in around 2pm. Staying at Renaissance Jaguar.
Flying out next morning.
We spend all the time on the North Coast and it's time we learn Santo Domingo.
What should cab to Jaguar cost?
Then want to go to Colonial Zone and maybe grab late lunch or coffee. Can we walk there or should we take cab? What to see in the Colonial Zone? Or any other places you suggest going?
Where should we have cab drop us off?
Any live music on Tuesday anywhere?
Any tips on security in Santo Domingo i.e how late can one walk the malecon etc.
Cab next day to SDQ should cost about how much?
 
D

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
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anng3 said:
We are taking the Metro bus from Sosua on Tuesday getting in around 2pm. Staying at Renaissance Jaguar.
Flying out next morning.
We spend all the time on the North Coast and it's time we learn Santo Domingo.
What should cab to Jaguar cost?
Then want to go to Colonial Zone and maybe grab late lunch or coffee. Can we walk there or should we take cab? What to see in the Colonial Zone? Or any other places you suggest going?
Where should we have cab drop us off?
Any live music on Tuesday anywhere?
Any tips on security in Santo Domingo i.e how late can one walk the malecon etc.
Cab next day to SDQ should cost about how much?
Click to expand...


If you are living in the DR, you should have a cell phone. Get the phone of Apolo Taxi and have it handy.
The taxis at Metro should not charge you more than RD$200 to get you to the Jaragua. If they want to charge more, then say you will call Apolo Taxi, the radio taxi service. Have the number ready, just in case. The taxis will show up in 5-10 minutes. Get a quote for the fare when booking by radio.

You can walk to Colonial Zone from the Jaragua by way of the sea-bordering Malecon. Could take you half an hour, but will be a pleasant walk. See the Ciudad Colonial map on page 14-15 of the DR1 Guide to Santo Domingo. See link:
http://dr1.com/travel/santodomingoguide.pdf

You could walk up Palo Hincado to the Parque Independencia and then walk down Calle El Conde. Will take you first through the bohemian part of the Colonial City. Make sure to look up and notice all the gorgeous (albeit abandoned) architecture, especially when glancing at the balconies. That street will take you to the Santo Domingo Cathedral and Columbus Park. Have a smoothie at the restaurant (with the chairs and tables outdoors) on the corner of Arzobispo Merino and Calle El Conde. You can follow the numbers on the map depending on what your interests are or just head to the Cathedral and then north along Isabel la Catolica to the Museo de las Casas Reales (worth visiting this museum) and the Alcazar de Colon (also worth visiting).

From there you can take a taxi back to the Jaragua. Same way, if the taxi you find charges you RD$200 then take it, if not call the radio taxi and they will take you for RD$200.

In the evening, on Tuesdays go to the Terrazas del Meson. They have a wonderful outdoor evening show + dinner.

Enjoy!
 
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A

anng3

Bronze
Jan 12, 2007
1,013
29
48
Dolores said:
If you are living in the DR, you should have a cell phone. Get the phone of Apolo Taxi and have it handy.
The taxis at Metro should not charge you more than RD$200 to get you to the Jaragua. If they want to charge more, then say you will call Apolo Taxi, the radio taxi service. Have the number ready, just in case. The taxis will show up in 5-10 minutes. Get a quote for the fare when booking by radio.

You can walk to Colonial Zone from the Jaragua by way of the sea-bordering Malecon. Could take you half an hour, but will be a pleasant walk. See the Ciudad Colonial map on page 14-15 of the DR1 Guide to Santo Domingo. See link:
http://dr1.com/travel/santodomingoguide.pdf

You could walk up Palo Hincado to the Parque Independencia and then walk down Calle El Conde. Will take you first through the bohemian part of the Colonial City. Make sure to look up and notice all the gorgeous (albeit abandoned) architecture, especially when glancing at the balconies. That street will take you to the Santo Domingo Cathedral and Columbus Park. Have a smoothie at the restaurant (with the chairs and tables outdoors) on the corner of Arzobispo Merino and Calle El Conde. You can follow the numbers on the map depending on what your interests are or just head to the Cathedral and then north along Isabel la Catolica to the Museo de las Casas Reales (worth visiting this museum) and the Alcazar de Colon (also worth visiting).

From there you can take a taxi back to the Jaragua. Same way, if the taxi you find charges you RD$200 then take it, if not call the radio taxi and they will take you for RD$200.

In the evening, on Tuesdays go to the Terrazas del Meson. They have a wonderful outdoor evening show + dinner.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Is the evening show the jazz show? Seems it's on Wed this week.
Any suggestions for a restaurant locals go to? Casual with good food.
 
A

anng3

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Jan 12, 2007
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Is it possible to hear the choir Juan Luis Guerra is music director of? It looks like MQV Church has a Cultos on Tuesday night. Maybe a service. My husbands a jazz musician and we love Juan Luis' Guerra music. It would be fun to hear the choir he directs if he still does it. Don't know why he doesn't do concerts in the North.
 
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Mcinbrass

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Jan 2, 2002
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anng3 said:
Is it possible to hear the choir Juan Luis Guerra is music director of? It looks like MQV Church has a Cultos on Tuesday night. Maybe a service. My husbands a jazz musician and we love Juan Luis' Guerra music. It would be fun to hear the choir he directs if he still does it. Don't know why he doesn't do concerts in the North.
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You can absolutely walk. But hop in a motoconcho on Av Independencia out the rear of the hotel. Tell him to leave you off at Conde. Have a coffee or a cold beer at Pacos Corner of Conde and Parque independencia. Walk down Conde to Columbus Park. There you will see the Church. For live music you dent even have to leave the hotel. They have a great band in the Casino Bar every night begining at 9:00PM. I never miss them when Im in town. And surprisingly 200 pesos for a beer is very reasonable considering the live entertainment and dancefloor.
 
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jeanchris

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Feb 27, 2012
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Those rates on their websites are ridiculous close to twice real price you will pay with other cab company.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Xavier_Onassis

Xavier_Onassis

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Aug 6, 2006
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I agree with you. I posted this to confirm the phone number.
I generally use guaguas. When I am in the capital with a large suitcase I take a taxi from the Boca Chica station to the Cabietour Station, for $200 RD. Perhaps I pay too much.
 
A

ACDC

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Feb 10, 2014
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I'd like to get from the SDQ airport to Hotel Villa Colonial. Could I hop a qua qua or motoconcho? aC
Xavier_Onassis said:
I agree with you. I posted this to confirm the phone number.
I generally use guaguas. When I am in the capital with a large suitcase I take a taxi from the Boca Chica station to the Cabietour Station, for $200 RD. Perhaps I pay too much.
Click to expand...
 
A

anng3

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Jan 12, 2007
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So a cab from Metro to Jaquar should be $200.
How about a cab in the morning from Jaguar to SDQ?
Instead of motoconchos can we get a publico to Colonial Zone and back?
How much and where to walk to catch it from Jaguar? Does it have a directional sign i.e like the publicos on North Coast say either Rio San Juan(thru Cabarete) or Puerto Plata other direction.
How about a locals restauarant recommendation? Good food, decor not important.
Thanks
 
M

Mcinbrass

Bronze
Jan 2, 2002
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anng3 said:
So a cab from Metro to Jaquar should be $200.
How about a cab in the morning from Jaguar to SDQ?
Instead of motoconchos can we get a publico to Colonial Zone and back?
How much and where to walk to catch it from Jaguar? Does it have a directional sign i.e like the publicos on North Coast say either Rio San Juan(thru Cabarete) or Puerto Plata other direction.
How about a locals restauarant recommendation? Good food, decor not important.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Definately a carro publico is available out the rear of the hotel on Av Independencia and will get you to Conde in about 5 minutes. A taxi from the hotel to the airport will run you about $35.00 if you select any taxi. If you arrange a ride from Apolo or a private prenegotiated taxi I have paid as little as 800 pesos. But I am a tiguere. Coming back take the stroll along the malecon. You might even want to stop for a bite at D'Luis a nice parrilada overlooking the shorefront. Otherwise Hnos Villar is a nice spot. Great local food. Or behind the hotel is the famous Conuco restaurant. All w/in walking distance
 
Xavier_Onassis

Xavier_Onassis

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Aug 6, 2006
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If you are at the airport, you can get a taxi out to the highway for $300. A motoconcho will charge $200, but perhaps if you have a large suitcase, a cab would be better. Guaguas pass by all the time, coming from San Pedro, Juan Dolio and Boca Chica, and they take you to the Parque Enriquillo. You can get a cab from there, or if you have the address, ask around and perhaps there is a guagua or shared taxi (concho) that passes by the hotel. I don't think I'd try waiting on the highway for a bus at night.
 
D

Dolores1

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May 3, 2000
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The rate for pickup at the Hotel Jaragua to the airport is RD$1,200 via Apolo Taxi, or similar radio services. Not worth the hassle of going via public transport with luggage. The public transport will not drop you off at the terminal and you will have a long walk.
 
D

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
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Xavier_Onassis said:
If you are at the airport, you can get a taxi out to the highway for $300. A motoconcho will charge $200, but perhaps if you have a large suitcase, a cab would be better. Guaguas pass by all the time, coming from San Pedro, Juan Dolio and Boca Chica, and they take you to the Parque Enriquillo. You can get a cab from there, or if you have the address, ask around and perhaps there is a guagua or shared taxi (concho) that passes by the hotel. I don't think I'd try waiting on the highway for a bus at night.
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The unions control the transport out of the airport. Their fees are posted at the union station, you can check for yourself. From SDQ to hotels in Santo Domingo the going rate is US$40 as of 31 March 2014. The airport taxis are very reliable.
 
C

Criss Colon

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Jan 2, 2002
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"NO WAY" would I, or should you, go out of the airport to get a taxi, or a "GuaGua"!
Not during the day, and NEVER, EVER at night!
If your life ain't worth $40 US, don't come!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Put $40 in your shirt pocket to pay when you arrive at your destination.
You don't have to take out your wallet, or "Wad" that way!
When they ask for more, you can say, "No Tengo Mas"!

AND, take your own bags to the taxi on the cart available at baggage claim!
 
E

Expat13

Silver
Jun 7, 2008
3,255
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anng3 said:
So a cab from Metro to Jaquar should be $200.
How about a cab in the morning from Jaguar to SDQ?
Instead of motoconchos can we get a publico to Colonial Zone and back?
How much and where to walk to catch it from Jaguar? Does it have a directional sign i.e like the publicos on North Coast say either Rio San Juan(thru Cabarete) or Puerto Plata other direction.
How about a locals restauarant recommendation? Good food, decor not important.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Im sure just a typo, but you keep saying Jaguar whereas the Renaissance is the Jaragua. The only reason I point this out is not to be a critic just to mention that Gazcue,(same barrio) has another hotel called Jaguar.
 
E

Expat13

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Jun 7, 2008
3,255
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Criss Colon said:
Somehow, I bet the "Jaguar" is a lot more fun!
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Hard to say, smaller cheaper and well known by many.... That was my first online booking stay 5 years ago and it came with a $20 airport pickup. The informal taxi driver turned out to be a seasoned deportee with a huge repertoire of no good tricks. Was a quick wakeup call and intro to the lowest of lowlifes. The hotel owner and hotel was ok!
 
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