Hello, My Spirit Airlines flight lands at STI airport at 2am early on a Friday morning. I am planning on taking the Metro Bus to Sosua at 915am. My question is this; Where do I safely kill 3-4 hours until the sun rises so I can maybe get a couple of hours of sleep or a decent breakfast. I presume from reading this board that I will be boarding the bus in the el Jardines Station which will use approx 45 minutes to 1 hour. Does anyone have experience in doing this and have a proven procedure? Thanks in advance, Ragu
- Thread starter panicmechanic
- Start date
2am Flight into Santiago
Thanks Chip, this is what I wanted to hear. I have no problem hanging at the aeropeurto as I have done this in the past at others, some like Ohare in Chicago will not let you do this easily however so this is why I asked the question. I have went as far as to wiretie my bags to my wrists so I can get some secure sleep (I keep a small side cutter in my sock). Thanks again, Ragu
You go through TSA with a side cutter in your sock and wire ties....very interesting!
Another option is to get an inexpensive cabana for a few hours 5 minutes from STI airport and be refreshed in the AM.
Yes they do have a VIP lounge, but when I've used it, it has been for departing flights, not arrivals.
And as it is on the other (secure) side of the security checkpoint, I don't believe you will be allowed to pass through without a valid boarding pass.
A better option would be a cabanna. There are several on Autopista Duarte about a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the airport. And from there, it will be about another 10-15 minute taxi ride to the MetroBus station in the morning.
And FYI, last time I took the Metro bus from Sosua to Santiago, they told me the trip time was 1 hour 45 minutes.
Actual time was 2hours 10 minutes with normal traffic. Metrobus ticket was 200 pesos.
Then the Taxi was a 25 minute ride to the airport (with moderate to heavy traffic). And I paid 500 pesos for the cab ride.
Timotero i say has you covered . My 2 cents would be to change some money preeflight to pay taxi & cabana as i do not know the avalibety of money exchange at that houre.
Okay. You get in at say 2 or thereabouts. I say you leave the airport at around 3 or 3:15 if the flight is normal.
Go to Santiago, tell the taxi Supermercado Central. This iis two short blocks from the Caribe Tours station/Metro Station (they are on the same street)
Supermercado Central has a great little cafeter?a inside and to the right. Great bacon and eggs, juice, and coffee...best breakfast in town. The place will have a lot of the casino crowd there.
After the breakfast, you can walk over to the Caribe Tour station and see what time their first bus takes off or just about 50 yards more to the Metro station where you can wait in fair comfort inside the station. If you must sleep in a bed, then reverse this:
Go to any of the Motels and pay a few hundred pesos for 3 or 4 hours of sleep, then to the Supermercado Central for breakfast and then to the bus station...
Hope you are not loaded down with bags!!
HB
Go to Santiago, tell the taxi Supermercado Central. This iis two short blocks from the Caribe Tours station/Metro Station (they are on the same street)
Supermercado Central has a great little cafeter?a inside and to the right. Great bacon and eggs, juice, and coffee...best breakfast in town. The place will have a lot of the casino crowd there.
After the breakfast, you can walk over to the Caribe Tour station and see what time their first bus takes off or just about 50 yards more to the Metro station where you can wait in fair comfort inside the station. If you must sleep in a bed, then reverse this:
Go to any of the Motels and pay a few hundred pesos for 3 or 4 hours of sleep, then to the Supermercado Central for breakfast and then to the bus station...
Hope you are not loaded down with bags!!
HB
HB,
That is a good first option but thats a long time to wait around until 9:00am and no sleep. If he falls asleep on the bus who knows what items could be missing lol. The second option is good.
I have came into Santiago many times on that night flight... Can you believe that one time while I was waiting for my maleta to come down the slide, the power went out in the entire airport??? lol Someone yelled... now I know that I am in DR, no hay luz! lol
I've never been it it but they have access from the outside unsecured area through the food court on the second floor.
If the OP wants to avoid the possibility of receiving a welcome by the National Police so early (or late, depends how you see it, lol) in the day, then stay in the terminal.
Chances are low, but I know of someone that arrived at 3am through that airport and on their way to the Duarte highway, they were stopped by a couple of National Policemen in a NP pickup. There are a couple of speed bumps heading away from the terminal towards the highway, that's where they pick who's time they will waste so late at night, all for a bribe.
Its not big deal to pay a bribe to NP, that's actually quite normal, but at night when there's almost no one on the roads and its just you, the NPs and the road, yes, that can be a problem.
Chances are low, but I know of someone that arrived at 3am through that airport and on their way to the Duarte highway, they were stopped by a couple of National Policemen in a NP pickup. There are a couple of speed bumps heading away from the terminal towards the highway, that's where they pick who's time they will waste so late at night, all for a bribe.
Its not big deal to pay a bribe to NP, that's actually quite normal, but at night when there's almost no one on the roads and its just you, the NPs and the road, yes, that can be a problem.
I got stopped by that same pick up truck during the night flight... I gave them no money! Why must I pay if I had all of my vehicle papers and was doing nothing wrong???*
Another guy told me that he was taking a leak on the side of the road and the cop showed up. He had to give them "propina"
Thanks for all the info to everyone! I will probably opt for the Supermercado Central option. I am fairly used to losing a full night of sleep occaisonally so this will probably work fine! I also had a kind offer of a ride and a couch for the evening also, so I would like to shout out a special thanks to those individuals also!
Make sure the taxista knows you want the Supermercado Central on Av. 27 Near Los Jardines (next to Supermercado Nacional)...there's another one on the other side of town...
Update on 2 am arrival flights in Santiago (Spirit)
I know this is an old thread but does anyone have any info on any changes?
I am looking for a Spirit flight that gets to Santiago at 2 am or so, and need to find out if the
rental car counters are opened and if there's taxi service available at that time.
Thanks.
I know this is an old thread but does anyone have any info on any changes?
I am looking for a Spirit flight that gets to Santiago at 2 am or so, and need to find out if the
rental car counters are opened and if there's taxi service available at that time.
Thanks.