Metro Bus versus Caribe Tours comparison

[windeguy]

Had to make a trip to Santo Domingo to collect some documents and discover what else I needed to file my citizenship application. We were entering Sosua at a time when I would have to wait 40 minutes for the next Caribe Tours bus and opted to use METRO which I had not used for many years.

There were very few people the entire way on the METRO bus. There was no WiFi and the seats were not comfortable at all. On the way back we went with Caribe Tours which has hourly departures, WiFi and far more comfortable seats. Metro was cheaper at 300 RD, while the express Caribe bus was $450 RD if I recall. The only other good thing about the Metro bus was the A/C was not full on the entire trip like most Caribe Tours buses.

I doubt I will try METRO again, mainly because of the poor seats in the Brazilian made bus and lack of WiFi, unless there is a timing situation like I just had where Metro was just leaving.

 

[Matilda]

Caribe also have some new buses which have much more leg room, seat belts and the seats recline more than before. They also now have a no eating rule, so if you get hungry, you have to sneak a sandwich in and eat it secretly. No more rice and beans, styrofoam container and plastic fork.

Matilda

 

[chico bill]

Caribe also have some new buses which have much more leg room, seat belts and the seats recline more than before. They also now have a no eating rule, so if you get hungry, you have to sneak a sandwich in and eat it secretly. No more rice and beans, styrofoam container and plastic fork.

Matilda

Well we know they would just heave the styrofoam and left overs out the bus window so no trash left on the bus

 

[George101]

I will never forget the time a guy in a suit used the bathroom during a busy and full passenger trip to santiago. For 20 minutes or so people sprayed perfumes and covered their faces. The driver who was unaware of the disruption carried on driving, even as people banged on the glass to get his attention. Eventually the responsible party took the walk of shame to their seat as everyone laughed or covered their face in absolute horror. The person sat down almost uncaring of what was unfolding. Eventually it got so bad the smell breached the drivers area and forced a delay for 10 minutes or so as they cleaned the bathroom with buckets of water.

Moral of the story, METRO doesn't have bathrooms..

 

[windeguy]

Well we know they would just heave the styrofoam and left overs out the bus window so no trash left on the bus

To do that they would have to use that "in an emergency use this hammer to break the glass" in Caribe Tours buses. The windows don't open. (A reason the smell from that toilet incident got so bad."

 

[CristoRey]

Cairbe Tours all the way. Metor buses are old out dated and I've
been on a few from Santiago to Sosua that do not have toilets.

 

[windeguy]

Cairbe Tours all the way. Metor buses are old out dated and I've
been on a few from Santiago to Sosua that do not have toilets.

There was no toilet on the Brazilian Metro bus I took to Santo Domingo this week.

 

[Expat-in-Cabarete]

Do Caribe Tour buses have usable toilets? Can’t imagine a 5-hour trip without.

There was no toilet on the Brazilian Metro bus I took to Santo Domingo this week.

 

[windeguy]

Do Caribe Tour buses have usable toilets? Can’t imagine a 5-hour trip without.

I have used Caribe Tours toilets on their buses. The definition of usable my be different for you, but I can certainly used them.

 

[Matilda]

Yes they do and they have a toilet stop in Santiago - unless you take the express bus.

Matilda

 

[Meemselle]

Caribe definitely has more departures, but I'm generally not interested in having to bump over to Charamicos to avail myself of them. I have had no issues with WiFi on Metro, and I wouldn't use a bathroom on a bus in this country no matter what, evah, nevah. The bathroom break in Santiago is fine. In my experience, Caribe buses are even colder than Metro; I always wear long pants, bring my airplane sox, and carry a sweater and a pashmina. I am NOT a fan of the TVs that Caribe has. So I guess I'm a Metro fan. I have to go to the Capital on Wed. and let's just say it's not my favorite way to spend a day.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

I have/had a preference for Metro as well. However the 05:30 Caribe Tours express to SD gets me there the earliest and I am ready to head home that much sooner. On two occasions (not recently) Metro cancelled their next bus to Sosua so after making my way there, I had to cab it to Caribe - now I'm not usually willing to risk disappointment and the hourly departures for Sosua are enticing, even if some of them are real milk runs.

 

[Gadfly]

in the past some caribe bus drivers would drive too fast. and some caribe buses were freezing inside (a/c).

 

[Garyexpat]

in the past some caribe bus drivers would drive too fast. and some caribe buses were freezing inside (a/c).

It didn't bother me much but I have had several friends that refused to use Caribe because of the drivers.

 

[DRob]

I have/had a preference for Metro as well. However the 05:30 Caribe Tours express to SD gets me there the earliest and I am ready to head home that much sooner. On two occasions (not recently) Metro cancelled their next bus to Sosua so after making my way there, I had to cab it to Caribe - now I'm not usually willing to risk disappointment and the hourly departures for Sosua are enticing, even if some of them are real milk runs.

How long is the trip on the express bus? Does it go the old route, or take the Samana highway?

 

[AlterEgo]

Am I the only one here who’s never been on a bus in DR? :surprised:surprised

 

[DRob]

Am I the only one here who’s never been on a bus in DR? :surprised:surprised

Lol!

Haven't used one in years, as I prefer and enjoy driving. Caribe is, as bus services go, very nice.

 

[Garyexpat]

How long is the trip on the express bus? Does it go the old route, or take the Samana highway?

I think it is about 3 + hours. It still passes through Puerto Plata but then uses the bypass of Santiago which is where you really get the time savings, no stops plus none of the traffic.

 

[rogerjac]

Am I the only one here who’s never been on a bus in DR? :surprised:surprised

Not everyone is a DR1 royalty :laugh::laugh:

 

[AlterEgo]

Not everyone is a DR1 royalty :laugh::laugh:

Lmao, hardly!