Is there a time honored, best method for a tourist to pay the rates that locals pay for a taxi in Puerto Plata/Sousa?
I don't mean to hijack the thread...but since my question is related, I thought it might be ok? Different times on here, I have seen people talking about renting a car with driver for the day. I have searched, without success, for that information. We have a group of 9 that will need transportation on 2 separate days between Cabarete and Playa Grande (with points in between). Any ideas, other than us using 2 cars?
As stated above, my question is related...taxi rates on the north coast. And it's precisely responses like that that keep people from posting on here! I read everything on this site, every single day...and have for years. And yet, you seem to think it's within your right to belittle, critisize and judge...wow, especially when it is obviously related. Enjoy your DR1 site...I really won't be back. If someone can't ask a simple question without being made to feel like they're 2 inches tall. Melodramatic, maybe...but certainly not worth it to me.
Is there some reason why you didn't start your own thread rather than hijacking the thread of another OP? I hope that the moderator will move your post.
Is there a time honored, best method for a tourist to pay the rates that locals pay for a taxi in Puerto Plata/Sousa?
As stated above, my question is related...taxi rates on the north coast. And it's precisely responses like that that keep people from posting on here! I read everything on this site, every single day...and have for years. And yet, you seem to think it's within your right to belittle, critisize and judge...wow, especially when it is obviously related. Enjoy your DR1 site...I really won't be back. If someone can't ask a simple question without being made to feel like they're 2 inches tall. Melodramatic, maybe...but certainly not worth it to me.
Is there a time honored, best method for a tourist to pay the rates that locals pay for a taxi in Puerto Plata/Sousa?
Publico drivers are happy to provide taxi service and charge less than do the regular taxis. But to get one you have to go to the Publico terminal, flag an empty publico down on the highway, or be a passenger in a publico going in the direction you want to go and then ask the driver to take you to your specific destination. However, it may be necessary to speak Spanish.
Tourists that speak only English don't have many options.
Come to think of it, I have the telephone number of a publico driver from Sos?a who will provide private taxi service - for those who speak Spanish. Thanks for reminding me, Ken.
You can pay what the driver asks for or you can offer less and let the driver decide whether he will accept it. I have been living in the country for longer than most on dr1 and there is no magic rate for locals. If you have a driver you use regularly, you will pay a little less, otherwise it depends on what you offer and what the minimum is the driver will accept. If you speak Spanish and are able to talk like you know what is what in the DR, you may get a reduction. Otherwise unlikely.
I was in Cabarete with my son and daughter in law the other day and we had to get back to Sosua fairly quickly and all the guguas and publicos were passing by with a full load. So my son told me to get a taxi and he would pay. I had to get
pretty close to the stated price before getting agreement. And I speak pretty good Spanish and am clearly not a tourist.
The best thing a tourist can do is not tip. This is not New York. I never tip; the rates here are high enough to include a tip as far as I am concerned. Taxi prices in Santiago and Santo Domingo are a lot less.
The best way is to use the "local" taxis. Not the tourist/airport taxis. Their rates are a fraction of the big boys.