Ughh, cheapest way to get to Punta Cana from Santa Domingo?

[Rocky]

Looks like the bus is our way. Delta wanted 750 apiece to tranfer!!! Thanks so much BB.Bird for the easy to follow directions as well as to anyone else who threw in some advice.

David

If you can scrape up the return taxi fare, you will never regret it.
Otherwise, you're going to feel like you lost one day at both ends of your vacation.
It's approx 200 bux more than going the taxi -bus -taxi route, but you'll enjoy the ride so much more, stop wherever and whenever you want, go the scenic shorter routes, be in comfort, and save 3 or 4 hours.

 

[Hillbilly]

Dear sugarwookie: I am glad you have seen the wisdom of our ways. You'll find yourself quite comfortable on your way to Cabarete. Once there, sort of ask around for prices for a cab to Santo Domingo airport. It should probably cost you in the neighborhood of RD$3000-RD$4000. The advantage would be that you'd see some beautiful spots of the countryside (up in the mountains by Jamao), you can stop at a fantastic spot called El Cafeto or the recently remodeled Castillo and look out on the whole valley while you have a quiet brunch.

It might be the highlight of your trip. And, like friend Rocky suggested, you enjoy a day of touring rather than lose a day on buses. At least give it some thought.

FYI, you can change money at the Caribe Tours station in Santo Domingo. Do not change a whole lot at once. The current rates are RD$33.25-RD$33.50 per dollar.

While in CAbarete, do NOT ever, ever change money on the street. Always at a Casa de Cambio with a receipt.

Have a ball!

HB

 

[rubio_higuey]

Only thing I am not certain about is if Caribe Tours and the snack bar in Santiago accepts $USD. If you want, you can play it safe and exchange a few bills at the airport. You won't get the best exchange rate but it will give you peace of mind.

Change some dollars at the airport, but not too much.
At the Caribe Tours terminal, change money in Caribe Express exchange house or Banco Caribe. The exchange rate is among the most competitive in the DR. You can use Caribe Express in Sosua as well (no CE in Cabarete). Don't change on the street.

 

[rubio_higuey]

Looks like HB already wrote the same thing, so I second that!