Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
conditioning, makes fewer stops and costs slightly more. Within these two categories there's a virtual rain-
bow of diversity in terms of vehicle quality and reliability.
Car & Motorcycle
Though the DR's bus and
guagua
system is excellent, having your own car is invariably faster and more
convenient. Even if renting a car isn't in your budget for the entire trip, consider renting one for a select
couple of days, to reach sights that are isolated or not well served by public transportation; pretty much a ne-
cessity for the southwest.
Driver's License
For travelers from most countries, your home country driver's license allows you to drive in the DR. Be sure
it's valid.
Fuel & Spare Parts
Most towns have at least one gas station, typically right along the highway on the outskirts of town. There
are a couple of different companies, but prices are essentially the same for all. At the time of research, gas
prices were around RD$248 per gallon. Many gas stations accept credit cards and many also have ATMs -
all are full service.
With the cost of gas so high, a growing percentage of vehicles have been jerry-rigged to run on much
cheaper propane gas (RD$100 per gallon) - you'll usually see a station (Unigas, Propagas or Tropigas) at
the exit and entrance of any good-sized town.
Play it safe and always keep your gas tank at least half full. Many
bombas
(gas stations) in the DR close
by 7pm, and even when they are open they don't always have gas. If you're traveling on back roads or in a
remote part of the country, your best bet is to buy gas from people selling it from their front porch. Look for
the large pink jugs sitting on tables on the side of the road.
The most common car trouble is to end up with a punctured or damaged tire caused by potholes, speed
bumps and rocks or other debris in the road. The word for tire is
goma
(literally 'rubber') and a tire shop is
called a
gomero
. If you can make it to one on your busted tire, the guys there can patch a flat, replace a dam-
aged tire, or just put the spare on.
Insurance
The multinational car-rental agencies typically offer comprehensive, nondeductible collision and liability in-
surance for fairly small daily fees. Smaller agencies usually offer partial coverage, with a deductible ranging
from US$100 to US$2000. Several credit-card companies, including Amex, offer comprehensive coverage
for rentals, but you should check your own insurance policy before declining the rental company's.
