By Air

Santo Domingo is served by the Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas (tel. 809/549-0328), which is 22 kilometers east of the metropolitan area.

Major carriers are: Air Canada (Av. Winston Churchill 63, tel. 809/541-5151), Air France (Av. Máximo Gómez 15, tel. 809/686-8432), American Airlines (El Conde, tel. 809/542-5151, airport tel. 809/549-0043), Continental Airlines (airport tel. 809/549-0757), Iberia (Av. Lope de Vega, tel. 809/686-9191, airport tel. 809/549-0205), Jet Blue (airport tel. 809/549-1793), Lufthansa (Av. George Washington, tel. 809/689-9625), and US Airways (Av. Gustavo Mejía Ricart 54, tel. 809/540-0505, airport tel. 809/549-0165).

By Ferry

Only one connection exists: to and from Mayagúez, Puerto Rico, three times a week, run by Ferries del Caribe (tel. 809/688-4400, Mayagúez tel. 787/832-4400, www.ferriesdelcaribe.com, in Spanish). The ticket office and boarding port in Santo Domingo are at Avenida del Puerto, which is across from the Fortaleza Ozama. It is a 12-hour journey to Puerto Rico that you can do in an airplane-type seat (US$182) or in a private cabin with a window (US$295).

From Santo Domingo, scheduled trips depart on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 8 p.m. and arrive in Mayagúez the next morning. From Mayagúez, ferries depart Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 p.m. and arrive in Santo Domingo the next morning.

By Bus

Caribe Tours (Av. 27 de Febrero at Av. Leopoldo Navarro, tel. 809/221-4422, www.caribetours.com.do, in Spanish) offers the most departure times and covers a wider area of the country than the Metro bus company (Av. Winston Churchill and Calle Francisco Prats Ramírez, behind Plaza Central, tel. 809/227-0101, www.metroserviciosturisticos.com) does. But both offer satisfactory service with big comfortable buses.

Most destinations in the Dominican Republic are within a four-hour ride. Ticket prices can fluctuate with the ever-changing economy but are usually quite low (under US$8). It is best to call or ask for a brochure and schedule at the station.

The express bus to Bávaro/Punta Cana (Juan Sánchez Ruiz at Máximo Gómez, US$10) is a direct service departing at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily for a four-hour trip.

Although there is no official bus terminal, at the Parque Enriquillo near the Ciudad Colonial you can catch buses that aren’t as nice as the luxury options from Caribe Tours and Metro (don’t expect air-conditioning). They branch out all over the nation to places like Baní, Boca Chica, Higüey, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, and Sosúa. These buses are not direct and make many stops in between. Expect prices for these to be under US$6. Read the signs in the front windows. You’ll pay more for express buses, which only means they will stop less often.

By Car

Renting a car is easy at the airport. Many major companies have booths after you clear customs. Some companies are: Avis (airport tel. 809/549-0468; Av. Independencia at Socorro Sánchez, tel. 809/685-5095), Budget (airport tel. 809/549-0351; Av. John F. Kennedy at Av. Lope de Vega, tel. 809/566-6666), Dollar (airport tel. 809/549-0738; Av. Independencia 366, tel. 809/221-7368), Hertz (airport tel. 809/549-0454, Av. José Ma Heredia 1, tel. 809/221-5333). Shopping around on the Internet is always best for seasonal deals and special promotions.

© Ana Chavier Caamaño from Moon Dominican Republic, 4th edition