How To Arrive At Santo Domingo Airport | Kiskeya.Life
"Don't take the Hovercraft..."
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Credits:
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All videos/pictures by
Alec Corday
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Transcript:
Santo Domingo Airport is the sixth busiest airport in the caribbean, and the second largest on the island. It used to be the largest until it was overtaken by the punta cana airport in the East. It handles nearly 3 million passengers per year, while punta cana now handles over 5 million.
It was built by dictator Trujillo in the mid 50s and is the largest of the three airports Santo Domingo has. Its name changed over the past 60 years about 6 times. The most recent one is... Wait, let me read that to get it right... International Airport of the Americas Doctor José Francisco Peña Gómez.
When you arrive and get out of plane, just follow the flow. While the airport is big by local standard, it only has 2 terminals with 5 ramps. All other planes just park on the tarmac. So regardless if you arrive on a ramp or the tarmac, just follow the flow to passport control and baggage claim. Hopefully you've filled out the tourist card you received on the plane. You will have to pay $10US tourist tax per person, so have that ready. You'll have to pay another $20US upon exiting the country, so keep that in mind. Some tour operators will include that in their fees, but be sure to check ahead.
Once you get through baggage claim you'll get to customs. They usually don't check tourists much, but expect it anyway. After that you've officially arrived. Welcome! Now, the first thing that is going to hit you is the humidity. If you've been in the glorious airport AC all this time and come from a colder country, this might be bit of a shock. Welcome to the Caribbean!
If you came with a tour operator, then their representatives and buses will wait for you at the exit. But even if you are on your own, getting around here is easy. Just grab one of the trains that take you to town or the brand new hovercraft shuttles that transport you to... Oh wait.
None of that.
Yeah, no trains, buses or shuttles. Your only option is to walk or grab a cab. To be specific: walk to the cabs. Its at the moment the only option to get into town, or anywhere for that matter. Average prices have been established by the taxi unions, so haggling probably won't get you far. But at the same time it means that you probably won't be jibbed. Not everyone is out to get you and most are looking for fair prices. Remember that Gasoline around here is about twice as expensive as anywhere else.
