Luggage on Dominican buses: suitcases, surfboards and bikes

What goes in the hold and what comes on board

On Caribe Tours, Metro and Expreso Bavaro the coach has a hold under the floor. That is where the big suitcase, the 60 litre backpack and anything that does not fit in the overhead rack goes. With you come the small backpack, the handbag and, in general, whatever fits under the seat or on the rack. One large suitcase per passenger usually travels at no extra cost, though on a full bus the driver decides what gets in. On association guaguas such as Asotrapusa, which runs Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas in a minibus, space is tighter: the suitcase usually goes at the back or on the roof, so a travel backpack fits better than a rigid 30 kilo case.

The hold tag and why you arrive early

When you hand over a suitcase on Caribe Tours or Metro you usually get a numbered stub, on paper or a sticker, that is checked when you get off. Keep it with your passport: without it, getting your case back at the arrival terminal turns into an argument. On Expreso Bavaro the process is more informal and the driver's helper loads the bags at Cruce de Friusa or in Gazcue. The reason operators ask for 45 minutes to 1 hour of margin is exactly this: the hold fills up in order of arrival. If you show up 10 minutes early with two suitcases, they may end up standing in the aisle or you may be sent to the next bus.

Surfboards and kiteboards: Cabarete and Las Terrenas

Plenty of people arrive in Cabarete or Las Terrenas with their own board. Operators have no written policy on boards, and what we have seen is that it comes down to length and to free space in the hold: a shortboard in a bag usually fits on the Caribe Tours coach to Puerto Plata (4 hours from Santo Domingo), a longboard over 2.5 metres is a matter of luck. On the Asotrapusa minibus to Las Terrenas the roof is the only option, and not always. Our advice: padded bag, fins off, and ask at the counter before buying the ticket, not after. If the answer is no, the fallback is usually a taxi or private transfer, which from Punta Cana runs about 125 to 200 USD.

Bicycles: taken apart and bagged

With a bike the unwritten rule is the same as almost everywhere in the Caribbean: taken apart, wheels off and in a bag or box, it usually rides in the hold, sometimes with a small cash surcharge decided by the driver. Assembled and unpacked, it normally does not get on, especially on full weekend buses. On long legs like Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, 215 km, the hold is opened at intermediate stops, so check that the box has not shifted. Bring zip ties, tape and a chain bag in case something needs adjusting at the terminal. A folding bike in a bag, on the other hand, passes as a large suitcase with any of the operators.

Valuables, and how we handle luggage requests

Passport, money, camera, laptop and medication always travel with you, never in the hold. The air conditioning on the coaches is strong, so a light layer in your hand luggage helps during the 3 or 4 hour ride. When you get off, wait by the hold until you see your suitcase and match the stub. If you request our assisted booking, from 24.95 USD per person and 3 or more days ahead, tell us in the request what bulky items you carry: board, bike, pushchair or more than one suitcase per person. You pay nothing when you ask, and we reply on WhatsApp or email with what the operator tells us for that day, without promising that a specific item will get on.