How the vehicle is sized
Our fleet splits at seven passengers, not at luggage volume, because that is where seatbelts run out in a minivan. One to six people ride Standard in an SUV or minivan regardless of bag count within reason; seven to fourteen move to a full passenger van, at Standard +$20 or VIP +$40 on any local destination on the price list.
The surcharge is per vehicle, not per extra passenger. A group of nine to Puerto Plata pays the $85 rate plus $20, not a per-head calculation. That is the same whether the group is nine or fourteen, because it is one van either way.
We do not split a group of eight into two Standard cars unless you ask for it. Splitting the party usually costs more than the van and means two pickup times to coordinate at the airport door.
What actually fits
A Standard SUV or minivan handles four large 23kg checked suitcases plus four carry-ons and a stroller without anyone holding a bag on their lap. Push past that — a fifth large case, a car seat and a stroller together — and the trunk runs out before the seats do.
The van (seven to fourteen passengers) carries roughly double that: eight to ten large suitcases plus carry-ons is routine. It is also the right call for six passengers with an unusually heavy bag count, even though six people alone would normally be Standard — tell us the case count and we will suggest the van if the math needs it.
Oversized items do not count against the suitcase total but they do take a seat's worth of floor or roof space: a golf bag, a surfboard bag, a folded wheelchair or a full-size stroller each effectively use the room of one extra passenger. Two golf bags in a four-person Standard car is fine; two golf bags plus a surfboard in the same car usually is not.
Sporting gear, mobility equipment and strollers
Golf bags travel free and are common on runs to Santiago's golf hotels and to Playa Dorada, where several resorts sit on golf courses. A hard travel case is easier to load than a soft bag with loose clubs, but either works — just tell us the number of bags.
Surfboards and kitesurf gear need the same advance notice for guests heading to Cabaret's Kite Beach or Encuentro — a board bag over 7 feet does not fold and needs either a van's rear bench folded down or the roof. Wheelchairs, whether manual and foldable or a larger power chair, ride free; a power chair that does not disassemble may need the van even for a couple traveling alone.
Strollers are routine and free. A single umbrella stroller adds nothing to the calculation; a double stroller or a car-seat-and-stroller combo is worth mentioning if you are already at four passengers and four suitcases.
Two-hotel drops and split parties
Groups traveling together but staying at two different destinations are common — a wedding party at a Santiago hotel with the rest of the family in Puerto Plata, or grandparents at a different property in the same town. One van can do both drops on one pickup within the same destination; we add about 15 to 20 minutes to the run for the second stop and confirm a single price that covers the whole trip.
Tell us both hotel names and the order you would prefer at booking. If the two hotels are in genuinely different destinations — say, Santiago and Puerto Plata — this stops being a single fare and becomes two bookings, because the drive time and price genuinely double. We will flag that on WhatsApp before you confirm anything.
Car seats and children
Car seats are free and do not count against the six- or fourteen-passenger caps, but they do take up a full seating position once installed, so a family of six with two car seats effectively needs the room of eight. Tell us the children's ages and we bring the right seat sizes fitted before you land.
What to send us at booking
One WhatsApp message covers it: flight number, total passenger count, number of large suitcases, any golf bags/boards/wheelchairs/strollers, whether it is one hotel or two, and the ages of any children needing a car seat. That is enough for us to confirm Standard or van and the exact price before you fly.
The only thing we cannot fix after the fact is a vehicle sized wrong at the curb — if six adults and eight suitcases turn up expecting a car we quoted for four, the driver cannot conjure a second vehicle on the spot.
Local-destination rates with the group surcharge
| Zone | Drive time | Standard | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago de los Caballeros | 15–25 min | $25 | $59 |
| Licey / Tamboril | 10–20 min | $25 | $59 |
| La Vega | 30–45 min | $45 | $89 |
| Jarabacoa | 60–80 min | $89 | $149 |
| Puerto Plata / Playa Dorada | 60–80 min | $85 | $145 |
| Sosúa | 75–95 min | $95 | $159 |
| Cabarete | 85–105 min | $105 | $169 |
| Santo Domingo (city or SDQ) | 2.25–2.75 h | $175 | $269 |
One-way, per vehicle, taxes included. 1–6 passengers: Standard/VIP base rate. 7–14 passengers: add $20 Standard or $40 VIP on local destinations.
Price is per vehicle, one-way, taxes included. 7–14 pax uses a van: Standard +$20 / VIP +$40 on local zones; quoted in the form.
Send the flight, get the price in writing
Hotel name, flight number, date and party size. We reply with the fixed rate, track the flight and meet you inside arrivals with a name sign. Pay the driver on arrival.
Book on WhatsAppQuestions we get on this
- How many suitcases fit in a Standard car?
- About four large 23kg suitcases plus four carry-ons and a stroller, for up to six passengers. Add a golf bag or a fifth large case and mention it at booking — we may suggest the van.
- What does the van cost compared to a Standard car?
- The van (7-14 passengers) adds $20 to the Standard rate or $40 to VIP, on local destinations near Santiago.
- Do golf bags or surfboards cost extra?
- No, they ride free, but each takes roughly the space of one extra passenger. Tell us the count so we send a vehicle with room for them.
- Can one van pick up from two hotels?
- Yes. We add about 15 to 20 minutes to the run and confirm one price covering both stops, provided the hotels are in the same destination.
- Do wheelchairs and strollers cost extra?
- No, both are free. A power wheelchair that does not fold may push a small group toward the van — mention the model or weight at booking.
- What should I send you before booking a group transfer?
- Flight number, passenger count, suitcase count, any golf bags/boards/wheelchairs/strollers, one or two hotels, and children's ages for car seats.