By Car in Santo Domingo

You do not want a car in Santo Domingo, where both parking and traffic are very problematic, but you can rent a car in Santo Domingo to explore the country at your own pace. Most major car-rental companies have outlets at Las Américas Airport outside Santo Domingo since this is the airport of choice for most independent travelers who are likely to rent cars.

You can expect to pay as little as $55 for a manual compact car, $85 for an automatic with insurance, or $125 for an SUV from a major like Budget. You may also save money by renting from a local agency, but some travelers prefer the comfort of renting from a known quantity. It's usually cheaper to book your car in advance or book in conjunction with your hotel stay. If you want to rent a car for a day, you can often do so at a car-rental desk at your hotel and have it delivered.

Local Agencies

MC Auto Rental Car (Las Américas Airport. 809/549-8911. www.mccarrental.com). Nelly Rent-a-Car (Las Américas Airport. 809/530-0036; 800/526-6684 in U.S.)

Major Agencies

Avis (Las Américas Airport. 809/549-0468). Budget (Las Américas Airport. 809/549-0351). Europcar (Las Américas Airport. 809/549-0942). Hertz (Las Américas Airport. 809/549-0454.)