ALL taxis will (try to) overcharge you. If you can't speak some Spanish, you're out of luck. Typically taxis will charge double or triple the normal rate, unless you can communicate and prove that you know the normal price. The list price from the airport is inflated – even if they show you a price list. I paid US$30 for LRM to Bayahide, although we split the fare 3-ways, as I was lucky enough to find make some new friends at the taxi curb.

My first night I was trying to get a taxi to return to Bayahibe from La Romana at about 1a. Having been told that the proper fare is about 300p, I was prepared to hear prices over 1,000p. I first received price quotes of 1,000p and 800p before I found one for 400p.

This turned out to be Hector, one of the few honest taxi drivers (if honest is the right term... maybe it’s not dishonest to quote gringo prices at first), and got his phone number as I used him three times. If you plan to arrive at LRM and will need a taxi to La Romana or to Bayahibe, call one of these taxi drivers, met which I met, in advance as they will be happy to meet you (note, they don’t speak English):

Hector, cell 253-4325, LRM to La Romana 300p, LRM to Bayahibe 500p (600p at night), Bayahibe to La Romana or reverse 400p – tell him you are friends with ‘that American from Miami’ as I told him to expect such a reference.

Martín, cell 454-4684, Bayahibe to LRM 500p, don’t know his rate for other routes.