Gettin' down with the rentals on Dominica.

April 27, 2008 4:48 AM

Should I rent a car during an upcoming visit to the island of Dominica?

I'm interested in experiencing the standard touristy fare--exploring the island, visiting the easier hiking trails, making my way to restaurants for meals.

I've been watching videos like this one to acquaint myself with the rigors of driving in Dominica, and have a modicum of experience in driving in developing countries. I'm more interested in whether 1) cost-wise and 2) convenience-wise it makes sense to rent. And any caveats on dealing with rental agencies, of course.

posted by Gordion Knott to Travel & Transportation around Dominica (2 answers total)

We rented a car when we went to Dominica a few years ago and had a great experience. Some points for you:

(1) As for convenience: having your own car makes everything a lot more accessible - particularly hikes on the interior like Boiling Lake and the various Falls. It also allows you to do several activities in a single day, rather than relying on the (spotty) public transport or hiring a driver.

(2) As for cost: it wasn't cheap, but didn't break the bank, since there are no major international car rental agencies on Dominica. We rented a Grand Vitara for US$56/day from a local agency that had a branch at Melville Hall Airport and one in Roseau.

(3) If you do rent, it is worth it to rent an SUV. That video is a pretty good approximation of driving in Dominica, but the roads are frequently in considerably worse shape than in the video, especially in the interior.

(4) We got two flat tires while we were there, so make sure that the car is in good shape and has a good spare! Our agency was pretty good about the flat tires - we took the car to them in Roseau and they had them fixed within an hour, no extra charge - but it can't hurt to work out beforehand what will happen in case of a breakdown.

(4) If you have experience driving in developing countries it should be fine. Remember that they drive on the left!

In sum: yes, its worth it, and its a lot of fun. BTW, we stayed here and loved it. Have a great trip!
posted by googly at 6:26 AM on April 27, 2008

I have been to Dominica several times albeit not for a few years. Forget about public transport. If you don't want to miss out on most of the island; hiring a car is a must; and well worth it. A jeep is probably the way to go as not only are they more rugged + have 4 wheel drive but they are lighter to push if you slide off the road!. Dominica is a beautiful rugged island and off the major roads its easy to get punctures. Enjoy.
posted by adamvasco at 7:35 AM on April 27, 2008