Island Transportation
Riding and Driving on Dominica is not for the faint-of-heart.
There are 4 ways to get where you are going on Dominica: Drivers for Hire / Taxis, Car Rental, Local Transport and Hitchhiking. Visitors should note that hitchhiking is commonly practiced, island-wide, by many locals (and some visitors) ranging in age from very young school children to adults.
Note that traffic drives on the LEFT side of the road on Dominica.
Car Rental / Drivers for Hire / Taxis / Local Transport
There are 4 ways to get where you are going on Dominica: Drivers for Hire / Taxis, Car Rental, Local Transport and Hitchhiking. Visitors should note that hitchhiking is commonly practiced, island-wide, by many locals (and some visitors) ranging in age from very young school children to adults.
Note that traffic drives on the LEFT side of the road on Dominica.
Car Rental / Drivers for Hire / Taxis / Local Transport
Car Rental
Don't be deterred, just be really, really careful!
Read More About ► Driving on Dominica
There are several places to rent a car while visiting Dominica including the Melville Hall airport (east coast), Roseau and Portsmouth (west coast) areas.
Create Car Rental list
A local driver's permit is required to rent car. Permits can be purchased (there is not test) / (valid for one month) from the car rental company. Or, from the Vehicle Licensing Office in Roseau. Cost: EC$30 (US$12)
Gas stations are scattered about Dominica; visitors might find them difficult to locate. There are several gas stations in and near to Roseau... can't locate one, inquire. There are 2 located in Portsmouth: one beside the National Bank of Dominica, and near the Indian River and one near the bus stop.... one (central west coast) in St. Joseph, in the village across from the Catholic Church along the coast; Jimmit, directly along the main west coast road; and a couple in the Calibishie area (northeast coast). Keep your tanks topped-off as gas stations frequently run out of gas & diesel until a tanker transport arrives to replenish supplies.
Note that though car rental offices are located in one area of the island that many businesses will arrange to pick you up and bring you to their office for little or no charge OR, will bring a car and meet you at the airport or wherever you are lodging.
Don't be deterred, just be really, really careful!
Read More About ► Driving on Dominica
There are several places to rent a car while visiting Dominica including the Melville Hall airport (east coast), Roseau and Portsmouth (west coast) areas.
Create Car Rental list
A local driver's permit is required to rent car. Permits can be purchased (there is not test) / (valid for one month) from the car rental company. Or, from the Vehicle Licensing Office in Roseau. Cost: EC$30 (US$12)
Gas stations are scattered about Dominica; visitors might find them difficult to locate. There are several gas stations in and near to Roseau... can't locate one, inquire. There are 2 located in Portsmouth: one beside the National Bank of Dominica, and near the Indian River and one near the bus stop.... one (central west coast) in St. Joseph, in the village across from the Catholic Church along the coast; Jimmit, directly along the main west coast road; and a couple in the Calibishie area (northeast coast). Keep your tanks topped-off as gas stations frequently run out of gas & diesel until a tanker transport arrives to replenish supplies.
Note that though car rental offices are located in one area of the island that many businesses will arrange to pick you up and bring you to their office for little or no charge OR, will bring a car and meet you at the airport or wherever you are lodging.
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Renting a car while in Dominica? Some points of consideration , if you(r). . .
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You can easily make arrangements to have your rental car dropped off at your lodging location or the rental agency will help you pick up your car in Roseau or Portsmouth.
Why? Chances are that if you arrive after 4pm, go through customs, claim your luggage, (or file a claim if you have lost luggage) do car rental paperwork etc., that it could very well be near to or dark before departing the airport premises. If you are unaccustomed to driving on Dominica, note that it takes a long time to go just about anywhere. Drivers inexperienced with driving on the left and or Dominica, should anticipate extended driving times in arriving at final destination: Create driving time image list |
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Private Hire / Taxis: arrangements can easily be made for private hire and or taxi service, however, one must generally make arrangements ahead of time. Visitors will find several available private hire / taxi opportunities at the airport and some locations in Roseau and Portsmouth. For visitors, private hire is a very good way to sight-see, etc. Expect to pay between $40-$75 US for a full day - negotiate the price before beginning your journey! Generally a taxi hire from Melville Hall airport to the west coast will be $35 to $50 US. Sometimes, a per-person rate can be negotiated. Dominica's drivers are friendly... visit with them about price and, during your journey, about Dominica in general.
One of the best ways to secure Private Hire is to inquire at your place of lodging or ask for recommendation from someone you know on the island. Alexis George: Taxi & Private Hire Office: 767-445-6303 / GeorgeAlexis@hotmail.com Cell: 767-235-5326 or 767-616-5326 Portsmouth / Island-wide |
Local Transport (LT): Larger vans act as buses on Dominica and cost from EC $1.50 to (.55 cents US) to EC $12 ($3.85 US) - depending how distance traveled. Local Transports run to all points across the island. The most frequented route, however, is main west coast road between Roseau & Portsmouth and points in-between.
There are NO set schedules but LT, generally, is easily secured between 7a and 6p Monday- Saturday. Frequency declines 7p-9p. (More infrequent on Sundays and holidays). There are designated LT / bus-stops (most often dilated shacks) but transports will stop and drop-off just about anywhere there is a request. To board, just wait along the road somewhere and stick a hand out as one approaches. Note that many LT drivers don't understand safety and drive however they want... and, that many transports are on their last leg. Non-the-less, a majority of Dominica's populace and some visitors rely on Local Transport as their main mode of transportation. Don't ride in the front seat! |
