I have microscopic experience of the DR, but our trip earlier this year (with BA Holidays) had our airport transfer booked with Amstar ... who are clearly a major player in this field.
https://www.amstardmc.com/airport-transfers/punta-cana/
Trip report extract ...
And so to Ground Transfers. Never seen anything like it …. a long row of desks, like an airport check-in zone, for the various companies. How many desks? Must have been 20 at least, all with overhead LED displays like you see in Departures. Anyway, we’re with Amstar, all staff in their distinctive blue flowered shirts [as per the BA Holidays voucher!]. I wave the voucher at a Señor, he checks computer, he says go see him … Señor 2 takes us across the Arrivals area and gives us to Señor 3. At this point we beg for a moment in a clearly evident smoking zone for some stress relief (and a quick trip to the Gents, as there’s a 1 hour bus ride to come!)! And then Señor 3 hands us and case to Señor 4, and we get on the Coach. (There may be an extra Señor in that process … after the passport debacle i was a bit stressed).
We’re on the road! Smart Coach. Nice safe driver. Good roads. Just 3 hotels to drop the others off [sorry to have kept you all waiting!] at three resorts along the way … the ones on the Strip that is Punta Cana/Bavaro and look as though they hired a WW2 German architect. And they’re horribly HUGE!
No idea about “local running” as we stayed in our resort the whole time. I could guess your Concierge/Front Desk will have a local and reliable contact for that. I’m guessing you may be with AM Resorts and their ‘Endless Privileges’?
My full TR (as a first time visitor) is here ...
Where’s the Dominican Republic? Oh, there it is!
We’ve re-booked for next February, provided various Covid-19 factors actually let us get there from UK!!