There are as many different ways to get around Port-au-Prince as there are preferences of travelers.  Some people find that they love the collective taxis (tap taps) which pick up passengers all throughout the city until the car is filled, taking them out of their way to sometimes unique locations based on the destination plans of their fellow travelers.  Often, these people choose to supplement their collective taxi travel with more standard public transportation.  Others find that they prefer to be on their own schedule and opt to rent a car for use in getting around Port-au-Prince.  Still others like the idea of being able to get themselves around but do not want to have to sit inside of a car in heavy traffic, and these people often rent scooters instead of cars to best facilitate getting around.  These are often the same people who disembark from road transportation all together in order to walk around the most concentrated areas of Port-au-Prince.

None of these methods is widely considered to be better than any of the others.  The one thing that should be noted is that social and political instability in the area can lead to times when the public transportation and collective taxi options are greatly diminished.  At these times, car rental becomes almost necessary.  For that reason, travelers should stay aware of current news when planning their trips to the area.  More information on dangers in the area is available at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g14... .