While I have been travelling to negril for 30 years, i don't have much experience with Taxi's- unmetered, local or otherwise. I do know always negotiate the price first- true for most everything in Jamaica..... Always rented a car for the week, but not bothering this time. Staying at Firefly...what can i expect to pay for a trip into the Hi lo plaza? For a trip to Chicken Lavish or further out on the cliffs?
1.50 to round about and another 1.50 to west end that's what we were paying in February that was for a route taxi
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Remember that route taxis are designed for Jamaicans. In theory tourists should not use them and instead should use a charter taxi. If you are a Jamaican, the following is the most recent pricing that I'm aware of:
Notice of Route Taxi Fare Increase
The Transport Authority wishes to advise the public that effective
Sunday, August 25, 2013 fares for Route Taxis will increase by 25%
from a base rate of $66.00 to $82.50 and a rate per kilometer from $3.60
to $4.50. Examples of the new fares on selected routes are as follows:
Westmoreland
Origin Destination New Fares
GREEN ISLAND GRANGE HILL $ 160.00
ROCK SPRING GRANGE HILL $ 130.00
BEACH ROAD NEGRIL $ 130.00
CAULDWELL NEGRIL $ 205.00
CAVE VALLEY NEGRIL $ 195.00
GRANGE HILL NEGRIL $ 205.00
GREEN ISLAND NEGRIL $ 175.00
LITTLE LONDON NEGRIL $ 130.00
LOGWOOD NEGRIL $ 150.00
MARCH TOWN NEGRIL $ 185.00
NEGRIL SPOT NEGRIL $ 120.00
NORMAN MANLEY
BOULEVARD NEGRIL $ 120.00
ORANGE BAY NEGRIL $ 155.00
ORANGE HILL NEGRIL $ 110.00
SHEFFIELD NEGRIL $ 110.00
WEST END NEGRIL $ 130.00
LANCES BAY NEGRIL $ 245.00
BANBURY SAVANNA LA MAR $ 115.00
BATH SAVANNA LA MAR $ 105.00
BATH MOUNTAIN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 150.00
BETHEL TOWN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 250.00
Westmoreland cont’d
Origin Destination New Fares
BLUEFIELDS SAVANNA LA MAR $ 155.00
BURNT SAVANNAH SAVANNA LA MAR $ 150.00
CAIRN CURRAN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 220.00
CAVE SAVANNA LA MAR $ 140.00
CONTENT SAVANNA LA MAR $ 170.00
CORNWALL MOUNTAIN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 200.00
CULLOUDEN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 205.00
DARLISTON SAVANNA LA MAR $ 185.00
FORT WILLIAM SAVANNA LA MAR $ 125.00
FULLERSFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 180.00
GRANGE SAVANNA LA MAR $ 165.00
GRANGE HILL SAVANNA LA MAR $ 145.00
HERTFORD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 110.00
KENTUCKY SAVANNA LA MAR $ 185.00
LENNOX BIGWOODS SAVANNA LA MAR $ 195.00
LITTLE LONDON SAVANNA LA MAR $ 160.00
LLANDILO HOUSING SCHEME SAVANNA LA MAR $ 105.00
MACKFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 180.00
MORELAND HILL SAVANNA LA MAR $ 165.00
NEGRIL SAVANNA LA MAR $ 210.00
NORMAN MANLEY
BOULEVARD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 245.00
PAUL ISLAND SAVANNA LA MAR $ 195.00
PETERSFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 130.00
PORTERS MOUNTAIN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 165.00
RED HILLS SAVANNA LA MAR $ 180.00
ROARING RIVER SAVANNA LA MAR $ 145.00
SHEFFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 185.00
SHEWSBURY SAVANNA LA MAR $ 140.00
SMITHFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 105.00
WILLAMSFIELD SAVANNA LA MAR $ 145.00
WHITEHORN SAVANNA LA MAR $ 145.00
WHITEHOUSE SAVANNA LA MAR $ 210.00
BEACH ROAD WEST END $ 165.00
NORMAN MANLEY
BOULEVARD WEST END $ 165.00
NEW WORKS WHITE HOUSE $ 150.00
Without getting into Route Taxi's vs. Charters, we usually charter a a taxi for the two us for about $5 ($500 Ja) to go anywhere on the beach from the beach or from the cliffs to anywhere on the cliffs. If we are going from beach to cliffs or cliffs to beach we usually offer $10 ($1000 ja) assuming we're going well past the roundabout. Plus whatever tip you feel is deserved (we'll usual give them at least an extra dollar). If were going just past the roundabout I'll offer the $5 and then slip a dollar or two tip. If they ask for a little more then 5 for that trip I'll say "OK but that includes your tip". We've never been turned down offering these amounts. You can get cheaper rates if you want to play the game but we find offering these rates works for our budget and also for the drivers. I would recommend that if you find a driver you like that you get his number and call them whenever you need a ride.
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
Good advice Kevin. I find the same thing regardless of charter vs. route taxi. If it's late at night and your on the west end and need to go to the beach, you can expect to pay a little more. Maybe $1200 JA or so.
That's where I find using the same driver helps. My driver(s) know that I'll be paying them at least 1200 after tip for that ride and usually don't even want to talk price because they know I'll be paying them fairly. I'm not worried they will jack the price up on me either because they want me calling them for all of my rides.Originally Posted by Craig123
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
That is so true, Kevin. We had a particular driver that we were using during one of our trips. He had heard that I made dinner reservations at Kuyaba for my wife's birthday, and he offered to drive us both ways. After he dropped us off at our hotel on the cliffs after dinner, I asked him how much I owed him. He replied, "Just pay me whatever you want."
You can only get that kind of service in Negril.
There has been plenty of discussion on this board about Route Taxis vs Charter Taxis. Be smart about either one. We never use a Route taxi. Our charter guy will wait for us at the Hi Lo and bring us back for about $ 10 US.
I agree that using the same driver is a great strategy. However, even with a regular dependable operator there could be a rare circumstance where he's unavailable or will be delayed in which case you might still find yourself negotiating on the side of the road. That's part of the Jamaican adventure though.
Don't forget that many restaurants (including Kuyaba) offer at least comp. pickups. Just ask.
