I think I will try JUTA, like in the old days.

Way back in the days, when I first came to Jamaica I used to get the voucher coupons from my travel agent. "Now Mark, give one to your driver and one to the hotel.

That was many moons ago. Since then, I have used private charters, family and of course my main man Nick.

After 8 years I thought I would give JUTA another try.

So, this November, 2012 i did it.

Hey, it's only $18.00 one way, why not?

So, before I left Chicago I logged on to the JUTA website and clicked for a regular transfer going to Negril for one person.

Next day I received an email saying thanks and to go to the JUTA desk at #17 in the big hall after you clear the last custom desk.

I did just that.

There was a nice lady who asked me if I needed help.

I said "Yeah, where is desk #17?

She pointed to the other side of this big desk/counter.

I wheeled my bags around to the other side and saw #15, #16 then "voila"# 17.

But, there was nobody there.

The lady sitting at 16 said "oh, they will be back shortly.

Ok, cool. I started looking around and noticed another lady with a walkies-talkie in her hands.

She was a co-coordinator of sorts on the floor.

She saw me waiting with that silly Markospoon grin on my face.

I showed her the email confirmation and she started talking in the walkie-talkie.

She pointed to a man with about 4 suitcases on a cart and said "follow this man when he leaves to go outside"

Cool, so I leaned against the counter and waited.

A tourist guy was standing next to him and said I am waiting for my pals, they went to get beers from some place inside the area.

So, after 5-10 minutes this other guy and girl come over with plastic cups filled with beer.

"Lets go to the bus they said"

So, all of us followed the suitcase dude to the outside.

You wait here, next to this bus the man said.

He led the other guest someplace else.

A bus driver opened the back and put my suitcase inside.

It will be just a moment he said.

So, I leaned against the bus and started to look around.

There were all kinds of buses, little ones and big ones. All kinds of drivers walking and talking and ladies with walkie-talkies all over the outside "staging area".

We are waiting on 2 more people the driver said.

After about 10 minutes the driver opened the back of his bus, took out my suitcase and we walked over to another bus that had 2 people sitting in it already.

The first driver put my suitcase in the back and opened the door for me.

I hopped in.

Soon we were on our way to Negril!!!

we made a pit-stop along the way for beer and bathroom and had a nice pleasant ride into town.

Wee dropped the other 2 riders at Beeches or something like that.

When we arrived at my hotel, I gave the driver a $20.00 and said see you later.

All in all it was not bad at all.

I ve used Juta in the past and generally been satisfied. A few times I've been forced to wait 20 or 30 minutes -- I am not so crazy about that -- but never much longer. How long was your total wait time?

Hey Gerryg,

Total inside was about 5-10 minutes (thanks to the beer tourist folks) and outside was about 15 minutes.

the only time I used JUTA it was almost an hour wait. Luckily the driver had red stripe. But they were $4 red stripe lol.


On the way home this last trip. I was recommended a driver by someone in Negril who I trust. It was a white plate (I know I know). 5,000J for 2 people. He got us to MoBay in like 55 Minutes. Crazy drive. Worth it though.

I used JUTA recently and it was just about the same experience. I moved from one small bus to a coaster. I was on the phone during the trip but had a great time telling the visitors all the places that "didn't used to be there"

The were about 15 going to one of the AIs for a wedding.

I got dropped off at Cosmo's where Linston was waiting. He wanted to come carry me but for 18.00 it na mek no sense for him to come to Mobay. Beside that he's a Negril - Green Island route cab and would have to take a good part of his day to get me.

All in all JUTA was just fine. That being said......I'm not in a big hurry to get to Negril. On a good day my trip is 8 - 9 hours. door to door. An hour or two won't make any difference. Especially for a long week end. Actually the various delays and changes get me into a Jamaican frame of mind.

If you need someone waiting for you and a private drive to your hotel then JUTA isn't for you but I'll use it.

I've waited nearly an hour for Clives -- both at the airport and coming back when the driver has to hunt down passengers ....

My wait was an hour plus, but the driver was nice and took us to HiLo for only a tip extra, so not bad.