Second disappointment with Clive's transport

You may be correct on the price. Clive's regular/shared one way rate was $15 11-12 years ago when I first started using him, then went to $18, then $20, now $30. From all the searching I've been doing the last few days, he still has the best price other than JUTA.

One more time... no JUTA. Waits of an hour & multiple stops to drop people off along the way create a significant waste of Negril time. The cost savings is not worth the loss of time in getting to Negril. It can easily add another 90 minutes or more on top of the usual drive time to Negril. No thanks.

I guess I have a different view of Juta because of the time they picked us up at the airport. We arrived and were out of the airport by 7:30AM.

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Originally Posted by Crusher

I guess I have a different view of Juta because of the time they picked us up at the airport. We arrived and were out of the airport by 7:30AM.

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I have heard talk of long waits with JUTA but never experienced one and I used them many, many times before switching to Clives. Heck, Clives took me to drop off people at Iberostar before coming to Negril once and I have had to wait for passengers with them as well. I will go back to Juta, I dont mind a couple of drop offs. With my early arrival time this trip, I have some time to waste before check in time anyway!

Clive's has always been very reliable for me. Even when my plane departed MIA 4 hours late & I got in late, my driver was there. That's service! I've had little to no wait when departing from the airport; usually have a private ride even though it's a regular fare. When others have shared the ride w/ me, it's never been a delay or inconvenience. I also like that 99% of the time the driver will also take me on my grocery run before I check in my room. JUTA probably wouldn't do that. Of course, that means more $$$ for the ride but it's worth the convenience. I don't have to spend my first full day in Negril grocery shopping. It's already done.

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Originally Posted by Yvonne

I also like that 99% of the time the driver will also take me on my grocery run before I check in my room. JUTA probably wouldn't do that.

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That's true, the A/I folks "usually" (not always) are reluctant to stop.

I always wait until after everyone else has been dropped off before the shopping. If there's a stop on the way to Negril, it's usually a pit stop :o .

And you're correct... the AI folks want to get there NOW!

I quite enjoy the JUTA ride, extra stops and all. since i'm solo i usually get to ride shotgun and chat with the driver, and i enjoy hearing all the happy chatter of the people in the bus as they ask questions and express their excitement about their upcoming vacation, and i kinda love the ride, passing thru Lucea, seeing and hearing all the sights and sounds, even in traffic, and hearing the driver chat and answer questions to the people on the bus about what they are seeing. For me, the second i'm on the ground my vacation has begun, not only when I arrive to Negril; so I consider that time spent on the ride as part of the vacation, not 'waiting for it to begin'.

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Originally Posted by MissBlue

For me, the second i'm on the ground my vacation has begun, not only when I arrive to Negril; so I consider that time spent on the ride as part of the vacation, not 'waiting for it to begin'.

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I feel the same way. Whenever I get home and think back about a Negril vacation, the ride there is always a very vivid memory .... That said, I like a nice van or car as opposed to a bumpy bus, plus I HATE waiting for anything, so JUTA isn't my fav though i've done it many times ....

I did use Clives this past reach for the first time -- most of the peeps I respected seemed to recommend them -- and Clives did not an excellent job both there and back ... On the way back, we had a pimped-out new van, and that was really nice (thank god he was OK about smoke), though he was 30 minutes late and apologized (I think that's a fair amount of time, so no probs) ....

Did have some bad luck on arrival cause we were waiting on two arrivees that had reserved but never made it out of the gate and/or were a no-show. Driver tried to call the fools, no answer, so we did end up waiting like 45 minutes, but even that part was fun, chatting away with a fellow solo tourist and the nice driver (forgot his name, as by that time it had already been a LONG day ....)

I would recommend Clives ....

Sorry you had a bad experience with Clive's. I use them often and never had a problem - and I travel solo so it's a cheaper trip ($25) but they still have been reliable. Last time I had to make a last minute change, requested a 4am pickup on Christmas eve and I was well off the beaten trail up in the countryside - they were there on time. But no matter who you use, it is a good idea to follow up with a confirmation/reminder call the night before and even the day of travel.

Another option at the airport is the JUTA - round trips are cheaper and they are generally reliable. But sometimes you have to wait for the bus to fill up before you get on your way from the airport.

Sigh... never said the ride to Negril wasn't part of the vacation experience. It's always been one of my favorite parts. I'm also always riding shotgun, enjoying the sights & sounds, looking at familiar places & looking for changes. By the time I arrive in MoBay, I've been up since 1:30/2:00 a.m., sat in MIA for a while (often up to 4 hours but not this trip), & I'm tired. As much as I enjoy the ride, I'm ready to get settled in Negril. Whether I get to Negril at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m., I'm exhausted from the long day.

One thing I really miss on the ride to Negril, is no longer going the back way through the country, then Sav. Ever since the highway was completed & the drive time shortened, this has not been the desired route for drivers. I understand but I still miss that drive.