I arranged for a private transfer for my husband and me from Montero bay to negril. How much should should I tip him?
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I arranged for a private transfer for my husband and me from Montero bay to negril. How much should should I tip him?
For me it depends on what we negotiated for a fair in part. If we stop for food, I like to include the driver for a meal and that never is too much and fun to chat with the driver and know that he (wanted to also say she but never had a female driver as I think back and do not recall any...interesting) ensures we understand the runnings/protocol if needed. The meal can simply be a boxed lunch..oh so good and great value. $10-$20 US is my cash tip. Have great fun and that begins with your ride.
Thank you Boston Bob.
lloyd haughton and wife carol, of lloyd's transportation . . . carol picked us up last time . . . lovely, professional, knowledgeable, came prepared with a stocked cooler of our preferred drinks, stopped for a bathroom and refreshment break . . . that's the only female driver i've had experience with. will use the service again and again.Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBob
Joe Cool Taxi has a female driver. She was very good and I wish I could remember her name. We usually tip $20 each way from Montego Bay to Negril. We will also buy the driver a coconut water if we stop for a roadside beer along the way.
When I schedule it's thru one of the drivers listed here under "Transport". The last several reaches we go with Phillip who is very punctual and who is just a very nice person.
His rates are listed and I tip him an extra $10 to Negril and $10 back to Montego which doesn't incur any stops on the way.
I believe that a 20 dollar tip each way is pretty standard unless the driver ends up being delayed by stopping for our errands, in which case I tip more.
$20 is being very generous. $10 is plenty.Remember, we are not in the States. As my Jamaican friend advised me, Jamaicans work very hard for their money and have little respect for those that throw away their money. A Jamaican would only pay the negotiated price. If you are paying $50-$60 or more for one way, you are paying enough. As one who has to travel the route often, I do not want the fare to become overly inflated due to the extravagance of the once- a- year tourist. Of course, each to his own. The driver would be happy with $5 to $10 for helping with the bags. Most cafes and food shops comp the meal for the driver when he brings tourists in for a meal. Of course, if he sits with you, the establishment charges you. The driver will be rewarded later. Most drivers have their favorite place to stop and are appropriately compensated by the owner.
Yes to each his own. I work hard for my money too and do not consider it throwing money away. I respect your point of view and it is ok with me if they do not respect me for tipping in the manner which I choose. I cannot imagine that disrespect would result in any negative vibe for me. It never has. I love to see the driver happy and when they attend to my 83 year old mom with such respect and willingness to assist Her as though it was their own mom, then yes I love to share what I think is fair. It is not my job to shape the direction of the going price. I just am happy to make those happy who work hard to make us happy without regard to other variables. Respect!
$20 tip? You guys are far more generous than I. When I negotiate a fare, that's the fare. I will usually buy the driver lunch because we always want to stop on the way, but that's about it. If it's someone I really like, I may add $5-10 but no more. Tipping on a negotiated fare just seems crazy to me. I do usually tip route taxi drivers though, since they're on a different sytem.
One can not cover every situation in every post. Of course, extra special service deserves to be rewarded. I think the original post was in regard to general tipping guidelines. That is what I was addressing. If one looks enough, they can find offense where no offense was intended. As far as "throwing away money", I was merely repeating what is apparently the opinion of some Jamaicans. Americans are generally regarded, not just by many Jamaicans, but by tourists from other countries as being rather excessive in their show of tipping.
Upon arrival I tip more because we usually stop at cambio, grocery store. Also I think it's a matter of time. Departure is a drive and drop off, arrivals could be a wide variance in time and if the driver is left waiting that should be valued.
I use a women JUTA driver, named Maxine Johnson, she is the only one I know of, I tip according to how many stops and time it takes, the more time the bigger tip.
Over the years I've tipped my driver tens of thousands of US dollars....but that's another story
Cap
I use a "fair price + 20%" rule. I have been around Jamaica long enough to know what a fair price is for most trips. I usually negotiate for a fair price and then add my 20% brawta. This way, if I feel a likkle overcharged, the brawta is less and the occasional under fair price driver gets more brawta. In either occurrence, both my driver and I feel we are getting a good deal.
Peace and Guidance
Accompong, I really like your answer, but please advise, what do you consider a "fair price". This is the first year we will not be using included transportation and I don't know the fair rates.
Thanks!
Rae
Rae,
You can check with the various drivers in our Transport section, they list their fair fares. (grin)
http://negril.com/transport/
$50-60US for 2 persons from mbj to negril. Most drivers should not have any problem with a quick stop or 2 along the way for that price.... in my experience. I usually tip the same as I would in the US depending on rate and level of service. More service=more price/more tip (if price is cheap)...crap service=cheaper price/and or less tip.
Yea my price from mbj to negril is 30 $. I tip 10$ on way cause of two stops to get items of need. 20$. Is a bit steep but generous . I travel solo so I think I'm fair if it's a group 20$ would be my norm
Thanks so much everyone. Five more days!!
Sometimes my driver just wants a piece of sweets for a trip down the road! :cool:
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Peace and Guidance
Nice Accompong. Needed that laugh my friend.
I think we've had this same discussion many times before...
The drivers we use are self-employed and own their own vehicles.
The US IRS allows 56 cents per mile for total car expenses, including depreciation. I don't think it's cheaper to buy and operate a car in Jamaica than in the US (and Rob, or someone else who lives there, if you disagree, I'd love to have you weigh in on this point). So if our driver comes from Negril to pick us up and take us back to Negril, or the reverse, I figure it's 100+ miles so his actual cost is $56. for the car, plus half a day of his time (as he is spending time waiting at the airport so he's there when we make it through customs and immigration). Given that personal service, I always pay $100., and more if we have him make stops on the way. And you know, I think the driver is happy to see us, rather than disrespecting us because we are paying over the going rate. :)
For comparison, if the two of us were to take the airport limousine shared bus service to the regional airport 55 miles from us, it's $85. per person each way. $130. per person round trip if we pay in advance. And the driver would also expect a tip.
I know people think I'm stupid for doing this, but it leaves me feeling as if I have treated someone fairly. And that's how I like to feel on vacations.
Purchasing a vehicle in Jamaica comparatively to the US is approx. double the sticker price...and I'm not even going to get into the cost of financing a vehicle here...nevermind the cost of gas and insurance being alot more....oyyyy....:)