Cab pricing around Negril

As I have my breakfast and read all the trip reports, I cant help but notice the cab prices are all over the place.No consistent price. Last time I was down, I believe it was in 2012, it costed $1 American per leg to get to the round-about. So no matter where you were, you could grab a taxi,take it to the round-about for $2 American per person. I then tipped him another dollar per person. Can someone please explain what the going rate should be so the taxi drivers and the tourists are getting a fair price.

limmeex2- great question as we really paid a lot for taxi this trip as we had no idea what we should be paying and if you don't use a route taxi what should be the going rate for in town rides (like Treehouse to sweet spice) or to the cliffs. I was hoping to find a good driver this trip but didn't have the luck.

Route taxi's in Negril area are 130J per leg, per person. After dark the price goes up (for tourists) to about 200J per leg. Regular non route red plates are around double that. Just negotiate, and don't be afraid to walk away, that usually changes their tune.

I believe the current route rate is J$130 which with the exchange rate is about US$1.10.
If you want a ride beyond the route everything is negotiable.
I too always tip one routes worth per person.

Ras, it's 130J per route per person.

Route cab prices are regulated. It's kind of like taking a bus is in the US. That said, I always tip if I take one, even if it's just an extra $100 JMD. Beyond the route cabs, or in a route cab but going beyond its route, everything is just a negotiation.

Before you get too much into "what is a fair price" - there are vast differences in the way the person drives, the type and condition of the vehicle, etc. If we take a van or larger car, we expect to pay more. If the vehicle is new and clean, we expect to pay more.

Are you comfortable with, and do you feel safe with the driver? If he drives conservatively, I would pay more. I've ridden with someone who drove like a maniac - but only once!

Is the driver going out of his way to make himself available to you? If he's waiting for you when you're done with dinner, that's worth something.

As to taking cabs from your hotel - your hotel, I would guess, is charging them for the privilege of waiting and being available to you, and (I would hope) has vetted the drivers and cars. That's worth something.

I know very well how easy it is to go home with some nagging unhappiness thinking that someone took advantage of me, when the truth is that I spent $3500. for a really good week and now I'm getting upset that except for one incident I could have spent only $3450. I have pretty much learned to simply consider that somebody in Jamaica had a good week because I was there, and feel good about that.

Cabs are especially a tricky issue because no matter what I do in Jamaica, they're still cheaper and faster - sometimes by a lot! - than taking one at home. And the amount I spend on cabs is inconsequential compared to finding out that the guy in the seat next to you on the airplane paid $364. for his round-trip ticket booking 3 weeks in advance, when you paid $562. each booking 5 months in advance after watching fare prices for 2 months...

Too get anywhere, I have a few drivers on dial while in negril. Butter 876-320-0634 and Biggs 876-410-0536

We always stay on the beach

500 j anywhere on beach and 1000 j anywhere on cliff...This is the rate I pay too any driver for two people but do tip if I'm tipsy lol and the service is good.my 1st visit 7 years back I didn't research and was paying $30 one way USA when we got married at couples.no sense over paying but do tip!

Just paid 700 dollars from German Bar to Seastar at my suggestion. I think that is fair for a charter.

I don't tip route taxi's in Negril, although I have paid for school kids when they are headed to or from school. I will tip on longer routes like to Sav or Lucea, as it seems to me those route drivers get less money per KM. Just my opinion.
Regards,
Bob

We usually pay 150-200j/pp during the day, depending on whether the driver is friendly or not. Not that it's much of a tip I guess, but it all adds up.

wrtiii, BRAVO!!! Well said!

This past June I took Route Taxis day or night if it was just myself or one other, BUT we always hired a taxi through Coco La Palm at $40 US round trip when we were headed out for dinner. The girls were dressed up and didn't want to get into just any route taxi out on Norman Manley Blvd. They wanted an Air Conditioned Van that was clean. I'm not saying Route Taxis aren't clean, but some could use a little elbow grease and most didn't have Air Conditioning. The week we were in Negril, Air conditioning was necessary.

I always tip a route taxi driver at least $100 J per person over the fare and ask them to please give a student a ride to school.

Enjoy,

VVHT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wrtiii

Route cab prices are regulated. It's kind of like taking a bus is in the US. That said, I always tip if I take one, even if it's just an extra $100 JMD. Beyond the route cabs, or in a route cab but going beyond its route, everything is just a negotiation.

Before you get too much into "what is a fair price" - there are vast differences in the way the person drives, the type and condition of the vehicle, etc. If we take a van or larger car, we expect to pay more. If the vehicle is new and clean, we expect to pay more.

Are you comfortable with, and do you feel safe with the driver? If he drives conservatively, I would pay more. I've ridden with someone who drove like a maniac - but only once!

Is the driver going out of his way to make himself available to you? If he's waiting for you when you're done with dinner, that's worth something.

As to taking cabs from your hotel - your hotel, I would guess, is charging them for the privilege of waiting and being available to you, and (I would hope) has vetted the drivers and cars. That's worth something.

I know very well how easy it is to go home with some nagging unhappiness thinking that someone took advantage of me, when the truth is that I spent $3500. for a really good week and now I'm getting upset that except for one incident I could have spent only $3450. I have pretty much learned to simply consider that somebody in Jamaica had a good week because I was there, and feel good about that.

Cabs are especially a tricky issue because no matter what I do in Jamaica, they're still cheaper and faster - sometimes by a lot! - than taking one at home. And the amount I spend on cabs is inconsequential compared to finding out that the guy in the seat next to you on the airplane paid $364. for his round-trip ticket booking 3 weeks in advance, when you paid $562. each booking 5 months in advance after watching fare prices for 2 months...

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As a general rule I use the following guideline for travel around Negril and rarely do I get turned down. We typical travel as couple but I will break down per person.

US$2.00 per person per route (Beach to beach or cliffs to cliffs)

Additional US$1.00 per person if going from Beach to cliffs or cliffs to beach (i.e. trips between the two routes)

That works out to:

US$2.00 per person to go from beach to beach OR cliffs to cliffs
US$5.00 per person from beach to cliffs or cliffs to beach

Again, this only a guideline and your experience may vary based on other factors.

Some factors that may raise rates:

Tips (obviously)
Making your driver wait for you
The later it gets the more drivers will charge so expect higher rates at night or whenever available taxi's are limited.
Traveling from outskirts of the beach to the outskirts of Cliffs and vice versa.


Some factor that will keep rates lower:

Using the same driver
Letting the driver know you don't need a private ride if you don't mind them picking up passengers along the way.

Again, just a guideline. Each driver is free to charge whatever they want for any chartered ride.

mi don't use dem much cause mi have a bicycle.......but trying to get a taxi in the wee hours of da morning is ruff on da Cliffs/West End Rd/One Love Drive.....
been out too many times to the wee hours of the morning on da Cliffs/West End Rd and some of those times waited 1+ hour to get a taxi......ugh
FYI.......from the Negril Bus Park near the Police Station.......mi have been paying $200J's to go to Sav.......yah mon

Cool Runnings, Marko