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Well, never mind that I have been to Negril half a dozen times before, my friend Lori decided that only her husband (who isn't going, by the way) can decide ably enough what our transfers will be, and this is the company he booked with, so anyone that can tell me anything about them would greatly appreciate it. So much for having a fun ride in with red stripes and smoke..
http://www.viator.com/tours/Montego-...-3316MBJAPTRND
So now I have to pay $29.99 to go on a shared bus ride with a total stranger and have to wait for others too, when if Lori and I had just paid FIVE BUCKS MORE EACH we could have gotten a private driver! Yah, I'm a little pissed.
Never used them (never heard of them) Price is reasonable. I don't know why they are talking about "skip the long lines at the airport?" Long lines for transfer services? You may end up with a private ride if no one else reserves.
Cancel the reservation and book a private ride
I wasn't the one who made them, my friend's husband was, but he's not going, she's going to be spending the first eight nights with me at Grand Pineapple, and after that, I will have two weeks on my own in Negril, and he already did it on his card....I would LOVE to cancel it but I wasn't the one who made it... :(
It looks like the $30.00us is round trip...which is something that you did not want...correct?
I've heard of Viator...but don't know anyone that has used them.
My two cents...
If he's so dead set on you both riding with this shuttle then HE should pay your way.
I know it stinks that you have to abide by his controlling ways for your friend's benefit, but the very least he can do is pay.
Try to enjoy yourself anyway...
oh well you KNOW I won't be using it for the return trip home, that's for sure, lolol! ;)
LOL, good thing it's only the ride into Negril....once you get there, you're there!!! Yeahbaby
How did he become so deadset on this particular driving service?
I think I would just tell her "I'll meet you at Grand Pineapple.... you enjoy yo ride & I'll enjoy mine!" :)
Actually, 29 bucks for round-trip is not bad at all .....
no, it's not a bad price, just not really my preference for travel is all..but I'll make the best of it. ;)
as long as you get there - sit back and enjoy the ride - you might even see something new - i like to sit up by the driver on the big buses so i can't see the tourists
also let her book any tours she wants to go on through GP - then she'll have company on the bus - and you can do your thing for the day without her
remember jamaica - no problem :-)
oh and i would let her know - this is my budget - and that's it -- anything over and above that - either you pay or i don't go
oh definitely, I have to live on my money for two weeks after she leaves, so one excursion shared, getting my hair possibly braided, and sharing a parasailing trip would be it for me, after that, my money has to get me to live on!
and I did let her know earlier that there is a dolphin cove she could go to to swim with dolphins if she wanted, but that there was no way I would participate, but would be cool just chillin at the hotel that day....
one "big bus" ride - i did the whole tour from montego bay until negril - pointing out spots of interest - the driver was cracking up - he was like - i can see you've been here a few times - lol
I know I'll be doing that, lol! :D
You will have a good time and heck she may too. Next time she can go with her husband. I hope what they charged you for your portion is truly what it cost and you are not paying anymore.
I used clives last time and it was suppose to be a group and no one else showed up so not only did I get 3 beer I had my own personal driver....was a beautiful welcome to Jamaica I tell y..everything happens for reason.they are an awesome group.
Yeah, I think Clives is a really good service. All factors considered, particularly price and free beverages and long-time reputation, and Clives is hard to beat.
that is what I would think too..........gonna be one long ass ride.........Quote:
Originally Posted by negrilaholic
waiting for the bus to fill up at the airport.........always one or two stragglers.....add a half hour to an hour.........maybe more
waiting at one of the rest stops / bars for everyone to board again.........half hour stop and boarding.......maybe more
and then waiting to drop off a bus load of people at different locations as the bus makes it way down the beach and up da Cliffs........
ten minutes times the number of fares.......adds half hour to an hour or maybe more to the transfer..........
so potentially an hour ride out to Negril will now take...........
a minimum of 2 1/2 hours or maybe as much as 3 1/2+ hours to arrive at your Resort......ugh
and that can be the difference between getting there for Sunset........or No Sunset........
or Happy Hour ..........or No Happy Hour.......
or seeing the beautiful ride out to Negril..........or not seeing anything cause it's dark out.........
or getting there so late that you don't feel like going out your first night (hush gerry)
for these reasons and more......you'll never see this guy use this Viator company........
because how many times in ones life do you actually go on vacation?
Cool Runnings, Marko
actually when I used Kenny in Jan/Feb he was only charging $60 one way for like three people..........so that is $20 a piece........Quote:
Originally Posted by negrilaholic
so it be $40 round trip for each person......plus him gives you a free refreshment and the best tour of anyone.........
so for a few extra dollars over Viator you'd get superior quality time in Jamaica and a new friend.........Kenny!
Cool Runnings, Marko
after more researching mi find this Viator group is associated with Holiday Tours .......
sounds like they also use a bank of drivers with their own autos/vans that shuttle people around from the airport too..........
so I would say their direct competition would be JUTA.......
don't confuse Holiday Tours with Tropical Tours or Sun Holiday tours.....a ton of tour companies in Jamaica......
Cool Runnings, Marko
oh well, it's a done deal, he already paid for it for Lori and for me, so I guess that's what I'll do on the way in, but will DEFINITELY be going with a separate private driver even if it means I pay $60 for a ride back by myself, as long as that means that the vacation will end on a good note, to me it's worth it, so I won't be using them for the return trip since Lori and I will be returning at separate times. :)
Now I just need to find out if she still wants to do an excursion together, was in the process of getting together info for a dolphin search/ys falls trip, and got the price estimate from Captain Dennis and sent it on to her, but that is just for his part of it, we still need to find out how much it will be for the driver and then add in the afternoon costs with the YS part of it, which will run up there in costs, but to me it will be worth it. I have been to YS falls twice before, and just know that is something she will love and seems to me it would be about her style, and the dolphin search well I did something similiar in '06 when I went with my daughters, and it was really cool to see the dolphins in their natural environment rather than in a cage where they are treated horribly and half die during the training process, so I am hoping that as long as Lori sees dolphins, she won't mind it not being in a 'structured environment' but more out in the wild..
Anyone that will be in Negril between August 10th to 18th and would like to do something like that and join with us in an excursion too please let me know too. :)
So I talked with Captain Dennis and his charge for the boat part wouldbe $75 for one to two people, and $105 for three (or more I would presume?) How much would be an average or decent price for a private driver to take us to the South Coast for the boat part of it, then on to YS falls for the afternoon?
I would hit up Kingsley James. He had a deal where you did the South Coast with him and you received a free ride to the airport. I think I just solved your problem of a crappy ride in. Hit him up, I'm sure he will make u a fine deal. His company is Take Care Tours.
Well, I'm stuck with the ride in, and will make the best of it, but will consider him for doing a tour and then the ride back possibly...
Only if you choose to be stuck. This is your trip, not his or hers.Quote:
Originally Posted by negrilaholic
hey just my 2 cents, I have had some great rides on Juta with really entertaining drivers. I sit up front with the driver like Seveen--best vantage point ever. I bring a couple of my own redstripes and often there is a stop at a rumbar. One trip one of the passengers bought some sub sandwich material from the driver en route--and while he didn't spark it en route while driving, he did at the rumbar stop. Anyhow I have had positive experiences, short waits and and a fun vibe for the most part with Juta--though some AI folks looked at me like I was an alien. Some rides back were just me and one other couple. But it is true, you get saddled with some pretty straight laced AI guests. I had fun with that too, though.
Well per my latest email from my friend, the dolphin search part is off because it's too far I guess? Anyway, so it's YS falls alone, so it will save me some money, and I know she will like that, it's pretty 'civilized' and built up...even though I've been there twice, I still don't mind going again..will love it as a matter of fact, it is one of my favorite places in the world, and if I ever win the lotto I think I'll just move there, lol! ;)
let it flow - let it flow - let it flow
your friend may get sand gravity
or be gripped with fear and afraid to leave the protective arms of the A/I - lol
true that, but either way, I'll be in Negril, I'll be in Jamaica, so every likkle ting will be all right! ;)