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Hey Boardies gotta question...
This will be my 4th trip to JA, but I have never taken a route taxi. My question is how will I know which car is a route taxi? Is it only cars with the red plates? Is the standard fare 100J per person? I usually walk to most places on the beach road, but I wanna spend time venturing off on the cliffs, and that may be too far to walk.
Thanks guys!:)
it's not **just** the red plate -- a route taxi will also have a little picture/graphic on the side doors that shows which *route* is the one they travel on. You can also just confirm with driver as they stop for you - by asking. That way they won't either assume, or attempt to charge for, a private ride.
fare is $J 100. per person per route -- if going from beach to cliffs, that is two routes -- so it would be $200. (technically you would get out at the downtown taxi stand near the roundabout, and get into a "cliffs route" taxi , but sometimes you can go straight through if you ask driver; sometimes for a little more $)
Hi Honey..yes red plates are route taxis. Usually cost 100J from roundabout to beach or cliffs. If you go from the cliffs to the beach, you may have to get off at the roundabout and get into a taxi going to the beach (would cost 200J) ... route taxis are fun to ride in....
My 3 suggestions to get from the beach to the cliffs:
1. Take the beach taxi to the bus park. In the bus park you will be guided to a West End taxi.
2. Ask the beach road taxi driver to drop you off 'plaza side' - they will take you to the ValuMaster parking lot. Cross the street next to VM toward the Cambio, and go to the first taxi heading out of that parking lot (as if you were walking to Scotia Bank). Other drivers in the lot will try to catch your attention so I figure, follow the protocol by going to the front of the taxi lineup.
3. From 'plaza side' drop-off, instead of getting in another taxi, you can simply start walking toward the West End. There are bars, shops and plazas very near to town that you would miss if you just got in a taxi. When you reach Sunshine Plaza (where HiLo and other shops are), that is a good place to get in a route taxi, to take you further west. If there are a bunch of cars/buses parked outside the plaza, go to the end of that plaza, toward the bank to wait for a taxi. Getting a taxi from this plaza also gets you safely past 'church corner' which is not pedestrian-friendly.
It helps to have a destination in mind when you are in a taxi going to the West End, otherwise, where are you going to get dropped off? The West End is pretty long (a few miles).
If your beach taxi is empty, you can ask the driver if he can take you to your west end destination for the extra fare. I say 'if its empty' because if its not, he has regular business/customers he is serving on his regular route.
Gotcha--- Thanks Ladies!
Take Lola's #1 advice at least once.
Stand on the beach road for about 1 minute or less.
A driver will blow his horn.
If you don't like the way the taxi looks "for any reason" just keep your hand down at your side , palm down and wave back and forth "no"
It's good to see how the taxi park works.
Out of a beach taxi and into a west end taxi.
(not only westend, but they have taxis at that park to take you along many different routes.)
Also, if you are heading back home at night from the westend, get in the taxi and take it all the way to the taxi park.
Then listen for guys yelling "Beach!, Beach! (if that's where you want to go)
It is quite an expeirence at night. Pretty cool actually.
Also, Lola's # 3 is a good idea too.:cool:
P.S.
I was taught the hand at side, palm down then wave back with a "no thanks" look on your face by many locals.
The driver always looks at the hand.
He will keep on zooming down the road and not stop at all.
Go for it Honey - I love it. I always try to carry small bills/coins for easy payment and in case they don't have change for larger JA dollars...500, 1000.....
While walking if dont want taxi I keep my head down and when tooted at do the low hand wave off "no thanks".....if I want a ride I stand on the road and as I see red plate comin - point the direction I am going so they know I want a ride. I ask to sit in front as good manners otherwise you may have to sqwish in a bit. It was very slow when I was there and a few taxis stopped and offered rides for route taxi prices but I stay firm and say route taxi only....Rob has reminded us often on the insurance coverage, etc. that will keep us safe in route taxis. I always alert the driver just before I want out by saying "Driver, BarBBarn please" for example. Also, I try not to get in with wet bathing suit or sandy feet or slam the door....again just common courtesies I have learned. Very efficient system in my opinion. Always leave them with a THank you and Enjoy your day. No tip necessary.....I never do any way. To me its like riding the bus in the states......oh you gotta try a bus sometime from Mobay or something like that - its an adventure (lol)
Have a great reach honey!!!!
I always request Valumaster drop off unless going to Sav - then I go to the bus park. Just my routine. From town to beach I stand by the road across from Valumaster and the drivers are going slow enough to ask "Beach?"........off we go!!!
One question about route taxis that I have always had is do they run all hours? or is there a cut off time for route taxis?
We usually always have a car or scooters but we don't do the scooters at night so usually prefer to get a taxi so I was just wondering if route taxis run all hours in the night as well
Thanks!
they run pretty late but i'm not sure about 24/7 - i want to say that's up to the individual driver, but again am not sure
oh - and one more thing to note is that after around 10-11 PM, the route fare doubles..... so late-night the fare is $J 200 per person, per route
good info MissBlue, thanks!
hmmm maybe someone else can confirm - ok this is gonna tell how boring I am (lol) I am never out late at night...always inthe yard but they seem to run pretty late at night so no problem.........seems there are lots of late night parties so seems they run. There are fewer on Sundays though but still a few.......nuff.
I am one who is frequently out late at night - and although there are some route taxis out late, they are few and far between. You'll usually end up just taking a regular taxi after about 11-12. They want higher fares at night, but if the first one won't accept your fair fare offer just walk to the next one - one of them will agree. $500J if beach-to-beach or cliffs-to-cliffs and $1000J if between beach/cliffs is pretty fair - a couple $100J per person above that if more than just you.
A little extra details about how route taxis work since hasn't been said yet - they are a form of public transportation so usually a shared ride. Other riders may already be in the car when you get in and he may stop to pickup/dropoff other riders as he moves along his route. Works very well.
Thanks Ohio...they must be harder to find late at night as that is usually the only time we use taxis and I never seem to find a route and always have to negotiate a price much higher than the route taxis price, but for peace of mind and safety (that made me laugh) we always choose the taxis at night over riding the scooters....thats a must!
But the prices you are quoting are about what we pay, so all seems well....thanks for the info!