Taxi Bloody Bay to Xtapi

[needsomebeach]

What should we expect to pay for 2 going from Bloody Bay(SATP) to Xtapi & back?

Thank you all so much for the invaluable info! We hit the sand Friday!

[Rumlover]

I would plan on $30+ US dollars for a private taxi round trip. Depending on traffic it's a little bit of a drive from Bloody Bay to Xtabi and your driver will make the trip twice. You probably already know this but you won't pay until they come back for you and take you home. Great sunsets at Xtabi and the caves are always fun.

[TAH]

Just grab a route taxi. Less than $12 round trip.

[needsomebeach]

Thanks Rumlover & Tah!

Tah, route taxis are the red plates, right? Catch one on the way over, and a different one on the way back I assume? We plan to stay for a couple of hours or so. Do we tip also? How much?

Rumlover, if we hired a private taxi how do we do so? $30+ for 2, right? I assume we can ask them to make an extra stop at the Hi Lo or Cambio. If so, how much extra would we expect to pay? Do we tip also? How much?

Sorry for the 20 questions!

[TAH]

All licensed taxi's have red plates. If it's your first time, maybe just grab a regular taxi until you get used to the route system. I would never even consider paying $30 though, that's a lot of money for a short ride.

[needsomebeach]

Thanks Tah! What would you suggest I offer?

[TAH]

For a juta or regular red plate taxi, no more than $20 round trip (I still wouldn't even pay that, but I'm cheap).

[Slightly Stoopid]

I know it's been a while since I was in Ja...
But, I'm glad that others think & feel that $30.00 US is way too steep ...
I paid $100.00 US to go to Kingston & back!!!

[needsomebeach]

My first time in Negril. Should I offer $20?

[Kevin, PA]

All legal Taxis have red plates.

Route Taxis will charge the flat route taxi fare for pickup\drop off anywhere along that taxi's route. They will pick up other passengers along the way so it is not a private ride and they will not deviate from their route. If they reach the end of their route then you will need to get out and find a taxi that drives the next route in the direction you are going. The route of the taxi should be marked on the side of the car. You can think of route taxis like buses.

A private taxi is any taxi that you hire to give you a ride based upon the terms you both agree upon. The ride is typically private and you can negotiate a ride to\from anywhere on the island. You can even negotiate a ride with a route taxi. Anytime you negotiate with a route taxi driver you are actually hiring them as a private driver for the time you need them. There is no need to negotiate with a route taxi driver if you just want a ride along their route and pay route taxi fare.

In my experience route taxi drivers have smaller older cars but you can typically negotiate a private ride for a little more than standard route fares would be for the same trip if its local. Taxis drivers that don;t drive a route usually have nicer bigger cars\vans but may not be as negotiable. If you're walking or standing waiting for a ride it is most likely a route taxi that will stop and ask you if you need a ride.

To be safe you should pass on any taxis that drives a route outside of the area you are traveling in (i.e. make sure the taxi drives a Negril route if in Negril).

Hope that helps