I think there is a 2-tier rate...route taxi vs. charter taxi!!Originally Posted by Dana1
.....and dont worry Dana, that driver DOES want our tourist butt in his taxi! Trust me, the route taxi driver is NOT the one complaining about tourists being in his taxi - especially since tourists tip!!!!
newbe, where do you get these facts? . . . are they written somewhere? . . . why should i pay more as a "tourist"? i'm supporting the jamaican economy, the local driver should be good with filling his vehicle with whomever requires the service, whether that be local of foreigner . . . just my 2 cents worth . . .
does a route taxi get a special rate for fuel? i am always willing to pay what is fair, but the reason i don't do the AI resort is so i can eat, drink and shop where locals do. I don't think i should be treated any better or worse, or charged any extra, in Jamacia or anywhere
by using route taxis i don't feel like i'm taking advantage.. i tip if i can but when i go on these trips i usually have to save for months and sometimes taking charter taxis everywhere is not in my budget... i'm a college student.. not a CEO at a mega corporation.. i take these trips to get away and any little bit i spend helps.. whether i'm spending 100j to get from point a to point b or 1000j..
point is that even though i live in america i'm not rolling around with buckets of cash.. just like in Jamaica the prices of items are set according to the average household income.. and its expensive to live anywhere.
I have rarely if ever seen a tourist "get over" on a Jamaican. Seriously? Do you think for a second that if the taxi drivers, vendors, etc..werent getting the price they wanted they would keep doing it? That would be a fatal business flaw and one could never hope to survive let alone be sucessful at their profession. Granted the definition of success varies greatly for place to place. But most savvy entrepneurs dont run their businesses like governments they actually want to make a profit.,
FIRST...
All I did was point out the facts!
It should be quite obvious that the local route taxi fare is based on the wages here in Jamaica...read what I wrote above...$60.00us weekly average salary...I don't know anybody that makes that wage & travels.
As Luvjabd said...there is a 2-tier rate...route vs charter.
Why would the driver complain when he gets the same amount either way & may also get a tip from the tourist.
The person that may complain is the person that doesn't get picked up...
ie. the way a Mother might feel who just got off work & has to get home to feed her children...sees a route taxi filled with tourists & not able to get a seat...
What do you mean where do I get these facts? Of course they're written! You can find when JUTA was established & why and what the average tourist based employee makes very easily on the internet...GOOGLE works wonders.
Again...it's JUST the facts/information I offered...not speculation...and not an argument from me whether you pay 100J ($1.15us) for a taxi or not!!
"it is a misconception for anyone to think it was created for visitors & local population alike...that was never the intention. "
While I'm not familiar with the whole route taxi history - remember when I first started coming to Negril there were way fewer cars on the road in general - I always looked at like a public transportation type thing - not something that was "designed" for locals as opposed to chartered taxis for tourists. Its just that not many tourists knew about route taxis and like me, who at that time was vacationing in Negril for 2-3 weeks, was turned on to the system by a friend who was a resident of Negril.
I've never felt badly about using the route taxi system and I never will. I rather enjoy it. My first preference is always to walk as far as I can, but if I need to hit the market or go downtown, a route taxi is the most efficient and inexpensive way for me to get there.
Most "tourist" would have the common sense and the empathy to let the "local" take the taxi and would wait for the next one to come along wouldn't they? I know there have been several times that we have been waiting for a taxi at the same time one of our resort's staff would be waiting for her ride home to her family after a long day's work. Of course, we let her take the first ride that came along while we waited for another. That logic still does not justify a different fee for us "tourist" though.
I just pointed out some facts!!!
Dana...I gave an example...another way to see things!!
I did not say you were necessarily standing along side that lady...but if you're already in a full taxi...do you get out if you see this lady at the next stop? Do you make a seat for her or do you leave her waiting at the side of the road?
There is NO different fee for a tourist in a route taxi or a charter for that matter...yes, Jamaicans do take charters when needed! But, the route taxi system was not created with the tourist in mind!
I get it Bnewb...understand what you are saying but on the flip side....I've seen and been in many EMPTY route taxis that would be sitting idle if it weren't for the "tourist". The only time you usually see taxis filled with locals are early in the morning and late in the afternoon....the rest of the day, those drivers need to rely on us "tourists" to earn any fares.
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