On the Subject of Taxis....

[Rob]

Geez Rob, a simple explanation or a link to the other thread or impact study would have done just fine. Not sure why you feel the need to be condescending.

Carrie,

I had already tried a simple explanation previously, several times as a matter of fact and your comments as well as two others created the need for the more detailed explanation. What was condescending to you? What link to what thread would you have wanted me to post? The detail results of impact study the government did about adding a public transport bus stop in the airport were never posted on the internet.

[T&A]

I have a question:
How did this thread turn into this? Yeah, it's turned into a very ineresting read but I feel the knowledge of the people posting is really getting to be a little much.
The questions asked have really been answered.
If I was a newbie to this board and getting ready for my first trip to JA I would be starting to get very confused.This board is not only for you veteran travelers but the novice as well.
As far as the politics behind using or not using "route taxis" I'm not going there...
but I will say that the tone of the message is to the newbies that "if your not using route taxis your not really getting it..and your spending waaaay to much money by not using them."
Again, there is a ton of knowledge to be gained here but to think the a first timer to JA is going to do the same things as people that have traveled there 10,15, 20 times is absurd.
First timers need a basic understand and then they have to learn by doing. I'm pretty sure that's how most of the people posting have gained their knowledge.

Yeah... so get out there and jump in a "red plate" taxi and have a great ride, where ever you go!
p.s. Don't worry about a thing..every little thing will be all right!

[kim in socal]

Maybe we can take all this anti-route cab energy and put it towards discouraging illegal drug use?
I can support that but it seems that illegal drugs are regularly embraced here (but route cabs are a no-no)?

Strange, indeed....

[smith744]

Maybe we can take all this anti-route cab energy and put it towards discouraging illegal drug use?

oh oh
:-(
WHY did you go there..??...

lol
lol
lol
lol
lol

but it do sound like a nice thread to start

lol
lol
lol
lol

[captaind]

lol
lol
tand i would NOT have the front-desk call a taxi for me

i would walk to the main road and hail a route-taxi

Jeez man... One of those women at the desk is my nephew's baby mother and the other is my son's ex-baby mother.....

Can't they make a little money from the guests?

[BrenJaLee]

Good points T&A. As the Jamaica Tours Board says... public transportation can be an exciting adventure, but only for the intrepid (fearless, brave, courageous) tourist. So if you consider yourself intrepid, enjoy the exciting adventure and for newbies or non-intrepid travelers, charters are A-OK.

kim, you done opened up a whole new can-o-worms.

[smith744]

"if your not using route taxis your not really getting it..and your spending waaaay to much money by not using them."

Bingo...!!!..
Correct-to-mendo..!!..
Exactly..!!!

nevertheless,
this is an EXCELLENT thread
...NOT just for newbies

i don't have enough fingers & toes to count the number of old-timers who are not and/or who were not familiar with the great Jamaican route-taxi system

[smith744]

Route Taxi 101

An Observation

Over the past few years,
in & around Negril
the available route-taxi fleet has improved substantially
...larger vehicles
...more modern vehicles
...air conditioning
...more SUV's & mini-van type vehicles

and the drivers tend not to try to squeeze-in too many passengers, as in the past

[smith744]

and the other is my son's ex-baby mother.....

there's no such thing as an EX baby momma

once a baby momma
always a baby momma

nevertheless,
sorry .....
front-desk people gonna have to get the money from the next-guest,
'cause i'm NOT the-one.

[monk]

Jeez man... One of those women at the desk is my nephew's baby mother and the other is my son's ex-baby mother.....

Can't they make a little money from the guests?

no sir!!!! something has to keep downpressing people into higgling on the beach.

i'll leave others to the discussion now, before i get accused of owning taxis and other assorted conspiracies lmao.

but seriously, the logic here, is of the whackiest calibre sometimes, it's like blood is thicker than water but maple syrup is thicker than blood so pancakes are more important than family....when really all you have to do is just get a freaking cab, and if you are not a solo traveler trying to eke out your last 15 or 20 bucks *generally* your best bet is to just get a cab, which would be a charter...