Regarding the route taxi incident that happened to Hussyband....

[Rob]

Pointvillagepete,

Thank you for helping me make my point. Since the average length of stay for visitors is between 7 and 10 days according to the JTB, charter taxis are the way for them to go!

But I have no idea what the JUTA comment means... this particular union of drivers, who were born in Jamaica know their island, have taken classes and have been trained and certified by the JTB and are no more "full of crap" than the next person. And JUTA prices are posted on their website for all to see.

[pointvillagepete]

Rob,

Yes, they know their island, but, just because they passed a test, does not prevent them from playing the fear card. Tour folks for the most part are honorable, but I have not met anyone who wished to pay more than market for services, in foreign or Jamaica. Not all tourists have the ability to visit the Juta website to confirm a rate, to say, Mayfield Falls for instance. They rely on the integrity of the people, in this case a driver. Many good people in Jamaica, but to have it ruined by a few bad apples, the odd Juta, robot taxis or the creeps that took advantage of the board member.

Once again, negotiate, establish a price, and have a good time

[Rob]

Pete,

Every tourist reading your post right now has the ability to visit the JUTA website, otherwise they couldnt be reading your post...

And this is good advice for them to follow. Please check out the JUTA, Maxi and Jcal prices in advance and you will already have a good idea of the going price before you even arrive. Most of the drivers in our transportation section list their prices for their excursions as well. Some include the fees for the attractions and some dont, so be sure to see what all is included.

And yes, if you know the going rate in advance, it makes any negotiations that much quicker and easier.

[smith744]

oh
oh
oh::::>> one more route-taxi experience.

One i'll NEVER forget..!!...

this happen-ed early-on in my route-taxi adventures/sojourns --- before I knew what I KNOW now.

I wanted to go visit & check-on boardie-Crazy-Joe (aka JoeNegril) at the hospital in MoBay. As some will recall, Joe was mashed-up & laid-up from a serious motorcycle accident.

i chatted-up a Rasta-*associate* in Lucea, telling him of my desire to go visit Joe.

He gave me instructions as to how-to, and where to catch the taxi's in MoBay.

I was worried .... some fear .... lots of concern.... and told him so.

he-SAY::::>>> "..... NO..!!.., mon...!!..... no no no.... you're in Jamaica, mon ...... you're our guest .... they (i.e., the taxi-man) WILL take good care of you.... This is Jamaica ... this is how we DO things...."

he was absolutely correct-o..!!..

All taxi-men look pon me,
saw (and *heard*, from *accent*) that i was a tourist/foreigner, and MADE SURE that I got where i needed to go,,,, the driver who took me to the hospital drop-off point, introduced me to 2-female-fellow-passengers (also going to visit somebody), who in turn, grab the *baton* and guided me thru the hospital entry system/procedure (which is ANOTHER story).

opps.!!..
sorry i typed so much

[chi-town]

Interesting thread. There has been something I've wanted to ask about on this board. Has anyone here booked a private ride from someone who advertises on this board only to be told that because of some scheduling mistake they need to wait a little bit to pick up someone else? Or had someone else with them when they pick you up at the hotel to take you to the airport? I've had this happen to my mom and dad and on another occasion to my sister inlaw both times the driver charged them for a private ride. This same person stopped halfway from the airport to pick up a friend of theirs for a ride to Green Island. I haven't used them in about 6 years nor would I recommend them. This year we will be picked up by our friendly route taxi man, who by the way is a Negril-Sav route driver.

[suzengrace]

One thing i want to add...we all know that wearing a seat belt can save your life-as you know many people dont wear them well driving/riding in Jam (though your suppose to).I've ridden in many route taxis allover and many of them(most) do not have seat belts and even if they did you are so jammed-pack in the car theres no way you could use it...I'm talking a avg size car type with 6-7 people in the back(sitting on peoples laps) and 4 in the front with a baby....Just something to keep in mind...

I have nothing against taking route taxis -but if the taxi looks close to full,please be considerate and let the locals get in before you-they most likely are trying to get to work or home. And follow the advice about getting into taxis thats been provided already-some really good tips...

I always think its best to have a few numbers handy of some driver that you trust and feel comfortable driving with-lots of peeps on this board can give recs...Especially if going out for late night on the town..

I'm happy that the couple were not injured physically and they really have a great attitude about dealing with it afterward....Blessings to them..

[smith744]

to cover my back-side,
let me quote (in part) from the negril.com F.A.Q., Guideline section::::>>> "....In order to ensure that Negril.com message board remains an informative space to share experiences, views and good vibes about Negril and Jamaica in general, we have established the following rules as guidelines for good conduct. ..."

hopefully,
my post(s) is(are) kosher.

that said,,,,,,,,,,,,

....I'm talking a avg size car type with 6-7 people in the back(sitting on peoples laps) and 4 in the front with a baby....Just something to keep in mind....

Yep,,!!..
*that* could/does happen
on occasion

HOWEVER, in
my experiences, my observations, and my route-taxi riding,
what you described is NOT that common-place on the BeachRoad in Negril.

as i posted earlier (someplace?),
there's a law against too-many people in a taxi (i.e., as described)

On MANY occasions,
i've observed, seen, over-heard comments where driver WON'T do the jam-up thing-y in Negril, on the BeachRoad ---- for fear of getting caught and fined, etc.

In fact,
i can recall on more than a couple of occasions,
where the driver was anxious to GET OUT of Negril
(on the way to Lucea, GreenIsland, where-ever)
'cause the Negril police made a more assertive attempts/practice of fining drivers {sometimes}

Regarding seat-belt usage:::: Strange as it may seem,
the driver WILL and the passenger in the front, next to the window, with the seat belt WILL buckle-up.

the other passenger or passengerS in the front seat might not buckle up but the driver & window rider WILL.

Lately,
(i.e., when i was down there two-years ago)
on the BeachRoad, on the drive between Negril and Lucea, the drivers were refraining from piling in a lot of folks like they use-to.

Additionally,
2-years ago,
there were more and more regular cars being used as route-taxis ---- NOT as many of those hatch-back cars as in the pass. In fact, there was a LARGE influx of mini-vans being used as route taxis, as i mentioned in one of my old-old trip reports from 2-years ago.

anyhooooooooooo,
regarding the hatch-back mention ----- there was a time, when FREQUENTLY *they* would put passengers in the trunk/hatch-back area. But on my last few trips, that practice was becoming a no-no, not-done anymore, except under *special* occasions, circumstances, and for short distances.

Now,
with all that said,
in the rural areas
ALL bets are off that any of what i typed (above) is valid.

[smith744]

Now,
with all that said,
in the rural areas
ALL bets are off that any of what i typed (above) is valid.

* sigh *
here it is 3 o'clock in the morning
and i'm recalling one of my '..charter..' taxi experience IN-a-RURAL-area

( not sure, but i *think* i posted this in one of my trip reports )


'twas one of those visits,
to my Ja-play-dawta's family-yard.

not far from Negril,
in rural-suburbia/ex-urbs

her mother & some neighbors
invited me to accompany them to an evening church service,
in an area, just off the SavRoad,
just below SpringValley

we were waiting for the '..charter..',
which was to-be a van,
to carry the 9-of-we

driver showed-up (late) with a 4-door, hatched-back thing-y

:-(

there was a *problem* securing the van

* sigh *

long-story shortened-version

in-front ---- 2 people (including driver)
back-seat ---- 4-ladies
in-trunk ---- me, two boy-pickneys, and an older really-nice gentleman

The first-plan was to go to church
via the main-road,
pass/drive thru Negril,
and over-to the church along the SavRoad

but 'cause the car was so full-up,
the driver-SAY::::>> ".. can't do that ..... Negril police blah blah raaa raaa ...... we'll have to go the back-way.."

'twas a nice *drive*...... cool-cool A/C
....we got there ok....

.....but at a reduced-rate,

.....'cause the promised vehicle wasn't used

[Hussyband]

It's worth pointing out again though... I broke nearly every rule in this situation.

1.). 2 guys up front
2.). A route I did not know
3.). Up a road that was making no sense with some pretty bs (expected) stories
4.). Not being aware of my surroundings
5.) having way too much bling or perceived bling on my person

I imagine many people who are long termed here have business with the route taxis. I stay max, 2 weeks at a time, and while this has been going on for a decade and a half... I do not know the system well enough.

We've gotten a driver, and are using him. Our difference in pricing has so far been nil. I would have been better off doing a charter every day, and saving the face I have been seeing as I go to sleep each night stick a knife in my wife's face,

[suzengrace]

Good point Smith744...I dont travel to negril too much anymore-so wasnt aware the beach road drivers being so considerate in following the laws...Thats good to know..