I second that motion, Thank you Rob & Lisa for your well informed imput and work, well thought words.
I second that motion, Thank you Rob & Lisa for your well informed imput and work, well thought words.
Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon will inevitably come to pass.
Learned so much as a member of this board. First trip we stayed AI afraid to venture out other than guided tours. Discovered this board and next trip got more adventurous. Didn't know squat about red plates or anything related on the 2nd trip. Grabbed any driver who stopped for us. Had a ball and was lucky. Reading about incidents here on this board has educated us about red plates and route taxis (actually thought route taxis were ok as long as they had red plates). Sad for the honest route drivers as this will cost them to loose some business. We have had gut feeling experiences in our travels to Negril. We listen to our instincts and so far have been very safe. There is danger in all countries even home if you let your guard down or venture in the wrong place. We will continue to visit and learn as we go. Good to hear Mr Husssyband got his licks in. Hopefully the damages will cost that thief more than he took.
One thing to remember is that some red plates like Linston have a route but also do charters.
As long as you know if the red plate is a sponsor here you can trust them.......
Especially Linston 376-3652 or www.redplate-negril.com
Linston's Zion Hill Taxi
Captain Dave
Good advice Rob, we have used route taxis a few times but we did not flag them down, I figured they were having a slow day so were looking to pick up some fares and most likely get more from tourist, not sure if we really should e using them t all now, We never felt un safe but couple times were crambed in with their family members but never a bus experience but probaby we should just wave them on. Usally when that happene we r either going from the cliffs to the beach or visa versa
No word yet if the authorities caught these two creeps?
Rob, if I am reading this correctly, in a situation where a tourist is looking for a ride at the last minute, and they are walking along the road, and a taxi beeps at them to offer a ride, the tourist should really only hire the drivers with red plates AND a JTB sticker on their windshield? (nice run on sentence, eh?) The tourists should really avoid the true route taxis to help ensure their safety?Originally Posted by Rob
Johio
Johio,
Essentially yes, that is what I would recommend. If I needed a ride at the last minute, I would ask at the establishment where I am and ask them if anyone is around to take me to where I needed to go. Or I would keep a list of numbers (as I do) of drivers I know.
If you are walking the road (and not on the new sidewalk on the beach road) and a taxi stops and beeps at you, chances are they are simply looking for a fare. The majority of the drivers are hardworking folks trying to make money just as we all do. But the problem as has been illustrated here is that you have no way of knowing for sure.
Locals in Negril do not just jump into just any taxi. They typically wait for a driver and vehicle they recognize. This becomes second nature when you have been using route taxis your whole life.
But as a tourist visiting the island, you do not have the luxury of years of experience of knowing who the good drivers are, who the not so good drivers are, who is just a bad driver (although the dents in the car tends to point them out) and who may up to no good.
In an email conversation I have been having, I asked a very simple question. Regarding the robbery that just occurred, what percentage of tourists coming to Negril do think would know that Lilliput is about 2 hours from Negril and they should never get in that taxi? Even more simply put, what percentage of tourists would actually notice the Lilliput route marking and know what it meant?
This number becomes very important if someone wants to recommend that tourists should take route taxis. I personally think the number is very small, so there is no way in good conscience I can recommend that tourists take route taxis when I feel the vast majority would not know what the Lilliput markings meant.
School children are taught how route taxis work when they are young so they learn not to get into taxis that are "wrong". But visitors to the island also do not have the luxury of growing up being taught the route taxi system.
So having the establishment find or call a driver for you is the first thing I would suggest if you dont already have a cellphone and list of drivers you can trust.
And as a sidenote to this, every Jamaican I have talked to about this said immediately that the taxi must be stolen as no Lilliput route driver would be trying to run routes in Negril...
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
Sorry I , must chime in. Say what you want about route taxis NOT being designed for tourists. That's true and I respect that. However, in the REAL world route taxies will offer rides to tourists and tourists will accept...END OF STORY!!!!!!! It's not reasonable to expect them to to be worldly enough to realize the possible dangers. With all due respect......GET REAL. I have used route taxis in the past and won't hesitate to continue..as with anything in Jam Rock, with caution, of course.
Respect.
Last edited by Craig123; 11-17-2013 at 12:06 AM.
I would say 9 out of 10 visitors wouldn't have a clue that a Lilliput taxi shouldn't be on a route in Negril.
Personally, if I even noticed that route marking; I probably wouldn't think anything was wrong.
(and I've been to Jamaica a dozen times and I think I've seen that marking before perhaps in Trelawny or on the way there)
But thanks to this incident and Rob's posts about the situation; I will be very, very careful about taking a route taxi from here on in.
I'm not ruling it however.
It's just that travelling as a couple, a charter taxi that takes you right to your door (not the side of the road by the laneway or long driveway to your residence) only costs a little more if you negotiate.
Those guys dozing at the roadside waiting for a fare will do some amazing deals if you have experience negotiating.
I just know this. In my city it takes a 20 dollar bill in a metered taxi to go across town. In Negril, it takes less than 10 dollars.
Last edited by Big_frank; 11-17-2013 at 12:39 AM.
Rob, I appreciate that you are using this thread to try and educate..every little piece of advice when traveling abroad is welcomed and needed.
"Never Sit With Your Back to The Door!
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