Cost of Hiring a private driver
 

Staying in Ocho Rios week of August, and everyone seems to suggest hiring a private driver to see the real Jamaica, can anyone suggest an amonu I should expect to pay for a private driver for a trip to Montego Bay, and secondly for another trip to Negril for family of five.

Decide what you want to see for fun, talk to your hotel people about setting you up with a taxi driver and they can call them and inquire as to the cost. Jamaica is a very festive island where history runs deep. We went from MoBay to Rose Hall one day and to Dunn's River another day. Don't recall what we spent, but I don't remember it being a lot.

Hiring a private driver is a good idea to see more of Jamaica. But I would not suggest to ask the hotel reception, they will probably get you a driver for about US$ 250 for the day. <BR>If you are a little more adventurous, you should go out on the street or even ask the taxi drivers outside the hotel for a special deal and you will be able to get a rate of about US$ 50 for the day, depending on how far you are going. Well, five people of course is a lot for a normal car - only if you do not mind being squeezed together. Negril is very far from Ocho Rios, it is not really a great idea for a day trip. I would rather go the other way, direction Port Antonio. Please ask the driver to drive slowly - Jamaicans are crazy drivers.

Though Carolyn Barrett will be out of the country until 23 August, talk to Errol Barrett at Barrett Adventures ([email protected]), Rebecca Wiersma of Treasure Tours ([email protected]) or perhaps Andrea Tomlinson ([email protected]). It's a long haul to Negril from Ochee;you may want to consider an overnight. Instead of MoBay, you might do better to plan a daytrip through Port Maria to Port Antonio. Or from Ochee up into the mountains to Christiana and Mandeville.

P.S. For 5 people, you will definitely want a private insured driver and 6-12 passenger van.<BR>Jamaica is cracking down hard on uninsured drivers so a taximan or driver off the street is not a good bet.<BR>US$50/day is an unreasonably low quote except for a gypsycab-style driver who won't necessarily understand what kind of 'real Jamaica' you seek outside of Dunn's River Falls and the tourist places --US$150/day and up is far more credible for 5, depending on how far and where you go.<BR>The Rough Guide to Jamaica and the International Travel Map of Jamaica ,the latter published in Vancouver but available in US are the best pre-trip planning tools around--the map also being the latest/best and NOT available on island. But a top-notch certified/licensed guide to take you off the beaten track is invaluable