Montego Bay Tips for the Broke and Adventurous
If money is no issue or fear is a big one, then stick with the red tag taxis in Jamaica.
But if you’re a bit more adventurous, interested in a more authentic experience, and want to save a bunch of money, then flag down a local taxi!
Would you ever ride the public bus in Jamaica? What about a local taxi?
The tourism industry in Montego Bay is HUGE thanks to all the cruise ports and resorts, and they are making a lot of money claiming that the only safe taxis are the nationalized red tags. From the airport to our Airbnb I had to haggle with one of these drivers just to get the price down to $40.
The next day, we attempted to take the bus but after about an hour in the heat on a broken bus stop seat, nothing in sight but a gas station, the uncertainty of it all made us give up.
Locals said the bus was safe, but unreliable. Ticket were $1-2 each way, so I had been determined to make it work for the sake of the budget, but I was sweaty and defeated and I just wanted a drink.
I was livid about having to spend another $50+ just to get to Doctor’s Cave Beach from our Airbnb. I regretted not just staying at a resort like normal people. We trudged along the road, frustrated, jumping every time a car honked until we finally struck up the courage and spirit to flag one down.
Hello, Ms. Jackie.
Local taxis pick up and drop off passengers at many different spots along their route, so there were already 2 others in the van, which didn’t bother us. We told her where we were headed, a bar even further than the airport, and asked her price. I didn’t have the conversion rate memorized so when she asked for 400, I wasn’t exactly sure what we agreed to.
I immediately looked up the conversion rate on my phone and poked T in the ribs to show him. We spent the entire ride convinced we must have heard her wrong and panicking about what the price would end up coming to. We were the last to get out of the car at Pier One and she finally clarified that it was $400 JMD each. About $5 USD. Our minds were blown.
Needless to say, we hired Ms. Jackie as our personal driver. She is so sweet and is actually studying for her certificate to become one of the red tag drivers (because that’s where the money is, of course). She answered all of our questions and told us about the local history, if she didn’t know where something was, she’d look it up, and she used her local ID to get us discounts on attractions. If you need a great driver in Jamaica I’d love to share her WhatsApp.
We took local taxis or hired Ms. Jackie to take us everywhere and saved hundreds. When we were in the more touristy areas, red tag drivers would roll their eyes at our price request and either drive away, or try to negotiate.
I truly hate haggling. All the deep sighing, woe-is-me, “my-family-is-going-to-go-hungry-tonight-because-you-won’t-pay-me-10x-the-price” banter makes me feel like a terrible person, but it’s all part of the game. I’m slowly improving, and the savings are often worth the song and dance!
It’s worth noting that many drivers did not overly appreciate dealing with me as a woman, especially about money. If I asked a question, the answer would often be directed toward my partner, and he had better luck haggling over prices in general. It is not for the faint of heart!
We always discussed the price before getting into the car and then tipped a little on top, but locals seemed to just silently hand over money. As a visitor, I don’t necessarily feel entitled to true local prices, but I’m savvy enough to find some middle ground between that and the price gouging of tourist sectors.
To hire a local taxi, all you have to do is stand or walk on the side of the road. Passing cars will honk chaotically, which I initially found jarring, but later realized was actually a form of communication. If you need a ride, respond to a short beep of a horn with some eye contact and a wave, and you’ll be on your way!
