Your Other Passport Reviews

Honest Kingston Taxi Driver

—

by

Kristi
in

As a tourist I usually have to discover things by trial and error and honest taxi prices are no exception. In my experience when they see white skin they see dollar signs and think we have no clue what’s going on. I make it a point to ask a Jamaican what a certain ride should cost me BEFORE taking a taxi somewhere. That way I am prepared when the driver tries to drop a bomb and double the price.

Kingston is a new place for me and I had no idea what taxi routes should cost so I indeed asked a Jamaican friend how much I should pay to go from my hotel to the Hilton in New Kingston. He told me it should be $500 JMD for 3 of us to go. Sounded reasonable enough to me.

My hotel called the taxi and he showed up in about 5 minutes and we all jumped in. Our ride was no longer than 15 minutes door to door, that’s the only time I spent with this driver. When we arrived I braced for impact, went immediately into defense mode and said “A Jamaican friend told me I should only pay $500”. The driver turned to me and said “Well actually……it’s only $400”. I nearly fell out the car in shock and I clearly remember asking him if he was joking. NOBODY in Jamaica will undercut a price if they know they can make more money!!

Well it turns out this was our lucky day and so I decided to make it his lucky day too, and paid him the $500 anyways. I thanked him profusely for his honesty and he handed me his business card and said that he deals honestly so that he can get repeat business.

I never did call him back because I didn’t need a taxi again while in Kingston but in a sea of rip-offs in Jamaica, this guy stood out in my mind. So just yesterday when I got back to Canada I texted him and asked if I can put his contact info on my website for other travelers to enjoy the benefit of his honest service.

If you are in and around the Kingston area and unsure of where you’re going or rates to get there, give this guy a call. His name is MEGA and his number is 876-372-4923. Tell him you got his contact info from the Canadian girl, I’d really like him to know how much of a favor he did by restoring some of my faith in people.

[ad#in-post]

Comments

13 responses to “Honest Kingston Taxi Driver”

  1. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    Excellent post! I’m with you – the honest people really need to get credit. Big up to Mega. (Gonna keep his #; I’m in Kingston often.) Thanks!

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      Awesome Theresa. Make sure you tell him where you got the number. I really want the guy to know his honesty paid off.

      Reply
  2. Stuart Avatar
    Stuart

    Hi JC, you had the hotel call you a taxi? I can’t believe it. Wow, you really are a tourist! 🙂

    No, I’m just kidding, but I usually try to agree on the price before I get in a taxi (or have a taxi sent for me). I do it mainly to signal that price is important to me, but it also avoids any possibility of the driver thinking (or pretending to think) that I’m trying to cheat him.

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      Yes I had the hotel call because it was my first time in Kgn AND we were going to a gig so couldn’t really walk out in the street with a bunch of DJ gear and look for a route taxi. However, like I said I had asked a Jamaican how much I should pay BEFORE the ride so I was prepared. If it weren’t for the time constraint and DJ equipment I would have definitely tried my luck with a route taxi.

      Reply
  3. Stuart Avatar
    Stuart

    Yeah I understand, this post got my attention because I kind of know how you feel, and I really really don’t like to be in the position where I’m negotiating the price after the ride.

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      Yes I was definitely in shock that someone charged LESS than I expected. I respect the honesty because it doesn’t come very often when you’re white in JA LOL.

      Reply
  4. Raf from Rafjam's Avatar
    Raf from Rafjam’s

    What everybody must do before taking a taxi, even before go in the car is to tell the driver where you go and how much he would charge for that. If you agree with the price, fine. If you don’t tell him what you ready to pay. If the driver refuses, tell him that you’re going to take another taxi and walk away. Almost everytime, the driver will call you back and says he agrees with you price.

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      Agreed. They would rather make SOME money than no money.

      Reply
  5. EmpressDoms Avatar
    EmpressDoms

    thanks for this cause im ALWAYS in need of a reasonable and reliable taxi in the Kingston area.. now that I plan on taking trips WAAAAAAY more often!

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      I’m so glad to hear you’re gonna go more often! That means MORE chances to link up!!!

      Reply
  6. Chelsea Avatar
    Chelsea

    So true all the above said…….I usually have a jamaican family member with me though. Funny story …..my half brothers and sister in jamaica we don’t resemble …….so they came to my Hotel in New Kingston and we walk out and hail a taxi……they tell the driver where we are going……he turned to me and said Meeeesss yu know dem….dwl….well they started cussing the taxi driver……he said doan go anywhere wid dem……dem wi try tief yu……I said Sir these are my brothers and sister…..he looked at me and looked at them cracked up laughing……then said……Meeees what u had to drink…..get that a lot in JA when I introduce them as my brothers and sister……

    Reply
    1. JC Avatar
      JC

      LMAO!!! That’s hilarious Chelsea! LOL!

      Reply
  7. Kingston cab Avatar
    Kingston cab

    Yeah I understand, this post got my attention because I kind of know how you feel, and I really really don’t like to be in the position where I’m negotiating the price after the ride.Thanks again

    Reply

Leave a Reply to EmpressDoms Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *