 Renting Scooters in Negril?
"Proctor" <Unlisted@email.not> wrote in message
news:6%BPb.100928$nt4.299888@attbi_s51...
>
> "Edward Myers" <edmyers99@> wrote in message
> news:8c5a21ac.0401210627.c5613fa@co m...
> > Has anyone had experience renting scooters or mopeds in Negril?
We
> > will be staying at the Couples Negril next week and think scooters
> > might be fun. Any Cautions? Is it safe to venture out with
another
> > couple? Can we leave them parked outside a market etc.? Any
> > suggestions on what not to miss? Approximate cost?
> > Thanks for any hints!
>
> Personally I would NOT recommend this acivity. The locals drive
rather fast
> and much different than anyother place I have ever been. The last
time I
> rented one was in St. John and just the fact that they drive on the
left is
> enough to get confused when coming out of a turn. Jamaica is a WHOLE
'nutha'
> story. I would either walk the beach of the side of the road from
hotel to
> store or ride a taxi.
>
As someone who has actually -done- this, and done it on three separate
trips to Negril, I'd say caution is quite advisable, but that it is
not an inherently hazardous activity, particularly on the main road in
Negril. If you are risk averse, by all means stick to cabs (you'll
need one if you're planning on going anywhere from Couples' location)
since accidents -do- happen. But if you are reasonably confident of
your abilities, you should know that many, many people rent scooters
in Negril without incident.
The stretch of Manley Blvd. (the "main" st.) that runs up and down
the beach to the center of town is in pretty good shape and is wide
enough that it's more like a two-lane road in the States. I've found
other cars, which are mostly cabs, to be generally respectful. Since
there are no curbs, it's also possible to simply pull to the side if
you feel uncomfortable in any situation. The key is simply to take
your time and not be discontented with going 20-25 mph. The issue of
driving on the "wrong" side of the road is pretty easy to get used to
since you are pretty much going in a straight line in both directions.
There are two caveats here. There is a "roundabout" (traffic circle)
near the center of town (actually about 5-6 miles from Couples) that
can be very difficult to navigate. Additionally, the West End Rd on
the other side of the circle that leads to the "cliffs" and the
lighthouse (IMO, the coolest part of Negril) is more narrow, windy,
and pot-hole filled than Manley Blvd. I'm not sure that I'd try to
navigate that the first time.
On a daily basis, $30 US is not exorbitant for a scooter, but it
should drop to at least $25 and perhaps more on a longer term rental
(say, a week) provided you negotiate. Jah B's is a popular rental
place, but Couples also should be able to give you some feedback.
Most importantly, use caution if you go ahead, check out the scooter,
and drive sanely. There's no rush. I've never experienced any
problem with theft.
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