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Renting Scooters in Negril?
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! |
#2
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Renting Scooters in Negril?
"Edward Myers" wrote in message 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. Proctor |
#3
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Renting Scooters in Negril?
"Edward Myers" wrote in message 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! I've rented scooters in the past in Negril, and have had a ball doing it. But if you haven't driven in Jamaica before, or haven't been there a lot, then Proctor's advice is good. Negril is as safe as any area in the Caribbean, and most of the people are honest and friendly and quite helpful. There are the rip-off artists, and use your street smarts for them. I've been over to Sav La Mar with the scooter, and up to Grange Hill, with no problem whatsoever. Stay to the left, and let other drivers pass. The traffic in the Negril area isn't heavy, just fast and hectic. Everything else moves slow there. Why? Who knows.... Expect to pay about $20 or so per day for a scooter, more for a trail bike. You may have to negotiate a bit to get this price. Also get insurance, and check out the bike carefully. And there have been instances of the battery being stolen, so be aware. Is it safe to go outside Couples? Definitely so. And you would miss the best times of your life if you didn't. Use basic street smarts, don't wave fancy jewelry around, and enjoy the area and all the little places up and down the beach and road. And make sure you spend a day on the cliffs. Neat place, and a different vibe. Dave |
#4
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Renting Scooters in Negril?
On 01/21/2004 9:27 AM Edward Myers plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger
and said: 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! I agree with Proctor. Why is it that people do things that they would never do at home when they are on vacation. While "caribbean time" may be less hurried than north americans are used to, the locals driving is not. Directional signals may be used to say "Hi" to someone roadside. Would you ride a moped around the Grand Etoile in Paris? Locals do, that doesn't mean it's advisable for you. I know of one tourist , who fueled with one too many Piña Colada, decided to gun her scooter. She wasn't alert and hit a big pothole at high speed. She spent the rest of her vacation in a body cast. The hospital wasn't paid for by her health insurance as it's only good in the US of A. So if you want to do this, be sure to take the local insurance and check with your healthcare insurance to see if you are covered overseas. You might be one of the sane, sober, scooter riders who keeps in mind that they don't have the body of a car to absorb impact. But, then there's always the other guy who could slam into you. I'd walk or take a cab. -- ________ To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address. Brian M. Kochera "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!" View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951 |
#5
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Renting Scooters in Negril?
"Proctor" wrote in message news:6%BPb.100928$nt4.299888@attbi_s51... "Edward Myers" wrote in message 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. |
#6
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Renting Scooters in Negril?
"Lenny" wrote in message
... 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. In traffic roundabouts, just remember these two points and you'll have no problem negotiating them: * The vehicle approaching the roundabout from the right of you has the right of way. * The vehicle(s) in the roundabout have the right of way. |
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