Hi rocky... welcome to this forum :)

My take on any excursion from any hotel is that it would be better (in my opinion) to hire a private driver to take you because you can then do whatever else you & the peeps in your group want to do.

If you go on the bus from the hotel then you are more likely to be saddled with "less" as far as flexibility while you are out. Same goes with a tour bus operator like Chukka Cove or something like that. Plus, it is the summer s l o w months & if you are going in August your purchasing power should be a little better bacause not as many drivers are getting tourist business so everyone will be wanting to make a deal.

So, do tell us what you decided & post up about it here when you return.

There are lots of great drivers that people on this board can recommend. We like to use Eric Wallace. He is a conservative driver, JUTA registered and always where he says he'll be when he says he'll be there... no email but you can call him on his cellular at 876-861-1118 He lives just about 5-7 miles from your particular hotel.

we use a private driver because it is more flexable, can spend as long as you want at places, stop when you want.. Can go to places that you cant if you are on a coach.Just more fun, more comfy..We have booked through the hotel before, never again, too rushed and dont get to enjoy the place you at..

There are lots of recommendations on here for private drivers and we use moodie, he is a great guy, great driver and guide. tells lots of stories and has good sense of humour.. He drives a 7 seater bus which is very comfy.. His no if you want to contact him is 876 404 6396.. He is juta registered

Prices start at about $60.00 us a person for a basic trip like dunns. ZIPLining with Chukka (they actually run the place/own the area you zip in) is $80.00 a person and ny boys and husband loved it. Long pants and closed toed shoes for safety though.

We did Dunns River and booked it through our Thompson Rep Pauline (Who was great). It was about $100 each and we went on a coach to Ocho Rios and then on a catamaran to the falls. It was called Cool Runnings and it was fab. You went snorkeling before climbing the falls, and then on the way back on the boat it was as much as you could drink, all included in the price. Loved every single minute of it, and would recommend this to anyone.

We did the Bamboo Rafting as well, cannot remember the price, but we didn't think too much of it. We also did Dolphin Cove. We paid just the entrance fee of $60 each, but there is not a lot there to do if you didn't swim with the dolphins. It was $215 approx to swim with the dolphins, which lasts about 20-30 mins. A dvd of your swim will set you back $120 with each photo costing $10.

Hope this helps a little

Hi,

I just got back from Gran Bahai. I did the Bob Marley tour (Spirit of Reggae)which was $73 US per person. The half day Dunns River Falls which was $40 US and The Heavan s Scent (zipline and ATV) which was $85 US. All these prices are for just one person. These were all booked through Jamaica Tours Limited. The only one I didn't like was the Dunn's tour. On this tour the bus driver went to so many different hotels to pick up people. We even stopped at the dolphin cove to pick up people. We spent most of the tour in the bus dropping off and picking up people. Some people were going shooping in Ochos Rios! Others wanted to stop at the super market to buy beer. And the bus driver stopped and we waited. I think a private driver would have been better for this tour!