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By
Rental Car
Jamaica
is big enough-and public transportation is unreliable
enough-that a car is a necessity if you plan
to do much independent sightseeing. Unfortunately,
prices of car rentals in Jamaica have skyrocketed;
it's now one of the most expensive rental scenes
in the Caribbean. And fraud is a very real concern;
stick with our choice below.
Most
rental cars in Jamaica are picked up at the
airport, not delivered to your hotel. Some hotels
have car-rental desks, but in all cases we've
found those desks' prices higher than if arrangements
were made in advance. Most car-rental firms
in Jamaica grant unlimited mileage; if the firm
you're calling doesn't, switch to one that does.
Driving
in Jamaica -- Drive on the left side
of the road. You should exercise more than usual
caution, and be especially cautious at night:
Male drivers here are too reckless for comfort.
Speed limits in towns are 48kmph (30 mph), and
80kmph (50 mph) outside towns. Gas is measured
by the imperial gallon (a British unit of measurement
that's about 25% more than a U.S. gal.); most
stations don't accept credit cards. Your valid
driver's license from home is acceptable for
short-term visits to Jamaica.
Road
Maps -- A coastal route designated
by an "A" plus a number encircles
Jamaica. It's well marked and easy to follow.
More complicated are secondary roads, urban
streets, and feeder roads, whose markings sometimes
are infuriatingly unclear. Recognizing this
problem, the Jamaica Tourist Board has issued
one of the best maps of the island, the Discover
Jamaica road map. It contains a detailed overview
of the entire island, as well as blowups of
Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, Mandeville, Spanish
Town, Port Antonio, and Ocho Rios; there's also
a very useful street index to Kingston. Get
it from any Jamaica Tourist Board office or
car-rental agency.
Mileage
Information -- Subject to road conditions,
driving time from Montego Bay to Negril (about
84km/52 miles) is 1 1/2 hours; between Montego
Bay and Ocho Rios (108km/67 miles), 1 1/2 hours;
between Ocho Rios and Port Antonio (106km/66
miles), 2 1/2 hours; between Ocho Rios and Kingston
(87km/54 miles), 2 hours; between Kingston and
Mandeville (98km/61 miles), 1 1/2 hours; and
between Kingston and Port Antonio (98km/61 miles),
1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Auto
Breakdowns -- In case of a breakdown,
telephone your car-rental
agency for assistance.
-
Rent
your car online >>
- Book your hotel
in Jamaica >>
By
Taxi & Bus
Most
cabs in Jamaica are older vehicles. Taxis in
Kingston don't have meters, so agree on a price
before you get in the car. In Kingston and the
rest of the island, special taxis and buses
for visitors are operated by JUTA (Jamaica Union
of Travellers Association) and have the union's
emblem on the side of the vehicle. Look for
a red Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) plate.
Taxis
can be flagged down on the street or summoned
by phone. Rates are per car-not per passenger-and
25% is added to the metered rate between midnight
and 5am.
Technically,
JUTA cabs are supposed to have meters, but most
of them are not in working order. Therefore,
again, agree on the price of the trip before
booking. Cab fares should be posted inside the
taxi; if you don't see them, you have the right
to request a copy from the driver. A 10% to
12% tip is usually added.
Avoid
pirate or unlicensed taxis. Not only are they
not metered-they are illegal and rarely carry
insurance.
By
Moped & Motorcycle
The
front desk of your hotel can usually arrange
the rental of a moped or motorcycle. Expect
a daily rate of about $45 for a moped or $70
for a Honda 550. Depending on the vehicle rented,
a deposit of $100 to $300 is generally required.
By
Plane
Most
travelers enter the country via Montego Bay
(although American Airlines also flies to Kingston).
If you want to fly elsewhere on the island,
you'll need to use the island's domestic air
service, which is provided by Air Jamaica Express.
Reservations are handled by Air Jamaica (tel.
800/523-5585; www.airjamaica.com
in the U.S., or 876/952-4300). You can also
reserve from home through a travel agent or
American Airlines.
Air
Jamaica Express offers scheduled flights daily
between the resort areas. There are seven flights
a day from Kingston to Montego Bay, two flights
a day between Kingston and Ocho Rios, and two
flights between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios-each
about $70 per leg. Car-rental
facilities are not available at Jamaica's smaller
airports.
International
Air Link (tel. 876/940-6660; www.intlairlink.com)
also provides shuttle service between Montego
Bay and Negril for $66 one-way.
Links
& Sources:
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