Getting There

Arriving by Plane

If you're coming from abroad, leaving such cities as Miami or New York, try to fly into the Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

From the airport at Montego Bay, it is a 50-mile (81km) drive southwest to Negril, a trip that usually takes 2 hours but could take more or less, depending on traffic conditions. The road winds scenically past ruins of sugar estates and great houses.

It is unwise to fly into Kingston if you plan to go on to Negril. Kingston is 150 miles (242km) to the east and at least a 4-hour drive, sometimes more.

Getting from the Airport to Negril

If you've booked into one of the all-inclusive such as Sandals, a hotel van will pick you up from the airport at Mo Bay into Negril. Arrangements for your arrival and pickup are better made in advance, at the time of booking.

If you don't have a hotel pickup arranged, we do not recommend the public bus between Montego Bay and Negril, even though it's a cheap, one-way ride costing about $3.75 per passenger. The crowded minibus is uncomfortable, there isn't room for much luggage, and pickpockets are known to prey upon the tourists.

It's better to take a private minivan. This van will drop you right at your final destination in Negril.

Another option is to go from Sangster airport to Negril by taxi, though this is a pricey choice. The one-way fare ranges from $50 to $80; always negotiate it before getting into the car with your things.

Still another option is renting a car. From the airport in Montego Bay, you drive west along Route Al for about 90 minutes to reach Negril.

En route, the only town of any size you'll pass through is Lucea, built around a harbor at a point 25 miles (40km) east of Negril. If you're driving, it hardly merits a stopover, although in British colonial days it was more important than Mo Bay.

Locals call it "Lucy." If you visit at all, the best time to stop is on Saturday morning when the market around the harbor is both active and colorful, from about 7am to noon. Otherwise, we'd suggest you drive on, heading straight for the more glamorous retreats of Negril.

Finally, Negril has a small airport for short-hop domestic flights. Air Jamaica Express flies to Negril from Kingston or Montego Bay for $60 one-way. Air Link was making the Kingston-to-Negril run as a direct charter for $480 per planeload at press time.

These shuttle flights land at the Negril Aerodrome at Bloody Bay, 7 miles (11km) north of Negril's central hotel belt. There's no scheduled bus service from the airstrip to Negril Village, but taxis are plentiful: Though the fare is be negotiated with a driver, count on spending at least $12 for the short ride.

Discuss This Article (Getting to Negril)

Thanks

by CatherineL from UK

Hi - Thanks for letting me know about the Air Jamaica flights to Negril in your post.

The only reasonable direct flight I can find from UK to Jamaica is Air Jamaica operated by Virgin and it goes into Kingston. Thanks to your advice we will be able to fly into there then get Air Jamaica to Negril.

passports

by Samella Johnson from Gary, In

Do you need your actual passport to leave Jamaica or are they accepting the State receipt and a valid state id to leave?

Negril