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Cars 4 Rental Guide To Travel In  Jamaica

Note: Following the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, flights and road travel may still be disrupted. Communications and general facilities are still in the early stages of reconstruction. Most visits to Jamaica are trouble-free, but there are high levels of crime, particularly in the Kingston area and tourists should avoid certain routes. International Airports Norman Manley International (KIN) (Kingston) is 18km (11 miles) southeast of the city. Coach, bus and taxis depart to the city (travel time – 30 to 60 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, shops and duty-free facilites, and car hire (including Avis, Budget and Hertz). Montego Bay (MBJ) (International) is 3km (2 miles) north of the city. Duty-free facilities are available. Air Jamaica Express runs shuttle services between the airports. Departure tax: None. Back to Top Air Travel Jamaica’s national airline is Air Jamaica (JM) (website: www.airjamaica.com). British Airways operates three flights a week non-stop from London to Kingston. Other airlines serving Jamaica include Air Canada, American Airlines, BWIA and Continental Airlines. The new Air Jamaica Express (formerly Trans-Jamaica Airlines) runs services to and from Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. During the winter season, there are frequent daily flights. For more information, contact the airline (tel: 922 4661 or (888) 359 2475; toll-free in North America and the Caribbean). Approximate flight times: From Kingston or Montego Bay to London is 10 hours (direct flight), to Los Angeles is six hours 30 minutes and to New York is four hours 20 minutes. Back to Top Travel By Water Both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios are ports of call for the following cruise lines: Carnival Cruise, Celebrity, Costa Cruise Line, Holland America, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Other passenger/freight lines (Geest) sail from North, South and Central American ports. Lauro Lines sails to Kingston from the Mediterranean. There are a number of local operators running yacht tours around the island, as well as cruises. Boats and yachts can also be hired on a daily or weekly basis. Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board for details (see Contact Addresses section). Back to Top Rail Since 1994, the service has been suspended with no immediate plans to resume a daily scheduled service. Back to Top Travel By Road There is a 17,000km- (11,000mile-) road network, one-third tarred. Traffic in Jamaica drives on the left. Speed limits are 30mph (48kph) in towns and 50mph (80kph) on highways. Bus: Reliable service in Kingston and Montego Bay; less reliable for trans-island travel. Coach and minibus tours are bookable at most hotels. JUTA (tel: 952 0813; fax 952 5355) is the main provider of scheduled and unscheduled bus/minibus and vehicle charter services. Taxi: These have red plates marked PPV (Public Passenger Vehicle). They charge fixed rates, and it is best to check standard charges prior to embarkation. A 10 per cent tip is usual. It is recommended that only taxis authorised by the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association and ordered from hotels (unshared) should be used. Car hire: Most major towns, as well as airports, have hire facilities, both local and international. Hire can also be arranged via hotels. Drivers must be aged 25 or over. There is a general consumption tax of 15 per cent on all car hire transactions. Documentation: A full UK driving licence is valid for up to six months. URBAN: Most transport in the capital is now by private minibus. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Montego Bay to other major cities/towns in Jamaica. Air Road Rail Kingston 0.30 3.00 4.00 Negril 0.20 1.30 - Ocho Rios 0.30 2.00 - Port Antonio 0.40 4.30 - Back to Top

Car Hire Jamaica

Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles in all the popular locations throughout Jamaica.

Whatever your requirements Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

Hire a car in Jamaica