Getting There and Around

Getting There
By Air

Norman Manley International Airport (tel. 876/924-8546 for arrival and departure information) is located on the Palisadoes heading towards Port Royal east of Downtown. Domestic flights leave from a small terminal by the cargo area, reached by taking a left off the boulevard leading to the main terminal before reaching the roundabout.

Skylan Airways (tel. 876/932-7102, reservations@skylanjamaica.com, www.skylanjamaica.com, office hours 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri.) is the only commercial domestic carrier operating out of Norman Manley, with six weekly flights (Mon., Wed., Fri.) with morning and afternoon departures. The morning flights depart Kingston at 7:30 a.m., with the return departing Montego Bay at 8:30 a.m., while the afternoon flights depart Kingston at 4 p.m., with the return leaving Montego Bay at 5 p.m. The trip lasts about half an hour and costs US$70 each leg. Skylan also offers charters when its aircraft is not in use on regularly scheduled flights. Skylan operates a Jetstream 32 19-seater aircraft with a pressurized cabin.

Jamaica Air Shuttle (tel. 876/906-9025, 876/906-9026, or 876/906-9027, www.jamaicaairshuttle.com) is an affiliate of air cargo and courier companies Airways International and Airpak Express, which began offering regular flights between Kingston and Montego Bay in late 2009. It departs from Tinson Pen Aerodrome with three Beach 99 Turbo Props seating 12 and one Queen Air with a five-person capacity. The carrier has 62 flights weekly scheduled Monday to Saturday (US$120 each way) and also offers charters.

Historically, most domestic flights in small aircraft departed from Tinson Pen, but there has been little continuity of service among carriers with a slew of different domestic airlines coming and going over the years.

Ground Transportation

The Knutsford Express (18 Dominica Drive, tel. 876/960-5499 or 876/971-1822, www.knutsfordexpress.com) is popular with Jamaicans and tourists alike, offering the most comfortable coach service between Kingston, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay with two or three daily departures from each city. New Kingston–Montego Bay departs at 6 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 6 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Buses run between the parking lot behind New Kingston Shopping Centre and Pier 1 in Montego Bay. The trip lasts four hours depending on traffic and costs US$20 prepaid, US$23 on the day of travel.

Buses ply routes around town and between Kinston and major points on the eastern side of the island. The main bus terminals for routes out of Kingston are the Transport Centre hub in the heart of Half Way Tree (tel. 876/754-2610) and the Urban Transport Centre below Coronation Market on Port Royal Street and Water Lane (876/754-2584). Buses depart throughout the day to Port Royal (US$0.50), Spanish Town (US$1), Bull Bay (US$0.50), Morant Bay (US$1.50), Mandeville (US$3), Port Antonio (US$3), Ocho Rios (US$3), Savanna-la-Mar (US$7), Montego Bay (US$6), and Negril (US$8) .

Route taxis and mini buses depart from Cross Roads, Half Way Tree, by the roundabout on upper Constant Spring Road in Manor Park for destinations due north and at the roundabout in Papine for destinations in the Blue Mountains. Route taxis or minibuses depart for Kingston from virtually every city or town in the surrounding parishes and from parish capitals across the island. Route taxi fares are typically slightly higher than buses on the overlapping routes, but don't typically connect faraway points.

Getting Around
On Foot

Jamaicans who walk around Kingston generally don't do so by choice, day or night, and are ridiculed as "walk foots" by their fellow citizens. It's mainly due to the prestige of driving, and more importantly, the heat that pedestrians suffer; the safety concerns around Town are generally exaggerated and vehicles stopped at lights offer little protection, anyway. There is really no better way to get to know the layout of some of the more congested areas like Downtown around the Parade, Knutsford Boulevard's Hip Strip, and around the center of Half Way Tree than to go on foot. Beyond that, route taxis and public buses are the best way to move about for those without a car.

By Bus

Jamaica Urban Transit Company (www.jutc.com, flat fare US$0.75) operates buses in and around the Corporate Area. Routes are extensive, but service and schedules can by daunting. Covered street-side bus stops are scattered along all the major thoroughfares throughout the city, and the more people gathered there, the sooner you're likely to see a bus. This is definitely the most economical way to move about.

By Taxi

Taxis are relatively safe off the street, but it's always best to call a dispatch to ensure accountability. Fares are assessed by distance rather than with a meter, and you may want to haggle if it seems too high. Downtown to New Kingston should cost around US$4.25, New Kingston to Half Way Tree around US$3.50, Half Way Tree to Papine about US$4.25. City Guide Taxi (tel. 876/969-5458) is a decent and dependable service, as are Safe Travel Taxi Service (tel. 876/901-5510) and El-Shaddai (tel. 876/969-7633). All the taxis in Jamaica tend to use white Toyota Corolla station wagons, and when you see one of these, chances are it's a taxi and can be waved down.

By Car

Rental cars tend to be very expensive across the island, but unfortunately indispensable when it comes to independently moving about and exploring remote areas. For the upper reaches of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is indispensable. Pervasive potholes in town don't really warrant a 4x4. Check with your credit card company to see if it covers insurance.

Unlicensed rental operators abound. While they may be cheaper (US$50/day) than more reputable agencies, there is less accountability in the event that anything should go worse than planned. These private rentals don't take credit cards, often want a wad of cash up front, and usually don't offer insurance. These informal agencies are best avoided.

Listed rates do not include insurance or the 16.5 percent GCT. Insurance is typically US$15–40, depending on coverage. A deposit is taken for a deductible when customers opt for anything less than full coverage. The use of select gold and platinum credit cards obviates the need to purchase insurance from the rental agency. Check with each individual establishment for their particular policies.

Compact Car Rentals (178 Mountainview Ave., tel. 876/978-4914, compactcarrental@yahoo.com, www.compactcarjamaica.com) rents Toyota Yaris (US$50), Corolla (US$65), and Camry (US$80) sedans, as well as Honda Civics (US$75), Accords (US$100), and CR-Vs (US$100) of varying years with a three-day minimum. Compact offers free pickups and delivery from Norman Manley International Airport.

Island Car Rentals (17 Antigua Ave., tel. 876/926-5991 or Norman Manley tel. 876/924-8075, icar@cwjamaica.com, www.islandcarrentals.com) has a wide range of vehicles from the Toyota Yaris (US$44 low season/$55 high season) and Camry (US$99 low/$109 high) to Honda Civic (US$58 low/$59 high) and Accord (US$78 low/$87 high), Suzuki Grand Vitara (US$99 low/$109 high), and Space Wagon (US$83 low/$90 high).

Fiesta Car Rental (14 Waterloo Rd., tel. 876/926-0133, fiesta@kasnet.com, www.fiestacarrentals.com) has fairly new Japanese vehicles, including Hyundai Accents (US$89) and one Honda Accord (US$170) and Suzuki Gran Vitara (US$146).

Budget (53 South Camp Rd., tel. 876/759-1793, Norman Manley tel. 876/924-8762, US tel. 877/825-2953, UK tel. 800/731-0125, budget@jamweb.net, www.budgetjamaica.com, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily) has a range of vehicles from Toyota Yaris (US$60 low season/$75 high season) and Daihatsu Terios (US$75 low/$100 high) to VW Passats (US$95 low/$120 high).

Bargain Rent-A-Car (1 Merrick Ave., tel. 876/926-1909; Norman Manley Airport, tel. 876/924-8293; info@avis.com.jm, www.avis.com.jm) is the Avis franchise in Jamaica, with a range of vehicles including Hyundai Accent, Mitsubishi Lancer, Subaru Forrester, and Toyota Yaris, Corolla, and Camry, as well as vans. Prices range from the Yaris (US$74 low season/$114 high season) to the Nissan Urvan minibus (US$125 low/$166 high).

Ideal Car Rentals (43 Burlington Ave., tel. 876/926-2980) has a decent selection of Japanese models including a few four-wheel-drives.

Bowla's Car Rental (50 Dumbarton Ave., tel. 876/960-0067, bowlasrentacar@cwjamaica.com) offers a wide range of cars, unlimited mileage, short-term and long-term rentals starting at US$75 per day, and free rides to and from the airport. Bowla's fleet includes: Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Camrys, Mistusbishi Grandis, Hyundais, Mazdas, and Nissans.