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GETTING AROUND |
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Buses and minibuses are inexpensive if not comfortable. Renting a
car offers maximum independence but will eat heavily into your budget;
if you just want to make the odd excursion or short trip, it can be
cheaper to take a taxi, or even hire a private driver. For longer trips,
internal flights are reasonably priced
By bus
Jamaica's buses and minibuses can be a little disquieting: timetables
are non-existent outside Kingston, drivers can show little interest in
the rules of the road, and passengers are often squeezed in with scant
regard for comfort.
On the other hand, public transport is a great way to meet people, and
it's also absurdly cheap - about J$70 per 50 miles for a bus and J$100-140
per 50 miles for minibuses. Each town has a bus terminal of sorts, often
near the market. The destination is usually written on the front of the
vehicle, along with its name ("Nuff Vibes", "Tings Coulda Worse" and the
like). The conductor shouts out the destination before departure,
scouting the area for potential passengers and cramming in as many as
possible. Buses and minibuses stop anywhere en route to pick up or drop
off passengers (except in major towns, where they are restricted to bus
stops and terminals). If you want to get off somewhere before the
terminus, just tell the conductor; to get on a bus, stand by the side of
the road and flag it down
By car
If you can afford it, renting a car is the best way of seeing Jamaica.
However, rental prices are high, starting at around US$70 per day in
high season, including government tax (rates can go as low as US$40 a
day at slow times). Third-party insurance is normally included in the
price; if you don't have a credit card that offers free collision damage
waiver, you'll have to pay another US$12-15 per day to cover potential
damage to the car.
There are rental companies all over the island, with the best selection
in Kingston, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and we've listed them throughout
the section. Though local companies often offer the best rates, going
with a known name will normally ensure guaranteed roadside assistance
and a better vehicle; larger companies will also allow you to pick up
and drop off in different major towns for no extra fee. Major
international rental companies with offices in Jamaica are Budget (tel
868/952-3838, ), Econocars (tel 868/926-9989, fax 978-1798), Hertz tel
868/979-0438, ), Island (tel 868/926-8861, fax 929-6987) and Thrifty (tel
868/952-5825, ).
Driving in Jamaica is on the left , and (unless otherwise specified)
speed limits are set at 30mph in towns and minor roads and 50mph on
highways. Wearing front seatbelts is mandatory, and police frequently
levy on-the-spot fines on those who don't wear them.
If you don't drive - or don't want to - it might be worth hiring a local
driver , which will cost around US$100 a day.
By taxi
What passes for a taxi in Jamaica varies from the gleaming white vans
and imported cars of the Jamaican Union of Travellers Association (JUTA;
tel 868/927-4534, 926-1537 or 952-0623), the official - and expensive -
tourist carriers, to beaten-up old Ladas. Licensed taxis carry red
number-plates with "PP" or "PPV" on them, but there are also a number of
rogue taxis. The authorities advise against using these.
On the whole, fares are hefty - around US$20 for ten miles, and you'll
always pay a little more if you take a taxi licensed to a hotel. Meters
are non-existent, so always establish a price before you get in (or over
the phone if you're calling for one). The first quoted price may well be
just an opener, particularly if you hail a vehicle on the street; don't
be afraid to negotiate. Once a price is agreed, a tip is unnecessary.
Shared taxis or "route taxis" are usually crammed with as many
passengers as the driver/owner can fit in, and operate on short, busy
set routes around the main towns, picking up and dropping off people
anywhere along the way in the same manner as the buses and minibuses.
Prices are much closer to bus fares than to taxi rates.
By motorbike
Renting a motorbike or scooter can be an exhilarating way of touring the
island. Outlets abound in the main resorts, and at US$30-40 per day,
prices are very reasonable. Though in theory you'll need to show a
driving licence, these are rarely asked for. Under Jamaican law, all
motorcycle riders must wear helmets.
By plane
If you're heading across country, it's well worth considering one of the
internal flights provided by Air Jamaica Express (tel 868/923-6664, ).
They're quick and efficient, though not exactly a budget option; the one-way
fare from Montego Bay to Kingston, for example, is US$83. Flights
shuttle among the domestic airports at Tinson Pen in Kingston (tel
868/924-8850), Montego Bay (tel 868/952-4300), Port Antonio (tel
868/913-3692), Negril (tel 868/957-4251 or 4972), and Ocho Rios (tel
868/726-1344).
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