Traveling to and from Negril...

There are several ways to get to Negril. Each method has advantages, for example cost or speed, and is used by some people every day.

Free - Hotel First, a number of resorts in Negril offer free transfers from the Montego Bay airport directly to the hotel. Hotel provided transfers will stop only at resorts operated by one company and thus will normally stop at only one or two hotels in Negril. In most cases you will need to stay a minimum number of nights at the resort to qualify for this service. Contact your travel agent or the hotel directly to see if transfers to/from Montego Bay are included in the room rate or not.

Free - Tour Package Second, a number of tour operators, for example Apple Vacations, include free transfers if you purchase a package of a flight to Montego Bay along with a stay at a resort. Tour operator provided transfers may or may not stop at multiple hotels before reaching your resort. The number of stops is determined by the tour operator, the transfer company used, and several other factors. Contact your travel agent or the tour operator to see if transfers are included in the package price or not.

Shuttle Bus If free transfers are not provided by your hotel or tour operator then possibly the most economical, while still accommodating, method of transportation to and from Negril is via the shuttle bus. Shuttle bus is probably not the best way of describing an air conditioned vans and buses with an expert driver, who will sometimes narrate during your journey in your shared van or bus. A shared transfer may, or may not,  include stops at multiple resorts. This option can save you half on the price of a private taxi, and without half the hassle. Remember to tip the shuttle bus driver. Some of the shuttle bus operators include the following:

* The largest tour and transportation company in Jamaica is Tropical Tours and Exclusive Holidays, with two strategically placed locations inside the transportation hall at Montego Bay Airport, desk #4 and desk #11. Visit them on the web at  www.tropicaltours-ja.com or www.exclusiveholidays-ja.com for more details about transfers and tours of the island. Their phone number is (876) 952-1126 or (888) 250-4504 (from USA or Canada).

* One of the largest operators is JUTA offering van and bus transfers at $25US per person if booked in line at www.jutatoursnegrilltd.com.  Or you can contact JUTA at (876) 957-9197. (Please make sure you talk to JUTA Negril as Montego Bay JUTA is a different company and drivers from Montego Bay do not always know Negril too well).

* Clive's Transport Service is a great way to get from the airport to Negril, for $20 per person in a nice, air-conditioned van with really positive staff to meet you off the plane, provide you with refreshments & very safe, friendly, accommodating drivers. You can also book tours with Clive. Book on-line at www.clivestransportservicejamaica.com or call him on (876) 869-7571 for both regular and private transfers and tours.

* Kingsley James of Take Care Tours, www.kingsleystakecaretours.com, is reliable and available for private or group transportation throughout the island, in a clean and comfortable van. Based in the West End, with 20 years experience. Email reservations and requests to takecaretours@hotmail.com. They can be reached by calling (876) 885-1383.

* Dudley Warren's Big Ship Tours will take excellent care of you; tours and airport transfer to and from Negril with  a/c, cold drinks and great company. Call them at (876) 995-4210.

* Reggae Tours offers airport transfer service in an air-conditioned bus or van with a capacity of 7, 16, or 29 passengers. They can be contacted at (876) 772-3327 or on the web at  www.reggae-tours.com.

* George "Shorty" Graham operates Shorty Tours. The company conducts tours of all parts of Jamaica in addition to doing airport transfers. Call "Shorty" at (876) 372-3360 for information.

* Explore  Jamaica Transportation & Tours has been transporting visitors to all parts of Jamaica for over 15 years. Their phone number is (876) 850-9892.

* MBT Tours offers 24 hour service to Negril and all other resort areas in Jamaica. They can be reached at (876) 448-5254 or you can e-mail them at  mbt-travelandtours@hotmail.com.

* Fabian Tours offers transfers and an included tour (as a package) for a single price. The tour includes Rick's Cafe plus a shopping stop in Negril. Call them at (876) 369-1303 or see them on the web at http://www.fabiantours.com for this unique offer.

* Alfred's Taxi and Tours offers free return transfers from Negril to the airport in Montego Bay. When you book Alfred to pick you up at the airport and take you on a full day tour, he will take you back to the airport for free (contact for full details). E-mail Alfred for a ride or tour at alfredstaxi@aol.com or call him at (876) 854-8016.

* Road 2 Negril offers airport transfers and private tours of the Negril area. You can reserve your ride in advance using the web site: www.road2negril.comor by calling Troy at (876)-562-6001. Road 2 Negril drivers have vans capable of carrying up to eight passengers with luggage.

* Queen McBeam, Ocho Rios Tours and Transfers http://www.ocho-rios.com. Phone: 876 975-5279 or 876 458-9714 or email from the  page or ionie@ocho-rios.com

* Talk Of The Town http://www.talkofthetownnegril.com/in... phone (876)462-5920.

* Alrick Allen  www.yourjamaicantourguide.com

* Joe Cool Taxi www.joecooltaxiandtoursjamaica.com phone (876) 390-1614.

* Small group transfers can be provided by Courtney Taylor. See his web page http://www.jamaicairietours.com/lo.html#! or phone (876) 475-1476.

Some of the transfer operators listed above have a desk in the arrival hall at the Montego Bay airport (located just as you exit from customs). If there is a desk for the transfer operator in the arrival hall then you can arrange transfers when you arrive in Montego Bay. In addition, most of these transfer operators will allow you to make reservations in advance of your arrival in Montego Bay. Advanced reservations can by made by phone, by e-mail, or via most operators website.

Other transfer operators, those without a desk in the arrival hall but who take advance reservations, will have you turn right and exit the arrival hall to meet their driver. You can make advance reservations by phone, by e-mail, or via most operators website.

If you make an advance reservation for transfers be sure to ask which option is being used by your transfer operator. Set the price of the transfer before starting the trip if you have not prepaid for the transfer.

Kingston Bus Those people landing in Kingston can take a bus from Kingston to Negril. Bus service is offered from downtown Kingston to downtown Negril several times most days of the week by South Coast Express. The trip from Kingston to Negril takes about 5 hours with several stops along the way. For more information about days of operation, the departure schedule, and prices you can e-mail info@southcoast-express.com or call (876) 957-3751. A taxi will be required to reach any Negril hotel from the drop off point in downtown Negril. A second taxi will be required from the Kingston airport to the bus departure point in downtown Kingston.

Note: No Negril hotel offers free transfers from the Kingston airport to Negril. No tour operator offers free transfers from Kingston to Negril. Transfers from Kingston to Negril can also be made by air, see below.

Taxi Regular taxi service is also available from Montego Bay to Negril. There is a taxi stand located just outside the arrival hall (exit to the right) at the Montego Bay airport. A private transfer by taxi for a group of 1 to 4 people should cost about $US60 to $US80 per taxi (plus tip) one way. Use only a licensed taxi with a red plate and two white letters, one of which is 'P', and digits (for example 'PA1234'). Bargain with the driver to get the best price. Set the price of the transfer before starting the trip.

The distance from the Montego Bay airport to the first Negril hotel (at the north end of Bloody Bay) is about 45 miles. It is an additional 10 miles or so to the hotels on the south end of Negril (those near the Negril lighthouse). Travel time should run from 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min depending on the location of the hotel and on road conditions. Private transfers by taxi can shorten the actual travel time by about 10 min. and will avoid any intermediate stops at other hotels.

Plane You can also fly from Montego Bay to Negril. Timair, (876) 952-2516, offers air charter service for groups of up to nine passengers. Their web site is http://www.timair.net/. The estimated flight time from Montego Bay to Negril is about 15 min. The cost depends on the number of passengers on a flight (contact Timair for details) but the cost is much higher than a shared van or a private taxi.

A second operator, International Airlink, offers both scheduled or charter service from Montego Bay to Negril for groups of up to 17 passengers. Their web site is http://www.intlairlink.net/index.aspx or phone (876) 940-6660. The cost of scheduled service offered by this operator is less than that of charter service.

In addition, once you arrive in Negril you will need a taxi from the Negril airport to your hotel. The exception is Couples Negril which is directly across the road from the Negril airport. Because the Negril airport has no landing lights all planes must arrive and depart during daylight (no night flights are allowed).

Note: Both charter carriers also offer charter service from Negril to other destinations in Jamaica including Ocho Rios, Kingston, and Port Antonio. Estimated one way flight times from Negril are: Kingston 35 min., Ocho Rios 30 min., and Port Antonio 45 min.

Helicopter The final option is to fly via helicopter. There are two companies that offer this service: Captain John's Island Hoppers (876) 974-1285 , their web site http://www.jamaicahelicopterservices...., and Jamaica Customized Vacations & Services (876) 863-1798, their web site is http://www.jcvtt.com/. They both fly to the Negril airport. Helicopter transfers are one of the fastest ways to get to Negril and gives you a bonus aerial view of Jamaica. The cost of a transfer to Negril by helicopter is higher than flying and much higher than by van or private taxi. Contact each company for a price quotation.

In addition, once you arrive in Negril you will need a taxi from the Negril airport to your hotel. The exception is Couples Negril which is directly across the road from the Negril airport. Because the Negril airport has no landing lights all helicopter flights must arrive and depart during daylight (no night flights are allowed).

Note: Because of space and weight limits, bags may be sent to/from Negril by road rather than being on the helicopter during a transfer. Ask each operator about any weight limits and/or bag limits on a flight to Negril.

Note: Both helicopter operators also offer charter service from Negril to other destinations in Jamaica including Ocho Rios, Kingston, and Port Antonio. They also offer sightseeing flights from Negril over various parts of the island. See their websites for details. Contact each company for a price quotation.