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Travel to Jamaica
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Travel to Jamaica is very straightforward: over two million tourists manage it every year, the majority arriving by air into Montego Bay,(Sangster International Airport, sometimes known as "MBJ" airport) the center of the package tour. The other international airport is the Norman Manley International on the outskirts of Kingston, on the south-east coast. This is the bigger of the two as it serves the capital of Jamaica, Kingston.
Jamaica Airports
There are four or five airports in jamaica but only two that serve the international flights. Travel to Jamaica, as a tourist, is therefore quite straightforward, as most will plan to arrive at Sangster International, Montego Bay, on the North-West coast.
Sangster International Airport is ideally located on the north-west coast, at the centre of the country’s main tourism region and close to a wide range of hotel and resort facilities. The airport is within easy driving distance of the cruise ports at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios as well as the popular tourist town of Negril. Travel to jamaica for most tourists, starts with a landing at Mo.Bay airport!
You can see more about this airport, including floor plans, at:
MBJ Airport
The picture below is taken from the sky above the Montego Bay airport and shows the Sandy Bay in the centre and the landing strip int the top center of the picture. As you can see, it would be a short taxi drive south to the ameneties of Mo.Bay. Negril Beach would be further west,(left!)and Och Rios further east (right!) along the coast.
The international airport at Kingston is out on a peninsular in the sea, south of the capital city. You drive around a semi-circular road, with the sea either side and approach Kingston from the east. (from the right!) You can see how your travel to Jamaica via this airport, would bring you into the south-east side of the city, but it would be some distance from the beaches of the north and west coast. The picture below, taken from the air, shows the airport at the bottom of the picture, the road to the city curving to the right and the city of Kingston up on the top left, with the sea in between.
More on the Kingston, Norman Manley International Airport can be found at:
Kingston Airport
With its proximity to the nation’s capital Kingston Airport is of significant importance for business travel to and from Jamaica, and for the movement of air cargo. It sees about 1.7 million passengers a year (2006 figures) and provides for 11 different scheduled airlines: that's about 30 departures a day or 4000 passengers departing daily.
Flights to Jamaica
There are at least ten major airlines serving the island of Jamaica. Briefly, they are as follows:
Air Jamaica:- Services mostly from the Eastern United States.
Air Canada:- Mostly from eastern Canada, including Winnipeg and Nova Scotia.
American Airways:- Mostly from New York, Dallas and Florida.
British Airways:- From London, England.
Continental Airlines:- New Jersey and Houston.
Delta Airlines:- Atlanta.
North West Airlines:- Mostly from the North Central States.(Detroit etc.)
Spirit Airways:- Florida.
United Airlines:- Washington, Chicago area.
U.S. Airways:- Boston, Pittsburgh and Florida.
There are of course many charter airlines that provide flights and package tours to Jamaica. If you are considering travel to Jamaica you need to check with the online Travel Agencies or your own local travel agent.
Travel times will vary but some approximate, general indicators (ie. times rounded out) would be:
From:London, UK 10 1/4 hours
Toronto, Canada 4 hours
Phoenix, US. 5 3/4 hours
Los Angeles, US. 5 1/2 hours New York, US. 3 1/2 hours
Boston, US. 3 3/4 hours
Atlanta, US. 2 3/4 hours
Miami, US. 1 1/2 hours
Of course, your charter flight may be different. Please check all these travel times with your own travel agent!
Jamaica Travel Information
Currency is the Jamaican Dollar and rates vary daily so check around. It's quite easy to change money at the airport or resorts. When leaving you can change it at the airport or take it with you. Most credit cards are accepted.
Jamaicans drive on the left, the same as in England, so beware if you are renting a car. Speed limits in town are 50K or 30 mph, and on the freeways it goes up to 80K or 50 mph. Seat belts are mandatory for drivers and front seat passengers.
Internet and internet cafes are readily available. Communication systems are well developed.
Contrary to popular believe, unprescribed drugs are illegal in Jamaica and carry very serious consequences.
The local language is English but many Jamaicans speak a local Patois punctuated with slang. "Just listen carefully".
Electricity is 110 volt the same as North America and Canada.(two pronged, flat plugs!)
Jamaica is in the Eastern Time Zone (minus 5 hours) and does not recognize daylight savings time!
Water is generally safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled water is available everywhere.
...and before anyone asks...It's called "Red Stripe" beer and "Appletons" rum (with Ginger Ale would be best for me:})
Jamaica Cruise
Jamaica has several major ports but the three operating cruise ship ports are:
Montego Bay, St. James
Ocho Rios, St. Anne
Port Antonio, Portland
*Falmouth, Trelawny, is being planned and is supposed to open by February 2009. (...whether this is Jamaica time or real time, no-one seems to know!)
The Government seems very keen on increasing the cruise ship facilities of the island and are looking at opening up two new ones:- in the north-east at Falmouth and down from Negril on the west coast. It's all about tourist money of course as presently tourists spend about $100 a head and Jamaica would like to see that increase to the $150's. They are also looking at increased tourist numbers: from the present 2 1/2 million to a projected 5 million, mostly through the new and the improved cruise ship facilities. Travel to Jamaica will get even easier!
Cruise ships arrive every day of the week, mostly during the period, December to march, and most originate in Southern Florida.
These cruise lines stop at Montego Bay:
Carnival Cruises: All Year
Royal Caribbean: All Year
Princess Cruises: December to April and October/November
Celebrity Cruises: December to April
Holland America: February and March
Costa Cruises: December and January
Cunard: March
Norwegian Cruise Lines: All Year
These cruise lines stop at Ocho Rios:
Carnival Cruises: All Year
Celebrity Cruises: January thru to April
Costa Cruises: January, February and March
Princess Cruises: October to April
Royal caribbean: All Year
So, you have quite a choice for your travel to Jamaica, and we really havn't mentioned charters and package vacations!
Don't forget, check carefully with your own chosen travel agent to verify all these times and locations. When you travel to Jamaica you have many options, many price levels and a variety of choices. We hope we are able to help with this planning. Ideas, suggestions and updates??...use or Q & A form to let us know.
P.S. Travelers to Jamaica from the U.S. will need a Passport starting January 2009....check it out with your travel agent!
Now you have arrived, how are you going to get around and visit this wonderful island? Check the link below--->
Jamaican Transportation
How to get around. Bus, Taxi and Car hire.
Return to Home Page from Travel to Jamaica: Getting There!
