Getting to Montego Bay
There are several options for getting to this beautiful holiday destination on Jamaica. Travelling by air is probably the fastest and most convenient method, but travellers can also get to Montego Bay by cruise ship, if travelling from abroad.
By car
There are numerous car rental agencies in all of the major cities and towns in Jamaica, and at the airport. The roads in Jamaica do not conform to international standards and drivers seldom follow driving etiquette; nevertheless, driving around is a good way of seeing the country.
It takes about 3 hours to drive to Kingston, Negril or Ocho Rios from Montego Bay. There are plenty of gas stations along the way. Drivers are recommended to keep their doors locked and windows rolled up at all times, and to avoid driving at night.
By bus
As there is no train service on the island of Jamaica, there is a good bus network that connects all its cities and towns instead. Travellers should use the express buses offered by many tour companies to get to different cities around the island. Although these are more expensive they are extremely comfortable, with leather reclining seats, TVs and air conditioning. The local bus services also commute to all the major cities, but these buses are usually overcrowded and not air-conditioned.
By air
Travelling by air is probably the most convenient and fastest way of getting to Montego Bay. The Donald Sangster International Airport is located just a few kilometres from the popular tourist areas of the city. The flying time from Miami is about 90 minutes; from Toronto about 4 hours; and from London or Paris about 7 hours.
The airport handles at least two million passengers annually and many international flights including those serviced by Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways and several other major airlines from North America and Europe. Several domestic flights from different parts of the island also land here as well as at the airport at Kingston.
The airport facilities include a reasonable selection of retail outlets and restaurants, ATMs, an information desk and car rental agencies. The airport has been designated as a no-smoking zone, but there is a B&H Lounge that caters for smokers, where guests are not under any obligation to buy a drink. Porters are easily available and can be recognised by their red caps.
The best way to get to the city is to take a JUTA taxi or a courtesy bus, which can be arranged through your hotel. There are several buses that make courtesy trips to designated hotels, with the airport shuttle bus being quite irregular. Cars can also be hired at the airport.
Cruise ships
Several cruise ships from Europe and America dock at the Montego Bay Cruise Terminal. Cruise lines that stop here include Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, Holland America Line-Westours, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International (RCI).
Taxis
Visitors are recommended to use JUTA taxis or route taxis. JUTA taxis can be identified by their red PPV licence plates and can be flagged down anywhere in Montego. Taxi drivers usually wait for passengers outside the main hotels and at the popular tourist spots, so it is never difficult to catch a JUTA taxi. Route taxis can be identified by the words route taxi, painted on the doors of the vehicle. These taxis can be stopped anywhere, but they will continue to pick up passengers until the car is full.