Just looking for any experienced travelers tips to make my trip through the air port as smooth as possible.
Thanks
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Just looking for any experienced travelers tips to make my trip through the air port as smooth as possible.
Thanks
Airport is easy - make sure your immigration/customs card is filled out completely and correctly. Be patient, sometimes it's busy but lines normally move quickly. Relax, smile and know that you are now in Jamaica :)
I 2nd what 2nutz said...if the card is not filled out (both sides) you get out of line to go fix it :(
Also, after immigration you get your luggage and go through customs...have your passport and paperwork out and look for the "green" line at the far end of the room, this is the "nothing to declare line and it moves much quicker.
As others have posted, Most people getting off the plane don't fill in the return flight number at the very bottom of the customs form. Fill out the form correctly and you will breeze by most other who are put off to the side to fill it out before they can move on. It works better now then when everyone would do at the immigration both.
Rellim here's couple tips for your trip to Negril.
LEAVE THE BLING AT HOME
PACK LESS CLOTHES
TAKE MORE CASH
AND NEVER NEVER NEVER EXCHANGE MONEY ON THE STREET
How much does it cost to take the small plane to Negril from Mo Bay? Please someone,and thanks!
Probably not much, but why ruin the experience of traveling to Negril??
United Airlines passed out a customs form that didn't have a perforated bottom sheet and all passengers had to fill out new forms at the airport. Make sure your form has a perforated bottom
We did the MoBay VIP service last year and didn't think it was worth the additional cost. When we arrived on a Wednesday ay 1PM there was no one in line so the VIP service was a waste since we didn't hang around the airport (just wanted to get to Negril). The VIP service on the way home (a Saturday) saved us maybe 20 minutes in line. We're not big drinkers so I didn't see the value of the VIP lounge (same reason we don't go to AI resorts). It's a risk. Weather issues back home or 10 planes arriving at once would make the service worth the cost.
As for TimAir at $280 plus a $10 - $20 taxi ride from the airport to the hotel... I'd rather take the additional hour or so and take a taxi (with cold Red Stripe) for $70. If I had the additional $200 to spend, each way, I'd want to try it, but I have other uses for that $400 during my trip.
I will never suggest your wrong Negril1990. You fly and enjoy it and I resect that. For me...I LOVE LOVE LOVE the private drive to negril with stops along the way. First Alfred Barrett, (Jah bless his soul), and now Kingsley James (Take Care Tours). The bus transfer however is another story (yuk). Just my opinion.
Respect. (Flying does get there sooner)...hmmmmm. :)
/
I'm with you Craig, I love the drive. It's like a step by step decompression with each town we pass, each turn we take. After spending six hours on planes, the last thing I want to do is get on another plane.
Hey RAS always have enjoyed your posts. A consistent treatment of others with dignity and respect. I hope we cross paths some day. It looks like not this year, according to your ticker. Hopefully one of these years though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ras Walleye
Respect.
Thank you for the kind words. I've never understood the internet dynamic that empowers some people to bicker with or flame others. We all come here because of our mutual love of Jamaica and Negril. If you can't say anything nice...
I too hope our paths cross sometime.
Bless,
Ed
Thanks to all that have taken time to post.
Some good tips in there for sure.
Hopefully I can return the favor at sometime
Thanks
To that end - make sure you bring a pen and pack it a carry-on, so that you can fill out your customs forms on the plane. Every trip I see a group people in the hallway at Sangster, after they get off the plane, scrambling to fill-out their forms while the rest of passengers are already in the immigration line.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel
Also, don't be tempted to exchange money at the cambio in the airport. The exchange rate is not good. Have your driver stop at a cambio elsewhere in Mobay, or wait until you get to Negril.
For smooth sailing... As mentioned fill in your card completely. One card per person, fill out the bottom section as well. Bring a pen with you so you can do this on the plane with no worries.
Getting off the plane and to the 'lines'... Head down and walk fast. The dilly dalliers coming off the plane are going to be at the end of the line.
Once through customs head down walk past all the people trying to give you a ride right out to your guy.
Hop in then start red striping it
Going off what everyone else said....be sure to complete the arrival and departure part of the form including signing and dating with the appropriate arrival and departure dates.
Make sure you potty before the plane lands and as soon as you make it out of the plane door, start power walking.
We've never really had much of a wait for Customs but we usually walk to the far side of the room to get into line. People tend to just get in the first line they see.
Your luggage may be set off to the side of the luggage carousel if you had a wait in the immigration hall.
This one is probably obvious but it got me one trip a few years ago. Use Blue or Black ink on your form, one time I used purple ink and after waiting all that time in line the officer made me step back and re-do my form in blue or black ink but sent my wife on thru, ok there just went my only blue pen buried in her purse. Thank goodness the folks next heard my dilemma and threw me a pen and told me to keep it. I had to re-trace everything in purple with blue. Maybe 10 extra minutes but at that point you are so close to freedom that you are like a little kid on Christmas morning.
I 3rd the ride from the airport to Negril it is actually my favorite part of each trip! Even after all these years I luv,luv,luv my ride to Negril.
Have a great trip!!
Jamb
Now that you mention it.you are right!Quote:
Originally Posted by jan24
Deb
LOL the most laid back relaxed wonderful people on the planet UNTIL you mess up the paperwork! Always makes me smile, we actually had a customs lady (not immigration) making people "fix" their forms because the boxes weren't ticked properly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jambarney
Another vote for the drive, I just love it. We actually got lucky one time and our inbound flight made landfall at Negril and flew in over the coast :) Couldn't believe it!
we always pre book our seats as close to the front on the plane as possible, we are usually 10th or so getting off the plane, i tell my wife to hurry and keep up with me to get down to the dreaded ramp with our paper work filled out correctly, we learned our lesson, l.o.l.usually within 20 min we are outside and in our private drivers car, complete with a large coleman cooler full of ice and Red Stripes and my subs prepared, soon come
Here is my two cents....if possible, bring carry on only - this is the fastest way to travel. A person can always head to Sav to purchase a piece of clothing. As well, laundry is very doable.
As mentioned, the departure info at the bottom must be filled in. Depending on where my seat was on the plane, once off the plane I walk at a fast pace to bypass others...not just from my flt, but there may be another flt unloading.
Have the departure document in a handy location as there is an employee standing just before you enter the customs section. They need to verify if you filled the form complete before you can pass them.
Now wait in line, pass through customs, get your baggage if you checked, head through the last check point( be it nothing to declare, or some think to declare) then get ready for the bombardment of taxi inquires.
If I'm in a small party of 1 or 2, I head for the Juta counter, and ask to get to Negril. I see its $25 ea, one way now.
I've always scored a quick ride out, full of usually one All Inclusive stop in Negril, and then me.
Enjoy!
I'm going to give another opinion on the VIP service - we found it wonderful for arrival. I&C were slammed and we sailed right through. It was nice to have a cold towel and rum punch while they coordinated our driver. Add in a quick change and another rum punch to go for the road and we were very pleased with the service. We did not use them on the way back and regretted it a little, lines were long but moved pretty quickly. The line cutters did get a little irritating and it would have been nice to be in the shorter line. note that on return the service does not start until after you check your bags so no relief from those lines. :)
I can't see how that would save any time at MBJ?? Every time we've been our bags have been ready and waiting for us when we clear immigration, no waiting. Now going home, well that's a different story :)Quote:
Originally Posted by callme2
every year we are able to blow thu customs and immigration in less then 1/2 hour and on our way to negril , soon comeQuote:
Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel
Don't be in a hurry...It's a crap shoot
Get out of the US is a crap shoot with security
Get to Ja is a crap shoot..sometimes you first...sometimes you last
My trip last week:
Get out of Orlando....sucks
Get to Sangster...no one no there...easy
Get to Sangster to leave...line out to the hall...... 20 minutes...got there two hours early
Get to Orlando ...My flight gets in before the two 747's coming in at the same time
no one no there...easy
IT'S a CRAP SHOOT!
Don't worry be happy!
Cap
Don't be in a hurry...It's a crap shoot
Get out of the US is a crap shoot with security
Get to Ja is a crap shoot..sometimes you first...sometimes you last
My trip last week:
Get out of Orlando....sucks
Get to Sangster...no one no there...easy
Get to Sangster to leave...line out to the hall...... 20 minutes...got there two hours early
Get to Orlando ...My flight gets in before the two 747's coming in at the same time
no one no there...easy
IT'S a CRAP SHOOT!
Don't worry be happy!
Cap
I'm with Cap - take it easy and slow! My vacation starts the second I walk out the door at work. After that, who cares?
I've done the drive to Negril a couple times for my first visits..21 years ago. I choose to get there ASAP so Intlairlink is my way to Negril..12mins...yep..12mins & I'm there!!! Have flown Tim Air too. The coast line & road to Negril looks good at 2000ft too. $140. Reso's are made & I'll see them in 2 weeks..for my 22nd reach.
I am thankful for all posts ,I know they will help me & hopefully somebody else.
Honestly I am wound so tight that any easing through the process is a major win for me
When do you leave?Quote:
Originally Posted by rellim
I'll give my two cents.
1.) The first reach for my wife and I we didn't want to get up while flying, so we held off our bathroom break and waited until the plane landed. The first bathrooms were right before customs or right after. Lines at both bathrooms get long and take some time. We waited until after our passports were stamped and it must of taken 20 minutes to use the bathroom. The next three times we went to Jamaica we learned to time our bathroom break on the plane right before it starts descending.
2.) As stated prior, make sure you have a working pen. Even a backup pen with blue or black ink. Our last reach my pen started to run out of ink. I brought my parents with us and they kept making marks on the customs form to get the pen to work. When they got to the lady who was checking the forms she made them redo them.
3.) If you have check-in luggage try to mark them with tape, ribbon, or something, so they stand out with all the other luggage.
4.) If you booked a private transfer make sure you have there phone number(s) or information. We arrived one time and my phone wasn't charged. The nice gentleman that is always at the entrance fortunately knew the person that was picking us up and someone near by made a call and found out our driver was in traffic and running late. Never know when someone might have the wrong information or forgets.
5.) As stated by others, relax. We are always in a hurry from excitement. We always forget to take pictures of us at the airport. Last time because of my parents we took couple photos outside the airport. Looking back at those photos and seeing us as we arrived vs when we left are priceless.
Thanks to you and others..... R..E..L..A..X... good adviceQuote:
Originally Posted by jsteil
seriously pictures ,the kids are forever looking trough the old pictures.
Thanks
Feb 28th,Can't freaking waitQuote:
Originally Posted by captaind
NikkiB I totally agree... no hurry for me!Quote:
Originally Posted by NikkiB