Re: Questions about Driving
Unless there's some new information that I'm not aware of, the whitehall in negril is not on any do not travel list in the US. They are reffering to a neighborhood in Kingston called Whitehall that is a particularly ****ty neighborhood (I had an office there for about a year).
But even there as a visitor in the day you'd probably be ok. Don't do stupid things you wouldn't do in America and you'll be fine for the most part. Visitors are largley immune to the many problems Jamaica has
Re: Questions about Driving
You got that exactly right, "freedom" with a car. Driving on the wrong side of the road takes a bit of getting used to. Sometimes the car will sit for a day or two, but who cares, when you want, you can get back into freedom or should I say adventure mode. No concerns - get a car.
Re: Questions about Driving
Or...skip the drive from MoBay to Negril and rent a car when you get to Negril. I assume Vernon's is still there (it's been a few since we last rented). And the drive down from MoBay is no fun...potholes, trucks, buses, route taxis, motorbikes, pedestrians and livestock all the way. We call Niah for airport pickup. He knows every pothole AND where the police speed traps are set up LOL.
Re: Questions about Driving
As long as you are careful you should be fine, but I just wonder about the cost of the rental versus the convenience of the $80 private taxi from MoBay, they will take you to the Mega Mart, and stop in Orange Bay for you. Surprised to hear that area is on a not safe list, I have been there many times for diving (during the day) and as long as you are a reasonable person and show respect you should be fine.
Depending on the daily rental rate, and the risk of something happening while driving yourself, again versus the cost and value of convenience for having a driver is something that I would weigh before pulling that trigger. With rentals approaching $100 a day, is it really worth having your own, dealing with parking on the west end for dinner, etc?
You can also get daily rentals in Negril if you are not going to be driving every day this may make more sense if you are going to venture out of town. And if you are boring like us, we talk a big game about leaving the 7 mile, but we really dont, other than west end, the Hi-Lo, etc., as once you are on that beach, little else matters.
You are right, everyone has a phone, we were there last in March of 2020 as covid was just starting and saw quite a few smart phones. Again, be cool, respectful, and its doubtful anyone will mess with you over that.
Good luck! we are there March 3 - 14
The Janadians, CoCo and the Nut.
Re: Questions about Driving
Our rate is actually much cheaper than $100/day. The rental is really just to get around town. We have had trouble getting back down to the beach from the west end after dinner and I prefer to not deal with that anxiety. I also don’t necessarily like waiting on a driver to get us over to the airport when we are leaving. We had a driver show up late. Still made our flight but I prefer not to deal with that anxiety.
Re: Questions about Driving
We have used a driver for many many years.. Always on time.. Going back and picking us up. Also we have him another driver for local trips so it's never a problem getting to the beach or back to the west end or the store. We trust him and he is always there for us. I have never considered driving in our over 35 trips.. Peace of mind is great when it comes to transportation.
Re: Questions about Driving
Frankly I love driving in Jamaica. In fact my wife and I just "closed the gap" by driving and circumnavigating the entire island. We have been to Port Antonio on the north road, and Kingston on the south, but we just needed to close the gap from Kingston to Port Antonio. We left Negril driving the south road to Kingston and then followed the coastline to Port Antonio (anybody wishing to do that please be aware, the road between Kingston and Port Antonio is very very poor. 131Kms of new construction underway and just bad roads, 1/10 or even 0/10). BTW we drive an open air, top down arms out the window vehicle and never felt threatened, maybe even the other way around. We felt safe every where we went.
Orange Bay and even Orange Hill we have driven may time and no threats there at all. I think what happens is, there is a protest or incident that happened in a place like Orange Bay, it gets put on the list of "do not travel" and it kinda stays there forever even if it's the nicest most friendly town. I'm not saying driving in Jamaica is totally safe, I'm just saying take it easy, don't drive like others on the road, and be careful. If you rent in MoBay, the drive from there to Negril would be a nice ice breaker. If you can manage MoBay, Hopewell and Lucea then you should be able to drive anywhere.
Take it easy, don't watch the guy in front, watch the guy several cars ahead, and remember, DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD!
P/S The only reason I wouldn't drive in Whitehall is, after you get in you might not get out. It's hard to navigate and you might end up driving passed the same domino's game several times. LOL
Re: Questions about Driving
When left is right it can become confusing. Just remember to stay on the "correct" side of the road with the driver closest to the center line. My biggest fear was of going into a blind curve and "meeting" an American driver who didn't get the memo.
Re: Questions about Driving
For what you are planning on doing you shouldn't have any issues. You may encounter some traffic jams in Mo Bay or Lucea and that can be stressful driving when multiple vehicles try to merge into driving lanes and of course you're probably aware that many drivers down there are quite more aggressive in overtaking vehicles than most are in the US and Canada. Other than that it's a pretty smooth drive from Mo Bay to Negril these days. Red Dragon in Redground is fine and you can park your car right across the street from Red Dragon no problem. Driving the beach road and the west end is relatively easy driving in my opinion. It's when you venture out to areas with pretty bad road conditions that I don't like to drive. I've nearly blown a tire a few times.
Re: Questions about Driving
I've always found when switching to 'right side' driving that I am a little confused the first day, then wake up the next day like I've always driven that way.
Make sure to take a video or photos of the car (including the spare tire) when you pick it up. This will make disputing any claims of damage a lot easier to deal with.
Re: Questions about Driving
Having been to JA several times now, and returning again this year, I wish I had the guts to rent a car. Or even a scooter in Negril (even at my age I still ride a scooter for short trips around town, so I am an experienced rider). But I never have the guts to try. Just to help supplant the cost of getting to and from MBJ seems worthwhile to me, and since we stay on the Cliffs we could use the car to get back and forth from the beach. No guts, no glory I guess!
Re: Questions about Driving
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TuffGong
Having been to JA several times now, and returning again this year, I wish I had the guts to rent a car. Or even a scooter in Negril (even at my age I still ride a scooter for short trips around town, so I am an experienced rider). But I never have the guts to try. Just to help supplant the cost of getting to and from MBJ seems worthwhile to me, and since we stay on the Cliffs we could use the car to get back and forth from the beach. No guts, no glory I guess!
One memorable trip from MBJ to the BCC back on the old 'road' in pouring rain at night (delayed flight, someone jammed something in lav on an AirJa flight out of ORD). Island Rental junk car - hole in the driver side floorboard. Crab migration time! Dodging potholes, defiant crabs and people gathering them in baskets. Avoided most of the crabs because I was sure they're upturned claws would puncture my bald tires.
Had a bunch of other non-terrifying drives (especially with the new road) but what convinced me to not drive any more was when we hired a driver to take us to Treasure Beach from Negril. Again in the pouring rain with small mudslides and large trucks we had to reverse out of the way of. So much respect for that driver and in no way did I ever want to be in that situation with me behind the wheel.
Re: Questions about Driving
What do people do for insurance? I called Bank of America today and they told me JA was one of a small handful of countries (Israel, understandable, Ireland, curious) that they would not provide any coverage in.
From BOA:
This coverage applies in countries other than the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Jamaica and Israel.
Re: Questions about Driving
Oh man...I had forgotten all about those little crabs! Where are they all in a hurry to go?
Re: Questions about Driving
As I said previously, I love driving in Jamaica. It take me longer to get use to driving back in Canada than it does for me to drive here. I get in my vehicle at home after a long stay here and go to pull out of the driveway and the windshield wipers come on. My wife says, "turning right are we" (the turn signals and wiper blade arms are on opposite sides). As for the insurance, most rental car prices come with insurance, but its really important to check first. Don't rely on the rental insurance attach to your credit card. Most credit cards don't cover 3rd party damage. So if you run into someone, the car you're driving is covered but not the one you hit. That might cost you. I can't say this enough, it real important to check.
Re: Questions about Driving
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ol'yardie
Oh man...I had forgotten all about those little crabs! Where are they all in a hurry to go?
In a hurry to make more little crabs!
