Tips on traveling around the island in 4 days?

[JitterBug]

driving on left is not as hard as ppl think . . . i find ja drivers very curtious to us white ppl . . . i think they are more scared of our driving than we are of theirs!! . . . . its the only way to really enjoy jamaica without a schedule . . . and you will always find a place to stay!!

[Rupe-mon]

Thanks again, all of you. I could consider adding another day, but please help me with where we should spend that extra day - in Port Antonio? Treasure Beach? Or somewhere else? Understand that we love beaches, and of course jerk, Red Stripe, reggae, & natural beauty.

Captaind/Linston - I've driven on the left in England, but not in Jamaica. That could be a totally different experience. And an experienced guide could be a big help. But our budget is not big, so maybe you could quote me a per-day price?

As an alternative, why wouldn't we just hire a cab at each stop to bring us to the next place?

[Babalew]

consider the knutsford to get to most areas.

[johng]

Knutsford will get you to most areas but the time line would be difficult on a big bus. Don't think PO - TB is an option with Knutsford??

[TAH]

Yeah, TB isn't an option on Knutsford as far as I'm aware.

To the OP. What I would do would be to rent a car in Mobay, drive the north coast road (in good shape, decent place to get the feel for driving in JA), stay the night in Ochi then move on to Portland. Stay a whole day and night in Portland to explore and enjoy the scenery. From there to Kingston, tour for the day and stay the night outside of the city, maybe a Blue Mtn trip... From there head down south coast hwy toward TB, stop at Little Ochi for some seafood and spend the day exploring, then on to TB to stay the night and the whole next day (again to explore, it's well worth it). Then head up into the hills to visit YS falls, Middle Quarters for some peppa swimp, stop at Bluefields on your way back toward Negril, maybe stay the night in Bluefields. Then on to Negril where you can enjoy the rest of your trip.

Fin.

[Flipadelphia26]

I was scared to drive in Jamaica. But seriously, it's no problem mon. Stay to the left. You get used to it quickly. Follow the car in front of you, just not too close. Do the speed limit, they will pull a tourist over. I have been there, done that. Last trip I got my rental for the week for 180 bucks. I pay about 140 for my private airport transfers both ways. Was very convenient to have a car to run down to hilo, or drive out to the west end, or just go exploring.

Also drove to PA from negril from honeymoon. If you can handle Negril to Lucea.... you're golden. It's literally the hardest part of the north coast. After MoBay, it's basically as close to a highway as you can get.

[sabu]

I've driven around much of the Island, chanting "stay left, stay left" and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nevertheless, I did lose focus going into a traffic circle from Grange down to Sav - instead of exiting left, I went into the traffic circle and came out on the right into a slow-motion head on collision. No one was hurt but I did mash up an unfortunate Jamaicans car. He was very gracious considering the circumstances. Fully insured (with the loss of $1,000 deductible). I'll always remember how hospitable the local families were to my wife by the side of the road as I spent 4 hours with the police at the station in the Grange dealing with the aftermath. I highly recommend the trip - just take your time and stay very alert. Port Antonio is spectacular -- I'd recommend a stop in Mandeville to break up the drive to TB. I think we stayed at the Mandeville Inn. Best way to get out and see the Island.

[Rupe-mon]

Great suggestions and stories, all. I'm now considering this alternative: drive or have a driver drive us from MBJ to Runaway Bay, then Port Antonio, spend 3-4 nights there (including a day trip into Blue Mtn. Nat'l Park), then head back to Negril through MBJ. Keep it to the north side this trip. We've been to Treasure Beach, and not much interest in visiting Kingston, but could do the southern trip another day. Sound like a good plan?

Thanks again - hope to meet you guys someday! Let me know if any of you will be in Negril in mid Jan.

[Babalew]

you could take the knutsford from mbj to ochi....get a driver to take you to runaway bay ( i have an excellent 1 i could suggest) then take the knutsford from ochi to pa get a driver there or take route taxis. then knutsford from pa to negril via ochi. you could do southern route,coming or going, a little long but you'll have gone around the island. (mbj to kingston to ocho) you can only get to pa from ochi on knutsford.

i always come into kingston,to ochi, to pa back to ochi then negril.

[TAH]

I'd visit Blue Mtn Peak while on that side of the island if I were you, that's something still on my list to do.