First Post & Transporataion Question

[NegrilSalute]

My first post on this board must be a thank you to the entire Negril.com community. I have learned so much about Negril’s people, culture, geography, food, attractions and exploration opportunities. This information has added greatly to my time spent in Negril and Jamaica as a whole.
As a brief introduction, I established my username on Trip Advisor several years ago. It was my first experience with Trip Advisor and probably not the name I would choose today but it has served me well and makes me happy to be associated with my favorite vacation destination. I have been lurking on this board for several years. I even read it when I don’t have current travel plans. The people and vibe on this board is truly reflective of Negril which I believe to be about as good a compliment I can think of to bestow on all of you.
My wife and I will be visiting Negril for the 5th time at the beginning of September. We will be staying at Catcha and are really looking forward to our first stay on the cliffs. We love the area and are looking forward to finding some new hangouts.
The first 3 days of our trip will be spent at a wedding in Ocho Rios after which we head to Negril. I am looking for suggestions on transportation. We apparently have a transfer to the airport from Ocho Rios as part of our stay. My thought at this point is to use the transfer to get back to the airport and then find someone at the airport for the trip to Negril. Surely it would be fairly easy to score and negotiate a ride….right? I have also considered contacting a transportation service for the trip from Ocho Rios in order to bypass the airport altogether but I can’t imagine it being very cost efficient. My favorite idea would be to find a way to travel across land in order to see some of the interior but in looking at a map of Jamaica it appears that the mountain range might make that a very long drive. Is this route possible without adding a lot of cost and could I find a driver/taxi willing to run that route?

[Islander]

Hi NegrilSalute, It took me a while to write my first post as well. I have read and learned much reading this site. This is an awesome site for ALL THINGS Negril!! Hope you enjoy your upcoming holiday.

Peace,
Islander - Brynn

[suzengrace]

Hello Negril Salute...You could find a private driver to take you the "back way" to Negril .Theres a turn-off in Mobay that goes thru the interior vs. the usual coast route.. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a driver to accommodate you...

FYI- i;d take the free transfer from Ochi to the airport then either have a pre-arranged driver meet you there (my suggestion) or negotiate with a driver at the MBJ airport..

[booger]

Hello Negril Salute...You could find a private driver to take you the "back way" to Negril .Theres a turn-off in Mobay that goes thru the interior vs. the usual coast route.. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a driver to accommodate you...

FYI- i;d take the free transfer from Ochi to the airport then either have a pre-arranged driver meet you there (my suggestion) or negotiate with a driver at the MBJ airport..

My exact thought. The interior ride will take you thru some hills and such and you will see some beautiful country. It is a little longer, at least it was when we did it, but it is worth it. If you need driver recommendations you can hit the transportation link at the top of the page for some ideas. I have used both Kingsley James and Chicken and both are great drivers.

[InnaDiRed]

Catchas drivers Dandy and Wayne are both good guys and drivers. You might find better prices but both were always fair, fun, and on time. Might be worth checking with them to see what they would charge. I highly reccommend both. In fact Dandy is picking me up from MBJ on my next trip...

[sbeth]

I haven't done this so I have no idea if it would work, but what about traveling through and staying for an afternoon at Accompong? On the map it seems like it is between Ocho and Negril, inland. I know that there are tours that will take you from resort towns to Accompong. Maybe you could arrange for a pick up in Ocho Rios and drop off in Negril with one of these tours? Here is an article about Accompong with links to tour companies.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...aica.accompong

[Accompong]

I haven't done this so I have no idea if it would work, but what about traveling through and staying for an afternoon at Accompong? On the map it seems like it is between Ocho and Negril, inland. I know that there are tours that will take you from resort towns to Accompong. Maybe you could arrange for a pick up in Ocho Rios and drop off in Negril with one of these tours? Here is an article about Accompong with links to tour companies.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...aica.accompong

Thanks for linking this article by Vicki Baker of the Guardian.

Vicki and I collaborated on this visit as she stayed with my best friend, Marshall, while in Accompong Town and that is where I live today.

Trying to read Jamaican road maps and determine how to get from point A to point B can be a little misleading. Although you can "drive like a bat outta Hades" on the A and B highway system, country roads are quite rutted and it is slow going. I used to calculate 35 miles per hour as my estimation on how long a drive would take but it has now gotten down to around 20 miles per hour on many routes. For example, the main road between Montego Bay and Accompong Town is very bad and that 40 mile (approx) drive will take nearly two hours on a typical day.

Below is a copy of the Route Taxi fares to get from most point A to B's in Jamaica.
http://ta.org.jm/New_ppv_fares.pdf


When I travel in Jamaica's interior, I am usually with a good friend or take a Red Plate Route Taxi. Having a tour company take you there is IMHO "cost prohibitive" http://www.getyourguide.com/montego-...go-bay-t19580/

I think of traveling around Jamaica just like I do here in So. Florida. Want to go somewhere? Take a bus or ask a friend. My dialing fingers just can't get permission from my brain to call a limo! lol!

Peace and Guidance

[sbeth]

Thanks for the input Accompong! I'm glad you provided some better information. I have to admit, you have gotten me really interested in Accompong town!

[NegrilSalute]

It would appear that an inland route between Montego Bay and Negril is going to be too difficult given the time it will take and cost. I like the idea of an overnight stay half way but I've already got reservations for that night in Negril. I really appreciate the advice and comments though.

I have now found that there is no free ride from Montego Bay to the airport. This was a communication problem between the bride and the resort in Ocho Rios.

I have offered to help her pre-arrange transportation for her wedding party between the airport and Montego Bay. Sure wish I hadn't now though because there's like 30 people and most are arriving at different times. I'm thinking I'm going to have to use one of the larger transportation companies. I'd really like to send the business to a Negril based company so if anyone knows of one that can do multiple trips between the airport and Ocho Rios please let me know.

I really like the idea of using the Catcha based drivers for my personal transportation for both airport transfers and getting around negril. They are apparently employed by Onsite Jamaica and I believe the can do the Ocho Rios trips so I will be contacting them soon.

[marley9808]

Chicken can help! Plus he has a bus!
He handled all of the transportation for all 30 of our wedding guests
He also came and picked us up in Ochi and drove us to Negril during our trip last year.
He is a Negril.com sponsored driver too! So you can get his contact info from the transportation link at the top of the page