solo travel - port antonio?

Taxi from airport to bus is around $30 US.. Worth the cost for the safety and convenience.

I should imagine it would be fine - I caught the bus around 10am but there is no timetable. 30US sounds about right - the airport taxi marshalls should tell you the price before you get in the taxi.

There is not much space on the minibuses - though you should be able to squeeze the backpacks under the seats. I used a sportsbag which to be honest I found more practical for a short trip (where I was doing no hiking!). Everyone paid in Jamaican$ (from memory it was 360$JA)

Good point akebah, re: the fare. Be sure to get a small amount of money changed into J'can dollars at the airport. (Just a small amount; the exchnage rate there is awful.) And insist that you get $500 JA in $100 JA bills and a couple of $500 bills rather than all $1000 bills.

now another question- if i am arriving 6am on a friday should i head straight to the bus or maybe just chill and go check out port royal for a cup of coffee. chances are i will have not slept all night- taking red eye from JFK and will be too excited to sleep! I couldn't even sleep flying to Australia! Maybe i should just get a room and spend that friday in Kingston and head to Port Antonio sat am? Is there a place thats safe for a white woman and her beautiful half breed Jamaican daughter to hear live music and dance in Kingston on a fri night? theres just too many questions and too much info! Thanks! I've been trying to read everything on here i can! this must be how lonely planet gets info for their guide books and such.

I would just go straight to Port Antonio.

I am sure there are cool places to go and hang out in Kingston (every city in the world will have its scene), I just suspect it is harder than normal to find them...

You are arriving at 6am, and you are to excited to sleep.
Then I suggest you head directly to Port Antonio.
Better to spend the evening there then in Kingston.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

thanks all! one more question- i always see Ohliz mentioning Castelton Botanical Gardens. can i get off the bus there and catch another one or maybe a route taxi? or should i just spend the money and hire a driver?

Yes, you can get off at Castleton Garden and, later, just go wait for the next bus/coaster to Annatto Bay. From there get the next bus/minivan to Port Antonio.

When you get on in Kng. be sure to tell your conductor you want to get off at the Castlelon Gardens. If the weather is poor in the mtns. you can choose to continue on to Annato Bay or on to Port Antonio.

thanks all! maybe i will see you at ivanhoes in march!