5 days Jamaica South Coast & Blue Mountain Peak

Im thinking of going to Jamaica for 5 days flying into and out of Kingston.

I would like to hike Blue Mountain Peak and visit Treasure Beach and YS Falls.

Im hesitant about renting a car and driving around Jamaica on my own. Can anyone give advice on renting a car for this trip? Also any recommended places to stay in these areas that are not very expensive. What is the average cost to rent a car and is it safe to leave it unattended in these areas?

don't be hesitant about renting a car. the first time i tried it over 20 years ago i was too. but it was the best thing we ever did. once you get over the initial "freak out" period... which lasts about 10 or 15 minutes, you'll be fine. it's just driving. you do that all the time. it's really no big deal at all. as far as it being safe to leave your car... i've left rentals everywhere around the island. i've driven in all 14 parishes and never had a problem. sometimes someone will tell you that they were watching it for you and you owe them. just tell them that you didn't ask them to watch it and that it's a rental car and you don't care about it. (although you do.. they don't know that)

the only real advice i'd give you is this. definately rent the car. when driving between kingston and treasure beach the only area to avoid is spanish town and may pen. there is a by-pass around may pen so don't worry. everywhere else is cool. if you drive into the cockpits don't let people see you videoing without their permission. there is a lot of ganja in that area and they are kind of funny about cameras. so always ask permission. other than that, i've never had a problem anywhere.

do yourself a huge favor and drive. you'll be glad you did.

you could also consider a FLY-DRIVE vacation. you get a car and a voucher for about 50 places to stay all around the island. i've done that a couple times. it's pretty cool. that actually comes out pretty cheap. but you have to fly into mobay to do it. no big deal. fly into mobay and the first night you can spend in treasure beach or ochi or if you get there early enough drive all the way to kingston. the island seems big, but if you really DRIVE, you can get anywhere in less than a day.

My advise is that with only five days you do not try to see the Blue Mountains and Treasure Beach. Even with a rental car, you will be rushed trying to see these two places.
My suggestion is that you see the Blue Mountains and then head over to Port Antonio. You will not be so rushed and both places are beautiful and not touristy.
If you wan to hike to the Blue Mountain peak I suggest you contact Whitfield Hall and arrange it with them, http://www.whitfieldhall.com
In Port Antonio I suggest staying at Ivanhoe's Guesthouse -3 Queen St.- (876)-993-3043
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

mikey is right. i somehow mised the 5 day thing. that isn't enough time to do both. jamaica is way bigger than it looks on a map. it takes way more time to travel there than one would think. treasure beach OR blue mounatins and port antonio. even if you had a full week that's stretching it (but do-able).

Just happen 2 b on the forum and thought I would respond. I couldn't agree more, rent the vehicle. U know the freedom and spontaneity a vehicle can provide ( u might want some jerk chicken at 2:00 AM). I am in JA. a couple of times a year, and I started renting motorcycles and autos 6 years ago. It still takes me a little time to adjust 2 driving on the left. I still turn on the wipers when I want 2 signal, forks and rotaries in the road at first confuse me etc., but you will pick it up quickly. I always get the CDW (Collision Damage Wavier) just 2 cover myself (makes me relax a bit). 2 bad ur trip is short, drive safely.
JimmieT

yes jimmieT you're right. the roundabouts take a little thinking and concentration. the wipers and the turn signal thing is so funny. and when i get back home it takes me a couple weeks to get back to normal here in the u.s. with that one. one thing you didn't mention is making a right turn from one 4 lane road to another... that whole big-wide-turn-going-the-wrong-way thing going from the way left to the way left always freaks me out. but it's a blast, ain't it?

nice to hear from you jimmieT. hope we'll hear more from you.

sorry this isn't responding to the initial Q in this thread but there was mention of renting motorcycles - any contacts for doing this, what types of bikes are available - makes & sizes, assuming more expensive than renting a car? Weatherwise this would be awesome to do in JA rather than car.
Thanks.

Motorcycles can be rented in Negril, I've never seen them for rent anywhere else in JA.

I think there's a 500CC limit in JA for bikes. $40ish a day for multiple day rentals.

Be careful no matter what, the hospital situation in JA is not great and neither are road conditions (drivers, potholes). I only rent scooters/motorcycles for brief trips into the country where i know there is little/no traffic and I can go nice and slow.

Goodnight,
Jah B's on Norman Manley Blvd in Negril rents motorcycles, and there r others. See Jah B or Joyce. Can rent a nice 600 Honda Shadow VLX 4 around $40 a day (depends on the length of rental). Couldn't agree more, b ware of potholes especially at night. Can b very large and deep. It only takes one. B ware of other drivers, especially on the main roads. If u don't drive aggressively they often ride just a few feet from ur tail. So if ur not prepared 2 drive hard when necessary, may b u should think again. All that said, it is a fine way 2 get around.
JimmieT

Edited by: JimmieT

I like Jah B too. Also Banmark on the west end, nice new bikes there.

i love the adventure of driving in a car in JA... but, i love life a little too much to ever think of driving a motorcycle in JA. (but then again, i love life too much to think of ever think of driving a motorcycle in the u.s. either.)

So I recently did this trip about a month ago and it was awesome.

I rented a car from Budget .. it was not cheap but was worth it to have my own transportation.

I spent the first half day in Kingston then the next morning got up and drove to Mavis Bank.

When I got there I stopped at the local police station and asked about 4x4 drive up to Blue Mountain Peak which takes about an hour. They called Jah B who sent his son to come pick me up and drop me at the trailhead it cost $75 round trip from Mavis Bank for the ride.

I hiked the peak without a guide it was a well maintained trail. At the top i noticed that an adjacent peak was higher and hiked over to it off trail. My GPS read a higher altitude but only 5 feet so it could have been an error. I chilled on top way too long and got back down as it was getting dark. I ended up staying at Jah B's then getting a ride back to Mavis Bank in the morning.

Next day I toured Devon House and met up with a friend then drove to Treasure Beach. I stayed at Jakes and they gave me the local rate because I joked I was Jamaican. This hotel is very very nice and the food next door at Jack Sprat is excellent.

Next Day I went to the beach and then after drove to YS falls which was really nice.

Then drove to Negril and stayed there 2 nights although I found Negril too touristy and prefer treasure beach much more. I tried to visit the Appleton plantation but it was closed when I go there.

I flew back home out of Montego Bay.

On driving it was easy the roads where kinda potholed but I drove all over exploring way up in the hills and everywhere I needed directions people were very friendly.

At least I didnt get bullet holes in the rental car like in Dominican Republic.

Edited by: jmitch421

Edited by: jmitch421

Edited by: jmitch421

Nice trip.
Good thing you had a GPS, because people have been lost up there in the Blue Mountains !!
What was the cost of staying at Jah B"s ?
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

Thanks for coming back and reporting, sounds like a great time!

Mikey I assume this is the Jah B he means: http://worldstogethertravel.com/jamaica/blue-host.html

yes that is the Jah B's I was talking about .. i want to say it was like $20 including food .. the trail to Blue Mountain Peak is very straight forward even GPS is not really needed I just always carry GPS whenever I travel now.