Negril, located on the western tip of Jamaica, is one of those places that vies with a handful of others around the world for the title of best beach town anywhere. Featuring a laid-back attitude that exemplifies Jamaica’s approach to life, its claim to fame is its coastline known as Seven-Mile Beach (though it’s actually closer to 7km long).
While all the amenities of beach-side living including swimming, snorkelling and diving are obviously available to visitors arriving on cheap flights to Negril, there is much more that just sun and surf to the area.
A nearby nature reserve offers visitors the chance to observe local wildlife in an area of protected local wilderness while tours of a local rum distillery offer a very different kind of diversion, but whatever you do, it will not be done in a hurry in this self-styled “capital of casual”.
The climate in Jamaica is tropical and like much of the Caribbean features year-round warm temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s degree Celsius range. However, the idyll that this suggests is sometimes disturbed by passing hurricanes. Local hurricane season runs from late June through late November though most of the storms strike between August and October. Modern weather-tracking services will give visitors plenty of warning so it is worth checking the forecast before you take cheap flights to Negril.
Once you have landed on cheap flights to Negril, getting around depends very much on where you stay. Most central locations are walking distance to all the local amenities but some attractions and indeed the rest of Jamaica will require transportation of some kind – the options in that case are as follows.
By car: Many common car rental companies have offices throughout Jamaica so renting a car is not a problem. However, getting about can be a touch challenging until you get used to the local signs and customs of the road. Remember that cars in Jamaica drive on the left and beware the many animals that sometimes wander along the roads, particularly in the more rural areas. Taxis are also freely available but be sure to agree a fare in advance, particularly for longer distances.
By bus: Local buses are the adopted form of transportation for the locals who use them to get around Jamaica. They connect the towns and villages of the island and while they are very cheap, expect many to be crowded and allow plenty of time for your journey as they stop frequently and are known to take their time getting around.
By air: Local airline Jamaica Express operates flights between several Jamaican destinations including Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. This is by some margin the most expensive way to get around though it is also the fastest.