Where to stay in Jamaica

Montego Bay, about 3 km from Sangster airport, is a tourist destination with duty-free shopping, a cruise terminal, beaches and resorts. Negril, at the far west, about 76 km from the airport by road, is a small, widely dispersed beach resort, with resorts along the beach north of downtown and cliff resorts on the West End to the south.

Ocho Rios, on the north coast in St Ann, has duty-free shopping, a cruise-ship terminal, beaches and resorts, with Dunn's River Falls just west of the town (via GetCar); it is about 97 km from either main airport and about 16 km from the smaller Ian Fleming airport. Kingston, the capital, faces a harbour sheltered by the Palisadoes, and its centre is made up of the historic Downtown and New Kingston, about 20 km from Norman Manley airport.

Port Antonio, the capital of Portland on the north-east coast, is a town where tourism is a major contributor to the economy, about 108 km from Kingston's airport. On the south coast, Treasure Beach is five coves and their settlements, known for community tourism, with no all-inclusive hotels and public beaches.

Jamaica drives on the left, and roundabouts run clockwise (via GetCar). A UK licence is valid for up to 6 months, according to UK travel advice, which describes many roads as badly maintained with poor signage, rural roads as narrow, winding and poorly lit at night, and a four-wheel drive as advisable in some places. Toll plazas take no credit or debit cards.

For Kingston, UK travel advice says not to drive in the city without knowing it. From Norman Manley airport it points to the Humming Bird route via South Camp Road, and it reports British visitors being followed and robbed on the way from the airport to private accommodation. It also advises against leaving valuables in the car, and for rented homes, proper locks and window grilles.

No municipal parking scheme was found for Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios as of September 2026, so ask the hotel or host about parking. GetCar's guide Driving in Jamaica: Licence, Speed Limits, the New Demerit Points and Toll Roads covers the road rules and the tolls.

Two taxes sit on a room. The Guest Accommodation Room Tax is charged per occupied room per night: USD 1 at properties of up to 51 rooms, USD 2 up to 100 rooms and USD 4 above that, and it applies to villas, apartments and guest houses as well as hotels. A villa rented whole pays it on every room the guest can use. General Consumption Tax on tourism is 10%, against a standard rate of 15%, and it is not charged on top of the room tax. Airbnb does not list Jamaica among the places where it collects tax itself.

Under the Tourist Board Act, hotels, guest houses, villas, apartments and home stays need a Jamaica Tourist Board licence. TPDCo, the Ministry of Tourism's agency, keeps the register, and licensed places are listed on visitjamaica.com. In January 2025 Portland's chief public health inspector urged Airbnb hosts to get certified as tourist establishments, so a licence is worth checking before paying.

UK visitors need no visa and are usually granted up to 90 days, with the leave-by date stamped in the passport; UK advice asks for the C5 immigration and customs form to be filled in online before arriving where possible. US citizens need no visa for 6 months. EU citizens get 90 days if they are from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Sweden, and 30 days if they are from most other member states, including Austria, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain. A Tourism Enhancement Fee of USD 20 is charged to incoming airline passengers.

Hurricane Melissa hit the west of the island hardest in October 2025. By May 2026 about 75% of rooms had reopened; most Negril hotels were open again by January 2026, and the south coast was slower. Check that a property has reopened before booking in the west or on the south coast. The hurricane season normally runs from June to November, according to UK travel advice.

Compare totals with both taxes in, since the room tax is charged per room and per night.

A first stay close to the airport: Montego Bay.

A beach holiday at the far west: Negril.

A base between the two airports: Ocho Rios.

A city stay or business: Kingston.

A stay away from the resort towns: Port Antonio or Treasure Beach.