Jamaica has two international airports. Sangster airport is in Montego Bay and you are most likely to fly into this one. The other one is Norman Manley International located in Kingston. Most tourists land in Montego Bay, most business people and a lot of locals from the east side of the island land in Kingston. I’ve never flown into Kingston so I have no comment on Norman Manley airport.
So, on to Sangster. This airport has grown exponentially since I started traveling to Jamaica in 2003. As I mentioned, on my first 3 trips there were no boarding bridges. I found it charming but I guess they had to get up to the times eventually. I also used to enjoy the short jaunt to the immigration area at Sangster, where ONE plane load of people arrived at a time. And where, when you had to stand in line for 10 minutes to get your passport stamped, you could enjoy the “singing ladies” who did their version of wonderful Jamaican folk songs to entertain you. This was, hands down, my favorite thing about arriving. I always looked forward to seeing them until the airport grew and 4 plane loads arrived simultaneously, and seemingly left no room for the singers. Sad. Its been years since I’ve seen them.
In the name of progress, the singing ladies were gone and the short jaunt to immigration turned into what feels like 6 city blocks! However, its awesome to see that all the way down the long corrider Jamaica has now added much loved pieces of the country’s history and culture. They’ve also added artwork from Jamaican youth of all ages. I think everyone who enters a new country should have to learn something about the culture. Another great thing about progress is that the A/C is 100 times more likely to be working. In the old, unrenovated airport the A/C never worked and made your short wait in line seem like a lifetime because you weren’t one of the smart ones who packed shorts and flip-flops in your carry-on. There you stood, sweltering in your jeans and hoodie because it was winter in the place you left.
The immigration area at Sangster is huge now. My 10 minute waits have evolved into hour long waits with those 4 plane loads of tourists. One tip to make your immigration experience a little faster in Jamaica; if you’re staying with locals you’ve met on a previous trip, KNOW their address! If you don’t know it you will undoubtedly get placed in a little area until an officer operating on Jamaican time can reach that person by phone and ask them all kinds of questions about how you know each other and the nature of the relationship. On the other hand, if you’re just staying in a hotel or guest house, the name of the hotel and town its in will suffice.
The luggage pick up area at Sangster, is even more huge than the immigration area. Remember though, this is all in relation to what it used to be. Some of you might not think its so huge. In Jamaica its normal for the airport staff to remove all luggage from the belts before you even get to the luggage area. It?s a nice perk??except when you can see your bag at the other end of a football field full of bags and there’s no way to wade through them all to get it. So you have to wait til other people take theirs?.unless you’re female and a cute, young baggage handler will wade through and get yours for you, in exchange for your phone number. True story. And no, you DON’T have to tip these guys.
Finally you get your stamp, get your bags, and head for the exit where you will undoubtedly be swarmed with Jamaicans saying, “taxi? taxi?” If you’re staying at a resort you’re probably catching a bus from the resort. If you’re staying at a hotel, you’re probably looking for a driver holding a sign with your name on it, or the name of the hotel. If you’re like me and stay with friends, you have to get through the “taxi” frenzy and out to the parking lot where your friends will likely be waiting in their cars so they don’t have to pay for parking.
TIP: The men with baggage carts at the exit WILL expect to be tipped if you let them take your bags for you.
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