I am still trying to get a straight answer on the travel time from Mobay to SW. I think maybe Sandals is being a bit optimistic in saying it will take only an hour 1/2 to 20 mins. I am thinking, based on what Sienna has said, that it will be more like 2 hours. We have a 10:30 AM flight out our last day and we are seriously thinking about transferring to SRC our last night to avoid getting up in the wee hours (leaving probably from SW at 6-7 am) of 4-5 am. We had to do this at SOR this year due to the long ride to/from because of the road construction (it took 3 hrs). .
Anyone hear of the EXACT time it will take?

My travel agent has been there and said it took 1 hour and 15 min. Now I'm sure that sometimes other factors can come into play making it take longer, but on average that is the time I was told.

Shelby

I have also spoken to someone who lives in the Whitehouse area.. .. .. ..she said it was " all of 1 and 1/2 hours, on a GOOD day!" It's no 20 min. trip, to be sure!

When I first read that tidbit about it being a 2 hour ride I was not pleased. But then I had an image come to mind. It was myself and my hubby snuggled up looking out a window at beautiful scenery while listening to some tunes on our iPods. Not a bad deal.

Shelby

It's not the 2 hours trip that I mind it is the fact that we will be there late in the evening (our plane lands 4:30 pm) and have to get up so early (4-5 am) to catch the plane back. I love the scenery of Jamaica and would enjoy the trip if not for the lateness of arrival and earliness of departure. Still am considering of staying our last night at SRC if able to do so. We'd have a leisurly breakfast the last day.

We are taking a red-eye flight and I don't sleep on planes. We did the same when we went to SDR. I still did not mind the 2 hour drive to SDR as I enjoyed the scenery and our driver gave us a mini tour. We opted to go straight to the resort and not stopping for a break. Our friends did fall asleep on the ride there, but hubby and I stayed awake. Plan on doing the same for our Whitehouse trip. That afternoon, we just spend relaxing (maybe falling asleep) by the pool or on the beach. Then, we are ready to go at night!

I have heard 2 hours. My husband and I went to Sandals Negril two years ago and the drive was actually fun. The driver had a cooler on the bus and encouraged us to buy Red Stripe in the airport parking lot for the trip. The driver was great and gave us a lot of information about the culture etc. We even stopped at two bars along the way. That said.. ..beer is about a necessity for the drive. The roads are not smooth and the way they drive is crazy to say the least. From my experience, snuggling or sleeping is not an option.

How did you like Negril? That is where I was planning to go before i saw the deal on Whitehouse.

that's exactly why we never plan to land late in the day. we had originally had a good price on a flight that arrived at 5:00 PM, but what's the point? you lose the whole day that way. both at our last vacation and this one, we land at 9:30 AM and leave at 5:00 PM. why would you do it any other way? you're paying for the day but spending the whole day in the air.

I hate the red eye but I agree it is better than losing a day travelling! I would rather be there then be on the plane. Who needs sleep anyway when you are in paradise!

drPerfect:
We don't have the luxury of chosing when we can fly in/out of Jamaica if we fly AJ from Orlando. Air Jamaica only offers a 3pm departure out of Orlando and a 10:40 AM departure out of Mobay and then not everyday. Believe me, if we could fly out early from Orlando and come back late in the day, we would. There are very few flights flying to JA from Orlando and none from Tampa. Our alternative is pay for connecting flights to Atlanta or Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and we couldn't justify the extra cost for airfare, especially since it has gone up. We do not consider any other airline to go to the caribbean except AJ because we are treated well, they feed you, and you get free wine/beer. We also can still fly 1st class just as cheaply from Orlando than flying connecting flights in coach from Atlanta or Miami/FL.

drive up to atl and get the 7:30 AM flight.. .. ..like we're doing from ocala. or go to tampa or jacksonville. somebody's gotta have a better flight than that. anything's better than losing a day.

The drive from Tampa is a long (7-8 hours), boring ride. Did it once or twice and no Thanks. That is pure torture. And Jacksonville doesn't have AJ flights out. You would still loose a whole day still coming and going. And we would have to stay a night in a hotel to catch the early morning flight to and from (we don't drive in the dark). . More money. There is no flight to Jamaica from Tampa. It would cost more money to connect to Miami or Jacksonville as well (and the connecting times aren't any better - especially coming back would require a overnight stay in Miami). . Might as well drive to Orlando, take the extra days at Sandals (9 nights) because of the lost travel time and AJ scheduled flight days. It actually cost us less to fly 1st class from Orlando than to catch a connection to Atlanta (or Miami) and fly coach - not to mention we don't have to get up at 3-4 am to catch the plane from TPA to ATL. Just wish AJ would have better flight times out of Orlando but don't ever see that happening as the plane doesn't usually fly 100% occupancy. If AJ ever cancels that route then we would have no alternative but catch connections elsewhere (i.e. ATL). . I would rather not fly domestic airlines to caribbean - the service is below par when compared to AJ.
When we lived in Atlanta (2 years ago) we took the flights out of Hartsfield for granted. Go anywhere, anytime, with many flight times and airline choices-no connections unless you wanted to fly out of New York on an airline to Europe not servicing Atlanta. It took us 40 min to drive from one end of town to the other to get to the airport but the convenice of flying was great!