City guide
MBJ Layover: Jamaica in 8 Hours (Without a Resort)
Sangster International Airport is one of the closest major airports to a city center in the Caribbean. Five minutes by cab to the Hip Strip. Most people fly to Jamaica and go directly to a resort. On a layover, you have no choice but to go to the actual city. That's better.
Getting out
Official JUTA taxis from MBJ to the Hip Strip cost around $15-20. The ride is 5-10 minutes. Skip the unlicensed cabs that approach you outside arrivals. JUTA is fixed-rate and reliable. Uber is not widely available at the airport.
Visa for Americans
US passport holders do not need a visa for Jamaica. No form, no fee. Immigration asks for your onward ticket and a return or exit flight. Have it ready on your phone.
The Hip Strip
Gloucester Avenue (the Hip Strip) is the working waterfront of Montego Bay. Jerk chicken off the drum costs $5-8. Doctor's Cave Beach charges $6 admission and has chairs, clear water, and no resort wristband required. The Pork Pit is the most reliable jerk spot on the strip, open from 11am.
What to skip
The Craft Market and most souvenir shops on the strip are tourist-priced and pressure-heavy. If you want to buy something, walk one block inland. Prices drop immediately. Don't take unlicensed tours from people approaching you on the street.