Most of our guests do not rent a car, and manage perfectly well without one.
Treasure Beach is small, the villa is fully staffed, and we have our own PPV-certified driver available for airport transfers, tours and excursions. For a week’s stay, using our driver as needed usually works out simpler and often cheaper than a rental plus fuel.
When a rental does make sense
- You are staying two weeks or longer
- You want to explore independently rather than take arranged trips
- You are combining Treasure Beach with other parts of Jamaica
- You simply prefer your own transport and are comfortable driving abroad
What to know before you rent
- Jamaica drives on the left.
- Rural roads are variable — potholes, narrow sections, blind bends, and goats. Drive slower than you would at home.
- Local driving is assertive. Defensive driving is the right posture.
- Avoid driving at night on unfamiliar rural roads. Lighting outside towns is minimal.
- Fuel stations are in the towns rather than along the coast road.
- Free parking at the villa.
Getting around without one
The centre of Treasure Beach is a seven-minute drive or twenty-minute walk from the villa, with shops, bars and restaurants. The beach is at the end of our driveway.
For Pelican Bar, Black River, YS Falls, Lovers Leap and Appleton Estate, our staff arrange the trip and the driver. Route taxis also run along the coast road and are inexpensive.
See also: things to do nearby.
Planning your first trip? Start with our guide to Treasure Beach, Jamaica.
Driving licence and insurance
Visitors can usually drive on a valid licence from their home country for a tourist stay, but confirm this with the rental company when you book. Ask what the insurance covers and what the excess is, because damage on rural roads is the most common source of disputes.
Where guests pick up a car
Rentals are normally collected at the airport you fly into. Treasure Beach is a long drive from both Montego Bay and Kingston, so plan to arrive in daylight, and read our guide to Jamaica airports before choosing where to land.
The middle option
Some guests use our driver for the airport transfer and the arranged trips, then take a taxi for the odd evening out. That gives you the freedom of a car for the days you want it, without the cost of keeping one all week or driving home after dinner in the dark.
Not sure which suits your group? Tell us your dates and numbers through the rates page and we will suggest a plan.
Do I need to rent a car in Treasure Beach?
Most guests do not rent a car and manage perfectly well without one. The villa is fully staffed and we have our own PPV-certified driver available for airport transfers, tours and excursions.
When does renting a car in Treasure Beach make sense?
A rental makes sense if you are staying two weeks or longer, want to explore independently rather than take arranged trips, are combining Treasure Beach with other parts of Jamaica, or simply prefer your own transport and are comfortable driving abroad.
What should I know before driving in Jamaica?
Jamaica drives on the left. Rural roads are variable, with potholes, narrow sections, blind bends and goats, so drive slower than you would at home. Local driving is assertive, so a defensive approach is the right posture, and it is best to avoid driving at night on unfamiliar rural roads since lighting outside towns is minimal.
How do guests get around Treasure Beach without a car?
The centre of Treasure Beach is a seven-minute drive or twenty-minute walk from the villa, with shops, bars and restaurants, and the beach is at the end of our driveway. For trips to Pelican Bar, Black River, YS Falls, Lovers Leap and Appleton Estate, our staff arrange the trip and the driver. Route taxis also run along the coast road and are inexpensive.