Montego Bay Vacations

Touring Jamaica can be both thrilling and frustrating. Rugged (albeit beautiful) terrain and winding -- often potholed -- roads make for slow going. (In the rainy season from June through October, roads can easily be washed out; always check conditions prior to heading out.) Primary roads that loop around and across the island are two-lane, and signs are not prevalent. Numbered addresses are seldom used outside major townships, locals drive aggressively, and people and animals seem to have a knack for appearing on the street out of nowhere. That said, Jamaica's scenery shouldn't be missed. The solution? Stick to guided tours and licensed taxis -- to be safe and avoid frustration. You'll find at least three days' worth of activity right along MoBay's boundaries; you should also consider a trip to Cockpit Country or Ocho Rios.
View Montego Bay attractions

The Caribbean high season is traditionally winter -- from December 15 to April 14 -- when northern weather is at its worst. During this season you're guaranteed the most entertainment at resorts and the most people with whom to enjoy it. It's also the most fashionable, the most expensive, and the most popular time to visit -- and most hotels are heavily booked. You must make reservations at least two or three months in advance for the very best places (sometimes a year in advance for the most exclusive spots).

Hotel prices drop 20%-50% after April 15; airfares and cruise prices also fall. Saving money isn't the only reason to visit the Caribbean during the off-season. Temperatures are only a few degrees warmer than at other times of the year, and many islands now schedule their carnivals, music festivals, and other events during the off-season. Late August, September, October, and early November are least crowded.

The Caribbean climate is fairly constant. The average year-round temperatures for the region are 78°F-88°F. The temperature extremes are 65°F low, 95°F high; but it's the humidity, not the heat, that makes you suffer, especially when the two go hand in hand.

For starters there's reggae, popularized by the late Bob Marley and the Wailers and performed today by son Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Tosh (the late Peter Tosh's son), Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, and many others. If your experience of Caribbean music has been limited to steel drums and Harry Belafonte, then the political, racial, and religious messages of reggae may set you on your ear; listen closely and you just might hear the heartbeat of the people. Those who know and love reggae should visit between mid-July and August for the Reggae Sumfest. This four-night concert -- at the Bob Marley Performing Center (a field set up with a temporary stage), in the Freeport area of MoBay -- showcases local talent and attracts such big-name performers as Third World and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Jamaican crafts are made with style and skill and take the form of resort wear, hand-loomed fabrics, silk-screened articles, wood carvings, paintings, and other fine arts. Jamaican rum is a great take-home gift. So is Tia Maria, Jamaica's world-famous coffee liqueur. The same goes for the island's prized coffees (both Blue Mountain and High Mountain) and its jams, jellies, and marmalades. If you shop around you'll find good deals on such duty-free luxury items as jewelry, cameras, china, Swiss watches, and Irish crystal. The top-selling French perfumes are sold alongside Jamaica's own fragrances.

Although many cultures have contributed to Jamaica's cuisine, it has become a true cuisine in its own right. It would be a shame to travel to the heart of this complex culture without having at least one typical island meal.

Probably the most famous Jamaican dish is jerk pork -- the ultimate island barbecue. The pork (purists cook a whole pig) is covered with a paste of Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento berries (also known as allspice), and other herbs and cooked slowly over a coal fire. Many aficionados believe the best jerk comes from Boston Beach, near Port Antonio. Jerk chicken and fish are also seen on many menus. The ever-so-traditional rice and peas, also known as "coat of arms," is similar to the moros y christianos of Spanish-speaking islands: white rice cooked with red kidney beans, coconut milk, scallions, and seasonings.

The island's most famous soup -- the fiery pepper pot -- is a spicy mixture of salt pork, salt beef, okra, and the island green known as callaloo. Patties (spicy meat pies) elevate street food to new heights. Although they actually originated in Haiti, Jamaicans excel at making them. Curried goat is another island standout dish.

Where restaurants are concerned, Kingston has the widest selection, with establishments that serve Italian, French, Cantonese, German, Thai, Indian, Korean, and Continental fare, as well as Rasta natural foods, also known as I-tal. There are also fine restaurants in all the resort areas, many in the resorts themselves.

Get lost in tropical bliss, where turquoise water caresses pristine white sand. With our hotel deals, finding the Montego Bay hotel that’s right for you is easy. Enjoy a Montego Bay vacation package at the top luxury hotels!
View Montego Bay hotels on a map