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 The famed Doctors Cave Bathing Beach. |
Why Visit Montego Bay?
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Montego Bay is a busy, bustling community. Renowned for its beauty, it is a place where history and legend come together to offer the most intriguing attractions. Visit Rose Hall Great House and hear the shivering tale of the white witch, Annie Palmer. A tour of old plantation houses like Greenwood and Belfield is an enjoyable interlude in history. Or take a river-rafting trip down the Great River or the Martha Brae and enjoy a slice of serenity. The Montego Bay Marine Park is 10 square miles of protected marine life alive with coral reefs and exotic fish. Swim at the legendary Doctors Cave Beach, known for its healing powers. Gloucester Avenue Hip Strip is the pulse of the town and boasts restaurants, art galleries and duty-free shopping to rival any port. In fact, shopping is sensational all over town. But the variety of arts and crafts at the Crafts Market is a treat not to be missed.
Montego Bay is really multiple vacation destinations rolled into one. You have the Hip Strip where the inexpensive hotels are located with three public beaches at Cornwall Beach, Doctors Cave Beach and Aquasol Beach. Out of the City Center, you have Sunset Beach and Rose Hall plus further out, you have Sandy Bay and Falmouth/Trelawny. All of this is located within a half an hour drive from the airport.
Over twenty years, we have enjoyed our stays in Montego Bay. I love the hustle and bustle of the strip and usually get an apartment so I can muscle in at the fruit market to cook ackee and bammee in the morning with a huge fruit plate. The restaurants on the strip are very good and not expensive. Most of them offer free pick-up service if you are staying in Rose Hall. We have stayed at most of the Rose Hall hotels and enjoy the more upscale, resort vibe especially at Coyaba, Half Moon and Rose Hall Resort. The best value in all-inclusive is usually at Sunset Beach Resort and you will get value for your money and three beaches. If you have a rental car, you are free to move around the area or you can select all-inclusive and only leave the resort for sightseeing. We like Montego Bay on a european plan basis (no meal plan) so we can drive around and visit different restaurants. Frequently, we can be found at our large resort hotel, eating jerk chicken or other take-away meal as the Jamaicans call it with the oceanview on our porch. At night, we put on jeans and eat at one of the casual restaurants on the strip or dress up and go to one of the fancy restaurants at a resort hotel to get some nightlife as part of the deal. Our favorite is Sugar Mill at Half Moon with the Mento Band at dinner followed by a drink across at the main hotel by the sea for the Jazzy Caribbean combo. Friday lunchtime belongs to the Native Restaurant or the buffet at the Wexford and no matter where we stay in Jamaica, the rental car always stops at the Pork Pit on the way to the airport (usually we open the little cardboard boxes on the airplane half way to Miami). |
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Bring Your
Golf Sticks Mon
Montego Bay is one of the BEST Golfing Resorts anywhere in the Caribbean. Play golf in the mountains, across sloping hillsides, along the sea and everywhere in between. Panoramic vistas with stunning ocean views await you on most courses. Chase a good round with a fine Jamaican Rum or Red Stripe Beer and a fine Cuban Cigar and you will be in 19th hole heaven. Choose from 5 golf courses within 20 minutes of your hotel. Played by Royalty and Golf Pros so we know that you will enjoy a resort round while you are in Jamaica. |
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 Half Moon West Beach in Rose Hall, Montego Bay
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 The hills above Montego Bay are Beautiful. This scene is at Lethe up in Anchovy in St. James. |
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 THE HIP STRIP The Hip Strip is the place to be for younger people that require inexpensive meals and nightlife without the benefit of a taxi. In addition to the Hip Strip Beaches, you can pay the entrance fee at Rose Hall Beach Club or get a taxi and spend a beach day in Negril or another in Ocho Rios. ROSE HALL Rose Hall is the most visited area of Jamaica with larger resort hotels spread from Just past the airport for about ten miles along the sea. Rose Hall is home to the famous resorts like Sandals Royal Caribbean, Coyaba, Holiday Inn, The Half Moon Club, The Ritz Carlton of Rose Hall-Jamaica, and Rose Hall Resort and Country Club (formerly Wyndham Rose Hall). Many of the Villas at Ironshore and Spring Park are in the Rose Hall area. SUNSET BEACH ISLAND Sunset Beach Resort is located literally in the middle of Montego Bay, but you can drive there just past the cruise ship port. SANDY BAY Out west, you have an enclave of Resorts about 20 minutes west at Round Hill and Tryall. |
 MARGARITAVILLE MOBAY Daytime, you can float with your drink or ride the tube Nighttimes belong to the DJ and the Dance Floor.  BEST FANCY RESTAURANTS Sugarmill at Half Moon Coyaba Beach Resort Margarites by the Bay BEST CASUAL DINING The Pork Pit Native The Pelican The Dragon Lounge Shakeys Pizza HIP STRIP BEACHES Doctors Cave Beach Aquasol Beach Cornwall Beach Dead End Beach BEST BEACH CLUB Rose Hall Beach Club ELECTRONIC GAMBLING & SLOTS Coral Cliff Gaming Lounge-Hip Strip BEST TAKE AWAY LUNCH New Coral Gardens Jerk Stand Parkway Supermarket Rose Hall (Make sure you have a piece of pineapple upside down cake) BEST WEDDING SPOT |
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 Looking West from above Montego Bay towards Round Hill, Lucea and eventually Negril. Montego Bay offers a tranquil, blue sea. |
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