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Montego Bay

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"No problem," is a phrase you'll hear a lot in Jamaica and it is this attitude that you should take with you on your vacation to Montego Bay. The country's "Second City," better known as MoBay to the locals, is lined with crystal clear water that is said to have healing powers. Calm and blue a short dip can do wonders for mind and body alike! Being an island in the Caribbean, most visitors arrive here by air although Montego Bay is a popular stop for luxury cruise ships as well, as it lies right on the coast of Jamaica. This city has grown from the place that Columbus named for its beautiful winds to a city that has profited from trade such as bananas, pig fat, and butter. Today, tourism is one of its largest industries as more and more visitors each year come to find the true beauty of Montego Bay!

Areas

The 120,000 people that live in this city are disbursed among areas varying among the ultra-modern areas to the older sections. It is within the modern area of the city that visitors will find resorts, the airport, which is enough to impress visitors upon first arriving, and other tourist areas such as shopping venues, restaurants, and of course, miles and miles of beaches! However, the older areas of Montego Bay should not be ignored when visiting this beautiful city as they hold much of the city's history and walking around them for just a short time can feel much like a travel back in time as it doesn't look much different than it did two hundred years ago! It is here that you can tour through the way plantation life was for both the rich owners and the impoverished slaves. It can be a sad history but one that is important to the country's roots. Nearby Montego Bay is the distillery which makes the Appleton rum that Jamaica is so famous for! Booking a trip here is a must on your visit and be sure to take home some genuine Appleton rum, made and bought in the distillery itself! This rum can only be found here as sugar cane is the ingredient that makes it so delicious and it can only be found in these rich soils.

Weather

The rich soil where the rum is made thrives in this tropical climate, with the average yearly temperature being around eighty degrees Fahrenheit. It does occasionally rain in Jamaica and when it does, you want to be sure to take shelter because it will pour, especially during the summer months when it is prime hurricane season. Many tourists decide to visit during the winter because there is less chance of these storms and because it coincides with vacations such as Christmas and spring break. However, you will enjoy the most beautiful weather and temperate climate while battling crowds of other tourists so take into consideration all aspects of the season you choose to go.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	77	77	78	80	81	82	83	83	82	82	80	79
C	25	25	26	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	27	26

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	2.7	1.8	2.3	2.5	5.9	5.5	2.9	5.2	6.1	7.4	5.5	3.6
CM	6.9	4.6	5.8	6.4	15	14	7.4	13.2	15.5	18.8	14	9.1

Getting There

By Plane

Getting there by air is still the most popular form of travel for most visitors. The Sangster International Airport services many areas of the country and is located right in Montego Bay. This airport is thought to be one of the best in the world and has been newly renovated to include more retail shops and services to tourists.

By Boat

Because Montego Bay is also a popular port for those visiting on a Caribbean cruise, the Montego Bay Cruise Terminal is located within the city to welcome visitors coming by sea. Those who are also travelling by boat but on a smaller scale can find their welcome mat at Port Antonio.

Getting Around

By Car/Taxi

Once you have become settled within the city of Montego Bay and want to get out and explore, it's advisable that you travel by taxi anywhere that is too far to walk to on foot. Although there are many rental car agencies within the city, traffic can be quite congested and the locals in the city have their own customs for driving as well including different honks with different meanings and hand signals indicating whether they are slowing or stopping. One must be comfortable driving under these conditions so it's best to leave it to the taxis that are accustomed to it. Another form of taxiing around Montego Bay is a route taxi. These vehicles have designated stops and pickups and drop off and pick people up along the route. Sometimes visitors often feel uncomfortable on route taxis.

Public Transportation

Travelling by bus in Montego Bay is not recommended for tourists as these are often quite crowded and are popular spots for crime to occur.

Food & Dining

When visiting Montego Bay, you must try Ackee and Saltfish, the country's national dish. This is a wonderfully authentic dish that uses the ackee fruit, which is native to the island and is mixed with dried codfish and onions and tomatoes. This delicious dish cannot be found anywhere else in the world except Jamaica so it's a must on your to-do list. Bammy is another wonderful Jamaican food that can is usually enjoyed at breakfast. It can be easily compared to cornmeal and is generally a very flat flour pancake. Although many people worry that Jamaican food is extremely spicy, the locals prepare their food with neutral flavors and use their many wonderful dips and sauces, which are generally served on the side, to add any spice that someone could want. Jerk meat is also very popular in Montego Bay and is prepared with a seasoning placed on the meat and then grilled until it is very well done.

Beaches

Cornwall Beach (Sand beach) Location: Central in Montego Bay This beach is one of the most popular in Montego Bay because it is right in the heart of the city and so close to many hotels and restaurants. It is at this thriving beach that you can catch a game of beach volleyball with friends, dine el fresco on the beach or simply take a dip in the wonderful blue waters that lap up to hit the white sand. There are great views here but many of them might be of people as this beach often becomes crowded.

Doctor's Cave Beach (Sand beach) Location: Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay This beach is named after the doctor who contributed the land so that it may be developed into one of the first places to begin to draw in tourists to Montego Bay. Not only will you find some of the finest waters here every day but you can also lounge on a chair under and umbrella or walk along this five-mile stretch of sand. There's a party every day at Doctor's Cave Beach so when you're looking for excitement, this is the place to go!

Rose Hall Beach Club (Sand beach) Location: 11 miles outside of Montego Bay The Rose Hall Beach Club is a private beach where one can go to enjoy all of Montego Bay's beach activities without having to push through crowds in order to do so. Not only will you have a quieter, more relaxed beach experience here but there are also several bonuses available to tourists here including beach bars, a restaurant, and a covered pavilion, in case you should be lucky enough to witness a fascinating tropical storm while there!

Walter Fletcher Beach (Sand beach) Location: Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay This beach is very popular with swimmers and snorkelers because the ever-so calm water makes for perfect beach activity conditions. However, it's this calm water and the lifeguards on duty that also make this a very popular beach among families. There are also change rooms on the beach so it's easy to stop after a morning full of shopping, spend the day on the beach, and then head right on out to dinner at one of the many fine restaurants that are within walking distance!

Sights & Activities

There's no doubt that one of your top priorities when heading to Montego Bay is getting into that beautiful water. Jamaica is home to some of the finest beaches in the world and these include Walter Fletcher Beach, Doctor's Cave Beach, and Cornwall Beach are just of the few of the favorites here. Besides regular swimming and other water play on these many beaches, there are also many other retail and vendor areas where you can experience a swim with the dolphins, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, and just about any other water activity you can think of! However, there are many other attractions to check out while in Montego Bay so be sure to include some other activities on your itinerary!

Greenwood Great House

This museum was once the home of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cousin. Find here on display antique musical instruments and furniture that is over two hundred years old. Antique paintings are also on display. While visiting, be sure to step out onto the verandah. Here you will feel as though you are floating above the island as you view the landscaping giving way to the horizon.

Jamaica Zipline Adventures

For those who want to take their journey from the ocean and through the trees, you'll definitely want to give zip-lining a try! Here travel through the lush mountains just as Tarzan did and feel the exhilarating Jamaican air on your face! Those that feel it's too much of an adventure can be assured the staff is very safety-conscious but if it's still too much, enjoy the beautiful scenery with your feet firmly planted on the ground below!

Harbour Street

It is here on Harbour Street in Montego Bay that you can find shopping and bargaining just like the locals do it! Find all sorts of authentic Jamaican merchandise such as beaded necklaces, t-shirts, and tie-dye skirts for unbelievably cheap Jamaican prices. Be sure to see one of the young locals about getting your hair braided and beaded for a small cost!

Agu Sol Theme Park

If you haven't gotten your fun of water thrills at the beach, you can head to this water park, one of the most popular spots for tourists to Montego Bay. This amusement park situates itself in and around Walter Fletcher Beach to make for some of the most enjoyable fun in the sun you can have in Jamaica!