One of the most popular sunshine destinations in the Caribbean, Montego Bay is the hub of almost all Jamaica tourism. It’s located in the northwestern corner of the island and large beach resorts are spread generously both to the south and east.
This is mostly a middle-priced Caribbean destination, with still many options in the lower end of that range. Cheap and fast flights from North America make it popular with anyone looking for value or on a shorter trip.
Montego Bay is home to one of the Caribbean’s busiest airports, and even those staying in the more-remote areas of Ocho Rios or Negril will land here before taking a taxi or shuttle to their resort.
As exotic as Montego Bay may sound, the town itself is kind of a dud. Even the so-called “Hip Strip” that is the focus of tourism is mostly just a handful of overpriced restaurants and identical souvenir shops.
Jamaica is loaded with wonderful resorts and fabulous beaches, so most guests choose a place and then spend most (or all) of their stay there. The all-inclusive resorts are great value, especially for those of us who like a few drinks now and again.
If you want to “visit Jamaica” then the 7-Mile Beach area of Negril is a far better choice, and cheaper as well. But if you are looking for an all-inclusive resort, Montego Bay is a fine choice with its busy airport nearby.
| Population | 100,000 |
| Area | 100,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | Jamaican dollar |
| Airports | Sangster International Airport (MBJ) |
As mentioned, most guests to Montego Bay will choose a large resort and spend their time on the grounds. The larger resorts will have long lists of included water sports and other beach activities as well as some in-house nightlife.
Shopping in Montego Bay can be kind of a mixed bag. You’ll find the normal range of souvenir and t-shirt shops, but when they aren’t very busy you might find that the salespeople can be somewhat aggressive. Shopping at your hotel might be worth slightly higher prices.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 67.00 - 145.00 |
| 75.00 - 154.00 |
| 160.00 - 298.00 |
| - |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
| Local Breakfast | There are a few bakeries and eateries that serve coffee and pastries along with other staple breakfast items. | $3.75 - $10.00 |
| Local Lunch | Jerk Chicken is a popular lunch item that can be eaten by itself or with vegetables or in a sandwich. | $5.00 - $13.00 |
| Local Dinner | Depending on were you decide to dine, dinner prices range from budget to expensive. | $7.00 - $30.00 |
| Beer | Red Stripe is the most popular beer on the island and can be found at most restaurants and bars. | $3.50 - $5.00 |
Your hotel will have several options of taxi, van, and bus tours that you can take, but honestly there aren’t many great sights nearby. The Dunn’s River Falls near Ocho Rios are worth a day trip if you like natural water parks.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 | 72 | 1.9 |
| February | 84 | 71 | 0.4 |
| March | 85 | 72 | 0.8 |
| April | 87 | 73 | 1.3 |
| May | 88 | 75 | 2.3 |
| June | 90 | 76 | 1.5 |
| July | 90 | 76 | 1.5 |
| August | 90 | 76 | 1.8 |
| September | 89 | 76 | 2.3 |
| October | 88 | 76 | 3.3 |
| November | 87 | 75 | 2.0 |
| December | 85 | 73 | 1.6 |
Monetgo Bay is one of the most sought out island destinations in all of the Caribbean, and for good reason too. With cool winds, mild humidity and near constant sunshine, you’ll find exactly the island paradise you’ve been looking for.
There is relatively little change month to month with temps staying in the 70s, 80s and sometimes into the low 90s. You’ll also find that due to it’s location, the water is always relatively warm with a few exceptions after rainy days.
If traveling during the summer or late fall, keep in mind that Jamaica falls in the hurricane cone several times a season. It’s best to keep an eye on the projected weather forecast just to be on the safe side.
| 21 Mar | 6:11am | 6:18pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:33am | 6:45pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:56am | 6:04pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:34am | 5:37pm |
There are over 100 resorts and hotels in the greater Montego Bay area, spread over many miles of beaches and even some simple and cheap hotels and hostels in the city of Montego Bay itself. Most tourists will book in one of the many larger beach hotels, many of which are all-inclusive.
There are far fewer low-budget options in Montego Bay compared to nearby Negril, so this is mostly a mid-range area for the Caribbean, with a few really high-end places sprinkled in. The all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay are excellent value, especially when packaged with a flight.
>>>Best Montego Bay all-inclusives for couples, families, nightlife, activities, foodies, and more
The best time to visit the island if you’re looking for sunny days and mild temperatures is during winter. However, this time of year comes with a bit of a cost- higher prices. Even so, this is still when most people visit.
If you’re looking to pay less, consider going against the grain and visiting during the summer and early fall. This time of the year, known as the wet season, is characterized by short rain showers but none the less is a great time to vacation. Generally prices are about 1/3 less then during winter making a few rain showers even more tolerable.
Peak season: Christmas week
High season: December through March
Low season: April through November
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 67.00 - 145.00 |
| 75.00 - 154.00 |
| 160.00 - 298.00 |
| - |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
You’ll be flying into the Sangster International Airport, which is just 3 kilometers east of the city of Montego Bay. Hotel shuttles and affordable taxis will be waiting for you.
Nonstop flights from:
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal-Trudeau, Ottawa, Québec City, Toronto-Pearson, Winnipeg, Vancouver, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Lisbon, Madrid, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Milan-Malpensa, Rome-Fiumicino
We don’t say this about many places, but Montego Bay is not a great place to tour around on your own. You might take a taxi to the “Hip Strip” for some shopping and a few drinks, but it’s not as hip as it sounds and there are some safety issues in Jamaica that make staying in your resort a safer option.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Bus to Ocho Rios | 20.00 |
| Bus to Negril | 20.00 |