Montego Bay Jamaica

The recently renovated "Mo' Bay," as the locals call this town, competes with Ocho Rios as the island's most visited resort town. Montego Bay has great bars and restaurants, renowned shopping, and an endless array of leisure activities. And with the friendly hospitality of the Jamaican people, having a great time is always "no problem."

Where You're Docked
You'll dock in Freeport, only a few miles outside of the heart of Montego Bay.

Getting Around
On Foot: Downtown Montego Bay is a five-minute walk.

Taxis: They line up at the dock but make sure you are hiring a licensed JUTA taxi.

Renting a Car: Drive on the left. Avis, Budget, and Hertz are among those who have posts here; advance reservations are highly recommended. Car rentals range from $65 - $150 per day.

What to See and Do
Duty-Free Shopping: Montego Bay's duty-free shopping is the City Centre shopping area that stretches along one block; there you'll find gold, timepieces, perfumes, crystal, leather goods, souvenirs, and boutique clothing.

MoBay's newest and most upscale shopping center is located at Half Moon Village in the Rose Hall area, featuring fine duty-free shops, souvenir shops, clothing, restaurants, and even a post office.

Golfing: Montego Bay has five championship courses in the area. The newest, The White Witch Golf Course at The Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall Resort, was designed by renowned course architect Robert von Hagge. Three Palms Ocean Course at Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club has been recently redesigned (and was cited by Barron's as one of the top three in the Caribbean). The Half Moon Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones. In Ironshore, the SuperClubs Golf Club Montego Bay at Ironshore was recently redesigned by renowned course architect Robert Mootes. Finally, the Tryall Golf Course, The Tryall Club, and the former site of the Johnnie Walker World Championship, is located about a half hour outside of Montego Bay.

Where to Eat and Drink
Casual, in-town joints: Margaritaville (from 10am daily) on the Hip Strip is a local sports bar and grill serving grilled specials, fajitas, burgers, and local fare, along with 52 flavors of margaritas. Not to mention a water trampoline, rooftop hot tub, and monster slide plunging 110 feet into the Caribbean. For beach bums on Doctors Cave Beach, the Greenhouse (from 7am) is known for its burgers, pizza, and daily Jamaican specials

Gourmet Lunching: The Belfield 1794 Restaurant, adjacent to the Great House, serves lunch daily and offers a step back into Jamaica's history and fine Jamaican cuisine in a restored sugar mill. The Sugarmill Restaurant (daily, from noon - 3pm) at the Half Moon Golf Club is nestled beside the ancient waterwheel of a sugar mill and offers Caribbean and continental cuisine with flambe specialties.

The One Thing You Don't Want to Miss

Jamaica has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And Rose Hall Beach Club is a perfect example. White sand and crystal-clear water make this secluded private beach well worth its $8 admission fee. You'll find beach bars and restaurants, an open-air dance area, showers, restrooms, volleyball courts and a full watersports program.

Other Fun Things to Do

	Explore the island's beaches by swimming, sunning, snorkeling, diving, partying and horseback-riding, then relax with a local favorite, Red Stripe beer.
	Stroll down bustling Gloucester Avenue with great shopping and restaurants.

Sporting Adventures

Play a round of golf at the beautiful Wyndham Rose Hall Golf & Beach Resort (featuring a waterfall at the 15th green) or one of the many other wonderful courses in the area.

Shopping for Bargains

Montego Bay has phenomenal savings on designer jewelry and giftware. The best duty-free shopping in Mo' Bay is at the City Centre shopping area and at the Half Moon Shopping Village. With some of the best prices in the entire Caribbean on jewelry and fine watches, "duty-free savings" is the phrase to use when describing the shopping in this port. For best buys on jewelry, look for diamonds, tanzanite and other gemstones, as well as gold. The best names in watches can be found here, including Movado, Raymond Weil, and Tissot, at prices recognized as some of the lowest in the Caribbean. Be sure to pick up some of Jamaica's world-famous Blue Mountain coffee and rum, as well as local art and unique T-shirts.

Local Currency

The official currency is the Jamaican dollar (JMD). U.S. dollars, traveler's checks and credit cards are widely accepted.