Last year, during this time of the year, I got to visit Montego Bay Jamaica. Montego Bay is the capital of the parish of St. James and the second largest city by area in Jamaica. It is largely known as a tourist destination with duty free shopping and amazing beaches. The city is also rich in history.
Upon arriving to Montego Bay, it was easy to see its definitely the travel destination of choice for couples on vacation. Aside from my family there was only 4-5 other families in the customs line, the rest were all couples.
Below I share some tips you should keep in mind while visiting Montego Bay Jamaica:
Not All The Best Things in Life Are Free
A lot of the nicest beaches in Jamaica are owned by large resorts, so don’t be surprised if you have to pay a fee to access them.
Water Shoes, Yes You Need Them
Purchase some water shoes. I stepped on a sea urchin while walking on a shallow part of the beach and I did not have a good time trying to get over the pain. I definitely learned my lesson that day and bought some water shoes at the resort for less than $10. Peace of mind is priceless.
Vicious Mosquitoes
The mosquitoes in Jamaica must be on steroids! Seriously, they are vicious and will suck blood out of you every chance they get. Invest in a good mosquito spray and carry it with you. I kept spraying throughout the day and even then I got a few bites on me.
Hot With A Side of Humid
The weather is extremely hot and humid, especially during this time of year. I suggest you pack very light clothes and lots of bathing suits. It’s pointless to bring jeans because of the humidity. If you go on any excursions, and you want to skip on wearing shorts, bring some yoga capris but leave the pants at home.
Transportation
While booking your vacation package make sure you book roundtrip transportation to and from the airport. It’s one less thing to worry about when arriving and departing. The share-van option we booked was ideal because it had air conditioner and the staffed was knowledgeable. We didn’t rent a car because we didn’t plan on doing much driving around. The excursions you book pick you up at your resort. If you want to drive around Jamaica, then definitely look into renting a car.
The Language
The language in Jamaica is English and they also have their own dialect which is a mixture of dialects that locals use. Sometimes it’ll be hard to understand because they speak so fast. For the most part, everyone is very friendly. I noticed women tend to be more serious but don’t mistake that for rudeness as they are all pretty helpful.
Don’t Forget
The Jerk chicken in Jamaica is amazing. Wherever you go eat, make sure you make it a point to try it. The Holiday Inn, all inclusive resort has a Jerk hut that has some of the best jerk chicken I’ve ever had! Don’t come back to your home state without trying this deliciousness!
