Montego Bay Favorites

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Favorite thing: The %WHITE SAND BEACHES% at Montego Bay are absolutely beautiful with crystal clear waters. They take on a wonderful turquoise colour. Near the shore you can see clearly to the bottom. You can even see tropical fish in all sorts of shapes and colors, swimming around.

Favorite thing: Tipping is widely expected in Jamaica, for everyone from the shuttle drivers from the airport, to people leading excursions, taxi drivers, you name it everyone has their hand out and they are not shy about it. They announce it on signs in the bus ("tipping is customary"), by reminding you throughout the journey that they are only working for tips or by sticking their hand out as you get off the bus. I do tip generously in Jamaica when the service is good but not for surly service, expected or not.

The all inclusive format is supposed to include tips but I saw many people giving tips in cash to various staff members that had been very helpful or bartenders who they had used frequently. Some resorts are said to have strict no tipping policies but the few people I saw getting tips were keeping them. I do leave a tip for the cleaning staff as I figure they are probably not paid very well in Jamaica.

I read somewhere that restaurant employees are not likely to receive the tip if you leave it on your credit card so do try to bring some cash along for the wait staff. Check the bill and make sure that an automatic gratuity is not already included.

Favorite thing: If you are staying at an all inclusive resort, chances are that you will never see any Jamaican currency, US dollars are widely accepted for tips, excursions booked through the resorts, taxis to towns and even for shopping in Montego Bay. If you plan on doing a lot of shopping, you might get a better exchange rate using Jamaican currency. The ATM at our resort dispensed both USD and Jamaican. As a precaution, I would only use my credit card at the resort or well established restaurants, never with the vendors at the market. Our resort had a room safe and we did use it with no problem.

Favorite thing: What impressed me the most about Montego Bay was the welcome that we received at the airport. As we were walking to immigration, a group of singers were lined up singing "Come to Jamaica ". It made me feel so happy to be there.

Favorite thing: The main choises to drink are Appleton Rum and Red Stripe Beer, both of which are very good. You can visit the aAppleton Plantation for some education on the local brews. The Red Stripe beer is smooth and goes down easy on a hot day and feels perfect at the time.

Favorite thing: The flowers in Jamaica are so beautiful I couldn't stop taking pictures of them. This is know as Lobster Claw, rather large and colorful plant. Not sure if you will be able to see it, but there is a small lizard on the tip of the top left flower.

Favorite thing: There is no need to take travellers cheques or buy all your holiday money before you go.

Take about 1000 Jamaican dollars per person, half in the smallest denominations you can get, so you can pay for a taxi or a meal when you get there, especially if you are going 'room only'.

Take bank debit or credit cards (not American Express, I think the charges are too high for the shops to accept them. Visa is fine), It's easy to withdraw money from the banks (there's a National Commercial Bank of Jamaica in the middle of the Hip Strip, and more in the town) remember to take your passport with you.

There are also 'hole in the wall' booths, the banks have guards and the booths security doors, so you will be safe.
By doing this, if you are unfortunate and loose your money, you will only loose a fraction of your budget.

The local people like it if you pay with J$'s and you can use them to buy goods anywhere, from the big store to the Rasta selling bananas at the side of the road; and they are delicious!

Favorite thing: sorry, there are too many!! i take a group with me each nov and i never tire of showing off my home-ys falls, black river. the mountains are all favs but getting out with the peeps in de yards are the best!

Fondest memory: still working on my fondest- its all heaven to me! visiting bob marley's grave site in nine miles, stopping along side the road to eat and end up meeting new friends, laughing and dancing-love everything jamaican!