Overview
Montego Bay Reviews: Honest Truths from Black Travelers
Green Book Global is the only website and app that has authentic Montego Bay reviews from the perspective of Black Travelers. If you want to know where to stay, where to eat, what to do etc. but also what it’s like Traveling While Black in Montego Bay, then these reviews and travel tips will be essential to your trip planning for Black Travelers and allies alike.
Quick Summary:
In Montego Bay, the Hip Strip, officially known as Gloucester Avenue, is the heart of Montego Bay’s entertainment scene, lined with lively bars, restaurants, and shops. Here, visitors can enjoy everything from beachfront dining to dancing the night away in popular clubs. In contrast, the Rose Hall area offers a more tranquil experience with upscale resorts, world-class golf courses, and historic sites like the Rose Hall Great House. This diversity ensures that Montego Bay reviews consistently praise the city’s ability to cater to a wide range of interests and preferences.
When it comes to food and relaxation, Montego Bay reviews often comment about the food! The local cuisine is a flavorful blend of Caribbean spices and fresh ingredients, with must-try dishes including jerk chicken, curried goat, and fresh seafood. Dining options range from casual beachside shacks to elegant fine-dining restaurants, ensuring a delightful experience for all palates. For those seeking relaxation, Montego Bay’s stunning beaches like Doctor’s Cave Beach and Cornwall Beach provide the perfect setting for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling. Additionally, many resorts offer luxurious spas, yoga classes, and wellness programs designed to rejuvenate the body and mind. Whether indulging in the vibrant nightlife, savoring delicious Jamaican cuisine, or unwinding by the turquoise waters, Montego Bay offers a memorable escape that consistently garners positive Montego Bay reviews.
Some interesting facts:
- Doctor’s Cave Beach: Doctor’s Cave Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Montego Bay, known for its crystal-clear waters, which are believed to have healing properties.
- Hip Strip: Gloucester Avenue, commonly known as the Hip Strip, is a lively area filled with shops, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
- River Rafting on the Martha Brae: Experience a relaxing bamboo raft ride down the Martha Brae River, guided by local experts who share stories about the area’s history and culture.
- Golfing: Play a round of golf at one of Montego Bay’s world-class golf courses, such as the Tryall Club or Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, both offering stunning views and challenging courses.
Want to see reviews for more cities? Click this link to see destinations reviews for other cities in the Caribbean
I went in June. I ended up staying in the Holiday Inn resort Montego Bay.
The other resort I booked cancelled my room and nothing else was available. This resort was ok. There was no working television or wifi on the resort. The best part of this place was the Jerk chicken hut. I really didn’t get a chance to really explore because I was kinda of sick most of the time. It’s a good place if you just want to rest. The price was really good. The resort entertainment was ok. The kids look like they were having a blast.
I really love Jamaica. the entire vibe, culture, people it’s one of the best places that encompasses anything you could want. For nightlife, I recommended Lounge 2727 and Pier One on friday nights. Food wise, peppas cool spot, scotchies and sharkies are all good.
Jamaica was absolutely amazing. We stayed in Monetego Bay for our trip. The culture was wonderful and welcoming. Our group stayed in a Air BNB in a gated condo community. Which was perfect, it had a pool, treehouse lookout, walking path along a beautiful garden. Where we stayed came with a private chef that made the most authentic Jamaican meals. We did two days of excursions, one took us to Cannabis Farm in Ocho Rios where you could take a tour and walk up the mountain . We learned all about the whole process which the tour ended with a hand rolled blunt from our guide. You could also swim in a pool or jump down in the Blue hole to swim in the underway cave. Afterwards we went
to Negril to eat at Ricks cafe which was huge party in itself, it had swimming , waterfall jump, dancing and of course delicious food. Second excursion was in Ochos Rios again, to the waterfall that you could climb up as well or just sit along the beach. The second stop took us to a hidden gem, We were able to going tubing down the river with a guide. It had amazing views with great stops along the river for food and or limestone massage ( which is a must). The nightlife is on point, you can’t beat partying with the ocean as your backdrop. The late night food stops to get a jerk chicken plate with sides for $10 along the road I will forever miss. The entire trip was amazing, never once did it feel unsafe. Just got to be aware of your surroundings, we went to clubs every night with no issues. One tip stop at the currency exchange in the airport, just makes it easier. If you don’t no worries, All the places take both currencies. Most of our gratuities were paid in US dollars which they appreciated. I would definitely return just to experience it all again.
If traveling to the San Francisco Bay area, it is a must you should visit the Napa Valley area not only for the great wineries, but for the volcanic activity region known as Calistoga California. If that may sound familiar, there is a spring water by the same name. Absolutely one of my favorite things to do is to go to the natural springs and mud baths while in the area. Use a local guide like visitnapavalley for discovery and discounts at local spas.
Jamaica is truly paradise! There’s so much to do from Bamboo rafting, snorkeling on the catamaran boat, and spending a full day at Chukka Adventures horseback riding, zipline and ATV. Jamaica nightlife is top tier. Nightclub Pier 1 on Friday nights and nightclub 27/27 is lit every night! I’m Jamaican and our food is the best! Visit a local street vendor for some fried chicken with rice and peas, don’t forget to ask for some curry gravy on your rice and peas that’s how we locals order it. My favorite excursion in Jamaica is Bamboo rafting. Get yourself a watermelon red strip and enjoy the ride. They provide raft with decorative pieces and tell your driver to turn on some reggae music so you can dance. If your still trying to decide on Jamaica being your destination of choice, friend decide no more just book that trip! Check out ssltravel on Tiktok and journeyswithssltravel on IG to get all your Jamaica tips!
Enjoy my beautiful island and one love! ❤️
I went to Jamaica about 5 years ago and I had the best experience. We were able to get our tickets for $250 round trip on JetBlue. That was a steal We bring 3 Black women. While there we did the Chukka zip lining. That was so much fun! Highly recommend. We also did the catamaran to Rick’s cafe and snorkeling! I jumped off the smaller cliff and had a great time. Made friends on the trip that were from Germany. We still follow each other on IG lol. Horseback riding on the beach was also great. Tons to do. We went to a little club and strip club, it wasn’t too packed at all so that why I said nightlife was 4 stars. We then stumbled upon a little festival so that was a great time. Now, where to stay…Deja Resort is your answer if you want amazing food, great staff, and the drinks!!!!!!!!! Oh the drinks were amazing anytime of day. One night they had food outside, live music, we drank from coconuts. It was great. Did I mention it’s right across from the beach so it has private beach access. Locals all around good jerk chicken, little shops and a margarita vile. This place was also really affordable especially with the quality of food and drinks alone, omg! We had a room with a balcony and an ocean view. Beds were nice! We didn’t even go to the pool when the beach is right there. Some of our excursions we booked at the hotel. They even called our bus to see if we wanted to go horseback riding. My mom couldn’t get ahold of me and wanted to know and they literally called the bus driver for her it was really funny. I can’t wait to go back. When I do y’all know where I will be staying lol
I traveled to Montego Bay on a group trip right before the start of Covid. Everything was breathtaking. The views, the accommodations, the people, the adventures, and even the food. I would live there if I could! We stayed at a villa so we were able to experience more of the island and everything was love! I go back every chance I get.
Who doesn’t love Jamaica? We visited for thanksgiving in 2018. Upon arrival we feasted on jerk chicken. We stayed at a timeshare property under RCI, that is all inclusive, I believe Sunscape. It’s a family friendly resort. Several eateries on the property, but we ventured out. We found a cab driver that we called upon to take us around the local spots, including Scotchies which has authentic Jerk Chicken and Carnival. We did a catamaran ride and visited margaritaville. We snorkeled off the catamaran. We took a tour to Negril for horseback riding, 4 wheeler riding and sunset at Ricks Cafe. Four days was plenty to rest and relax and feel right at home.
How does Christmas in Jamaica sound? Traveling to Jamaica and actually having fun is still possible! I advise anyone planning to go to check out Jamaica’s resources to stay up to date for requirements to enter to avoid any issues. A negative covid test and a travel authorization is mandatory to check into your flight. During my 3 night trip I stayed at the Riu Reggae all-inclusive resort. I booked the resort on Priceline because it was cheaper than booking direct. I flew with Delta Airlines because I happened to catch a flight for $285 which was a great deal! Riu Reggae is a beach front property that has a pool with a swim up bar, free non-motorized sport activities, access to the other Riu properties nearby and of course all you can eat and drink included. I actually felt more safe in Jamaica because there were sanitizing stations all throughout the resort and all tourist activities required guests to wear masks when necessary. I chose to do 2 adventurous activities during my trip: horseback riding with a company called Chukka Caribbean and climbed Dunn’s River Falls. The horseback riding was booked through GetYourGuide which offers full refund for cancelations. The falls was booked at the excursion desk inside the hotel with a company called Kuiuki Tours. This was my first time horseback riding and the tour guides made sure everyone was comfortable on their horses before we began the first half of the tour on land. The second part was taking the horses into ocean. I loved it! Chukka has other activities like ATV riding on site and they also have a restaurant, small gift shop, swings, and a pool on site. The pool is included is included in the activity cost. The tour of Dunn’s River Falls was so much fun! You start from the bottom and follow a guide to climb to the very top. One of the best parts was a little area similar to a water slide. Yall I was nervous my wig might not stay secure when the falls shot me down the slippery area but thank God it did lol. I would recommend water shoes and a water phone pouch. The guides will take pictures for you and there is also a professional videographer/photographer that follows you along the way if you’d like to purchase a DVD with history on the falls and all your pictures. Jamaica currently has a curfew of 9pm but the resorts are open later. I didn’t get to experience the nightlife but definitely plan to re-visit once covid-19 restrictions go away. But if you remember nothing else just remember whenever you hear the phrase “Wha gwan?!” to respond “nagwan” or “mi irie”.
November 2018 I travel to Montego Bay Jamaica & stay at the “Sandles Inn Resort” For a week and paid a grand total of 1100 due to a Presidents’ Day discount. Ain’t nothing like going to a different country being a person of color & seeing others that look like you & who are genuinely happy to see people that look like them! It’s always a good time in Jamaica!!
I stayed at the grand palladium. It’s a beautiful resort with a lot of fun activities and great hospitality. I loved the pool and the beach. The food wasn’t really all that but it wasn’t disgusting. The hotel can set you up with excursions.
Jamaica 2016 was my first “Girls trip” ever and one of the most memorable as well. So where to start? We were staying at this wonderful resort (Grand Bahia Principe) in Runaway Bay which is located in between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The resort itself was impeccable. The service was amazing. The staff was super welcoming. The view was to die for. Besides our glorious stay at the resort we wanted to explore outside so we booked a Catamaran from the hotel counter. It included eating, drinking while vibing to good music with a Dj on sight, scuba diving/swimming with the fish and finally accosting for a break, pictures, souvenirs just to hop back on the boat and party on the way back to our initial destination. For those who don’t mind getting wet we also went to Dunn’s river falls (hiking was also involved for that activity). We went to the luminous Lagoon in Falmouth at night where we were all in the water and the concept was the more you move the more luminosity you create and it was amazing to watch. Although drinking and partying was a daily thing, we booked a tour to go to Bob Marley’s old house and mausoleum in the village of Nine Miles. We had a beautiful view over the mountains totally worth a capture.
In conclusion, Jamaica was an amazing trip but one trip isn’t enough to experience it to fullest since there’s so much to do and see. But wherever you go you will definitely get a blast and the party starts as soon as you get in the plane!
Montego Bay was awesome especially for black people. We stayed at The Hilton Rose Hall hotel and loved it. It was all inclusive. There were so many excursions we did. We visited Ricks Cafe, Martha Brae, and even ATV and Zipplined. It was awesome. Nightlife was even better. The clubs were a blast especially Margaritaville and Pier 1. We had a great time
Let me start off by saying that Montego Bay is BEAUTIFUL!! I’m sure all of Jamaica is breathtaking, but Montego Bay is nice! I stayed at Breathless Resort, which is the perfect Baecation resort! The room itself was sexy, it had this romantic ambiance. The nightlife at the resort was fun and the daytime activities were great. The staff was extremely friendly and wanted to interact with you. The food was amazing! I never had a bad dish and I’m an extremely picky eater. I would definitely recommend Breathless as a place to stay!
Listen.
Seriously.
Sharkies over in Runway Bay near Grand Bahia resort has amazinggggggggg food. From their rundown shrimp, to festival, to fish and okra with veggies. It’s an outdoor dining experience with the beach right by you so you get delicious authentic food, good vibes, relaxing waves and ofcourse chill tunes on the speakers playing.
Also, the KFC tastes way better in Jamaica than in US. And if you are looking for fresh authentic patties, find your nearest Tastee.
Literally ate all day, everyday. Ate a lot of vendor/street food as well, but my more formal list:
– Usain Bolt Tracks & Records: good sit down restaurants, drinks are great, and free WIFI
– Lounge 2727: Dope view of the water, good drinks. Seafood was good
– Pier One: Restaurant by day, turn up nightclub by night. There is a late night spot literally right next door with finger food that hits!
I’m probably biased since this is my hometown but my favourite beach in the world in here–Doctor’s Cave Beach. It can be touristy depending on the day you go (avoid cruise days if you want a more quiet experience) but it’s still a lot of fun. If you’re a swimmer like me, this spot has the deepest, clearest water on the island and there are even some reefs not far from the shore. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, it’s hard to see fish but I hope that with new regulations in place they will soon return. Delicious food can be had at Pork Pit, if you like Jerk, and also at Jerkys and Scotchies out by Ironshore. Best Chinese-Jamaican food comes from King’s Palace downtown. If you’re vegetarian/vegan like me, there’s a rasta restaurant downtown where you’ll find Ras Kush making some delicious meals. As for night life, it’s not as grand as Kingston, the capital, and mostly we just go to Pier1 on Fridays. Here you can find the mix of locals and toursits, but it’s mostly local. Otherwise Margaritaville has parties on some nights and so does Blue Beat. MoBay is a good place to start your trip but you should also try to explore other parts of the island. Westmoreland has some beautiful waterfalls and Portland, closer to Kingston, is the most gorgeous parish. Don’t expect much from downtown MoBay. If you go and stay at a big resort, they’ll do everything to caution you from wandering out on your own or making you agraid of the place. If you’re into resort life, then no worries. But if you actually want to experience local culture, especially if you’re also Black, then no need to listen to them. Just be aware and do your due diligence and you’ll be fine. Just remember that you won’t see or experience the real Jamaica at any of these resorts.
Me and my husband went to Montego Bay in nov 2019 and we loved it!!! We stayed at the hotel RIU Reggae for 6 days. It is a very modern adult-only hotel. There was a great diversity of tourits staying at the hotel. We can highly recommend a tour to the YS waterfalls. The jamaican nature is simply beautiful. Another thing we love about this place are the good vibes. All the people were so nice! Everyone was just relaxed and in a good mood. Listening to reggae music and having good food all day :-) We are defenitley coming back!
Montego Bay was amazing and I expected nothing less. I stayed at the Hyatt Zilara which is an adult only resort. I booked through American Airlines website to get it included as a package. The cost of the resort was around $350 per night and this was a week before Christmas. The property was very nice and up to date. The rooms didn’t show no signs of aging. My room faced the resort pool but if you can get a ocean view or swim-up then go for it. There is a mix crowd at the resort; however, no too many of color. They have a great selection of activities to do there and there’s foam party a couple times out the week. If you ever need a taxi to go out in town you can go to the front desk and they will hook you up.
I went on a girl’s trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica and stayed at Riu Reggae for 4 nights and 5 days. I would recommend this hotel if you are going on a baecation though, lol! As far as traveling while black, this resort wouldn’t be first on my list and I wouldn’t stay here again honestly! Myself and my cousins are all shades from light to dark skinned, and we were all treated like 2nd class citizens by the front desk, food servers, waitresses, and bar staff. The staff catered to our white counterparts and treated them as if the rules didn’t apply, while we were often ignored or picked with about minor things. The pool bar and dancers/performers were okay, but all other staff catered to white people as if we weren’t going to tip and things of that sort. It was very sad and unexpected! Although, off of the resort we made a local friend Shane (driving tours) and he actually kept up with us the whole trip and took us wherever we wanted to go, showed us all the great local spots for food/drinks, and even gave us a lengthy and informative history lesson as he drove us around! I wouldn’t recommend this hotel!
Montego Bay was amazing. I wish I spent more time. The people are so nice! Be sure to go to Doctors Cove! They have everything! The nightlife is lit! Make sure you check out Pier 1, it’s a club right on the water. Go to the bar and get you a Rum Punch or 3 and turn up! After you’re done the street food vendors got the best Jerk Chicken, specifically a old man named “Chop Chop” .. I’ll be back for sure
Montego Bay is one of the most tourist filled places out of the whole island. If you’re looking for an area in Jamaica that has a great nightlife, MoBay is the place to be. I always travel to Jamaica solo.
One great thing about MoBay, it is close to other Jamaican towns that consist of nature filled activities! You can book a tour straight from your resort or the airport and go venture out to the hillside, other lowkey beaches, or go check out marijuana farms if that is your thing!
They do have street markets and people who come up to the cars to sell fruit and merch. Don’t be shy, try some of their fruit and make sure to bargain if you can. The less you look like a tourist, the less you will be gypped. lol Don’t forget to try some Jamaican beef patties and coco bread!! (estimate $150 JMD – $300 JMD; $1.50 USD – $3.00 USD).
As a black woman, I feel somewhat comfortable venturing alone in MoBay since I have been so many times. You do have to be aware of your surroundings and make sure to never tell someone where you are staying when traveling alone. Jamaican men are extremely blunt and can be pushy at times. I would recommend stating that you have a husband/boyfriend in town to lessen the pressure that comes with being approached. If you are a solo traveler, I honestly would recommend Negril instead. The ambiance of Negril is more laid back than MoBay.
Jamaica is a great place to travel while black. The majority of the locals are black and are therefore extremely accepting of other Black people. The food is phenomenal – definitely go to the Jerk Center or Scottchies for authentic jerk chicken and fish. For a nice sit down meal Half Moon is the way to go. Even if you are not staying on the property you are able to go for dinner or lunch and enjoy the lovely beach there. The prices in MoBay are reasonable and overall it’s a great place to travel. The only downside is that there is currently a state of emergency that makes it very difficult to feel safe.
Montego Bay is my absolute go to place whenever I visit Jamaica! I’ve been here sever times, and after each visit, I fall in love even more!
MoBay is not a place to relax, unless you’re lounging at Doctors Cave Beach, or in a spa session at your resort. Mobay is alllll about the turn up & festivities! In my honest opinion, this is a place for the young at heart who is not afraid of a lil noise.
Nightlife is epic here, and so is the food. There are plenty of local shops to support for souvenirs, clothing, and street vendors who make the absolute best jerk chicken! I’ve even ran into a streetside bartender during my most recent visit lol.
I love Mobay, and would strongly reccomend a visit to anyone who is down to have a great night in the town.
This is out second visit to Montego Bay, Jamaica but this second go round was amazing. The beach was nice and quite. My husband and I had great customer services and had a chance to do a lot of shopping. Our tour guide and driver was excellent. Thank you Berry & Cj for an amazing stay. We will be back again. Ig: miseanclaron