I am really going to Montego Bay for my honeymoon.

Fill me with stories and advice.  

Thanks!

Went to Jamaica a few years ago - it is both beautiful AND poverty stricken. You will be relatively safe in and around the resorts but be careful when attending any flea markets and the like. Also, I highly recommend you stay away from Kingston after dark - gets pretty rough there.

If you get a chance the float trip down the river in the blue mountains (not sure of name of river) is worth the price just for the van ride up the mountain - it will scare the shit out of you.

local guy went down there, guys came in to rob him and his friends he got his head bashed in with a baseball bat.. he survived but it was tough..

another person i know spent time down their as a set carpenter on some tv show they were filming down there. from what i heard they had a small army with m16s guarding the premises at all times.

when i was in college in the early 70s i had a buddy went down there and made friends with the locals and got along very well... then the communists took over and ran the tourists off.. i think the communists were run off and the local gov has been trying to get the tourists back ever since.. extremely poor people.. supposedly you venture out into the populace you will be mobbed with kids begging. i think they execute robbers down there quick in an attempt to control crime...

be careful.

If you are going to an all inclusive, stay there and away from the local economy.  

Parts of it are bad, but overall it's a beautiful place.  The problem is that you hear so many second and third hand stories.  "I know a guy that...."

STFU.


I've been there, I'll be going back, you'll probably fall in love with it, Jamaica is an amazing place.

Stay on the resort of with guided tours.  Don't try exploring the island on your own - It's not safe.  I've been there many times.  It's a beautfiul place.

Been there many times.

Get your self a cab driver and use only him. He'll give you his number to call him.

The inclusive resorts get old quick.

Explore

You're staying IN Montego Bay?  lol.    

1.  Don't go into the shanty town on the north/west end of town, even if the guy who says he can get you Dramamine 'over there' sounds convincing.

2. Don't buy mushrooms/coke  from the 9 Y.O. on the bicycle.

3. DO go to Negril.....beach there is awesome.

4. DO take day trips......taxi rides are exciting!

5. DON'T miss the nite show at the bio-luminescent bay.  I can't remember what town it's in, but it was definitely a highlight.





ETA: We stayed at a place called "Jack Tar Resort" on the west end of town.  I think it's been renamed by now, and it was kind of crappy, but hey, it's Jamaica and it was DIRT CHEAP.

Been to the Sandals Inn at Montego, Great little place (Also went for our honeymoon two years ago).  Outstanding food and service.  My only bit of advice, if your wife insits you to charter a catamaran and you are: a) drunk, b) not sure of your personal sailing capabilities, or c) all of the above...do everyone a favor and dont do it (Ask the couple in the two person cayak that I capsized )  All in all, a great experience, pick up some good, cheap cigars and go cliff diving.

My Jamaica write up

Have fun, mon!

Have fun, but don't venture out on your own.  Hire a taxi from your resort for the day.  He will show you all the local highlights and make sure you get back safely.  

Quoted: Been to the Sandals Inn at Montego, Great little place (Also went for our honeymoon two years ago).  Outstanding food and service.  My only bit of advice, if your wife insits you to charter a catamaran and you are: a) drunk, b) not sure of your personal sailing capabilities, or c) all of the above...do everyone a favor and dont do it (Ask the couple in the two person cayak that I capsized )  All in all, a great experience, pick up some good, cheap cigars and go cliff diving.

That's where we're going.  

How was it for cleanliness/etc.?
I've never been to an "all inclusive."  Is there a bunch of "hidden" charges?
Anything else you remember?


Thanks to you , and everybody else with the advice.

just got "upgraded" to Sandals Montego Bay, premium seaside room.   They said sandals inn was closed for rennovations.


Anymore advice?

If you happen to see Carla Campbell while you're there could you bring her back for me?