OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Caribbean
- Jamaica
- Montego Bay
Montego Bay
The north coast of Jamaica is the island's popular 'Riviera'
area, and at the centre of this resort paradise is Montego Bay,
known affectionately as 'MoBay' to locals and regular visitors. The
area has a sparkling 10-mile (16km) shoreline, fronted by coral
reefs and aquamarine lagoons, backed by green hills shrouded in
sugar cane, banana palms and lush tropical vegetation.
Christopher Columbus was the first European tourist to step
ashore at Montego Bay in 1494. Now, the Spanish settlement that was
founded in 1510 has grown into Jamaica's second city, but it is
first choice for holidaymakers. The beaches in the area are
picture-perfect and visitors can choose from a variety of
recreations, from bird watching to music festivals, golfing to
riding down the river on a bamboo raft.
The Montego Bay area also has some fascinating historical
perspectives, not all of them pleasant, that live on in the legends
and stories surrounding the few remaining great plantation houses
belonging to dynastic families that grew rich from slave labour in
past centuries. Several of these are open to the public.
Information & Facts
Climate
Located in the Caribbean, the tropical climate of Montego Bay
ensures it is warm and sunny year-round, making it a great holiday
destination. There is little seasonal variation in temperatures,
with the average high being 91°F (33°C) and the lowest temperature
generally only falling to 69°F (21°C). There are frequent rain
showers in Montego Bay, but these are brief and the weather usually
turns sunny again afterwards.
Language
The official language of Jamaica is English but a local
patois is also spoken, a mixture of English, Spanish, and various
African languages.
Money
The Jamaican Dollar (JMD) is divided into 100 cents. The island
is well supplied with ATMs, banks and bureaux de change. Banking
hours are usually Monday to Thursday from 9am to 2pm, and Friday
from 9am to 4pm. Cambio exchange offices are found throughout the
country, open later than banks and often offering better exchange
rates. Retain receipts as proof of legal currency exchange.
Exchange bureaux at the airports and hotels also offer better rates
than banks. Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely
accepted. Both cash and travellers cheques are best taken in US
Dollars.