Montego Bay Experiences

Evening everyone, hope the post-xmas slump is treating you well.

As has become traditional in our house after xmas we start to plan our next family holiday for the summer. We have been to many of the islands in the Caribbean (Antigua, St Lucia, Dom Rep, Barbados and Grenada x3) and were looking to return but hoping to try somewhere new. We are currently thinking Jamaica, specifically the Half Moon in Montego Bay. But before we go ahead and commit I thought it would be helpful to hear anyone's first-hand experience of Jamaica, Montego Bay or the Half Moon Resort. ( Partly due to the bad stories we've heard of crime on the island).

Having been to Grenada and loving it for the past 3 yrs we've found the whole choosing a new destination a little bit difficult and daunting as the Spice Island really was so enjoyable. Any comments would be a great help!

Thanks in advance,
FLYERZ

Have visited MB on several occasions & never had any problems, I guess like anywhere you have to be mindful of which areas you visit. Haven't stayed at Half Moon, on most recent visit we stayed at Secrets Wild Orchid (or something like that) which was very good.

[Neil]

Done Jamaica a couple of times, and MB once and personally wouldn't go back.
Much prefer the other Caribbean islands, we like being able to do our own thing and travel about, not stay in one big all inclusive hotel / resort, and just don't feel safe to do that in Jamaica.

We tend to go to Jamaica alternate winters for our "fly and flop" holiday. We do stay at "all inclusive" hotels but also get out and about quite a bit. The only thing I know about the Half Moon is that VA crew stay there, so it must be ok. Since you like Grenada and Spice Island, why not look at Negril? IMHO the beach there knocks Grand Anse into a cocked hat. Granted, its a bit far from, say, Dunns River Falls should you want to go there, but there are other places to visit nearby and walking along Long Bay past all the little bars and stalls, and talking to the local people is one of the highlights of our holiday. On the other hand, a hotel that springs to mind when you mentioned Spice Island, is Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios.

Oops! I have just realised by "Spice Island" you meant Grenada rather than the hotel of that name, sorry!

Funnily enough we stayed at the Spice Island Resort on the Spice Island that is Grenada Thanks for the comments so far, always more meaningful when you hear people's first hand opinions I find. This certainly is going to be largely a stay on the beach and relax holiday although we would also like to do a few organised tours through Virgin Holidays. Might look into the other hotels suggested but currently Half Moon is looking very good.

Me and the family have been to Montego Bay numerous times. Not quite sure what this crime is that everyone seems to talk about. We have stayed in hotels and hired drivers since we do not understand the transport system there and they have taken us all around the island with no trouble, returning us to our hotels in one piece.

Recently, we used the Knutsford Express air conditioned coaches from Montego Bay. We did Ocho Rios, Falmouth and even managed to spend a day in Kingston visiting Bob Marleys home, all by ourselves. The next time we go we will plan a trip to Port Antonio.

Yes, we have visited Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua but we hate sitting by the pool all day and these little islands often do not have enough to keep us occupied outside of the resorts.

These crime stories are to scare tourists, ensuring that you stay in the rich hotels giving your money directly to them and not the island. The day trips are also massively overpriced and commercial.

Yes, sure there is crime but no more than in your own town. Be streetwise and smart and you will be fine.

Having been to Grenada and loving it for the past 3 yrs we've found the whole choosing a new destination a little bit difficult and daunting as the Spice Island really was so enjoyable. Any comments would be a great help!

Thanks in advance,
FLYERZ

My parents used to holiday in the same place year after year and thought it was a really boring thing to do.
We have had several long haul holidays to various parts of the states and four trips to Oz.
However, our holiday in the new year is to the same destination in South Carolina that we have been visiting the last five years because we have found a place that we really love. So we have stopped looking.
I have now done a complete U turn on my view about going to the same place. If you really like it then go back there.
Dick D