Practical travel information on Health in Montego Bay

Health & safety

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Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

Things have dramatically improved along Gloucester Ave in recent years, although harassment of tourists by hustlers remains an annoyance. By day, visitors get up close and personal with street-level entrepreneurs offering ganja, transportation and even services of a decidedly more intimate nature. A common approach is for a hustler to claim he knows you from your hotel, and many visitors just off the plane are not savvy enough to see through it. As always it’s best to respond with a polite but firm ‘no thanks’ and keep moving; simply ignoring them only aggravates hustlers – and makes them more aggravating.

Keeping the hustlers (mostly) in line are the beat-walking men and women of the Montego Bay Resort Patrol wearing trim bulletproof vests.

Downtown is not patrolled; it’s safe to walk in the historic center during daylight hours but stick to the main streets and stay alert. At night downtown is not the best place for a solo stroll. Avoid the dangerous Flankers area across the highway from the airport.

Beware traffic! Cars are often driven at a breakneck pace; don’t expect the driver to give way. Even ‘tourist-friendly’ Gloucester Ave can be a hazard. Use caution when crossing streets and watch for deep gutters and potholes.

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