Hi,
I'm looking at coming to Jamaica in mid April for about 2 weeks. I was wondering if anyone can advise me where I should go. I'm after beaches, jungle hikes, markets. Should I stick around Negril and Montego Bay or should I venture to Kingston aswell? Looking at doing it a bit on the cheap side if possible too. Any advice would be great. Also any tips on places to stay (hotels, hostels, guesthouses).
Thanks
I'm planning a 2 week trip too, and I've never been before. So you may want to wait to hear from somebody who really knows the country!
But from my online/guidebook research, I've narrowed it down to going to the Port Antonio area for the falls/Rio Grande river/beaches, the St Thomas parish for Morant Bay/Rocky Point etc, the Blue Mountains for hiking and then Treasure Beach for a relaxing end to the holiday.
Hope that helps.
Port Antonio (Portland) has all that you seek.
Excellent place to stay is Ivanhoe's Guesthouse 3 Queen St. Port Antonio.
Phone (876)-993-3042.
Also contact Albert Harlby for a guide for the hikes Phone-(876)-460-1313 are have the staff at Ivanhoe;s contact him for you. He is an excellent guide and a good man. The John Crow Mountains, and Blue Mountains offer good hiking in the area.
Treasure Beach is also another good place to visit, except there is no "jungle hikes" but more like open savannah type terrain, which also offer some good hiking. There are several uncrowded beaches, and you can visit the market in the small town Black River (short taxi ride from TB). TB is a good place to relax in a small friendly community that has very few tourists.
For places to stay in Treasure Beach (TB), try Golden Sands Guesthouse, Bebe's Place, and Shakespears Cottages. For other places in TB and things to do around TB check this website http://www.treasurebeach.net
ONE LOVE !!
Mike
i've been to JA many times. i wouldn't waste much time in mobay. not that great of a place. negril has a very cool vibe.. but don't be put off by the pushy hucksters and pushers. they can be irritating, but a firm no will usually work. treasure beach is a very laid back place. quiet, no night life. nice. many great places to visit tin the treasure beach area. you could spend two weeks around there. but a car is a definate must in that area. port antonio is very cool. so many things within a a day trips distance. a car is really a good idea here too. kingston is a place that you really should have some experience with before you try it on your own. it can be done, just be careful and rely on some good advice.
i have a great idea for you. for 2 weeks, try the fly/drive jamaica thing. you get a car, and a voucher for about 50 places to stay all around the island. i've done it twice. once about 12 to15 years ago with my wife and once 2 years ago by myself. that way you can circumnavigate the whole island and have places to stay without worrying. it's really a very cool way to see jamaica. it has places to stay in most parrishes. here's the link... check it out. http://www.flydrivejamaica.com/
it's a good way to go!
Agree with MikeyMike - Ivanhoe's and Treasure Beach. We didn't have a car in Treasure Beach (or anywhere) and didn't need one. My wife and I took route taxi's everywhere - you just have to not mind being squeezed! Also, route taxi's are more environmental than renting a car. We also rented bikes in TB for a day. Black River is close and from their we took tours upriver and up to the falls (name?).
MoBay is awful. Kingston good for the music.
Don't waste your time in Montego Bay - it's not worth it, and the craft markets are no good. There's a very large craft market at the southern end of town, and it looks very enticing from the outside with its cute little shacks in Caribbean colors. Inside it's just full of high pressure salespeople all selling the same products you can find anywhere. Another, much smaller, craft market is on the Hip Strip and I'm told that tourists are taking their chances to go in there because they can get robbed and/or mugged. A lady who has lived in Jamaica for many years warned me against that place.
There are lots of individual craftspeople who sell their goods from stands along the roadside, and they're a much better choice. There's no pressure to buy, but I bought lots of wonderful products from them.
The falls name is Y.S Falls
It is a beautiful water falls up in the hills.
Definitely worth a visit !!
ONE LOVE !!
Mike
ok every one seems to be shooting down montego bay! Ancorage villa in Belmont is 15 min from montego bay is a small village and overlooks montego bay is the best hidden gem you can dream of the jungle is right outside the gate inside too and a nice village to walk through if u feel so rasta family Queen Ifrearka mother and dad have a rasta experince and the beach is right downhill , the old steam boat is a nice local spot and negril is 30 to 40 min depending on who is drivng,,,,,facebook Ancorage villa for pics and such .just have a good time and try not to waste to muchtime on de road..
Irie
thanks barry, i may even try that one next time.
but really, barry, you can understand why we "shoot down" mobay itself. it ain't what it was 20 or 30 years ago, right.
I have Jamaicans friends in MoBay, and I do visit and stay with them for a few days when I am on the island, but I spend most of my time in TB are Port Antonio.
MoBay is just to crowded, and traffic is horrible. There are some cool places there to checkout, but for a first time visitor, I say skip MoBay (and Ochos Rios).
Like Jamdownron stated. "MoBay ain't what it use to be" !!
Believe, I have spent enough time there in the past 20 some years to know :>)
TB, Port Antonio, Blue Mountains, Negril, any small towns or villages along the coast, are anywhere in the countryside is the places to go now !!
ONE LOVE !!
Mike