There are 5 of us (females) going on a cruise next month. One of our destinations is Montego Bay Jamaica. We want to go to the falls in Ocho Rios. We don't want to book it with the cruise line. What is the best way to get from Montego Bay to Ocho Rio? Bus or taxi? How much will it cost?<BR>

Taxi - bring water shoes and tell your driver to wait for you for your return trip.

Book a private licensed guide (unlicensed uninsured guides and taximan are now being stopped and fined in Jamaica) to take you to Dunn's River or Mayfields or YS Falls. You'll jump the queues, get personalized attention, be able to stop en route at non-tourist<BR>places and not be rushed. For a full private excursion sampler, options, rates, contact Carolyn Barrett of Barrett Adventures at <BR>[email protected] -- we've had incoming cruise passengers tour very happily with her...

I wouldn't take a taxi or a bus to Dunn's river falls. You no doubt can book an excursion through your hotel. My husband and I went on one and everyone went together in a small air conditioned van. It will be an hours drive from Montego Bay and at least a couple of hours there. If you have rubber soled shoes use them because the rocks are slippery (you can rent them there for a small fee. There are also lockers for your belongings as you can't hold onto anything when climbing. They take your pictures on the way up the Falls and sell them to you at the top (if you wish to purchase) I had a camera,as did several other people and the guide at the falls took everyone's from them and took snaps of us as we climbed. I couldn't believe he remembered who belonged to what camera (but when I had it developed at home it was only us). Jamaica has much unrest and is known for not always being very safe so play it smart and don't venture out except in a group. The drive is twisty and long ...go early in the A.M. iif possible. I wore a swim suit and simply pulled my dry shorts overtop along with a t-shirt. You hold hands in a long chain,so don't feel strange about feeling nervous..I made out just fine even though I paniced once for 2-3 minutes (it passed). Have fun

I normally would not recommend someone paying the extra amount it costs to book an excursion thru a cruise ship, but this time I would. I have done the Montego Bay-Dunn's River Falls trip a couple of times, both booked thru the ship. It is a two+ hour drive from MoBay to the falls. If something should happen to delay your return, the ship waits for you. If you go on your own and something happens to delay your return, the ship doesn't wait for you. <BR><BR>The last time we went, there was a bad accident on the road that our bus couldn't get by, so we were stuck waiting in a traffic jam for over 45 minutes, putting us past sailing time by about 20 minutes. Since we were on a ship sponsered excursion, the ship knew not everyone had returned, and it did not sail until we were all back.