Ritz-Carlton has very good "hotel only" rates right now - don't want to do the All-Inc. option. Question: We like to venture out and find nice beaches (not just stay at our hotel beach). Does anyone have recommendations for close by beaches, restaurants, shopping? We also plan on renting a car? First time in Jamaica. Thanks.

Your crazy if you rent a car, you'll probably get shot, chances are you'll be robbed, you need to take a fortune in tips, what beaches?, you'll hear "no Problem Mon" a thousand times, the food is bad, the island is flooded, locals are rioting, policeman are being shot, and it just plain smells. Have fun!

Well, what you read is wrong in my experience the 6-8 times I have been to Jamaica.<BR>I would never rent a car however, the roads are terrible with huge potholes, they drive like maniacs and the drive on the left side of the road.<BR>The All-Inclusive Option at the Ritz ia hundreds of dollars less than it would be to buy food and drink on your own.<BR>The Ritz has a private beach club at a better beach than its own.<BR>Dr's Cave Beach is one of the most famous in Montego Bay, the beaches are mostly public.

Skip the car!!!!! Unless you are extremely adventurous, the drivers are crazy, lots of tiny cars zooming around, and major gridlock in Mo'Bay, especially at rush hour.<BR><BR>Decide where you want to visit and get a taxi, it's pretty standard they'll wait for you, or pick you up at a scheduled time, not dirt cheap, but very convenient, and you'll get some of the local feel.. the cabbies are very friendly.<BR><BR>I love Jamaica, but you do have to be able to go with the flow and relax.

J-Lover and Carolyn are spot on. Jamaica is not the place to rent a car. Go with the hired driver. The hotel will recommend one or two from their stable of 'tame' drivers. Negotiate a price with the driver as you lay out your travel plans with him. The cost of importing cars and petrol is very high, so you need to understand what you get won't be cheap -- but it will be cheaper than renting a car.<BR>There are a lot of neat places to go and see from the Ritz. And the drivers will wait for you while you wander around and take pictures and shop, and all the other things you will find to do.<BR>I would caution against skipping the A-I option at the Ritz. By that I mean you should think about getting it. The cost of food a la carte of the menu is very high. A woman named Lu gave a great trip report of her R-C visit just last week, and she estimated she and her family would have spent a couple thousand on the food there if they had ordered off the menu instead of taking A-I. <BR>Choose Jamaica from the drop down box above. It will let you cycle through the posts to the left and get to hers a lot faster than going through the main Caribbean board. She had a lot of good skinny on her trip and her experience. Give it a read.

Whatever Bash.... Thanks to everyone else for your suggestions. We are so used to renting our own wheels when traveling, but I guess not on this trip. I will definitely rethink the All-Inc.

To beachgirl: if you had seen my post you can see that I'm mocking the other posts! (look at name and e-mail above) See my "name" is FROM WHAT I READ not Bash but I guess you missed that "beachgirl". Whatever

I went to Jamaica in 2001, my travel agent never mentioned all this turmoil, Is Jamaica tourism paying the travel agents or is the resorts to keep mum about this? This IS a cover-up!!

I agree that Jamaica is not a good place to rent a car, esp. for a first-time visitor.<BR><BR>The Ritz is somewhat isolated, so if you don't go AI you'll need a taxi to eat anywhere else. There are restaurants in Montego Bay but I wouldn't want to wander around there after dark.<BR><BR>Best nearby beach, in my opinion, is Doctor's Cave Beach in MoBay - there is a modest admission charge and you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling equipment. Calmer waters than at the Ritz.<BR>

I agree we love Jamaica and have stayed at all different locations on the island.

Hire a good private guide/not just a taximan and explore the following beachside restaurantseace & Plenty and Glistening Waters/Falmouth,<BR>Harmony Hall & Toscanini's/between Rio Nuevo and Ocho Rios; Font Hill Sanctuary and the basket factory near<BR>Whitehouse on the South Coast;go to Rose Hall and Good Hope Plantations very early in day and explore grounds behind houses....Tapas, Round Hill, The Pork Pit,The Native dining in MoBay