matt m

Okay, it's a done deal. My wife and I are going to Mobay next week for a week. Judging from the posts I am reading in this forum, this was probably not a good choice, but we actually had no choice as my best friend is getting married there and we have built this vacation around that. We are staying at the Doctors Cave Beach Hotel on Gloucestershire and we would appreciate any comments/suggestions/warnings/help that you might have for us. <BR>Other than one day for the wedding we have 6 days to fill, and judging from some of the posts on this site, we should probably just ho0le up in our hotel room the entire time for fear of venturing out. Is this true? <BR>Any suggestions as far as restaurants, nightlife? <BR>A good place to go for a resort scuba dive? Horseback riding in th mountains? River rafting? <BR>Thanks for any insight you might have.... <BR>

ohliz

Oh, no - don't hole up in your hotel!! You'll enjoy the beaches in MoBay (right across the street from you and virtually hassle-free) - they are clean and the water is clear and you can snorkel right off the beach or get a boat to take you out. You'll also be able to walk to a lot from where you are - lots of good restaurants and bars, even a little Starbucks-type coffee hangout place I noticed last time. <BR> <BR>MoBay is very close to a lot of fun day and half day trips - you can go horseback riding, visit any number of waterfalls to climb and swim, there are historic sites in and around MoBay too...info on all that will be at your hotel or see my friend's info below. <BR> <BR>It's a city so normal city safety rules apply (don't flash $ or jewelry, don't walk down empty streets at night, etc.) but you'll find the streets are pretty crowded even at night and there are a lot of red stripes (tourist police) around. <BR> <BR>Margueritaville is the big tourist place, easy walk for you. It's expensive and Americanized but there is a very cool slide off the roof and water trampolines - definitely worth a stop by. We always visit the Pork Pit for some jerk too, though there are better places to get it if you don't mind stopping by the side of the road <BR> <BR>If you're planning any day trips, you might contact a friend of ours who runs a tour company out of MoBay - he's an American ex-pat who's lived there for 8 years, he always drives us to Negril and anywhere else we want to go. He has a web site at www.jamlee.com. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR> <BR Liz

chazz

MoBay has its pros and cons, and if you take advantage of the pros, you'll be glad you went. Doctor's Cave Beach is gorgeous - clear water, calm, tropical fish just about 50 feet out. It costs money to get in, but it may be free for guests at the DCB Hotel. Excursions which are available in the area, and can probably be arranged through the hotel, include plantation tours, rafting on the Martha Brae River, Dunn's River Falls, day trips to Negril, sailing and snorkeling trips out of MoBay. If you're a golfer, the MoBay area has some of the best courses in the Caribbean. <BR> <BR>Safety is a concern in MoBay, but if you stick to the main drag (Gloucester Ave.), between Fletcher and Cornwall beaches or so, you should be fine. When you venture elsewhere it will probably be in an escorted group. <BR> <BR>One advantage of staying in town, rather than at an isolated resort, is that there are several places to eat, and some of them are quite inexpensive (The Pork Pit was one of our favorites!). <BR> <BR>Personally, I would not rent a car and explore on my own in Jamaica. Also, I would stay out of the "non-touristy" areas of Montego Bay. <BR> <BR>Otherwise, it's a beautiful island - have fun ! <BR> <BR> <BR>

mondo

What's the best way to get/use ganja in montego bay without risking trouble with local police.Just recreational while there.

ohliz

Get: So easy it's laughable, you'll likely be asked at the airport. Don't buy there, get to your hotel and ask the bartender or someone like that. <BR> <BR>Use: not in public no matter how many people you see doing it - police can and do arrest tourists for it and I'll bet the jail in MoBay is not where you were planning to spend your vacation. Keep it to your room and definitely don't travel around the island with it. <BR> <BR Liz