4 Best Hotels in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Popular with couples, conference groups, and families, this self-contained property on a former sugarcane plantation occupies 400 lush acres of well-manicured grounds and has received regular upgrades and enhancements over the years, making it a top choice in Montego Bay. Facilities include a huge water park, complete with lagoons and lazy rafting river, a private beach with deluxe cabanas, and 11 restaurants and bars. All rooms and suites have their own private balcony with views of the property and ocean, and there are a couple of excellent courses right across the street.

Family fun is tops here, but many couples and singles are also drawn to the not-crazy prices and good location, 6 miles (10 km) east of the airport. You can find seven-room blocks spread along the long beach and large public areas that can, at times, feel a bit overrun with kids and the noise they produce. Adults can find some peace in the quiet, adult-only pool, which has its own swim-up bar, or at the spa. On the other side of the grounds, a lighted nine-hole miniature-golf course offers night play. A moderately priced shopping mall is directly across the street. Children 12 and under stay and eat free.

An extensive array of dining options (including five bars) and activities are offered at this all-inclusive resort just 20 minutes east of the airport and surrounded by beautiful beaches. The resort features a massive infinity pool with a swim-up bar (and a separate pool area for kids), a nightclub, golf course, casino, and diving school. The resort has some of the same feel as the brand's popular Mexico properties, and this is reflected in its thatch-roof poolside palapas, tropical dance lessons, and around-the-clock action.

Often packed with charter groups, this expansive resort can be a good value if you don't mind mass tourism. With one of Jamaica's best (and most-used) lobbies, a water park with pirate ship, a teen center, and excellent beaches on a peninsula jutting out into the bay, the resort has enough to redeem the motel-basic rooms. You can swim around in any of the four swimming pools or the state-of-the-art aquatic park, and when it's time to take a break from the sun, hit the Sunscape Spa or slots-only casino. Although the rack rate is high, the resort runs a number of promotions throughout the year.