• General Information
• What to do
• If you here for a special occasion
• Culture and People
• Where it is and how to get around
• How WestJet can get you there

Give in to the island’s allure, it’s 'irie mon, irie'. Come find your relaxed state of mind. We’re really ecstatic to announce that WestJet is adding Montego Bay, Jamaica to our family of destinations! It’s hard not to get caught up in the Caribbean way of life in a place so rich with culture and history. With steel drums and reggae; spicy food and hot, hot sun; colourful tradition and distinctive customs all rolled into one beautiful setting. Montego Bay, or MoBay as it is also known, boasts endless fun, sun and entertainment with sparkling nightlife! So no matter what your idea of fun entails you’re sure to be in a happy state of being, or as the locals say, "irie". Which means life is pretty great.

Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica, after the capital Kingston, which is 85 miles to the south. Montegonians are proud of their “Friendly City” reputation and will welcome you into their fold.  Gloucester Avenue, better known as The “Hip Strip”, is where you’ll want to head for beaches, restaurants, shopping and nightclubs. If the hustle and bustle of the city becomes too much, get on the road and visit some nearby towns and villages. Only seven miles to the east is the infamous Rose Hall Great House which promises all kinds of surprises to wonder and delight.

If sun, surf and sand are just what your family are looking for, planning a holiday with the kids to Montego Bay is sure to meet with everyone’s approval! You can spend hours, days even, at AquaSol Theme Park & Beach Park at Walter Fletcher Beach, which has exciting activities including:

• All types of water sports, such as water trampolines, jet skis, banana boat rides, wave-runners, kayaks, pedal boats, a glass-bottom boat and snorkeling gear;
• The MoBay 500 go-kart race course;
• Tennis courts, with an on-site tennis pro;
• Silky white beach for relaxing and soaking up the sun.

Cruise the Hip Strip and take your pick of fabulous beaches. The resort of Montego Bay stretches along 20 miles of coast and is a modernized tourist spot which boasts sugar sand beaches along the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

There are many Beach Clubs in the area too, each offering distinctive amenities and services, including, but not limited to water skiing, parasailing, kayaking, diving, fishing, and hydro-speeding. Look into taking out a membership for the duration of your stay if you think you’d be interested in using one. Stop in at Doctor’s Cave Beach which is said to be fed from mineral springs with uncommonly clear and sparkling water. Here are a few other beaches with clubs you should check out:

• Cornwall Beach,
• Tropical Beach,
• Rose Hall Beach.

Montego Bay is Jamaica’s tourism capital, where the streets are crowded, down-to-earth and lively; you’ll find markets, shops and banks amid the Georgian facades, both old and new. The Hip Strip is the place to go for shopping, spas and nightlife with the majority of restaurants, shopping outlets and a brand new casino, all on one rambling street.

• The City Crafts Market is located on Harbour Street and Montego Bay & Bay West Plazas are on the waterfront. In the hotel area are the St. James and Fantasy Plazas, and Holiday Village in front of the Holiday Inn which is the largest shopping centre in Montego Bay. Be sure to bargain for your purchases – it is expected;

• Find loads of in-bond shopping (which allows visitors to purchase a range of international goods free of tax or duty at very competitive prices) in and around Montego Bay;
• Indulge in one of the spas in most of the resorts, inspired by the refreshing and majestic Jamaica Blue Mountains and the clear, calming Caribbean Sea;
• Check out some fabulous restaurants, whether you’re looking for a light meal or elegant dining, from coffee shops to tapas bars. Montego Bay has most international cuisine, but of course Jamaican too. Be sure to try one of the local delicacies:

• ackee & saltfish,
• jerk chicken,
• Jamaican patties;
  

• Coral Cliff Gaming and Entertainment Lounge offers a casino, live jazz music, fashion shows, cabaret, vintage reggae and everything in between!
• Don’t miss the Bob Marley Experience and Theatre;
• The Beach clubs have discotheques and beach parties most nights;
• Caribbean Showplace at Ironside is a complete entertainment complex, with games room, two restaurants and a state of the art nightclub with two bars which should suit every taste;
• Feel like dancing? Choose from an array of nightclubs, like Margaritaville and Tropigala;
• Relax in one of the many lounges which play jazz or Calypso music;
• Discover welcoming pubs including that in Rose Great Hall which is in the former dungeon!
• A perfect end to a perfect day – on a sunset cruise.

Let's get you on your way! If you want to know more, read on!

Jamaica is bursting with attractions for just about any style of fun seeker. If you can’t bear to sit still for too long, you won’t have any trouble unearthing all kinds of unique and fun places to visit, expeditions to go on or activities to bring out the kid in you!

• Visit nearby cities like:

• Falmouth which was once the capital of Jamaica and major commercial centre in the late 18th and most of the 19th centuries,
• Lucea which is a coastal town east of Montego Bay where the ruins of a 17th century fort provide for interesting sightseeing;

• Tour a rum factory;
• Hike or bike in Nature Parks;
• Try River rafting, swim in a waterfall;
• Soak up the history in colonial Plantations: most notably, Rose Hall Great House which is said to be haunted by a former mistress, the “White Witch”;
• Check out Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon, where after dark you can take a boat ride to see a magnificent spectacle, as the water is incandescent when agitated;
• Look into Chukka Caribbean Adventures operates some of the wildest and most fun-filled excursions for people who know how to enjoy life to its fullest, such as Horse Back Ride n' Swim, Zion "Bob Marley" Bus Line, Jeep Safaris, Jungle River Tubing, Original Canopy Tour, ATV, Bicycle, Hiking, Airboat and Jungle Buggy experiences;
• Let the breeze run through your hair on a catamaran sailing jaunt;

Montego Bay is a very popular destination for people with romance on their minds – whether is it to say their vows on a sun dappled beach, or to start a marriage on a great foot with the sound of whispering palm trees, tropical birdsong and crashing waves in the background – weddings and honeymoons find their groove in Jamaica.

• AquaSol Theme Park & Beach Park is a great venue for meetings and weddings, with helpful coordinators to help you plan your event;
• Plantations such as Drambuie Estate and Day O Plantation offer stunning wedding locations. Host your amazing event  by renting one for you and your guests;
• All-inclusive resorts, such as Rose Hall Resort & Country Club have full services and amenities, including wedding coordinators who can supply you with their specific costs for items such as basic paperwork for a simple wedding right up to all the services you may require for a larger wedding.

Visitors can be married just 24 hours after arriving in Jamaica providing prior applications have been made for a marriage license. There are non-denominational Marriage Officers who can perform wedding for a fee ranging from between US$50.00 to US$250.00.

Be sure to contact WestJet’s groups desk to coordinate travel for your wedding guests.

Snorkeling in Jamaica.

Montego Bay’s original Spanish name is Bahía de Manteca, translated as “Butter Bay, likely due to the history of lard being produced there in vast quantities. It was originally an Arawak village visited by Columbus and held by the Spanish for 150 years until the British arrived. Jamaica was a British colony until 1962 when it became independent.

Montego Bay is generally very friendly and locals are appreciative of their booming tourism industry, which is evident in the hotel and resort areas. As with any travelling you do though, it is worth noting visitors should be cautious of carrying too much cash, credit cards or wearing expensive jewellery and maintaining a respectful distance from unsavoury characters. A simple “no thank-you” and walking away is the best way to avoid feeling intimidated.

The official language in Montego Bay is English and the currency is the Jamaican dollar or the U.S. dollar.

Transportation within MoBay is available via registered taxis that are identified by a red license plate. Some establishments on the Hip Strip also provide free shuttle bus transportation to and from resorts.

To get yourself from place to place by car, rent from one of our Car Rental Partners: Budget Rent a Car or National Car Rental through WestJet.com

Starting December 10, 2007, WestJet will fly to Montego Bay 3 times per week from Toronto with seasonal service; with connections from other incredible WestJet destinations.

U.S. and Canadian citizens may enter Jamaica with a passport or other proof of citizenship, such as an original birth certificate with a raised seal, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship along with a photo ID (all documents must bear the same name). You’ll also need to show a return or ongoing ticket.

A Departure tax is charged for International flights, which is included in the price of a ticket when purchased with WestJet; however not all airlines will do this, so please check with your travel agent prior to leaving.