In March of 2023, I traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica to celebrate one of my dearest friends marrying the love of her life. It was my second time in Jamaica, and my first time attending a destination wedding.
First things first, when traveling to Jamaica (or anywhere internationally), you need to have patience. Going through customs can be overwhelming so I encourage you to try and find an early flight so you can get through customs as quickly as possible. Also, make sure to get to the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure to be on the safe side (especially if you don’t have TSA precheck.) Make sure you have your passport as well as all information pertaining to your trip such as the hotel you’re staying at, length of stay, the reason for your stay, etc. They’re going to ask all these questions and more – customs will want to know everything. So be prepared, it will make the process much easier. I would also suggest setting up transportation prior to your trip because the cab drivers can be a bit aggressive at the airport. I used Nexxus and I personally didn’t have the best experience with them in Jamaica. You can also reach out directly to your hotel for transportation or research on sites like TripAdvisor, TikTok, and Instagram for reviews on transportation that could work best for you.
The first time I came to Jamaica, my friend set up transportation with our hotel and it was the best thing. Right when we came out of customs and got our bags, our driver was waiting and we were whisked off to our hotel. The second time I went to Jamaica, I booked shared transportation. If possible, I would recommend getting a private transfer. Once I got through customs and got my bag, I had to wait 45 minutes to an hour for everyone to arrive and get on the shared transportation, and then an additional 45-minute ride to my hotel. So if you can, I would suggest getting a private transfer in order to start your vacation off more smoothly and get to your hotel as quickly and seamlessly as possible.
For my most recent trip, I stayed at the Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay and it was an absolutely beautiful resort. It’s all-inclusive and includes 228 suites, 8 bars, 10 restaurants, multiple swimming pools, kids’ clubs and teen disco nights, a pirate-themed water park, and a spa! It’s a family-friendly resort that had numerous activities that occurred every single day. There’s something for everyone! There’s also direct beach access from the hotel. They have a few vendors alongside the beach that you can buy things from (they take cash only), an ATM within the resort, and a gift shop that’s on the resort as well that you can buy souvenirs from.
Overall, I really did like our hotel. It was nice, and I opted for a king room with a poolside view overlooking the ocean. It was breathtakingly beautiful and our accommodations were great. The food on the resort was very good, especially the Jamaican food. The drinks were strong with a kick, and the staff was kind. I will say that they were slow with some things such as room service, requesting towels, etc. Other than that, I loved my experience here.
They also had extra activities that you could participate in. I mostly stayed on the resort this time around, but I would recommend getting a driver and going to Rick’s Cafe, and exploring the island. You can book several activities at the resort, and they also have water activities that you can learn more about by going down to the beach.
When leaving Jamacia, I would recommend getting to the airport early, extra early, especially if you’re leaving later in the day because it can be complete chaos. The later it gets, the more chaotic it can become. I almost didn’t make my flight back home because the airport was so chaotic but by God’s grace, I got on my flight!!
Overall, Jamaica has been a great travel destination to visit. The people are kind, the food is delicious and the drinks are strong ASF (just like I like them). The beaches are breathtakingly beautiful and it’s a great place to reset, unwind, wind your hips, and have a great time!
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