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We did the ziplining excursion - it was at some old banana plantation in the uplands. Very cool place. It was a blast! Once it was done we had time left so we hit town for fantastic Jerk Chicken and a couple of cold beers. +1 for the Red Stripe!
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joec1 - 11/12/2013 4:29 PM 
Find Ricks on the cliff. Cliff diving is so much fun. It is probably about 1.5 hrs away, but good food and and fun times. It’s about 35’ drop with stairs leading back. I did it twice.
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Hey Greg
I just got back from Jamaica me and my wife flew into Montego Bay private taxi to Negril 5 days at Xtabi on the cliffs. We had a wonderful time! No need to exchange US $ to Jamaican as for everyone accepts Us $. Take lots of 1s 5s and 10s a few 20s. The exchange rate is aprox 100 to 1 $1US=$100JM be prepared to barter and know the value of what you plan to purchase! You will be a target and they will try to get 2, 3, 4 times what they will take. They expect bartering and will quickly lower there price to make a sale.
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You are probably wise in not planning to dive as Jamaica is not a dive destination! There may be some nice place’s to dive but finding a dependable opp is very difficult! I went to extreme effort to find the best in Negril after finding a opp with good reviews very hard to find that in itself. Comitted to dive with them supposedly 4 other divers going? When I was picked up only one diver going and he was in training doubtfull we would go to a location that I was hopeful for. The other diver was a no show and they offered me a beach dive that I declined since I probably seen better snorkeling on our sunset cruise to a reef, caves and snorkeling the caves at our cottage. The only dependable diving is probably at the large resorts for the newbe diver. We had a wonderful time since diving was not the main plan for the trip!
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As for food I cannot recommend anything in Montego Bay since we spent no time there. But we ate at many local place’s in Negril avoiding the touristy places and enjoyed every meal! Prices were very cheap at the real Jamaican restaurant’s. Chicken and seafood was all fresh and delicious. Prices much cheaper than the US. Red Stripe and rum is cheap and very good!
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As for trinkets and gifts it depends on your likes and bartering skills. If you or the recipient of the gift likes rum, Jamaican cigars or coffee you can get it at a very cheap price! Local made trinkets can be a good deal if you barter a good price?
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Rum, rum and some more rum. Also, if you or Becky drink coffee, Blue Mountain coffee.. Awesome stuff. And, if you get the chance, try some of the rum.
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Hey Dale,, Question?? .... Hows the Rum?? lmao!!
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From dalehall: And, if you get the chance, try some of the rum
Wonder if they have rum in the area! :O) Maybe Greg and I need to do Montego Bay ourselves and leave the kids on the boat! Not sure if we will be able to get ourselves back to the boat AND take care of the kids too! Hmm.. or maybe we should put THE KIDS in charge as the parents and Greg and I are the kids for the day..
Can’t wait to get the coffee too!! OMG! Can’t wait!
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From Divingleo: ROTI would also be advisable
Oh my goodness! I just looked up what a ROTI was.. yummy. Looks delish! I guess this will be our day of feasting on amazing foods and Red Stripe with some good bargains! Thanks for your info!
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From ScubaCrab: If you or the recipient of the gift likes rum, Jamaican cigars or coffee you can get it at a very cheap price! Local made trinkets can be a good deal if you barter a good price?
Greg is a great ’dealer’ so I’m sure we will bargain a bit. I’m not so much but our kids will learn from Greg that day! :O) This may sound silly and Greg will be embarrassed that his wife is asking but I suppose you can buy Rum and coffee and bring them on the boat to bring back home? I’ve never had to mess with any of that kind of stuff and what’s allowed to be transported. Also, it’s crazy that it’s not a diving area so much. Before reading about it, I thought Jamaica would be AMAZING for divers. I don’t know why.. Maybe I was naive. THANK YOU for your help!
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I cannot remember the restrictions but it seemed like rum and coffee had none or it was alot you could bring back. But you should double check that. Allso check prices online so you know what you are saving.
Some of the rum was 1/2 price and my wife bought some coffee that was being sold on amazon for 3 th4 times what she paid. We didn’t buy but a few to sample.
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Go to the Bahamas in stead?
Sorrrrrryyyy..
You probably have a better chance of getting robbed in Montego Bay, why miss out?
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OK,, Screw Diving,, Drink the Rum,, All in Favor???
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Did someone say Rum???? ;)
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Go to the ganja fields up in the hills, eat some jerk chicken, have some mushroom tea and wash that down with a few cold red stripes. Then try to find ur way back on ur moped. Worked for me many years ago. :)
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Rum, Rum, Rum,, Scubacrab glad to hear you had a good time. Wow, how the currency rate has changed, when i used to go to Negril 100J was = to $3.00US. 2- 12oz Heinekens for 100J was the standard at the beach bars. Unfortunately i agree with John_giu, was back 2 years ago and i doubt i would return:(
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So Greg... How Bout that Rum???
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Ok its been a few days,, Greg have you decided on the rum yet??
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I have a recipie for rum cookies Greg and Becky you might want to try this
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HOLIDAY JAMAICAN RUM FRUIT COOKIESYou will need the following; a cup of water, a cup of sugar, flour, 4 large brown eggs, two cups of dried fruit, a teaspoon of salt, a cup of brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts, and a bottle of Jamaican Rum . Sample the Rum and check the quality. Take a large bowl. Check the Rum again. To be sure it is the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again. Make sure the Rum is still okay. Cry another tup. Turn off the mixer. Beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fit. Mix on the turner. If the fired druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Rum and check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the Rum. Now sift the lemon uice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar of something. Whatever you find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don’t forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window. Check the Rum again and go to bed.
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OMG!! Crazy Divebuddy members! We made it through Jamaica but only did a bit of shopping, Doctors Cave Beach and had a Red Stripe. If Greg and I were there ourselves, it probably would have turned out differently but with the kids, we were good!
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OMG!! 1 Beach and 1 Red Stripe?? thats it?? did you not listen to our survey specialists here??? Its all in the.......Rum!! lol,, hope you had fun
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And to all those that posted here with such great suggestions, Greg and Becky will be sending you all a bottle of Fine Jamaican Rum!! lol
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Greg - 11/26/2013 7:43 AM
I had some Appleton rum mixed into a margarita...it was ok, but not great. Montego Bay is a very dirty and depressing place. I can’t believe cruise ships stop there. The locals were very pushy, rude and loud. Most of the shops on "tourist row" are owned by people from India. I’m sure there are great places in Jamaica, but Montego Bay isn’t one of them. They need to improve local ownership, clean up the streets, repair a few buildings and give lessons in hospitality and manners.
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See?? If you would have had more rum, none of that would have bothered you. ;)
We were actually on the Ocho Rios side, so never made it to Montego Bay..
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We flew into Montego Bay taxi straight to Xtabi on the Cliffs in Negril Jamaica avoided 7 mile beach and the touristy areas. There are ways to minimumize being harassed! Get a good travel agency to book things. We used One Stop one of the owners we spoke to lived there and was very knowledgeable on dos and don’t
We had a great time in Negril! The people are very poor some very nice but you need to be carfull where you go and who you do business with!!!
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Jamaica is and always was a real 3rd world country. Great place to party at and for spring break years ago. What i noticed over the years were more hotels going all inclusive since the poverty and harassment of guests increased. What this did was take whatever little money and business the locals did make off the tourists completely away. Now instead of alittle harassment they have really become aggressive since they have nothing. Alot of cruise ships took Jamaica off their itinerary, i believe one of them maybe carnival built their own port in Montego Bay due to issues they had with locals. Most flights go into Montego Bay esp if going to Negril, and Ocho Rios. Kingston i’ll just say u have no business there unless ur a local or connecting to Montego Bay. Use common sense, or like said a travel agent who knows the area, but u can find most stuff out urself on tripadvisor and other forums.
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From Greg: Greg - 9 hours 28 minutes ago.
I had some Appleton rum mixed into a margarita...it was ok, but not great. Montego Bay is a very dirty and depressing place. I can’t believe cruise ships stop there. The locals were very pushy, rude and loud. Most of the shops on "tourist row" are owned by people from India. I’m sure there are great places in Jamaica, but Montego Bay isn’t one of them. They need to improve local ownership, clean up the streets, repair a few buildings and give lessons in hospitality and manners.
Stop cry-babying, at least you didn’t get robbed.
LMAO!
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Greg maybe next time youll listen to your mods! I 100% agree with Dale.... More Rum!!!
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