Flying into Montego Bay
The water park surrounding Hilton's Rose Hall in Montego Bay
Steamy camera lens, Holiday Inn
Old Fort Market in Montego Bay
Haunted Rose Hall in Montego Bay
montego bay, jamaica
° Kingston ° Montego Bay ° Negril ° Ocho Rios° Jamaican Coffee and Rum ° Sports
° Real Estate
Like so many tropical islands around the world, Jamaica's dramatic landscape is breathtaking, as are its forests, poinsettia trees, mountains, and waterfalls flowing into warm turquoise water. 
After 40 years of world travel, Jamaica remains one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. It it right alongside Tahiti and Hawaii, but we still prefer the waters around Jamaica to any in the world. (We haven't been to the Maldives yet. They're on the list and they are rumored to be the most exquisite of all.)
We did it again! Next to no cash, working 10-12 hours seven days a week to make enough to pay bills. Really quite worried much of the time. I haven't been more than six blocks away from my computer since last December.
Hilton called with a "use it or lose it" for our deeded week, which means one week free at any Hilton resort anywhere in the world which needs to be used before January 1, 2012. We figured we'd go to Hawaii 'cause we could cover the airfare but not much else. Hawaii's booked. So what now?
Jamaica!
We started at the The Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios for three nights and then to 
Hilton's Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, with a quick stay at the Holiday Inn's Sunspree Resort.
Hilton's Rose Hall resort includes all meals, paddleboards, tennis, etc., at no additional charge.
Hilton's Rose Hall is on the Northwest coast between the Jamaican Mountains and turquoise Caribbean warm water. 
This deluxe oceanfront hotel is on the former grounds of a legendary 18th-century sugar plantation, and to this day evokes the island's historic charm and hospitality.
The resort features a spectacular water complex with cascading waterfalls, three terraced pools, relaxing lagoons, a 280-foot waterslide, and a lazy river. It does not have our favorite beach, so if you are an ocean-swimmer, you might consider either the Holiday Inn Sunspree (which is NOT like any other Holiday Inn you've ever seen) or a resort in Negril.
Rose Hall's golf course pictured above from our balcony stretches into the Caribbean. Jamaica's Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the sport of golf has the potential to enhance Jamaica’s reputation as a top class sports destination. Speaking at the media launch of the 48th staging of the Jamaica Golf Association’s (JGA) Jamaica Open tournament, Ms. Grange said the Ministry and the Government recognise the potential which golf has to enhance efforts to build the country’s strategic major events and sports thrust. “I believe that we have a competitive advantage in golf. It is no secret that we have some of the best golf courses in the world. But, importantly as well, we have the facilities and the people to support the hosting of international golf tournaments in Jamaica,” she said.
Refueling after navigating attractions is easily accomplished at swim-up pool bars, which are now part of most high-end tropical resorts, including Hilton's. LOVE floating bars -- so far the best I've seen was at the foot of Arenal in Costa Rica -- water was warm 'cause it was fed by lava flow from the volcano.
If you love to travel as much as we do and with restricted budgets, it gets down to learning how to travel on the cheap (or free) at high-end places.
It is a bizarre way to live -- worrying about covering day-to-day expenses while travelling around the world for next-to-nothing, in part because this site offers tax breaks.
Lest you think we have always travelled at this level and that we are too sheltered when we travel, not so. We've slept in train stations, broom closets, cars, trucks, tents, on top of picnic tables, in garages, in Texas with cockroaches so large that we were going to name them and begin a Roach Rodeo . . . We stay wherever we need to stay to keep travelling.
However, while we now prefer these surroundings we still venture into areas where we probably shouldn't go, such as a questionable area of Bangkok and an equally questionable area in Tokyo. (THAT was hysterical: A 6' tall Japanese trannie asked if we were lost, suggested that it wasn't the safest place to be and escorted us to our hotel. What did he/she want in exchange? An opportunity to practice English!)
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is Jamaica's second city in size and importance, but it is the island's tourism capital. It has a vast range of accommodations, the most amenities, shopping, great beaches and it is not isolated from the people who live there. You will hear the beautiful patois and reggae wherever you go. My brother, who is definitely not good with languages, found himself talking quite easily within a few days during our stay.
The town is divided into three fairly distinct parts: The colorful and crowded city, the "hotel area," which is the mile-and-a-half strip running from the town, past the celebrated Doctor's Cave Beach and out to the Dead End Bar, and outlying hotels and villas on beach or hillside (such as those up the coast in Ocho Rios).
Country folk flock in to visit markets, shops and banks. Guests from hotels and cruise ships make their way to in-bond shops and Crafts Markets.
Consider day trips to Negril (be sure to visit Rick's Bar while there), John's Hall and zipping through Jungle Canopy 45 feet above the ground. (We took a zipline tour in Costa Rica and it's quite exhilerating.) This zipline tour offers a variety of experiences that highlight the diversity of Jamaica's landscape and history. You can hear and see the rushing waters below while getting to the site across springs, the Great River and a 150 year old dam.
Definitely tour the haunted Rose Hall in Montego Bay. Any cab will take you there. The entry fee is $20 per person, and it's worth it.
The home is a classic, restored as close to the original state as possible. The views are sublime, as is the story of Rose Hall and its owner Annie (Annee) Palmer.
The stories of its "white witch" owner are appalling, as is the dungeon-like cellar in the home. Oddly, weddings are now held on this property, but we can't figure out why given that its mistress is said to have murdered three of her husbands in the home.
Bring along a copy of Rose Hall's White Witch: The Legend of Annie Palmer
to read while in Jamaica after your tour.
The book was written by journalist Mike Henry; he beautifully combines fact and fiction with themes of betrayal, romance, love and mystery in the story of one of the most memorable characters in Jamaica's history.
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude