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It’s no secret Americans will be heading en masse to Montego Bay this season.
With days getting colder and darker as December approaches, millions of U.S. vacationers are now making plans to escape to Jamaica’s tropical holiday resort, and we don’t blame them:
Pristine white sands lapped by turquoise waters and all-inclusive getaway deals are pretty hard to resist, but with over 700 Caribbean islands with similar characteristics to pick from, what is it about Montego Bay that has got U.S. visitors so hooked in the first place?
Jamaica’s number one beach town has truly never been trendier, and here are 4 new reasons why:
New Adults-Only Luxurious Hotels Are Opening
Montego Bay is primarily a resort destination, which means a majority of visitors are seeking utter relaxation and that five-star treatment they expect at all-inclusive hotels – lucky for them, Montego Bay is one of the best-equipped beach towns anywhere in the Caribbean.
In terms of hospitality, it is up there with Cancun and Punta Cana, with comparable world-class service in hotels and impressive levels of safety within resort strips. In fact, Americans landing in Montego Bay this winter should expect a brand new adults-only to bow.
Opened this November, the new 352-room Marriott, part of the Blue Diamond portfolio and a luxurious child-free property, is the latest addition to Montego Bay’s ever-expanding list of accommodation offers.
It is located in the Trelawny area, a quieter section of Greater Montego Bay.
Additionally, it is adjacent to an accompanying Royalton Blue Waters, a non-discriminatory resort that, combined with the Marriott, enables guests to ‘stay at one, play at 2’, whether they prefer a more family-friendly or exclusive environment.
All in all, the concentration of adults-only hotels in Montego Bay is increasing, with landmark Azul Beach Resort Negril having transitioned into a child-free zone earlier this year.
Improved Airport Services
One of the main reasons why Americans love Cancun, and keep coming back for more is that it can feel like a stress-free vacation from the moment they arrive, to their time of departure.
In Cancun, U.S. passport holders are eligible to use e-Gates, as if they were nationals of Mexico, and cross the international border seamlessly.
While this measure has yet to be introduced in Jamaica, Montego Bay is significantly improving its services to keep up with its main competitor.
Now, tourists landing in Sangster International, which serves Montego Bay, will benefit from an expanded immigration hall and departure lounge, which should reduce bottlenecks upon arrival and exit, as well as an extended runway and widened taxiway.
The lounge will also see the opening of a Bob Marley restaurant, a tourist attraction in its own right, where arrivals and those leaving will be able to savor the flavors of Jamaica and explore its musical heritage, strongly associated with the reggae icon, and enhance their experience.
This will certainly ensure Americans feel more welcome, as according to Donovan White, Director of Tourism, the in-terminal location ensures visitors are immediately immersed in the island’s culture upon landing, not to mention the shorter wait times and improved infrastructure in general.
More Flights Launching
Proving demand for Montego Bay is soaring, more airlines are launching nonstop routes to the sunny spot from U.S. hubs that normally get ignored in route reshuffles.
This winter, over 20 airports across the United States will offer flights to Montego Bay, including Kansas City International (MCI), in Missouri, and Denver International Airport (DEN), the latest to add Montego Bay (MJB) to their list of international destinations.
From MCI, customers flying with Southwest Airlines can expect nonstop service weekly on Saturdays from both departure points and affordable airfares as cheap as $280 one-way on Economy seats, while the DEN-MJB flights are a United offer, also available once a week every Saturday.
As Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, has affirmed himself, these new gateways that have just opened in MCI and DEN are key to ensuring connectivity between the midwestern U.S. and Jamaica, as the region is a ‘growing and vital market’ for the Caribbean island.
Montego Bay Is Simply One Of The Top Places Americans Want To Go
Other than improved flight connectivity, airport renovations, and the hospitable nature of Jamaicans, Montego Bay is trendy to visit this winter because it is extremely likely to feature on every sun-seeker’s travel wishlist.
It is officially the 10th most-visited non-U.S. city by Americans, who are particularly enthusiastic about the tropical vibes, the luxurious resorts, and the wide range of leisure activities available within Montego Bay’s resort strip.
These include gorgeous beaches, botanical gardens, golf courses, and adventure expeditions, enabling visitors to brave Jamaican nature, and immerse themselves deeper in the indigenous culture.
Furthermore, Americans love Montego Bay for its shopping complexes and safety levels.
While Jamaica is no stranger to States of Emergency, having declared an unhealthy number of them in the last couple of years as it dealt with rising crime rates, resort areas in Montego Bay remain largely unaffected and are still teeming with tourists.
When it comes to tourists, particularly American visitors, the Jamaican Government simply takes no chances, and they have ensured safety is continuously upheld in the area, and the tourist experience is as best as can be.
Visiting Montego Bay this winter? Read more on the destination and get inspired here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Lora
Wednesday 22nd of November 2023
Great for the child-free options of hotels! What about any PET-FREE hotels out there? Having a barking dog next door all night long would make my holiday so MUCH better than having a crying baby as a neighbor. Any insights on Pet-Free properties in the Caribbean (including NO service animals except for vision or hearing impaired persons)?