Topic Wiki

Trip Reports, notes and reviews:

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=30598.msg2691625#msg2691625

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=130548.msg2629228#msg2629228

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=130962.0


Airports:
Kingston                   Kingston / St. Andrew   MKJP   KIN      
Montego Bay           Saint James                   MKJS MBJ   
Ocho Rios/Boscobel   Saint Mary   MKBS           OCJ


Where to stay:  Points?
Montego Bay
Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall (All-Inclusive)
Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall (All-Inclusive) (Adults Only)
Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, Jamaica (All-Inclusive)
Holiday Inn Montego Bay (All-Inclusive)
Half Moon
Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort and Private Island (Over Water Bungaloo)
Sandals Montego Bay
Secrets
Iberostar Grand Rose Hall


Kosher:
Chabad   http://www.jewishjamaica.com/kosher/
Chabad Kosher Hot Spot  - 1-3 Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay  +1 876-452-3223   Open:10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Bringing food with you requires a Permit: https://www.moatrade.gov.jm/MOA/
apply for a Veterinary License
when your adding all your items to the list you can search Kosher for a full list. Also Consignor= Store you purchased it from
Easiest way to get through to permit department is 876.281.2601 normally takes 5 business days online

Mikvah:
Gorgeous brand new Mikvah in Chabad Center

 If you have any queries or concerns please don't hesitate to reach out to Rebbetzin Mushkee Raskin through WhatsApp at  347 268 3494 or mushkee@jewishjamaica.com

Chabad:
CHABAD JAMAICA  876-630-4400 | 876-452-3223
RABBI@CHABADOFJAMAICA.COM


What to do:
Ocho Rios Blue Hole
Dunns Falls (Hike up waterfalls)
Luminous Lagoon (Glistening Waters) and Rose Hall Great House
Horseback Ride n' Swim! through the ocean
Green Grotto Caves (From James Bond Live and Let Die)
Mystic Mountain Bobsledding (From Cool Runnings)
Zip Lining
Sailing
ATV Tour
Bamboo rafting excursion down the Martha Brae River
Floyd's Pelican Bar
PLEASE UPDATE

« Last edited by moishes on August 14, 2023, 01:23:59 PM »

Author Topic: Jamaica master thread  (Read 55038 times)

Offline ShlockDoc

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #60 on: March 06, 2018, 01:27:57 PM »
Nice! Did you do the luminous water and dunns river falls?

That's great! Glad you had a nice time. Pics and TR, please! :P Was the swim-up room really a suite? At Ziva Cancun they had swim-up rooms, but they were normal sized rooms.

We were just there from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon so didn't even leave the resort.  Fair point, @Yehuda, it may have been a room, I'm not sure.  Huge shower, huge tub and huge room but maybe not a suite?  Loved the swim up, will definitely try to get that next time we're in CUN. 

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #61 on: March 06, 2018, 01:41:18 PM »
Fair point, @Yehuda, it may have been a room, I'm not sure.  Huge shower, huge tub and huge room but maybe not a suite?  Loved the swim up, will definitely try to get that next time we're in CUN.
Interesting, at Ziva CUN I thought the swim-ups were a bit unnecessary. Besides for wanting a larger room, I avoided the swim up because it's just a small pool shared by a few rooms. If it was completely private - different story. But once it's public, I wanted to just go to the main pools which are huge and have plenty of room for swimming around.

Offline ShlockDoc

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #62 on: March 06, 2018, 04:04:06 PM »
Interesting, at Ziva CUN I thought the swim-ups were a bit unnecessary. Besides for wanting a larger room, I avoided the swim up because it's just a small pool shared by a few rooms. If it was completely private - different story. But once it's public, I wanted to just go to the main pools which are huge and have plenty of room for swimming around.

Yeah, we liked these because they were secluded but connected to the main pool.  So we'd go into the pool from our porch, swim out to the main pool, hang out, swim back to our private pool chairs, lay there drying off and then just walk into our room. 

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #63 on: March 06, 2018, 04:32:42 PM »
Yeah, we liked these because they were secluded but connected to the main pool.  So we'd go into the pool from our porch, swim out to the main pool, hang out, swim back to our private pool chairs, lay there drying off and then just walk into our room.
That's really cool! Very different from where I was.

Offline theyankel

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #64 on: April 22, 2018, 07:42:45 PM »
Anyone been to hilton rose hall in mbj?
Anyone have recent experience with food/chabad?
Do the local groceries import some basic American essential (similar to sju or st John usvi?) that can be a big difference maker
Looking to go somewhere diff for a couple days   

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #65 on: April 23, 2018, 06:51:00 AM »
Chabbad is responsive and you can get the foods they have on their website if you give enough time. Even in a pinch they will have something. And their falafel place in MoBay is open daily. Larger groceries have limited Kosher stuff but you can find yogurt (obviously not CY) tuna cereal etc. And local fruit is delicious
  Remember safety is not as simple so you need to be careful where you go to shop and how you get there.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #66 on: June 26, 2018, 12:47:57 PM »
Thinking of doing a Sunday-Thursday in August. Is that a good amount of time to cover everything? Is there any issue with bringing in meat and chicken through customs?

Offline isramen

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #67 on: June 26, 2018, 11:41:43 PM »
It’s enough time. Officially you need to file for a permit to bring meat or chicken it’s not a big deal and cost like 10$, but they didn’t give me any problems at customs, I walked right thru with no questions asked.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #68 on: June 27, 2018, 05:28:49 PM »
Thinking of doing FDR resort as they provide a nanny service. Does anyone know anything about it or have any experience? Also, what are the best area attractions and is there anything special about snorkeling or scuba diving or anything like that in Jamaica as opposed to other destinations?

Offline ChaimMoskowitz

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #69 on: August 19, 2018, 10:08:59 PM »
Not sure if Dunn's River Falls is worth it anymore. They rush you through and you are not allowed to go without a guide anymore.

Green Grotto Caves is pretty cool. Unfortunately you can't swim in the pool inside the cave anymore. Water is contaminated with some chemical that messes you up. I swam in it a few times so I guess that explains a lot of my posts.  :)

Bamboo River Rafting is nice.
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline ponash123

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #70 on: December 18, 2018, 02:35:30 PM »
Can anyone recommend a nice, decently priced, hotel in/near Montego?

Offline ponash123

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #71 on: January 16, 2019, 03:51:14 PM »
I just got back from an amazing vacation in Jamaica.
I am not going to write a full trip report but will detail some information below. Feel free to ask questions.

The weather was incredible, absolutely perfect. Strong sun, no humidity, clear skies.

We stayed in the Hilton Rose Hall for Shabbos and then moved to Jewel Dunn's Resort for the next few days.
They are both all-inclusive resorts. We couldn't eat most of the food but were able to parcel out some fruit, cereal, coffee etc. They also had entertainment at night like live bands.

The Hilton had beautiful grounds, lobby, pools etc. The rooms were a bit tired.
The Jewel Dunn was really nice, again the rooms were not gorgeous, but nice enough. Grounds were amazing, they have clean clear beaches with some boats and paddle boards you can take out.

Aside from beach/pool/resort activities, we did the following activities:
Dunn's Falls hike which was great. The falls are beautiful and the hike was really fun. Word to the wise - bring water shoes.
Bobsledding: this was a fun activity, nothing too exciting. There are also ziplines there as well as an amateur water slide and pool.
Luminous Lagoon: Boat ride through the water, which, when disturbed emits a blueish glow. It's really really cool. We swam in the water and every time we moved our hands or feet the water glowed.

Offline zagguru

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #72 on: August 18, 2019, 01:03:24 PM »
Any of the pools at either of the Hyatt's heated?

Online Ploni3

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #73 on: August 18, 2019, 03:38:23 PM »
Not as of recently but you really don't need heat there.

Online CountValentine

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #74 on: August 18, 2019, 04:37:33 PM »
Any of the pools at either of the Hyatt's heated?
Are you kidding? Why would they be heated?
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #75 on: August 18, 2019, 04:40:40 PM »
Dunn's Falls hike which was great. The falls are beautiful and the hike was really fun. Word to the wise - bring water shoes.
It wasn't jammed packed? It use to take us a couple of hours to go up the falls. Can't do that anymore.
Luminous Lagoon: Boat ride through the water, which, when disturbed emits a blueish glow. It's really really cool. We swam in the water and every time we moved our hands or feet the water glowed.
For the price one of the best activities if not the best. How did you like the bottom of the lagoon?
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline ponash123

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #76 on: August 18, 2019, 06:03:10 PM »
It wasn't jammed packed? It use to take us a couple of hours to go up the falls. Can't do that anymore.
No. There was a decent amount of people, but totally manageable.


For the price one of the best activities if not the best. How did you like the bottom of the lagoon?

What do you mean by the bottom? We went on a boat ride, and swam in the water. That was it.

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #77 on: August 18, 2019, 07:03:22 PM »
No. There was a decent amount of people, but totally manageable.
You had to go with a guide?
What do you mean by the bottom? We went on a boat ride, and swam in the water. That was it.
You didn't stand up while you were swimming? The bottom is about foot of fine soot.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #78 on: August 18, 2019, 07:19:25 PM »
When we went to the "luminous agoon" the boat dropped us in relatively deep water. It certainly was more than 6 feet deep.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2019, 09:55:24 PM by Ploni3 »

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Re: Jamaica master thread
« Reply #79 on: August 18, 2019, 07:31:32 PM »
When we went to the "blue lagoon" the boat dropped us in relatively deep water. It certainly was more than 6 feet deep.
I thought you said you went to Luminous Lagoon which is in Falmouth about 30 minutes from MBJ. Blue Lagoon is in Port Antonio about 3 hours away. I guessing you are just mixing the two up or I need to lay off the funny stuff. Luminous Lagoon is only 4-8ft deep. I was able to stand up in spots without going under.
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half