The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Cancún vs Montego Bay

Cancún and Montego Bay, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Cancún guide · Montego Bay guide · How we score

By the numbers

CancúnMontego Bay
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog72
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night—
Adults-only resorts3 of 70 of 2
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonJune–October, heaviest September–OctoberMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon bursts
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April
AirportCancún (CUN) — Hotel Zone 20–30 min, Costa Mujeres ~40 minSangster (MBJ) — most resorts 10–30 min
Best forFirst trips, nightlife + beach combos, nonstop-flight convenienceShort transfers, golf, first Jamaica trips
Flight time~2–4.5h from most US hubs~3–4h from the US East Coast

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cancún — high °F828385878990909189878482
Montego Bay — high °F828283848688888888878583
Cancún — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5
Montego Bay — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5

Approximate climate normals for Cancún hotel zone and Montego Bay / Rose Hall — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Cancún

  1. 1.Hotel Mousai Cancun — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Excellence Playa Mujeres — Playa Mujeres, Mexico · ★ 4.9
  3. 3.Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún — Cancun, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: TAFER Hotels & Resorts · Excellence Resorts · Live Aqua

Full Cancún guide

Best of Montego Bay

  1. 1.S Hotel Montego Bay — · ★ 4.6
  2. 2.Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall — · ★ 4.4

Chains here: S Hotel Jamaica · Hyatt Ziva

Full Montego Bay guide

More destination head-to-heads

Jamaica vs Dominican RepublicJamaica vs ArubaMexico vs Dominican RepublicJamaica vs MexicoAruba vs Turks & CaicosAruba vs CuraçaoJamaica vs St. LuciaMaldives vs MauritiusGreece vs TurkeyMaldives vs French PolynesiaCancún vs Punta CanaCancún vs Riviera MayaPunta Cana vs Riviera MayaMontego Bay vs NegrilLos Cabos vs Puerto Vallarta