The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Montego Bay vs Ocho Rios

Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, 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.

Montego Bay guide · Ocho Rios guide · How we score

By the numbers

Montego BayOcho Rios
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog22
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates——
Adults-only resorts0 of 21 of 2
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon burstsMay–June and September–November — the rain is why it's this green
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April
AirportSangster (MBJ) — most resorts 10–30 minSangster (MBJ) ~90 min, or Ian Fleming (OCJ) for small aircraft
Best forShort transfers, golf, first Jamaica tripsWaterfalls + gardens + excursions; couples classics
SignatureRose Hall Great House; Doctor's Cave BeachDunn's River Falls; Blue Hole; Fern Gully

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
Montego Bay — high °F828283848688888888878583
Ocho Rios — high °F828283848688888888878583
Montego Bay — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5
Ocho Rios — rain (in)1.51.21.21.84.54.03.04.25.57.54.02.2

Approximate climate normals for Montego Bay / Rose Hall and Ocho Rios / St. Ann — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

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

Best of Ocho Rios

  1. 1.Sandals Dunn's River — · ★ 4.8
  2. 2.Moon Palace Jamaica — · ★ 4.2

Chains here: Sandals Resorts · Palace Resorts

Full Ocho Rios guide

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