The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Montego Bay vs Puerto Vallarta

Montego Bay and Puerto Vallarta, 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 · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

Montego BayPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog23
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates—$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts0 of 20 of 3
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon burstsJune–October — dramatic afternoon storms, lush green hills
Sweet spotDecember–AprilNovember–May; whales in the bay December–March
AirportSangster (MBJ) — most resorts 10–30 minPuerto Vallarta (PVR) — most resorts 10–40 min
Best forShort transfers, golf, first Jamaica tripsCalm swimmable water, town culture with your resort, LGBTQ+-friendly scene
SignatureRose Hall Great House; Doctor's Cave BeachBanderas Bay sunsets; whales December–March

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
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Montego Bay — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for Montego Bay / Rose Hall and Banderas Bay — 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 Puerto Vallarta

  1. 1.Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Fiesta Americana · Hilton · Westin

Full Puerto Vallarta guide

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