The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Montego Bay vs Riviera Maya

Montego Bay and Riviera Maya, 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 · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

Montego BayRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog28
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates—$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts0 of 23 of 8
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon burstsJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April
AirportSangster (MBJ) — most resorts 10–30 minCancún (CUN) — transfers run 25–90 min depending how far south
Best forShort transfers, golf, first Jamaica tripsCenotes + ruins + beach in one trip; low-rise seclusion
SignatureRose Hall Great House; Doctor's Cave BeachJungle-meets-sea resorts; the cenote belt inland

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
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Montego Bay — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5

Approximate climate normals for Montego Bay / Rose Hall and Playa del Carmen–Tulum — 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 Riviera Maya

  1. 1.Barceló Maya Riviera - All Inclusive Adults Only — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Playa del Carmen, Mexico · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya — Riviera Maya, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Barceló · Grand Velas · UNICO Hotel Collection

Full Riviera Maya guide

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