BACB

I forgot in my previous post to state the beach in Montego Bay. Doctors Cave Beach is beautiful , clean and has very calm warm water and a restaurant/bar. It is just past Margaritaville on the Hip Strip.

We went on an excursion last week that took us from Falmouth to Montego Bay "at leisure". It include a 2 hr. stop in Montego Bay in which they gave us a choice of shopping or going to the beach. The "best value" shop they took us to was a total rip off. Ridiculously high prices ($32 for a lb. of Jamaican Blue coffee that costs $18 at the dockside shops) and 16.5% tax on everything you bought (there is NO tax at the dockside shops). My advice is go to the beach and save your shopping dollars for the dock--- cheaper prices, no high pressure sales, safe.

The tour began with a photo stop at an old church with some local vendors outside, then a ride past luxury hotels and upscale homes on the way to Montego Bay. We stopped for 45 minutes at Pier 1, a waterfront restaurant and bar, at which they served free Jamaican coffee and banana bread. You can also purchase other drinks and food. We then continued onto the main street of the town where they gave us the choice of shopping or going to the beach. By all means, go to Doctors Cave Beach which is beautiful, clean, and has calm water. It costs an extra $6 per person to get in, but it is worth it. DO NOT shop at the store they take you to for the "best values!" Total rip off!!! They quoted one price for a hat and charged a different amount at the register. Jamaican Blue coffee was $32 a lb. and then they made a show of giving a 10-20% discount at the register, depending on how much you bought. On top of this they charged 16.5% tax!!! Wait and buy any souvenirs at the dockside shops. Same coffee was $18 lb. Cheaper prices, NO tax! Overall, an okay trip but only because of the beach.