Montego Bay is Jamaica's second city in size and importance, but it is the island's tourism capital. It boasts the most hotel accommodation, the most transport facilities and is, in fact, a cosmopolitan holiday centre, offering a wide choice of amenities.

Montego Bay is divided into three fairly distinct parts. There is the city itself with its crowded streets. There is the "hotel area" which is the mile-and-a-half strip running from the town, past the celebrated Doctor's Cave Beach and out to the Dead End Bar. Thirdly, there are the outlying hotels and villas on beach or hillside. City streets are crowded, colourful and lively. Country folk flock in to visit markets, shops and banks. Guests from hotels and cruise ships make their way to in-bond shops and Crafts Markets. Housewives, office girls and market higglers promenade round bar-front discussion groups and sidewalk domino games.