Negril, being a smaller and quieter town, is generally safer. Similar opportunistic crimes such as pickpocketing can occur, though, so a bit of extra carefulness goes a long way.
Aside from these three areas, there are five lesser known areas that could potentially hold exciting adventures for your Jamaican vacation, but first let's talk about the reasons Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios have remained at the top of the best areas to stay in Jamaica for so many years!
Taking a cab or minibus will be the safest and most hassle-free way to get around Jamaica. But you should only take the official taxis that are operated by the Jamaica Union of Travelers Association (JUTA) or Jamaica Co-operative Automobile & Limousine Tours (JCAL), as indicated by the acronym on their vehicles.
Originally Answered: Jamaica:Is it safe for tourists to travel outside of the Montego Bay resort area? The short answer has always been yes. Jamaica is pushing 2 million stopover visitors per year. They are not all only staying confined to the Montego Bay resort area.
Tourists are generally very safe everywhere unless they are extremely careless. Montego Bay is a city so there is crime like any other city but if you avoid doing things you would not do in say NY you should be fine.
Negril, Jamaica, is known for beautiful, sandy beaches, warm weather almost year-round, and friendly locals waiting to show visitors our hospitality! Even though these are a large part of what makes Negril so unique, there is much more to our slice of paradise!
We recommend the North West coast for Jamaica's best beaches. Try Seven Mile Beach, the best beach in Negril for crystal clear oceans, family fun and a laid back vibe, or Montego Bay for incredible snorkeling, white sandy shores and lots to see and do.
This unique attraction is actually one of two destinations in Jamaica called the Blue Hole, so make sure you put the right one in the GPS. While there are a couple other waterfall excursions around, the blue hole maintains it's natural sense of beauty and seclusion.