A large island, south of Cuba in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica's north shore features four different resort communities, each with its own style and appeal.

Montego Bay is not only the largest town and the most interesting culture, but it also boasts the international airport for this side of the island. For those on a short timeline, a wealth of interesting resort options lies within 20 to 30 minutes from the airport. For golfers who have heard about Jamaica's tournament quality course, two of these, Half Moon and Tryall, are in the immediate vicinity. And Montego Bay offers nightclubs and restaurants for those who enjoy reggae music and dancing.

Ocho Rios lies east of Montego Bay, about an hour and a half by road. It sits in a large cove, where the mountains come down close to the seashore, and several large waterfalls descend from the mountains to the sea. Ocho Rios has become the port of choice for many of the major cruise lines, making it more bustling than before, but it still is smaller and more relaxed than Montego Bay.

Negril is all the way at the western end of the island. Originally a quiet village, it now hosts some of the most diverse and appealing resorts in the Caribbean on its miles of spectacular beachfront. It retains its ultra-casual personality, and lots of people find it to be just the thing.

Port Antonio is at the east end of Jamaica, and it's a jewel of old-fashioned West Indian hospitality. Unlike the rest of the north coast, which has seen ongoing development for over 30 years, Port Antonio enjoyed a brief period of popularity in the 1950's, when the Hollywood movie crowd "discovered" it. But it never really changed, and today it's still a traditional Jamaican town, with small hotels, villas, beaches, and lovely coastline and reefs. It also has some of the most unusual sights to see anywhere, like the Blue Hole, and rafting on the Rio Grande is where this now much copied activity all started.

Jamaica is often perceived as the "home" of the all-inclusive resort. While Jamaica isn't where it was first introduced, this is surely where it was refined, and where it has taken root more widely than anywhere else in the region. As a result, major Jamaican chains such as Sandals and Beaches, Super Clubs and Breezes, and Couples, all compete with international companies like RIU resorts from Spain; Holiday Inn; Ritz-Carlton; and several Jamaican companies. From large to small, deluxe to basic, almost every variation on the theme can be found here.

Jamaica's golf courses have hosted international championships for many years, and several of Jamaica's oldest and most famous resorts offer their own courses, including Half Moon Club and Tryall Club, both near Montego Bay.

New on the map is the beginning of development of Jamaica's south coast, with the opening of Sandals' Whitehouse European Village and Spa.

Not To Be Missed - At Ocho Rios, ride horses on land and sea at Chukka Cove, a climb up Dunns River Falls and visit Island Village; at the village of St. Marys, visit Prospect Plantation.

Read an extended report about Jamaica...