Montego Bay
Jamaica
Savannah
United States
Montego Bay
Savannah
💰 Budget
🛡️ Safety
Montego Bay
Montego Bay has a high crime rate in certain areas, but the tourist zones (Hip Strip, resort areas, Rose Hall) are generally well-policed and safe. Gang violence occurs in downtown neighborhoods like Canterbury and Norwood but very rarely affects tourists. Stick to tourist areas, use reputable transport, and exercise standard precautions.
Savannah
The historic district is generally safe during the day and into the evening, with a heavy tourist-police presence and well-lit main streets. Savannah has a higher violent-crime rate than Charleston by raw numbers, mostly concentrated in neighborhoods north and west of the historic district that tourists rarely visit. The most common visitor issues are car break-ins, aggressive panhandling near River Street, and overdoing it on to-go cups.
⭐ Ratings
🌤️ Weather
Montego Bay
Montego Bay has a tropical maritime climate with warm temperatures year-round. There is no true cold season. The "dry" season (December-April) has lower rainfall but rain is possible any time. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with peak risk in September-October.
Savannah
Savannah has a humid subtropical climate — mild winters, long pollen-heavy springs, and notoriously muggy summers where the heat index regularly crosses 105°F. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with highest risk in August-September. Spring (March-May) and late autumn (October-November) are the clear sweet spots.
🚇 Getting Around
Montego Bay
Getting around MoBay involves taxis, route taxis (shared minibuses), and resort shuttles. There is no Uber or ride-hailing in Jamaica. Public transport is cheap but can feel chaotic for first-time visitors. Most tourists use hotel-arranged taxis or licensed JUTA drivers.
Walkability: The Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) is walkable for about 2 km along the coast with beaches, bars, and shops. Beyond this strip, MoBay is not pedestrian-friendly — sidewalks are inconsistent, traffic is aggressive, and distances to attractions are too far for comfortable walking.
Savannah
Savannah's historic district is small, flat, and gorgeously walkable — the entire square grid is about 1 mile by 1.5 miles. The DOT (Downtown Transportation) shuttle runs for free through the historic district, which solves most in-town needs. Rideshare fills the gaps, and a rental car is worth it only if you're doing Tybee Island or the plantations. Bikes are a great option in the flat, shaded squares.
Walkability: The historic district is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the American South — designed in 1733 as a pedestrian grid, flat, deeply shaded by live oaks, with a square to rest in every 2-3 blocks. The main hazards are uneven brick sidewalks and the cobblestones on River Street. Outside the historic district and Starland, the city becomes car-dependent fast.
The Verdict
Choose Montego Bay if...
you want Jamaica's resort coast — Doctor's Cave Beach, Rose Hall Great House, Martha Brae rafting, Negril day-trips, and reggae at Margaritaville
Choose Savannah if...
you want Spanish-moss cobblestones, open-container historic squares, and low-country cuisine in America's most perfectly preserved colonial grid
Montego Bay
Savannah