MONTEGO BAY

Montego Bay is Jamaica's second city and has been a tourist Mecca since the 20s when early visitors sought out the healing waters of Doctor's Cave Beach. From the days when ''King Sugar' ruled, Montego Bay has been a bustling commercial centre and shipping port.

The resort of today is spread out from Rose Hall Great House in the east to Tryall in the west, with a choice of accommodation from guest houses to convention facilities.

The resort town of Montego Bay is as far from the 'real' Jamaica as you can get, though behind the narrow coastal plain is hill country where you can immerse yourself in mountain-village life. The region boasts a greater concentration of well-preserved colonial houses than any other, many of which are working plantations that welcomes guests on guided tours. And several championship golf courses, a number of horse stables and the island's best shopping add to the region's appeal.

There are two Montego Bays, the tourist quarter, north of the town center, arcs along Gloucester Avenue, a narrow shoreline boulevard lined with hotels, restaurants, and public beaches. Glouchester Avenue becomes Kent Avenue, which stretches along what used to be called Chaltam Sea Wall and ends at tiny Dead End Beach, with the airport just beyond. The airport is accessed from Sunset Boulevard, which stretches east from the junction of Gloucester and Kent Avenues and continues east, beyond the airport (at the roundabout junction with the Queen's Drive), as the A1 to Ironshore and the resorts on the north coast.