Bethel Court Guest House

Bethel Court Guest House opened in 2004 and is a solid budget option in Montego Bay. Blossoming flowers are scattered across the hotel's grounds, though overall it has the feel of a motel, with concrete blocks of rooms arranged around a parking lot. There’s also a more recently built annex across a busy street that's often rumbling with trucks and taxis. Bethel Court doesn’t have a lobby, and arriving guests are taken directly to their apartment-style rooms to check-in. While there are shared picnic tables, it’s overall a pretty quiet spot and decent base for exploring the Montego Bay area. A majority of the Bethel Court’s guests are from the United States and Europe, but Jamaicans and international travelers of all ages also pass through.  

Bethel Court Guest House is located in Mount Salem, a residential neighborhood just outside of Montego Bay. It’s conveniently located on a busy road full of shared taxis for an inexpensive and quick ride downtown (an eight-minute drive). Within a four-minute walk of the guest house are grocery stores, Jamaican restaurants, and multiple bars. The Hip Strip, Montego Bay’s tourist heart, is a 13-minute drive from Bethel Court. Expect a 15-minute drive to the nearest beach. The Rose Hall Great House, a former plantation home with a history of murder, witchcraft, and revenge is a 25-minute drive away. Ocho Rios -- where Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain adventure park, and Dolphin Cove are located -- is an hour-and-40-minute drive from the guest house. It's a 90-minute drive in the other direction to Negril, with its gorgeous beaches, famous sunsets, and cliff divers. The bus park (Jamaican for bus station) is a 10-minute drive away. Sangster International Airport is 15 minutes from the hotel by car.

The air-conditioned apartments at Bethel Court are simple and clean. They come in one-, two-, or three-bedroom configurations with full kitchens and dining areas, though the look is humble in the extreme. In fact, it's downright bare bones. The units have tile floors, cement walls painted in pastel yellow or baby-blue, and they’re a bit dark. All have kitchens, though not all of these are created equally. Some have industrial gas ranges plus microwaves, refrigerators, and cooking utensils, while others add proper stoves. Some rooms also have tired, plush loveseats for seating, and all come with cable TVs (including tube-style units) and free Wi-Fi. Keep in mind that a few rooms may lack remotes for the air-conditioners, and the temperatures are thus not adjustable. Bathrooms are fully tiled and have stand-up showers with hot water. Toiletries aren’t included, so don’t forget your soap and shampoo. Shared patios or balconies are a nice plus, but mosquitos can be bad. 

Bethel Court’s amenities are pretty limited, but the free airport pick-ups are the biggest perk. During the free pick-up, guests can also run errands for no additional charge, like buying groceries or SIM cards for their phones. The guest house can assist in arranging tours, guides, group tours, and has five private drivers on call. Laundry service is available for a fee and there’s free parking. Wi-Fi is free throughout the guest house.