Let's start things off with some trivia. Without looking it up, what is TripAdvisor's number-one ranked "thing to do" in Montego Bay?

If your guess is visiting the Club Mobay Departure Lounge at Sangster International Airport, you're absolutely correct. Towards the end of your vacation in Jamaica, Club Mobay is the perfect place to get that last taste of warm Jamaican hospitality and culture before you head home. Whether you're traveling for leisure or business, it's the perfect place to unwind before your flight.

You may even call it, let's say, a VIP attraction, and that's exactly what it is. The lounge is operated by Jamaica-based VIP Attractions, which also runs the Club Mobay Arrivals Lounge in the airport's arrivals area, as well as Club Kingston in the capital city's Norman Manley International Airport.

At Sangster International Airport's check-in and ticketing area, there are several landside Club Mobay booths where you can find out more about the lounge and purchase an access pass.

Going Through Security

The Club Mobay experience begins before you even arrive at the lounge. Once you're ready to go through security, there's a special fast track security lane to the left, along with an official front desk with several staff members on hand to assist you.

Club Mobay access is complimentary for those with certain lounge memberships (DragonPass, Diners Club, and Priority Pass among others), premium passengers on select carriers, and those who receive access as a part of their tour package (if you book an eligible package with Costco, for example). Paid access is available for $35.

Once you've made it airside, you're only a short five minute walk away from your very own exclusive airport oasis. Walking straight ahead, there is a duty free shop that you'll pass through to get to the departure concourse. This is a great place to stock up on some last-minute souvenirs to bring home to your family. After the duty free shop is the food court, which immediately precedes the departure gate concourse.

If you notice stress and chaos in the atmosphere, it's time to forget about all that because your sanctuary is getting closer by the second. Once you've reached the concourse, walk straight ahead, and you'll find Club Mobay, eleven-thousand square feet of stylish comfort. Next to Gate 9, the sign in front is prominent, which makes it difficult to miss.

Club Mobay Entrance

In front of the lounge, a staff member will be on hand to greet you. As you enter through those frosted glass doors, the first thing you'll notice directly ahead is an elevator, along with a sign pointing out where all the different rooms are located. You may also choose to walk down the stairs. To the right is the entrance to the Sky Lounge, which we'll come back to in a moment.

The elevator takes you down one level to the reception area. After exiting the elevator, the luggage storage area is straight ahead, where you can leave your carry-ons and lighten your load before enjoying the lounge.

Reception Area

Proceed directly ahead, and you'll reach the reception area. Here, there are a number of doors that will lead you to different sections of the lounge: an Adults Only Room on the right, a Family Room further down the hallway, and a Quiet Room even further down.

Keep going down the hallway, flanked on both sides by framed photographs of Jamaica's picturesque scenery, and you'll find the restrooms to the side, along with the shower suites.

The Mango Spa, where you can stop by for a quick mini treatment ranging in price from $10 to $60 (USD), is located on the right.

Back in the main lobby area, there's also a Digicel Business Centre, powered by Samsung. Inside this business center, you'll find several internet terminals, along with partitions between each one. This is an excellent place to get some work done while waiting for your flight. Of course, complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire lounge complex.

Cultural Exhibits

One of the unique aspects of this lounge are the exhibits that immerse you into a cultural experience. Throughout the lounge, you'll find framed posters and the like introducing you to different aspects of Jamaican culture and history, along with brief biographies of prominent Jamaicans like Alexander Cooper and Bob Marley. It's kind of like the framed photos that you'll find inside the American Express Centurion Lounges in the US, except with more text and explanations.

Restaurant style seating seems to be the norm in Club Mobay. Upon entering one of the rooms, an attendant will usher you to a designated seating area, depending on the number of people in your party.

Adults Only Room

The Adults Only Room is rather spacious, and is further divided into a number of smaller sections. Head to the right, and you'll find a number of seats facing the windows, where you can watch planes come and go. It's also not a bad place to try and get some work done.

Walking straight ahead from the entrance, you'll find the bar located towards the back of the room.

While you're here, you may want to grab a bottle of Red Stripe Beer or try one of the following signature cocktails:

"Mobay Passion" - Appleton Special, Passion Puree, Cranberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, Splash of Grenadine

"Club Mobay Delight" - Appleton Rum, Pineapple Juice, Lillifield Apricot, Lime

To the right of the bar is a more private seating area that's just a tad more comfortable and peaceful.

If you're looking for a bite to eat, there are two main food stations in the Adults Only Room, along with several additional stations in the Quiet Room, Family Room, and the Sky Lounge. Food options are consistent across each station, and includes options that you'll most likely find only in Jamaica.

Sandwiches, wraps, and sliders are among the more filling items on the menu, along with a tapas and sushi selection. Tapas options include spicy salmon, hummus, and ham tartar, while sushi options include California rolls, vegetable rolls, and the relatively novel jerk chicken rolls.

Choices for wraps are vegetables with honey mustard dressing, jerk chicken breast, and ham and cheese. Sliders come in several different varieties, including honey barbecue chicken and pulled jerk pork.

Patties come in beef, chicken, and soy.

Rice salad, yogurt, and banana chips are among the other food options that you'll find to round things out.

At the end of your meal, you can wash everything down with cucumber-infused water.

Menu

Here's a recent copy of the lounge's menu of food and beverage offerings.

Family Room

The Family Room is located next door, and the target audience, as implied by the name, is families with children.

The main attraction in this room is sound-proof Pickney Place, where your kids can entertain themselves with the large selection of toys. On the wall, you'll find pictures of children from all over.

Quiet Room

Next to the Family Room is the Quiet Room, which comes with some additional rules. Guests here are expected to tone down their voices and speak softly if necessary. With that said, however, this room is not completely quiet, due to the soothing background music.

Sky Lounge

We're almost out of time, but before we go, let's head upstairs and take a look at the Sky Lounge, which features floor to ceiling windows. Heading back up the elevator to where we originally started, it's time to walk down the short hallway into the Sky Lounge. Along the way, you may notice a number of photos on display. These photos depict famous celebrities who have paid a visit to Club Mobay in the past. A small sample of these luminaries include 50 Cent, Asafa Powell, and Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Lion).

The Sky Lounge is bright and airy, with high ceilings. Much of the room is occupied by seating areas.

Towards the back is where you'll find the bar.

To the far right, you'll find another food station with a similar selection to that offered downstairs.

Summary

The Club Mobay Departure Lounge is an excellent place to refresh and relax before your flight. Grab a bite to eat, take a cool shower, and sip on a cocktail or two. Before you know it, you'll be feeling great, and likely nostalgic, as well, longing for your next trip back. After your visit, be sure to post a review on LoungeBuddy and let our members know what you think.