I know this has been discussed, argued, and agreed upon a million times, but I still have to ask a slightly different version of this question.
We never walk the beach late at night, or after dark at all, really. However, is it safe to walk the beach back from dinner, say 7 - 8 pm? For example, Sun Beach to Sunnyside? Or Bourbon Beach to Sunnyside? We always go out to the road, just to err on the side of caution. But I feel like "not walking the beach at night" refers to late nights.
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We walk the beach back from dinner after dark often but never really late or we try to be with others in the more remote stretches. It's nice to carry a small flashlight.
I have only stayed on the beach side. If I don't eat on the cliff side, that means I am walking to dinner. If it's walkable distance, I walk with at least one more person. I have really only felt semi-uncomfortable once or twice. When I did, I turned on my ATAC A1 flashlight (it's very bright) and picked up the pace.
We Walk on beach for later dinners constantly, unless you are quite late there are lots of other people out. I know if I say "nothing has ever happened" there will be some comments, but I don't understand why "the beach" seems to be different from walking anywhere else. Walking anywhere that is desolate and dark is not recommended but that could be the beach, the road or anywhere. If it comes to it where I can't walk on the beach in Negril at reasonable hours I will no longer be going to a Negril, walking that time of the night on the beach is one of the best parts about tropical places.
Here is the deal. I am a retired police officer/detective and I used to give these sorts of talks all the time. Everything is safe until it isn't...... The rub is you don't know when "isn't" will be as it is usually when you least expect it. The safety principles in Negril are the same in the U.S. Police see victims and evaluate said victims based on their risk level or exposure. For example if you live on the south side of Chicago you are much more likely to have someone kick your door in and rob you than you are if you live in the suburbs. With that said you may live on the south side of Chicago for 70 years and never have a moment of trouble. You may also be robbed your first night in your new apartment. No one knows for sure because its a risky area. If you live on the burbs your exposure to crime is much more limited and you are much more likely to be a victim. Real basic stuff, right?.
Well it is the same in Negril. You can walk the beach a hundred times and be okay. You may also walk it once like some of the folks on TA boards have posted and be robbed. It all depends on who you encounter during your walk. I think we all agree that the road is the safer bet, it reduces your risk and makes you less likely to experience problems. You are not immune to problems on the road, but you are safer according to the odds.
So you have to ask yourself is the walk on the beach worth it to you and are you okay with exposing yourself to a higher risk area and taking your chances, or can the beach walk wait until morning. The true answer is there is no good answer because no one can predict the conditions at the time you are walking the beach. Three hardcore criminals from Kingston that have never even been to the beach could be at Bourbon Beach and see an easy mark leave and follow you down until the time is right. Or, you could have a wonderful evening. No one knows, again its all about risk and exposure. No one can guarantee your safety and no one can really tell you the exact chance that you would be robbed or harmed.
It is a math equation that can't be solved until you actually walk down the beach.
We walk the beach at night but have never done it alone. The larger the group the less concern I have. We always stay aware of our surroundings. If we don't feel comfortable we walk faster until we get to an area with others present. I have personally found we are not hassled as much if we are walking at the shoreline instead of up on the beach. If we are with someone that doesn't or can't move very fast we would walk along the road.
I forgot to mention that I never carry more money than I would be willing to give up and never carry my phone or anything else valuable with me at night and we do carry a flashlight.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Ron, you make a lot of great points. Everything *IS* safe, until it isn't.
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Thanks Jenn, I hope it didn't come off to weird or make me sound like a big ole' know it all. I just don't want anyone to get a false sense of security or to be so scared they don't enjoy themselves and take in the vibe. I just don't think its a simple answer. :/
I thought your answer was spot on!! Thanks!Originally Posted by RonMon
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