I think it is important to emphasis the words in the thread heading "off the beaten track"
Yes, I guess Miss Mary's and Miss Ruby's is sort of "off the beaten track" when talking about Negril but the place where the newspaper was referring to is WAY off the beaten track. Pictures of Negril in the "old days" does little to describe a place like Whitfield Hall or may other rural places where tourists infrequently venture.
In fact, if you had to stay at a JTB sanctioned place around where I live in Accompong Town you would probably end up sleeping in your car because there are only a scant few.
I don't know how many people here have ventured up to Mavis Bank, Whitfield Hall or Blue Mountain Peak but I would bet it is only a handful at best. Rural Jamaica is not necessarily the type of place that most travelers that visit this board want to stay but only go out on Day Trips to enjoy.
If I never would have started out visiting rural Jamaica and instead started by staying at Sandals then perhaps I would never have gotten so comfortable out on the island living in a Jamaican community. I had my share of misfortunes over the years having been robbed and pick-pocketed but never felt in danger staying at "off the beaten track" type of places but it is not for everyone. On that, I think we all can agree.
If you want to play it safer, stay in places where they are inspected, licensed and sanctioned so you at least have some legal recourse if something happens. I think this board is a valuable resource for casual travelers to Jamaica and that is the choir we are all preaching to. Always know your own limitations.
Peace and Guidance
