As long as you are careful you should be fine, but I just wonder about the cost of the rental versus the convenience of the $80 private taxi from MoBay, they will take you to the Mega Mart, and stop in Orange Bay for you. Surprised to hear that area is on a not safe list, I have been there many times for diving (during the day) and as long as you are a reasonable person and show respect you should be fine.

Depending on the daily rental rate, and the risk of something happening while driving yourself, again versus the cost and value of convenience for having a driver is something that I would weigh before pulling that trigger. With rentals approaching $100 a day, is it really worth having your own, dealing with parking on the west end for dinner, etc?

You can also get daily rentals in Negril if you are not going to be driving every day this may make more sense if you are going to venture out of town. And if you are boring like us, we talk a big game about leaving the 7 mile, but we really dont, other than west end, the Hi-Lo, etc., as once you are on that beach, little else matters.

You are right, everyone has a phone, we were there last in March of 2020 as covid was just starting and saw quite a few smart phones. Again, be cool, respectful, and its doubtful anyone will mess with you over that.

Good luck! we are there March 3 - 14
The Janadians, CoCo and the Nut.