I still have a lot of trouble putting my arms around an AI Vacation. Maybe it is because I have never even tried it or maybe it is because I am so damned cheap!
I was lucky enough to be so naive in 1983 when I landed in Kingston thinking I could just backpack my way around Jamaica like I used to do in Hawaii every year. I was fortunate enough to meet a Jamaican Adventure Traveler like myself and he set me off to do the off the beaten path thing.
I love to stay in places like Seastar, Catcha, Whisltling Bird etc. but only do so for short periods between staying in smaller, less famous places or in private homes. My goal is to keep myself within a $1,000 US dollar a month budget and I am able to do that most of the time. Now that I live in the mountains, it is even easier to accomplish.
I personally think that the de-evolution of going from an AI to living in a private home is a worthwhile as well as an economical necessity if you decide to make Jamaica your "favorite spot" to vacation. It just gets to be too hard to pay off all the Credit Card bills that staying AI usually involves.
I suppose it is nice to have someone do everything for you during a vacation but that just costs too much money in my opinion. Jamaicans are so accommodating of people that you can get most of those things for much less by bargaining for them yourself. Living and playing in Jamaica is a delicate balancing act between feeling safe and feeling free to do what you want.
A favorite saying is "Tourists want everything the same or better than what they have at home and an Adventure Traveler wants to make the best out of what they choose" Personally, I make the best out of what I choose.
Peace and Guidance
