Hello again Lee,

This paradise region is called Treasure Beach.

Lee, Treasure Beach, from the MoBay airport, is 2.5 hours non stop....factor in a stop for a cold drink which you'll find refreshing, and bouncing along the last 20 minutes of extremely rutted roadway into TB proper....3 hours is not going to be unusual.

Your hotel's price is the going rate for 2 people in a chartered (private) vehicle...no one else to share the ride. You MIGHT find someone to do it for $100...search around, try negotiating with a freelance driver who will sidle up to you once you step outside the arrival terminal....give yourself an additional 10-20 minutes here to take on this project...and hope you make a good choice with who ever gets behind the wheel.

If you've never driven in Jamaica before, and you read the above post of what to expect, and you've arrived here tired from lack of sleep the night before your trip, and you're not to stressed out from the adjustment to the climate and dealings with the car rental agency, and you still want to get behind the wheel of the car and drive to an area where very very few of the major turnoff roads are marked....you may need an extra week of vacation to recuperate from the ordeal you're going to put you and your partner through...and that's before you even ARRIVE at your destination the first day!!!!

There is no airport in TB. There are no all-inclusive chains warranting shared buses with multiple hotel dropoffs.

If the $120 is not worth it to you, right up front, I'd suggest that you may want to cancel your reservations at where ever it is you're staying and book a different town. I'm concerned that you may not have a clear cut picture of what Treasure Beach is, or stands for, and what is available to you there. What other websites have you explored (other than this one) to give you more insight into the community? Please don't get me wrong....it can ONLY be a peaceful experience there....it will make small towns like Negril look like New York City (!)...but you really do need to know what to expect or pay for since it is somewhat off the 'beaten track.'

Hi Philly

Treasure beach is a definite must to experience in Jamaica! I think you will have a blast...not everyone is looking for an all inclusive. There are many car rental agencies in jamaica...

I think in my research for a car the best one so far is dhana car rental.....

Good Luck and enjoy!!!

Wow, thank you all for the replies. I didn't expect all of the tips. I'll take it all into account and will be sure to return here and post any lessons learned, including that there is no place called "Treasure Island."

Hello again Lee,

Here is the best website for Treasure Beach.

http://www.treasurebeach.net/

Please take a look at the photograph section so as to be familiar with the area. It does not have the glitz, nightlife, action and motorized watersport activities that other places have.

To most people who choose to stay here it is a paradise. Others will find it booring.

You have been given some very clear tips on this thread as we want you to have a great time in Jamaica.

I have other points that you need to take into consideration.

1) Let us say that your flight gets into MoBay after 4pm. Allow one hour to clear immigration, customs and get out the into the main lobby.

The trip to TB will take about 3 hours. This means that at least half your trip will be at night time. This is not good if you are planning to drive yourself.

2) If you decide to use the taxi service from TB, then the driver will be returning to his home base. He will not be in a hurry and can stop along the way for you to enjoy some panoramic views and have refreshments.

3) If you take a taxi driver from MoBay, the driver will be in a hurry to take you to TB so that he can return to his home in MoBay. He will not be happy to stop along the way.

I hope that you will take the time and enjoy reading the points made on this lively thread.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147313-i70-k26968…

I wish you an enjoyable and exciting trip to Jamaica and look forward to reading about it afterwards.

Hello Lee,

Treasure Beach: TRIP REPORT

http://www.jamaicans.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000271

Here are some interesting posts worth reading.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147313-i70-k26564…

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147313-i70-k26564…

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147309-i69-k27152…

Have fun!

Sorry. I posted one topic twice by mistake.

Here is the correct one.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147313-i70-k26968…

I don't know what the roads are like after Ivan but we had no trouble at all getting to and from TB in a rental car. As TOTT says, some roads are not well marked but with a map and a willingness to pull over and ask people, we found our destination easily. We did drive in daylight.

It IS nice to have a car there as things are fairly spread out.

However, there are some great trips in that area that you'd do by boat (and they'll often pick you up right at your beach, or nearby), and there are many great tour guides in the area that can drive you around, also since traffic is light and much of TB is flat, riding bikes is an option, as are scooter rentals (now available in Great Bay).

I wouldn't look to save much $$ by renting....the deposit is usually US$1,000, the rates do not generally include insurance which you most definitely want to take, gas is expensive, you are responsible for any damage up to the first $XXX...in our case it was US$1,000 and we did get 2 flats, bought a tire, and repaired a small scratch before returning our car.

Driving in JA ain't easy but it is fun if you have an adventurous spirit and aren't easily ruffled by pretty different driving conditions.

In case anyone is looking for car rental info, what I've found so far:

I just rented through Orbitz.com and got it for $35/day. This wouldn't include extra insurance coverage which I plan to get, but it's cheaper than going direct to the car rental places. Note this was for 'Advantage' car rental, and they outsource to Island Rental, which is reviewed well on this website at least. If you go direct to Island rental, they were $44/day.