i have found these reviews online about treasure beach they are quite scary and worrying!its not just the reviews its the comments after them too.is there any truth in these reviews?
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-465B-B590C9F-39C2BD40-prod1/show_~allcom

The facility that is referred to in the post is Tranquility Bay, a behavior modification school located east of Treasure Beach. Some people consider it a good thing, others a bad thing. There has been a lot of discussion here before that generated more heat than light so we do not accept any more messages about it here. There are several web sites which provide both pro and cons to the facility. These can be found through Google or other search engines.

As for the person's review of the area in general, one man's trash is another man's treasure. To say Treasure Beach is in the middle of nowhere is a) not exactly true and b) speaks to the serenity and peacefulness of the area. For those who love the hub bub of the north coast, then TB probably seems pretty slow. To some of us, its exactly what we love about the area.

To judge for yourself what a wide range of people say about the area, check out this review on the same site as above and do a search on this site for past posts.

If you would like to offer your own opinion, we'd like to suggest that you go to the epinions web site and give your side.
Epinions post being discussed above
Epinions main Treasure Beach thread

-TBNet

You've got to remember all the comments from the link you provided are almost 5 years old. The most current post on that link from Feb 07 "it is for people who love nature and want adventure, And doesn't mind driving 2 or so hours through rough beauty". Even the very last post on that link states "the accommodations and diversions seem more suited to a "back-to-nature" oriented "eco-tourist". On the opening page of TB's website it states TB is not for people looking for the all inclusive rsorts with jet skis, parasailing, deep sea diving, crowded beaches, all night party clubs and the only real contact with Jamaican people are the ones serving you at the resorts. The TB website is very upfront about what TB is all about along with what to expect from the people of TB and its accomendations. The only thing I can say to you is know what you want from your vacation ahead of time. Now if you want a quiet relaxing vacation with mountain biking, hiking,cave exploring, tours down the Black river, visits to the YS Falls, Rum & coffee Factory tours and to just be able to sit in a resturant or bar have a beer and talk to the locals and imerse yourself in and learn about the life and culture then TB is the place to stay plus if you want to a day and night of clubs ect... then Negril is not that far away. Looking at the road maps TB is off the beaten path a little bit but its never claimed not be. When I first started to plan my trip to Jamaica I never heard of TB I posted a message on Tripadvisor.com about the best places to stay out of the main tourist spots and I got an email telling me all about TB and the link to its website and after exploring the website I knew it was the place for me to visit. All the posts I've read here, on trip advisor and lonely planet and read in the travel books have been nothing but positive about TB. Again you just have to know what you want from your vacation to Jamaica. What I've read and been emailed about Sandy Bank the local school is all positive the community coming together to through fund raisers to improve the school facility and provide scholarships so the local children can get an education (unlike the U.S. there is no Gov't paid for universal education. If you look under community groups you can get a list of local schools and get a list of contributions you can make if your so inclined to feel charitable. The writer of of the post on epinions probably should have taken the time to talk to the gentlemen that seemed to be 300 years old I'm sure he could have told her some great stories about the people and the area

I just stayed a 3 minute walk from this so called hell-hole. Although not very appealing to look at I did not witness any of the same sinister things that this gentleman did. No smell, one guard (a rather mellow unarmed woman) at the gate and the usual metal trash container outside that most places have. Never saw the 300 year old "watchman", just a bunch of free roaming goats. It did not look much different than any "training facility" in North America. Hopefully this gentleman is just a little paranoid as the Treasure Beach that I visited was AWESOME, the place itself beautiful and the people honest and friendly.

Treasure beach is a beautifull place,but yes it is off the beaten track and a bumpy ride.
The people are very welcoming and friendly and the food is great and its soo stunning.There is nothing scary about TB trust me i have spent many holidays there some 7 weeks!

The persons who write these stories are obviously a bunch of troublemakers. They have even undervalued our lovely community which so many foreigners keep coming to time and time again. These stories about TBay are so full of crap and lies. Anyone can write anything to make it look so scary - just remember this. How can someone stay from outside and make a judgement like they have done - I have been inside and nothing goes like that.

When I was on the outside I used to hear horrible stories like what this person wrote but it is totally untrue. TBay is simply put - like any boarding school with a daily schedule which the children adhere to, and like kids at times sometimes they go off track and are brought back in line - but they get the best treatment and lots of privileges. It must be noted that these kids are extremely talented, it's amazing what they can do.

If our Jamaican Schools could pattern this institution with our kids with behavioural problems we would not have so much trouble in our schools today because let's face it - some kids will definitely give trouble but they need to be taken out of the mainstream of things and placed in an institution like this which will teach them discipline.

I believe the person who write these horrible stories are outrightly negative. I wish they will change their outlook and start getting facts and search the right way for truth. Supposed these were the persons who were our media representatives - we would be filled with pure lies and not know the truth. Truth must be found from the proper channels, it must not be fabricated.

I write this much because I believe it is a waste to sit and write so much lies so I rather counteract it with truth.

I'm sure there will be *many* responses to this, but I feel compelled to add mine. There's nothing scary about Treasure Beach. Is it like Montego Bay or Ocho Rios? Thank goodness the answer is NO. You won't find any of the big all-inclusive resorts. You won't find beaches so crowded with tourists you can hardly find a place to stretch out. You won't find any MTV-Beach-House-style parties. Treasure Beach is is a laid back area where you get to meet people and know something about the place you're staying.

That long comment is pretty offensive. The way that person talks about Jamaicans is shameful -- they were "shocked" and clearly upset that their drive down to Treasure Beach was marred by the fact that "poverty is omnipresent." And the comment about "once you arrive in town ... look for an old Jamaican (looks to be 300 or so) sitting on a rock" is disgusting and insulting.

I can't say anything about Tranquility Bay because I don't know anything about the place, other than the fact that it seemed to be in the process of shutting down the last time I was there.

No, the waters aren't 'shark-infested.' No, the beaches aren't dirty. And what, exactly, is wrong with seeing hermit crabs? I actually needed emergency medical care the last time I was in TB, and got excellent treatment at the hospital in Black River ... for a fraction of what the same service would have cost me in the States.

Finally and most importantly, the original poster says that the people in Treasure Beach aren't friendly to tourists. Granted, he visited in 1996. Perhaps the people of Treasure Beach underwent some major personality overhaul before I made my first visit a few years ago, but I sincerely doubt it. I have never met friendlier, more helpful, more welcoming people than the people I've met in Treasure Beach.

If you've never been to Treasure Beach, spend some time checking out this site. Look at the pictures in the photo gallery, read some of the threads. If you're looking for jet skis, parasailing and a Negril or Montego Bay atmosphere, Treasure Beach is definitely not for you. If you're looking for a relaxing, comfortable, 'real Jamaica' vacation, book your ticket now.

Well, you know what they say... epinions are like eholes. Everyone has one, and they all stink.

Being that the list of submitters are small on that particular site, here is a tripadvisor link with considerably more opinions of TB.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=treasure+beach+jamaica&geo=1&returnTo=__2F__ &hid=&verbose=&hur=&ssrc=r

I don't think that Sarah, Duchess of York and her family, members of the band U2, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell (to name a few) would agree with those reviews. These are only a small handful of well known names who came to T'beach and fell madly in love with it. To be sure Treasure Beach is not golf courses, nightclubs and casinos, fancy restaurants, and duty free shopping so it would not appeal to the person who is looking for that. It is rural Jamaica and still a small fishing village, with narrow winding roads, large open landscapes, ponds where birds and lotus lillies abound, kind people, a safe environment. There are no large hotels thank God, but beautiful privately owned villas or guesthouses where visitors come to stay to get away from the madness of daily life. Regarding the comment about Tranquility Bay ('boot camp')...yes it does exist and there are two sides to that story. There are those who are horrified by it and there are also those who have benefitted from it. It does not play a role in Treasure Beach other than the fact that it does provide jobs. It is fairly isolated and shouldn't be an issue for you on your holiday.