Property
Tucked just outside Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s north coast, Franklyn D. Resort makes the perfect getaway for families. The low-rise Colonial style buildings are the perfect accent to the beautiful tropical gardens connecting Jamaica’s incredible green mountains to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The suites are spacious with 2 or 3 private bedrooms, living area and kitchen with stocked refrigerator plus a huge balcony overlooking the ocean.

Location
Franklyn D. Resort is located just outside Ocho Rios, one of Jamaica’s most visited cities. There is plenty to do in town – shopping, restaurants and activities like hiking Dunns River Falls or visiting Dolphin Cove. Also nearby is Chukka Adventures, which offers all kinds of fun activities and tours like horseback riding, dog sledding, dune buggy tours, zip lining and more.

Sleeps
Up to 7 in 2 and 3-bedroom suites.

Highlights
In addition to the delectable food in the all-inclusive restaurants, the fun activities planned each night for guests and the on-premise amenities like water slides, goat races, beach dining and snorkeling, Franklyn D. Resort offers each family their own personal nanny. When you check-in, your kids meet the nanny that will be your ticket to a relaxing vacation. We had Shanet and the kids made instant friends. The great part is that you still feel like you are taking a vacation WITH your kids (they’re not tucked into some kids club all day long – although they have a great one of those too), you can swim, snorkel and hang out with them, but you actually get time to relax and enjoy yourself while the nanny tends to all the daily tasks like meal times, naps, and sunscreen.  It was wonderful!

Good to know
Don’t miss horseback riding in the ocean at Chukka! My 7-year-old loved tromping through the ocean and cooling off with his horse, but it was a little scary for the 5-year-old when they went in the deep water.  Be sure to know your kids’ comfort levels. They both loved the ride though!

Contact
http://www.fdrholidays.com

Written by Carrie Simmons

Property
FDR Pebbles is located on Jamaica’s beautiful north coast just outside Montego Bay (we stayed there while filming Travel with Kids Jamaica). The low-rise buildings are snuggled amidst gorgeous tropical gardens with spacious two-bedroom suites providing plenty of room for families. The resort has a pool with a huge water slide, a private beach area with hammocks, a glass-bottom snorkel boat, ocean trampoline, several restaurants and (the best part for families) a private nanny for the kids.

Location
Just a few minutes from the resort is Falmouth, one of Jamaica’s most historic cities. The resort is nestled between the green hills and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean making available all sorts of activities – snorkeling and scuba diving, cricket, fishing, cooking classes, spa treatments, and more. There are also many area activities that can be booked from the resort like horseback riding, rafting, hiking and tours. We went on the bioluminescence tour to Glistening Waters to watch and swim in the glowing ocean….it was an experience we won’t soon forget!

Sleeps
2 adults and 2 children with adjoining suites available for larger families.

Highlights
The best part about the FDR properties, and something that really sets them apart from other resorts, is that each family is assigned their own personal nanny upon arrival. We had Arlene and she was wonderful with the kids. It was nice because we could all be on the beach or swimming together all day so it still felt like we were bonding as a family, but Arlene tended to parental responsibilities like sunscreen, naps, feeding times, etc. It was the perfect balance between a kid-free or strictly kids club vacation where you don’t really feel like you were there with your kids and not feeling like you got to take a vacation because you are constantly tending to the kids.

Good to know
There are a lot of mosquitoes in Jamaica so bring repellent. FDR has taken plenty of precautions…they sprayed the room and have nets over the beds so it wasn’t ever an issue.

Contact
http://www.fdrholidays.com

Written by Carrie Simmons

Property
This is an excellent group of beach bungalows set in the jungle on Negril. Steps from the water and dozens of nearby restaurants, it was perfect for the kids and our family who love a real travel adventure. A family-run hotel with full kitchens but no TV or phones (cell service works here) perfect for the kids to run the hotel grounds playing pirates and finding lizards and coconuts. On the best part of the incredible Negril beach, far from the mega-resorts.

Location
Negril is 7 miles of white sand, beach bars and restaurants, shallow surf with no waves, perfect for the kids.

Sleeps
4 – 8. All sizes of bungalows available

Highlights
The colorful locals, nearby restaurants, cliff divers, locals bringing up beach food. The grounds are great for kids to run around finding lizards and frogs. Open air hut style bungalows allow for ocean breezes and jungle sounds all night.

Good to know
Request rooms closest to the beach. We stayed here while filming Travel With Kids Jamaica, available on DVD.

Contact
http://nirvananegril.com

Written by Carrie Simmons