Jamaica’s emerald seas, sparkling waterfalls, and deep lagoons make it a top vacation spot. Families can get far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and leave their troubles at the door.
An all-inclusive getaway to Jamaica means all you have to do is show up, and the resort will take care of the rest, from dining to family entertainment, housekeeping, and cleanliness.
Where are these dream resorts in Jamaica? Join me as I take you through 12 must-visit spots.
1. Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa
Golden coastline, sweeping views, soft sea breezes: these sensations and more will kick off your Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa vacation.
Your new home away from home will be a spacious suite with oceanfront views and all the amenities needed right at your fingertips. Sprawl out in a sitting area, lounge in a large bed with plush linens, stay entertained with several flat-screen HDTVs, and sample from the fully-stocked mini fridge.
King-sized and double beds can accommodate at least four family members, and with bigger rooms just over 800 square feet, you’ll have more than enough room for everyone.
The Kids Club & Teen Lounge is open daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The age-appropriate activities will keep kids busy so Mom and Dad can sneak away for a spa appointment or a romantic coastal stroll.
The activities offered at The Kids Club are varied enough that your children will never complain about being bored. They can fly kites, paint rocks, play mini soccer, spin a hula hoop, cool down at the Splash N’ Fun Splash Pad, tie-dye clothes, or make nature or shell books.
The itinerary also includes video games, patois classes, board games, postcards, bracelet-making, and fish feeding. It’s oodles of fun.
The Teens Club ramps up the excitement with a pool table, ping-pong, foosball, board games, electronic basketball hoops, bowling, and video games.
You don’t even have to worry about cooking during your stay at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa. Taste authentic Jamaican cuisine at 12 restaurants that run the gamut from quick, grab-and-go spots to upscale sit-down establishments.
The Silver Café and Ortanique Café & Juice Bar are great options to fuel up in the morning for a day of exploration and adventure. Made-to-order meals are the specialty at the Fiery Pelican Outdoor Grill, an exceptional lunch spot.
Sit down to lusciousness at Moonstone, sampling the best of Mediterranean cuisine, or keep it more casual at the Pierside Restaurant. Satisfy your sweet tooth by capping off your day at The Sugar Cane Coffee & Ice Cream.
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2. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
With over 300 rooms, the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall is the optimal backdrop for your much-needed Caribbean family vacation. Its all-inclusive status makes planning your vacation effortless.
The suites contain one bedroom, giving you an optimal lodging option if traveling with a large group. An average suite is anywhere from 650 to 1,000+ square feet.
Experience the finer things in life with a full bathroom that includes a separate tub and rainfall shower. Soft sofas and oversized king beds or double beds provide great places to rest, while the furnished terrace tantalizes with its direct views of the Caribbean Sea.
A lot is included with your stay, including access to the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall’s swimming pools and water sports like snorkeling, boogie boarding, and kayaking.
You can also partake in the daily activities at no additional fee, which range from family bingo games to cooking demonstrations, water ping-pong, and everything in between.
The KidZ Club will give your children between ages three and 12 something to do each day. The club opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and comes fully equipped with video game consoles, air hockey and foosball equipment, arts and crafts supplies, and more.
Staff-led activities like beach sports, disco parties, and games will make your kids’ vacation the best one ever.
As the sun sets on a perfect island day, don’t miss the live entertainment and music included with your stay. Witness Caribbean steel drummers, acrobats, and Jamaican street musicians.
Your stay at this incredible resort also includes unlimited beverages and food and 24-hour room service. Di RoZa Italian Restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas and fresh-made pasta, while Blue Grill at CalypZo is open from breakfast through dinner.
Your other dining options are FuZion Asian Grill, the lounge bar Fez, ChoiceZ Buffet Restaurant (a bonafide kid favorite), French food at Petit Pariz, authentic Jamaican food at Barefoot JerkZ, and the BiteZ Deli & Café.
3. Beaches Ocho Rios
Declared one of the top 25 hotels for families in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor and named one of the best hotels by U.S. News, Beaches Ocho Rios should be on your shortlist as you plan where you’ll stay for your Jamaican family vacay.
These rooms are for more than merely sleeping, as you can select from balcony or patio additions and beachfront, tropical garden, and oceanfront views.
Some rooms qualify for one free night, including one-bedroom penthouses in the Concierge Suite. You’ll live like royalty as you stay in this top-level room with the best ocean views in the entire resort.
The king-sized bed features a mahogany headboard. You can watch flat-screen TVs throughout, and your room has its own whirlpool. A queen-sized bed and pull-out sofa in the parlor provides more sleeping options.
The dining room has its own wet bar, and the penthouse boasts a private deck, powder room, and full bathroom.
Play hard at Beaches Ocho Rios, getting the whole family involved in scuba diving expeditions deep into the Caribbean blue. You have yet other ways to explore the ocean, including paddleboarding, snorkeling, riding an aqua trike, windsurfing, or kayaking.
The land activities are unlimited, which makes filling your itinerary effortless. Play some table tennis or billiards, shuffleboard, board games, tennis, croquet, lawn chess, or basketball.
The resort is also the home of the Pirates Island Waterpark, which boasts lazy rivers, whirlpools, water cannons, and huge water slides. The water park is 27,000 square feet and includes a splash deck, pools, a hot tub, kiddie slides, and lunch options.
Beaches Ocho Rios also offers a Kids Camp full of supervised daytime activities. Certified nannies are available for the Infant Program for kids zero to two and the Toddler Program for kids three to four.
The Navigators Program for kids five to seven includes treasure hunts and talent shows. The Adventurers Program for kids eight to 10 adds games and reggae jam sessions, the Tweens Program for kids 11 to 14 features water gun fights and karaoke, and the Teen Program for kids 15 to 17 has pizza and soda bars.
Special needs programs and private childcare are available.
It gets even better, as gourmet, five-star family dining options are available at seven unique restaurants. The Venetian specializes in Italian dishes, Neptunes serves Mediterranean seafood, Bayside Restaurant has a casual beachy vibe, La Parisienne is a French restaurant, and Bella Napoli is a pizzeria.
The kids will go bonkers for Josephine’s Gourmet Creperie, which has all the sweets they desire.
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4. Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay: An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
The Royalton Blue Waters can’t be beat for a luxury family vacation in Montego Bay. This all-inclusive Autograph Collection resort keeps everything you need at hand, from a water park to pools, kids’ clubs, nine restaurants, and nearly 230 suites.
The suites will dazzle with their contemporary design and convenience, as you have USB charging stations for powering up your devices.
A rain shower will help you bathe the day’s stresses away, a DreamBed will send you off to restful slumber, satellite TV with specialty channels will keep boredom at bay, and terrace or balcony views will make you fall in love.
Get out there and play as a family, partaking in beach volleyball, water sports (scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking), trivia, swimming, and ping-pong.
The resort’s water park has pirate theming that will tickle your young kids pink. This park includes a lazy river, splash zones, and water slides.
The Kids Club is heralded by Turbo the Turtle, the resort’s mascot. The activities in this program for kids four to 12 years old range from cartoons to video games and time outside.
You don’t need a special occasion for fine dining at the Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay. You’re on vacation, and that’s occasion enough.
Select from an international palette of flavors at the Gourmet Marche buffet, experience the wonders of Italian food at Grazie Italian Trattoria, eat fine-cooked steaks at Hunter’s Steakhouse, or dine outdoors as a family at the Jerk Hut.
Your other dining options include the Score Sports Bar and Lounge, the Indian restaurant Taj, the sushi and teppanyaki bar Zen, and Scoops Gelato and Café Lounge.
5. Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica
The Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica resort will provide fun for the whole family. The suites are adorned with luxe features like canopy beds, terrace or balcony views, satellite TV, lush bathroom amenities, and a minibar.
The suites with oceanfront views can accommodate two children and two adults or three adults and one child.
The all-inclusive service at the resort entails water park access, 24-hour reception, an international entertainment program for families, diving lessons, Kids Club access, local taxes, unlimited local drinks, and three dinners per week at the a la carte restaurants.
They are The Knife Restaurant (grilled food), Dolce Vita Restaurant (Italian food), Don Pablo Gourmet Restaurant (modern food), and the Mikado Restaurant (Japanese food).
What is there for families to do? Only oh so much! Charter a boat, play at the beach, explore the tropical rainforests, swim in the pool, or ride amazing slides at the water park.
6. Hotel Riu Ocho Rios
The Hotel Riu Ocho Rios is a 24-hour, all-inclusive Jamaican resort with a Travelife Sustainability System Gold certification.
Conveniently located from the Montego Bay Airport, the suite and room variety work for any traveler. I suggest the Superior Family Room, a two-bedroom suite with two queen-sized mattresses in one bedroom and a king-sized mattress in the other.
The room also includes a terrace or balcony, a beverage dispenser and minibar, and satellite television.
The onsite water park, Splash Water World, is open six days a week. The resort also boasts one kiddie pool with a slide and five standard pools.
Entertainment programs for adults and children are put together by the resort’s entertainment team, with options carefully curated for everyone’s enjoyment.
The range of restaurants includes themed establishments and some with live cooking stations.
7. Franklyn D Resort & Spa
Experience an FDR family vacation at the Franklyn D Resort & Spa, an award-winning resort.
The spacious, all-inclusive family suites offer incredible amenities, like separate dining and living areas, furniture throughout, large bedrooms with pillow-top mattresses, luxury-height toilets, and family-friendly bathroom amenities like shampoos and soaps.
Get in on the island life with the resort’s pools and a nearby beach. The Yellow Bird Kids’ Club program is for kids of every age that will keep them busy and engaged with gaming consoles, arts and crafts, a kids’ playground, tennis lessons, the Big Blue 100-foot slide, napkin-folding classes, cooking lessons, beach picnics, and snorkeling.
The Franklin D Resort’s Teen Program gets older kids in on the fun with disco nights, scuba diving, video gaming, and computer gaming, and a game room with foosball and ping-pong.
Other thrilling teen activities are arts and crafts, volleyball, talent shows, supervised trips, kayak races, bike tours, glass-bottom boat rides, sports tournaments, and computer classes.
The dining at this resort offers something for guests of all ages, even your little ones. The Honeycomb Shore Restaurant overlooking the beach serves buffets for breakfast every morning, salads for lunch, hot meals, and the yummiest desserts around.
The Pier blends French, Indian, and Italian cuisine to stunning effect, while the Overproof Restaurant has Jamaican menu items.
Don’t miss the tempting Kidz Buffett with child-friendly dishes such as hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, salads, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, chocolate milk, mocktails, and ice cream.
A free nanny is available to facilitate a streamlined vacation experience. They’ll take care of the kids and do housekeeping daily between 8:30 a.m. and 4:40 p.m.
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8. Beaches Negril
Beaches Negril has received many awards for its unforgettable family vacation experiences.
It got the 2019 Travvy Award for the Best All-Inclusive Family Resort in the Bahamas and Caribbean. It took home the 2020 World Travel Award for Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort.
U.S. News declared it one of the best hotels in its 2020 rankings, and TripAdvisor called Beaches Negril among the Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean.
The low-cost pricing for kids, one free night included with your stay, and other can’t-miss deals will incentivize you to book today. You can select from luxury, concierge, or butler-level rooms with patios or balconies and beachfront, tropical garden, ocean, or pool views.
Some villas offer up to four bedrooms, so you don’t have to be excluded, even if you have a big family like mine.
When it’s time to play, Beaches Negril does not mess around. The Port Royal Arcade features black-light laser hockey, electronic basketball, air hockey, and arcade games galore. That’s in addition to the Xbox Play Lounge, a haven for gamers.
Sesame Street characters roam the resort for meet and greets and photo ops. Your children can also get involved at the Kids Camp, with programs for infants, toddlers, kids five to seven, kids eight to 10, tweens 11 to 14, and teens 15 to 17. Beaches Negril has certified nannies available.
The land sports, pirate water park, and water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking will make your days as special as can be.
Prepare for gourmet flavors that tempt the taste buds at spots like The Mill, Yaku Peruvian Kitchen, Stew Fish Grill, Kimonos Oriental Cuisine, Mariachi, Bar.B.Q. Park, Café de Paris, Soy Sushi Bar, Dinos Pizzeria Italiana, and Yoyos desserts.
9. Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma
Negril’s Azul Beach Resort is a five-star Karisma resort with premium accommodations. Select from swim-up or multi-bedroom suites with Caribbean-inspired décor, floor-to-ceiling windows in some rooms, a sitting area with a TV, and a gorgeous bathroom.
How about some family togetherness out on the open sea when you ride kayaks together? Perhaps you can get competitive during a game of beach volleyball or archery.
Those are just some of the many activities for your family when visiting the Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma.
Plan for fun around every corner with beach bocce, beach cricket, pool volleyball, basketball, basket-weaving classes, table tennis, reggae tie-dying, and beach football.
The inclusive gourmet dining experiences include Caribbean dishes at Ackee, Italian at Di Romagna, the Garfield Beach House, Thai food at Hua Hin, an open kitchen at Mahogany, and world cuisine at Palms.
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10. Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
Ensconced in the beauty of Jamaica, the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive resort for families seeking the extraordinary.
The oceanfront rooms and suites promise amazing accommodation. The Prime Minister Suite for five boasts connecting doors to three bedrooms, a parlor, dining area, kitchenette, king bedroom, sitting area, granite bathroom, and furnished balcony.
Satellite TV is available, but you might be more interested in the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows in this 2,220-square-foot suite.
Visit Sugar Mill Falls, one of the biggest water parks in Jamaica. This exclusive water park within the resort has live music to set the mood. Three whirlpools, a kids’ zone, waterfalls, lagoons, and a 280-foot water slide guarantee fun.
You can also rent a private cabana or seek a butler service for an additional fee. Check out the family events happening at Sugar Mill Falls, as they make the best day ever even better.
Outside the water park, you can also take a dip in two outdoor resort pools and the nearby beach with clear water and crystalline sands. Paddleboarding, kayaking, and tennis are available.
Kids Club activities for little ones between 4 and 12 will pack every day with delight, including boat rides, karaoke, and treasure hunts. The Teen Zone for older kids provides entertainment through console gaming, foosball, air hockey, and arcade games.
Start the day off right with in-room dining or visit the restaurants across the resort. Fresh, a stop near the main pool, has all sorts of yummy desserts and buffet meals the kids should want to eat.
Mangoes specializes in Jamaican street food like salads, sandwiches, and more.
11. Moon Palace Jamaica
Come away to the Moon Palace Jamaica resort in Ocho Rios and treat your family to an experience of a lifetime.
The all-inclusive accommodations offer 24-hour room service, soft bedding, a double whirlpool tub, a minibar that’s restocked daily, and amazing views.
The Superior Deluxe Family Suite for up to six guests includes two bedrooms. The first has two double beds, and the second features a king-sized bed. Even better, the rooms adjoin! This way, the kids can enjoy a sense of privacy without straying too far from Mom and Dad.
What to do, what to do? How about letting the kids explore to their heart’s content at The Playroom Kids Club?
Offering arts and crafts, a jungle gym, face painting, a fashion show, a splash park, and more, kids can unleash their creativity and imagination.
The Dreamery is a kid-friendly concept throughout the Moon Palace resort that extends to everything from the shape and size of the soaps to themed amenities, attractions, and activities. Few Jamaican resorts take care of the kids so well.
The Wired Lounge is for when the kiddos get tired of the sun. It’s jam-packed with snacks and video games.
Of course, there’s more to eat than snacks here, far more. Dine at Pier 8 for an upscale breakfast or lunch, enjoy the fine ambiance and Jamaican dining at Buccaneers Reef, or have pizzas on the Sundeck.
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12. Ocean Coral Spring
The Ocean Coral Spring by H10 Hotels is a series of Ocean resorts. This newer five-star resort on the Coral Springs seafront has inclusive features, such as 24-hour shopping and medical, four meeting rooms, two tennis courts, a sports court, exclusive services and rooms, 10 restaurants, and an ice cream shop.
Swim in a large pool, soak in a Jacuzzi, and unleash the kids in the family pool and adjoining water park.
The Junior Suite Daily Family includes a separate living area, balcony or terrace views, a sizable bathroom, and space for at least four to sleep.
The Daisy Club will keep the kids busy. Created for young ones between four and 12, the kids can dance the day away with Daisy the mascot, enjoy shows and music, play in the games room, explore the playground, and splash in the water park.
A Teen Club for kids 13 to 17 adds video games, activities, and sports to the itinerary so your older kids can vacation in style.
The eclectic variety of restaurants is sure to please. Your options are the Italian a la carte spot La Locanda, the Asian restaurant Sakura, the Red Snapper, the Jamaican Grill, American BBQ food at Route 66, Indian food at Thali, and Caribbean and Jamaican fusion at Sugar Cane.