Beaches Ocho Rios

"I want to do a vacation with my kids that is NOT Disney!"  We get that email a lot at our travel business. We love the Sandals (adults only) and Beaches (families) resorts in the Caribbean. These offer all-inclusive resorts because you pay everything before you leave your home then just go and truly enjoy a peaceful vacation.

Beaches Resorts are in three locations: Negril, Jamaica, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos.  All three offer all inclusive food, drinks and water sports for families. We have visited all of them and recently spent a week at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Turks and Caicos is the largest beaches and definitely the nicest but you get what you pay for and it does price on the higher side in both resort cost and flights.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica is the most affordable of the three and a great entry level family all inclusive. One reason for the pricing is the 90 minute complimentary airport transfer. We really enjoyed the drive as a way to see the country outside of a resort atmosphere. Our kids were fascinated and we felt it was worthwhile. However, you are in a 3rd world country with driving that is not what most Americans are accustomed to!  Some people feel that after a long day of getting up early and connecting flights that transfer just adds to travel pains.

First time snorkelers! And all the equipment is included at no cost!

"All-Inclusive" can mean a lot of things in the travel business. Sandals and Beaches really mean ALL inclusive. All the drinks including top-shelf liquor, all the water activities which do vary by property but include glass bottom boat, snorkeling (equipment provided), kayaking, Hobeycats, paddle boarding and scuba diving IF you have a certification. You can pay to be certified there but if this interests you, I highly suggest you do your certification in the states so you don't waste valuable vacation time getting trained.

There are excursions available if you want to pay to leave the resort. You can do Catamaran tours, hike some waterfalls, visit school children, or go floating down a river with guides.  You would not need to do any of those things to have a fun full week with family.

One inexpensive excursion is a trip to a local school to read to the children. You are encouraged to pack picture books to bring to donate and get to spend about 45 minutes with local school children. This was a highlight of our trip. They did think my dad was "Saint Nicholas" and his beard is real when pulled!

Employees at Beaches resorts are second to none. We find the people working there to be some of the best memories we make. A couple of young guys working came up and started a game of soccer with our son. Another employee, Romero, was a huge part of our week. He helped teach my son to swim and prepare him to snorkel for the first time and he "rescued" my daughter when the wind took her a little too far paddleboarding.  Then he spent hours encouraging her back out onto the paddleboard with patience and fun that made the trip so memorable.

The entire Sesame Street gang is available at Beaches properties for little ones.  You can also pay for extra opportunities with those characters like a special breakfast during your stay.

Dinner on the beach one night was a fun change and was followed by a Beach Party. There are four restaurants on property and no need for reservations. You can go to any of these each night. There is a lunch buffet daily, a creperie and a grill open for during lunch hours. Breakfast is a full buffet with everything you can imagine including a chef making omelets to order. She greeted one of my sons each morning with his order memorized. Attention to detail by the staff is evident in everything you experience. There are bars throughout the resort serving alcoholic and non aloholic items. Drinking age in Jamaica is 18 and they did ID the nearly 20 year old with us several times.

The pool is never busy including the water slides. A nearby bar and grill offers drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks all day. 

Our trip to Beaches, Jamaica was to attend our oldest daughter's wedding. She was married at nearby Sandals Ochi. We had children that were under 18 so we could not stay at an adult all-inclusive and felt the bride and groom might not want mom and dad on their honeymoon! It was perfect because we were able to travel together and pay for a taxi to the wedding but be at a family location.

When you are ready to book your all-inclusive trip email us for a no obligation quote: dillontravels@gmail.com

Keep in mind we are always paid by the resorts with no costs being carried over to you!