Jammin’ Jamaica – the family friendly paradise isle | Beach Holidays | Travel

The place to remain

On a funds: Resort RIU Ocho Rios

At first look, the Resort RIU Ocho Rios is mind-blowingly ginormous. And certainly it’s massive – 900 rooms massive to be actual, with house for as much as 2300 company.

However its measurement means there are nice costs available, which slash the price of your tropical vacation. Rooms begin from simply £125 per evening per particular person, making it one of many extra reasonably priced 5 star choices on the island. Decor is barely dated in some, however an ongoing refurb goals to modernise.

As you roam across the resort, it feels properly spaced, staffed and stocked – by no means jam packed. There are 4 a la carte eating places, a big primary buffet, and loads of bars on your pina coladas.

Of all its services, its pure surprise – the seaside – is its spotlight, a lovely stretch of pristine white sand, with visiting sandpiper birds and calm, heat waters. Dotted concerning the complicated are 5 good-sized swimming pools, with some adult-only areas too.

With an in depth water park, children swimming pools and tailor-made leisure, RIU is extraordinarily household pleasant. Youngsters are welcomed and properly taken care of.

In the event you’re on a funds and on the lookout for a 5 star all inclusive in Jamaica – this could possibly be simply the ticket.

*Costs at Resort RIU Ocho Rios begin from US $159.00 per particular person per evening, based mostly on double occupancy

A bit of slice of luxurious: Seashores Negril 

For households on the lookout for a very luxurious expertise, Seashores Negril is unbeatable. From the second you arrive you and your little ones are properly taken care of, with attentive and personalised service. Workers keep in mind faces and names, making the expertise actually particular. With slightly water park on website, an amazing Elmo-themed children membership, and a delicate play for the over-4s, there’s a lot to do, even on wet days. Elsewhere there are actions like bingo to maintain you entertained through the day, and a altering schedule of nightly leisure. The weekly Elmo carnival – with dancing and video games for the youngsters – was sensible.

Every of the 197 rooms are spacious, fashionable and comfy – various in measurement and worth bracket. Some room packages, together with the brand new Eventide Penthouse Suite, include a butler service and each day pagoda use, for the last word in rest.

The seaside, paradisiacal and quiet, is attractive, with little yellow floating pods on which to wile away the hours. Water sports activities and snorkelling tools are included so that you can discover the gently lapping sea.

Utterly all inclusive, there’s a nice collection of a la carte eating places to select from, with a teppanyaki and a Mexican topping the highlights. There’s a buffet too, with prime notch meals. Drinks are premium manufacturers and ever-plenty.

A bit of slice of Jamaican luxurious for the entire household.

*Costs at Seashores Negril begin from £2,025 per grownup and £299 per little one (aged 2-11) for seven-nights’ all-inclusive lodging, based mostly on two adults and one little one sharing a lead in room.

*Seven-nights in a Grande Luxe King room begins from £2,025 per grownup and £299 per little one (aged 2-11). Worth contains Luxurious-Included (all-inclusive) lodging, each day and nightly leisure, land and water sports activities, resort transfers and contains £125 low cost with promocode ‘JAN125’ when booked by thirty first January 2024.

*Seven-nights for 12 adults sharing an Eventide Penthouse Three Bed room Balcony & Roof Terrace Butler Suite begins from £2,185 per particular person, which incorporates Butler Elite service, 24-hour room service and extra.

Issues to do

Stroll up a waterfall

I have to admit, after we arrived on the backside of the Dunn’s River Falls waterfall and appeared up, all three of us virtually backed out of climbing up it. However what an expertise it was. So how does it work? Led by an skilled information, in teams you’re taken on a protected route up the waterfall, strolling towards the water because it descends. It’s as exhilarating as it’s stunning, with stops alongside the way in which to take footage and slide into swimming pools.

Water footwear are required, as is a water-resistant cellphone case, as getting soaked is unavoidable.

To ebook, go to Tripadvisor

Bounce into the Blue Gap

Close by to the Dunn’s River Falls, the water play continues with the Blue Gap. Because the identify suggests, it’s a collection of deep pure water swimming pools into which you leap from platforms and ropes. The placement is attractive, set contained in the jungle with a robust waterfall offering the pure soundtrack to proceedings.

There’s a small waterfall too to climb, in case your repair at Dunn’s wasn’t sufficient.

With massive jumps and steep drops, the Blue Gap isn’t appropriate for actually little ones, though lifejackets are offered to maintain them protected as they watch their dad and mom dive in.

To ebook, go to Tripadvisor

Pay homage to Bob Marley

From the work within the airport, to the songs performed on the soundsystem of each taxi on the island, you’re by no means far-off from a reminder that Bob Marley, certainly one of historical past’s biggest musicians, hailed from Jamaica. And there are many locations to pay homage to the nice man. First up, The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston is a should, located on the location of his residence and changed into a gallery by his spouse Rita in 1987. A complete treasure trove of memorabilia, it options numerous possessions together with pictures and details about his life and work.

Elsewhere, in 9 Mile, in the direction of the north of the island, lies a smaller museum marking Bob Marley’s birthplace. A extra intimate affair awaits guests, with a potted historical past, his former home and mausoleum the place the reggae star and his mom had been laid to relaxation. A captivating, shifting and necessary expertise.

Eat at Rick’s Cafe

Rick’s Cafe tends to prime most ‘what to do’ lists in Jamaica in the case of food and drinks – however why? Properly, it’s household pleasant for a begin and genuine – with scrumptious native meals, cooked contemporary with native elements. After which there are the sundown views, unbeatable on the island. Lastly, for thrill seekers, cliff leaping gives hours of adrenaline-fueled enjoyable.

The right way to get there

Direct flights from the UK take round 9 to 10 hours. For these travelling with children, TUI is a superb selection with return flights ranging from round £650 per particular person from London Gatwick to Montego Bay. We flew in financial system class, which was greater than spacious sufficient. Youngsters get their very own particular in-flight meals with their names on them, are greeted with heat and smiles by the crew and welcomed on board. After all, the in-built screens do the heavy lifting in the case of conserving little ones entertained all through the flight, and there was a wide variety of U and PG movies on there.