Anyone been to Jamaica with kids?

[mommyatty]

This year is our 20th wedding anniversary. We want to have a really good vacation. Thinking about going to the Franklyn D Resort, home of the vacation nanny, in Jamaica. Anyone been to Jamaica? With kids?

We don't have anyone to leave the kids with for more than one night, so kids have to come with us. Besides, I really like my kids, and they are excellent travelers. But I would like the opportunity to have a romantic dinner with DH and have some time to snorkel and be on the beach without worrying about anyone drowning. It seems like this is a good way to get downtime and family time on the same vacation. 

If not Jamaica, any other ideas? 

[akafred]

We adore Puerto Rico. We have stayed twice at the Caribe Hilton which is on San Juan island proper, and has a private protected beach. Protected meaning there are no waves or breakers on the beach, so it is very small kid friendly. They do have a kids club camp for potty trained kids 3+ in the summer (we have not used because we came one week too late last time and DD was only 2 the first time) and offer in-room babysitting for a fee.

The resort (not all inclusive) has a lot to offer if you want to stick close, but if you want to venture out there is a lot to do in San Juan and all over the island. Caves, rainforest, bioluminescent bays, snorkeling, etc.

[supertrooper1]

I haven't been to Jamaica nor had I heard of that resort. But their nanny idea sounds amazing!

[sdlaura]

I just looked this place up and it looks amazing - and not a terrible deal for all food and daily childcare included.

We've never been to Jamaica with kids, but are going to the Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii in a month, with the main draw being the well reviewed kids club. We plan to use it a couple hours each day to go to the spa or eat a meal alone.

[lab02]

I've never been to Jamaica but remember reading about this resort when DS was ~2yo and I wanted a beachy vacation where some alone time with DH was possible. It has such great reviews! Anyway, I wanted to try it out so bad but DH nixed it for various reasons. I would definitely give it a try if I were you.

We went on a cruise in November (Norwegian Cruise Lines) and have another one scheduled for the end of March. The kids club was great - they had so many fun activities and a couple days in, DS was asking why we were picking him up so early and if he could go back.

[erinshelley21]

We haven't been, but I remember reading a post from a blogger that did go to Jamaica with her kids (she had 3 boys) and she had nothing but great things to say. I think the blog was the House of Rose. She said the resort they stayed at was very family friendly and I want to say she posted pictures of different characters being there. Sesame Street maybe?

[sandandsea]

I don't love Jamaica. We had such a subpar experience at the Sandals and Dunn river falls that I don't ever care to go back. The people we encountered were so aggressive and pushy. And we travel a lot, are easy going, and don't have high expectations. I would recommend so many other islands instead - Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, etc. or Mexico.
I'm also interested in Aulani in Hawaii for the babysitters but it's way more expensive.

[MamaPhD]

We spent Christmas in Jamaica in 2015 and it was AMAZING. DD was with us of course. We rented a house that had a full staff (butler, chef, gardner, housekeeper, etc). We didn't use the babysitting service (we had grandparents along too) but I know its an option with some of the house/villa rentals.
We had a fantastic trip!

[traveltheworld]

We went to Jamaica for our honeymoon, so obviously no kids back then. But we loved it and would take the kids back in a heartbeat. I like Negril more.

[saraml13]

Jan 30, 2017 18:21:12 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I don't love Jamaica. We had such a subpar experience at the Sandals and Dunn river falls that I don't ever care to go back. The people we encountered were so aggressive and pushy. And we travel a lot, are easy going, and don't have high expectations. I would recommend so many other islands instead - Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, etc. or Mexico.
I'm also interested in Aulani in Hawaii for the babysitters but it's way more expensive.

When you say the people were really pushy, do you mean the other tourists, the staff, or the locals?  Just curious. I've never been.

[oldbaylover1024]

We've never taken kids to Jamaica, but we did stay at a family-friend all-inclusive resort for our honeymoon, the Palladium in Montego Bay. As an adult without kids, I didn't even notice them! The resort offered a TON for families and the kids were always entertained. MH and I often saw families walking from their rooms to the 'drop off'/designated play areas with their kids, then the adults went and did their thing and the kids played all day. It seemed like a great place to spend a family vacation. The resort also offered family-friendly events during the day and in the evening.

Anyway, we loved it and have talked about going back with the family.

[sdlaura]

Jan 31, 2017 9:12:13 GMT -5 saraml13 said:

Jan 30, 2017 18:21:12 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I don't love Jamaica. We had such a subpar experience at the Sandals and Dunn river falls that I don't ever care to go back. The people we encountered were so aggressive and pushy. And we travel a lot, are easy going, and don't have high expectations. I would recommend so many other islands instead - Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, etc. or Mexico.
I'm also interested in Aulani in Hawaii for the babysitters but it's way more expensive.

When you say the people were really pushy, do you mean the other tourists, the staff, or the locals?  Just curious. I've never been.

We had the same experience when we stopped in Jamaica on a cruise - you couldn't walk from the ship into the town without super pushy local people practically stalking you, trying to sell you stuff.  But of course cruise ship passengers are easy targets.  If I went back to Jamaica I'd probably spend most of my time just at the resort.

[mommyatty]

sandandsea, Aulani was our original choice but DH is afraid of the long flight with 2 kids. He's a wimp. Our kids are awesome on planes. One sleeps the entire time and the other is perfectly happy playing with toys on her tray table, snacking, and snoozing.

[sandandsea]

Jan 31, 2017 9:12:13 GMT -5 saraml13 said:

Jan 30, 2017 18:21:12 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I don't love Jamaica. We had such a subpar experience at the Sandals and Dunn river falls that I don't ever care to go back. The people we encountered were so aggressive and pushy. And we travel a lot, are easy going, and don't have high expectations. I would recommend so many other islands instead - Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, etc. or Mexico.
I'm also interested in Aulani in Hawaii for the babysitters but it's way more expensive.

When you say the people were really pushy, do you mean the other tourists, the staff, or the locals?  Just curious. I've never been.

I hate saying it but the locals were pushy. I know they're trying to make a living and sell their crap but don't touch me, don't put things on me as I walk by and tell me I have to pay for it now and don't yell at me from a block away when I already said no. The staff were less than helpful but not pushy. I stood at the bar with three bartenders and no other guests for 10 minutes waiting for a drink at an all inclusive resort. It just wasn't a good experience.