Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

JamaicaTripper Review: OK, don't get us wrong; we like this resort. Like others in the Beaches chain (the sister company of couples-only Sandals resorts), this property has some great kids' activities and programs for the whole family.

But why does it have to be soooo far from the airport? You'll find yourself (much less your kids) wondering "are we there yet?" when you hit the road from Montego Bay's airport and head to this resort, located 10 miles east of Ocho Rios in the community of Boscobel (near Oracabessa). Yes, you can hop a charter flight to the Boscobel Aerodrome if you're not watching pennies but most families just ride the Beaches shuttle which takes over two hours. You've been warned. It's worth the ride but make sure you're staying for long enough to make the trip worthwhile; we wouldn't recommend this resort for families who are just staying three (or even four) nights.

Once there, though, the resort is great for families. Children under age 2 stay free, and special rates cover children under age 16 sharing a room with a parent. One drawback we see is that the resort is located high above the beach; there are stairs or an elevator to head down to the beach but it's no simple matter to pop back to your room when you forget something.

Clientele: Families

Good Choice If:

you are traveling with a family
you'd like an all-inclusive where the emphasis is on kids

Bad Choice If:

you're not traveling with a family
you've got restless kids who just won't be able to sit for the two-hour transfer after the flight
you've got a short vacation