Bringing the Kids.....??

Hey there Boardies...

Been a long 3 years, but heading back to Jamaica in May with the kids. I'm bringing my Mom, Daughter (21yrs old) and her boyfriend, and my 10 year old son. Not sure on where to stay. I prefer Negril and usually stay at Coco La Palm. Everyone with me are newbies to Jamaica. My Mom is a Mexico AI person, Daughter doesn't care where we stay, but my Son just wants a water park or "awesome pools" .. I need help! Been trying to research places that would suit us all and keep me in Negril. The best I can come up with is RIU Tropical, I know Mom would like it, but worried that my Son would get bored because I've seen the pools on line, and it doesn't look like they have a kids area. I keep trying to explain to the boy that he will enjoy the beach and ocean, but he's not buying it. He keeps asking about sharks in the water .. LOL- too many movies I guess. My Mom was looking at The Jewel in Runaway bay, Sunset Beach, or HIlton Rose Hall, but I want to be in Negril. ( Kinda spoiled that way) I am really trying to steer her away from that area, and reinforce how beautiful the beaches are and how chill the vibe is in Negril, and that it is way more laid back than MoBay. So, Mom wants All Inclusive, Son wants nice pool, Daughter just wants to go (that's my girl- just like her Mom :D) Any suggestions??... OH Mom has only stayed at " Froo Froo" All Inclusive resorts lol... I am diligently working on her.. trying convince her that all we need is clean, safe, and MAYBE breakfast included. I honestly think she would love the cliffs, but gotta have the beach for the kids.

Hi Honey518 where do YOU want to stay? There are plenty of places to stay that are not A/I did you want a place you all can stay together or separate rooms? There is a section on here with Hotels will tell you if they have a pool, beach or cliffs etc. It is on the upper left corner. Click on hotel name.

I think your family would love the Tree House -- there is a pool there for your son, breakfast is included & a GREAT breakfast it is, anything you want and all you can eat. No need to cater to your son so, he will love the beach. Because of the reef the waters are very calm, unlike Runaway Bay where it is windy and there is kind of an undertow.

It's awesome that you're taking the family. I have stayed at Beaches Negril, CocoLaPalm and Crystal Waters Villas with my kids and they were overjoyed wherever we stayed. When they were around your son's age, they preferred having a swimming pool, but after they had been to Negril a few times, they were always excited just to go with me, no matter where we stayed. Now when my older daughters go without me, one of them usually stays at CCLP and the other one prefers the cliffs. IMO, Treehouse and Rondel would also be good choices with kids. Treehouse and CCLP have breakfast included (through Negril Onestop). Beaches Negril has an amazing water park and I would highly recommend it over the RIU, if it's in your budget. Also feel that I've always gotten my monies worth when staying AI because my kids were eating machines and it was so nice just to let them roam and eat and drink when and what they wanted.

Unfortunately I believe the beaches idea is going to work best. It does not sound like your mom is going to like many of the other places. I like grand pineapple for an all inclusive but not fancy enuff for my kids. Couple rooms at idle awhile might also work

Beaches definitely fits everyones wants, but its not cheap to stay there! When my son was about 10, we got bumped from Grand Pineapple to Beaches Sandy Bay, and spent every day at the waterpark at Beaches, he thought it was the best thing ever!

Would love to do Beachs, but thats out of budget... Have to keep Mom happy because she is my official "Financial Backer" LOL... I will check out Treehouse- NegrilOneStop -usually has great deals and I ususally book CCLP with them- I did show mom CCLP, but she was just kinda "Blah" about it..lol I'll break her into the non AI lifestyle-it will be my goal! :cool:

at 10 my son loved Sunset Beach (Montego Bay) --- they have an active kids program and a waterpark on site

i also liked that i could do a day trip to Negril and another day trip to Ocho Rios or 9-mile

good mix of Jamaican and continental food and several "restaurants" (free) on-site

it's not 5-star but it's okay

also let mom know that she can eat and drink at CCLP all day --- but when she gets there and sees that beach i bet she'll be motivated to check out other places

maybe share some pictures of the beach so she can see how active it is and all there is to do

Good Luck lol

CCLP and a trip up the road to cool runnings water park?

Thanks Seveen I'm working on Mom! LOL.... Negril1990 The water park doesn't open until 5/23/14 so I Cooould take "The Boy" either on the 23rd or 24th ...that may work- Just gotta get mom out of the way.....

@ Seveen - We were looking at Sunset because the price was good, I just wasnt sold on the beach. However due to it being in MoBay, taking a day trip to Negril and Ochi would be doable. Is there enough to do in the immediate area for the 20yr olds to do? Ive stayed in MoBay back in 96 and 98 at Breezes.. How long of a cab ride is Sunset Beach to the Hip Strip?

the beach there is okay - it's short but long and there is a clothing optional part --- way down the beach

as for the 20 year olds -- the Hip Strip is not far - i recommend going out the gate and take a taxi from there --- also for any tours - much less expensive than the tours advertised by the resort - i think the swim up bar will also keep them occupied :-)

that Breezes is closed - i stayed there once - it was horrible lol - Cornwall Beach which is next to where Breezes used to be - appears to be up and active these days

as for myself - after 4 nights at Breezes my butt was tired of sitting in a lounger

maybe you can convince Mom to break up the trip? spend some nights at Sunset and then go to Negril or vice versa

i barely saw my child the whole time we were there --- but he friended some kids and their mom and I are still great friends --- she even came to visit me from Canada

there is a waterpark in Negril - but I don't think you'd want to go there every day --- as a matter of fact - when we passed it on our way in - i made my son turn his head --- hey son look at that lol

i still think everyone would be fine in Negril - let Mom look over all the hotel videos on NegrilOneStop - so much variety - and you know the 20 year olds will love the nightlife

I would say treehouse. Fancy enough for mom. Real enough for you and close to the action for kids.

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Originally Posted by Honey518

@ Seveen - We were looking at Sunset because the price was good, I just wasnt sold on the beach. However due to it being in MoBay, taking a day trip to Negril and Ochi would be doable. Is there enough to do in the immediate area for the 20yr olds to do? Ive stayed in MoBay back in 96 and 98 at Breezes.. How long of a cab ride is Sunset Beach to the Hip Strip?

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Not in negril but the hilton rose hall has a nice water park with slides and a lazy river...very nice place...

RIU tropical is a terrible place to take a 10 year old and 21 year olds. They were be bored insane, never young folks there and especially children. The RIU club next door is more suited for the kids and will still suit grandma and they have a whole kids program of activities all day and a night club for the 21 years.

I think RIU Club would be the right fit, too. It's pretty fancy and kids LOVE that place.

I guess you priced Riu Trop,,,I think it's overpriced and the reason that the Riu Club is a lower price is ???????Well,when you get there you will know. Just do CoCo and get Mom to try it.