Please suggest an ALL INCLUSIVE for my friend

Hello,

My friend/co-worker, her husband and 2 children ages 5 and 8 are considering Negril for a vaca but they wanna do an all inclusive. She knows husband and I are obsessed with jamaica and have been to Negril a doz times and that we never stay at all inclusives AND I did try and talk her into staying at a non- AI but they're pretty set on an AI due to the kids. ( I will make her promise they leave the AI for excursions buy who knows if they will?)

Who has AI recommendations for me to pass along to her? Anything at all. The good. The bad. The ugly. I want it all.
The only AI I've ever stepped foot into was The Royalton (we went on a sales pitch walk thru last year to check it out) and I guess if you're looking for an AI it seemed decent enough? But husband and I just can't fathom staying at one! They aren't for us.

I appreciate any comments about AI's in Negril you may have to pass along to my friend :)

If you want them to get out and "explore", might i suggest Grand Pineapple. I have never stayed at any AI but it is more central (close to Alfred's) and would be easier than having to deal with taxis. Do check the hotel section of the main page of negril.com for more.

beaches for the kids if they dont mind spending the money though we have just done a day pass with the family. we have done grand pineapple a couple times with the kids . it's the best value on the beach in my opinion but not the ritz.
if the kids are older they might try riu.

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Beaches would be my choice if I was a kid!!

Beaches...if the kids are younger.. Grand Pineapple really doesn't have much in the way of things for the kids to do.

Comparing Beaches to the Grand Pineapple is like comparing a Model T to a new Mercedes..lol..

i mean, if all they want is to not deal with paying for food and drink as they go and aren't sweating a water park, nightly entertainment and free excursions, then grand pineapple would be fine.

if they want some super duper deluxe all-inclusive experience with lots of bells and whistles and extras included, then they should go for beaches.

(but you know how i feel- at that age, all kids need is a pail and shovel, a pair of water wings and a lot of sunscreen.)

that is true. The only thing in common is the AI...and that doesn't even compare. But I love the GP..so it works for us and is a heck of a lot cheaper! Which means we can come back yearly as opposed to every 3 years..lol

Definitely Beaches with kids, and I always got a WAY better rate when I went through my travel agent and not Beaches' website.

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Originally Posted by 68Stang

Beaches...if the kids are younger.. Grand Pineapple really doesn't have much in the way of things for the kids to do.

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If i was lucky, I got a bucket and a shovel, both of which eventually broke, and I loved every minute of it. Not saying that giant playground wouldn't have been amazing. Hell, I want to climb on that thing now.

I recommend NOT staying at an AI......period. Keep on them. They may as well go to Jersey and stay locked behind a fence. Blahhhhh.

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Originally Posted by MikeyNYC

If i was lucky, I got a bucket and a shovel, both of which eventually broke, and I loved every minute of it. Not saying that giant playground wouldn't have been amazing. Hell, I want to climb on that thing now.

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Originally Posted by Kold Ass Mofo

I recommend NOT staying at an AI......period. Keep on them. They may as well go to Jersey and stay locked behind a fence. Blahhhhh.

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i agree with both of you and i know that op (who happens to be my sister) does, too.

my sister (op) and i were raised by hippies in the 70s and 80s, so we needed and expected nothing more than a pail and a shovel and a kite (our dad was really into flying kites). for better or for worse, i pretty much raise my kid the same way. we've done disney world and he and his father have gone to great adventure, but when we're at the beach all we're doing is swimming in the ocean, playing soccer, listening to music and climbing trees. we don't need any of the bells and whistles.

i seriously try to wrap my head around WHY people feel they need an AI in JA, especially when there are kids involved. throw 'em on the beach and let them chill!

She’s right. But without going into it too much here - I don’t have the energy really to try and talk them out of an AI. I have a little already and well it’s just time for me to let them
Do whatever they’re gonna. I asked if they wanted me to recommend amazing non AI spots on the beach and they said no. Their kids are super smart. I’m guessing here they want a lotta activities to keep the kids busy so they can enjoy themselves and not have to worry about watching them on the beach? Or that they’d be bored just being on the beach all day? I don’t know. Didn’t get too deep into specifics. Thanks everyone for AI suggestions.

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Originally Posted by mwenvlay

i agree with both of you and i know that op (who happens to be my sister) does, too.

my sister (op) and i were raised by hippies in the 70s and 80s, so we needed and expected nothing more than a pail and a shovel and a kite (our dad was really into flying kites). for better or for worse, i pretty much raise my kid the same way. we've done disney world and he and his father have gone to great adventure, but when we're at the beach all we're doing is swimming in the ocean, playing soccer, listening to music and climbing trees. we don't need any of the bells and whistles.

i seriously try to wrap my head around WHY people feel they need an AI in JA, especially when there are kids involved. throw 'em on the beach and let them chill!

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Beaches does a beautiful job of catering to families with young children. If they can, I would highly recommend Beaches.

Things still tend to run on "island" time sometimes, but overall, they know that young families need to keep children fed and active. The staff, entertainment, facilities, and restaurants cater to families of all ages. The kid camp lets mom and dad have a little time to themselves. It's a great vacation, IMO.

Good chance if you take kids to the GP they might be the only ones there at the time. It's not an adults only property, but some of us are fortunate that it "happens" to be moreso than not.

We've been to GP 3 times & would have been there 5 but twice were sent to Beaches instead. GP is great because it has a nice beach but we've never seen many kids there. If the kids don't mind playing by themselves & not much to do I'd say go with it because it's reasonably priced & if you get tired of their 1 buffet food you will have enough $ to go somewhere else to eat at times. BUT...what kid wouldn't love Beaches?? There is so much to do there & the beach is beautiful. Heck, I loved doing those things myself! I enjoyed floating around on the tubes on the Lazy River & they get a big selection of different places to eat. We could never have afforded Beaches on our own though. Very pricey!! We only went because GP sent us there. We've also stayed non AI which is also fine with us but if I were going with kids I think I would prefer an AI. It's just easier. You don't have to stay locked up there the whole time. You can still walk the beach & visit other places.