Smlinok,

I have some suggestions....I do not think you will like FDR with the ages of your children! I have taken my daughters to AI in Jamaica for many years. I have never been to FDR but have heard from others it is average at best! I know they have a nanny for each family, would your kids like that? I think they are the age to experience activities with other travelers. My favorite family AI are Beaches Negril, Beaches Boscobel (2hrs form MBJ) and Starfish! Wyndham Rose Hill is nice if you want an Americanized vacation, it is the most similar to an American resort (not for me!) The Sunset is in a great location and is building a fabulous water park���..depending on your travel dates, this would be a great place!

I agree with the other poster that Grand Lido Braco is the ultimate! It is my favorite resort, they DO NOT accept kids! Neither does Breezes!

When are you going? Is this your first time to Jamaica?

I stayed in Jamaica several times, and once at the FDR with two kids. Ochos Rios is far from Paradise and the FDR is a B- hotel with a C beach.

If you want to experience paradise on the east coast, I would suggest another island. Jamaica is not really kid friendly.

Barbados, The US VI, Aruba would be much better choices.

I disagree about "kid friendly" I think you picked the wrong resort. It is for toddlers and they sell the nanny concept. If you have a youngster it is a great opportunity to have a vacation with a personal nanny to assist you. I responded to the original post because her children were too old for the "nanny concept". I have taken my four children to many other places and our favorite vacations are in Jamaica. I cannot for the life of me imagine how you came up with....not kid friendly! I am sorry you had a bad experience but the AI hotels arrange their days around activities for children, from morning until night! Everything they do is for the family, children and to get everyone involved. When I have visited alone I always think..."I should have brought the kids" "the kids would have a blast" "I will bring them here next year". I know for a fact no one gives the same service as Jamaicans whether you are 5 or 50. The service is absolutely amazing!

I do agree the FDR is a very mediocre property with an average beach, food and buildings. I would never choose to go there. But that does not mean I would pass on the Jamaica experience.....please keep in mind, FDR is one of many properties. And for us with older children it is not the best choice. But, if you read the reviews it has fit the need for many families!

My children in the late 80���s befriended a nanny at another resort named Blossom. We stayed an additional week to try and take her home with us! I went to the embassy and we received all the necessary paperwork. At the last moment they refused her visa and I left with 4 broken hearted kids. She has been a special part of my children���s life. Her day began before we awoke and ended when we went to bed. Her days were committed to making them happy. And, remember this was an all inclusive, no tipping allowed.

I hope this poster does not detour you from Jamaica. It is an amazing place with amazing people! Do research and find the best place for your family. I admit it is becoming more difficult to make decisions with all the choices available. Take advantage of all the information and go have the experience of a lifetime!

CHEERS~

Has anybody stayed at the FDR's sister resort "Pebbles"? My husband and I have chosen to take our 12 yr old son and 7 yr old daughter here for the March Break. We chose this resort based on many, many great reviews here on this site and others, the FDR Pebbles is supposed to have the same "concept" as the FDR however geared towards older children.

Recently however I am starting to notice a few "not" so great reviews and we are starting to get concerned... We normally stay at 5* resorts and so far all of our "family vacations have been in Cuba (Safest Caribbean Island we know of).

However we have decided to try and "introduce" a new culture to our children, our son wanted to visit Jamaica and after many, many discussions (we had heard of many a horrer story about the poverty/begging/huge crime rate).... We began looking for an AI with a true "Jamaican" feel, that could help imerse our children into a new culture while being both an "educating" and "fun" family vacation. We couldn't seem to find any resort in the AI catagory that would fit the bill.... That was until we found the FDR Pebbles website.

We are going into the vacation knowing that this vacation at the FDR Pebbles will not be a "plush" vacation, we are trying to look at this trip as more of a "Cottage" vacation, without the hassles of cooking and cleaning...

I suppose this "post" has two purposes.... One, to maybe suggest if the FDR is "geared" towards younger children the Pebbles may be where you would want to look. Secondly I suppose I was wondering if anybody out there could lend some insite on FDR Pebbles....

I kinda would like to know why such a diversity of reviews?

Thank you

The Budges from Ontario

I have never been to Pebbles but as I stated before FDR is a not a 5* resport by any means.

First, let me say that I love Jamaica and it's people.

That being said, I think that Jamaica comes with its risks (crime, drugs) and annoyances (begging).

The only kid friendly resort that I have seen on the island that is 5* is the Ritz.

The resorts vary widely in quality and there are some very fun things to do with the kids (a la Dunns River Falls), but I find other islands (say Barbados) to be just as exiciting and a lot more relaxing.

I would not take children that are the ages of your children to FDR. I would definitely try Pebbles. The nannies at FRD have told me that it is geared to the older children, and teens. I have never stayed at Pebbles, but the FDR is a wonderful place to vacation with smaller children and still have a vacation for yourself!

I would say that Pebbles is probably great, too!

To the Budges...

I would say FDR PEEBLES is a very good fit according to your decription. Peebles is a rustic style intimate resort with a lot of "real" Jamaican flair to it. I would say the only "downside" to Peebles is that the beach has almost no sand at all, you will want to go over to Time and Place next door, or down past Starfish Trelawny to get to MUCH nicer beach areas. I agree with the other posts, Peebles would be more fitting, although neither would be amongst my first choices...

Blessings and respect to you!

Steve

To Binkbok:

I completely agree with Whams. I have been to many other Caribbean islands including several trips to Barbados and I have never been anywhere that is MORE "kid friendly" than Jamaica. I can't speak for FDR but everywhere I've been that allows children has had awesome services and amenities for children. The staff infallably are absolute "naturals" when it comes to bringing smiles to the faces and making sure everyone has a great time.

You say, quote:

"""That being said, I think that Jamaica comes with its risks (crime, drugs) and annoyances (begging). """

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>According to what statistics are you saying Jamaica comes with it's "risks" ??? According to facts, Jamaica is actually one of the SAFEST tourist destinations anywhere !!! You need to stop going by heresay, rumours and ill-founded speculations...

What would you define as a "risk" when you refer to "drugs" ?? Are you referring to the fairly common use of marijuanna? and if so, what is the "risk" to you? .... ( Do you think that there is substantially LESS marijuanna use right at home where you live??

As for "begging" .... Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but I have actually NEVER encountered a "beggar" in Jamaica. I encounter them EVERY DAY here at home, but in all my trips to Jamaica since 1987 I have NOT ONCE been approached by a beggar. I have encountered "begging" in MANY other Caribbean places but NOT Jamaica. In Jamaica people do not beg, there are many who make a living by selling their Art, Crafts and services.

You said, quote:

"""The only kid friendly resort that I have seen on the island that is 5* is the Ritz."""

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Kid friendly 5 star resorts in Jamaica:

Half Moon

Round Hill

Tryall

Ritz-Carleton

Coyaba Beach

The Caves

Goldeneye

Strawberry Hill

Jamaica Inn

Wyndham Rose Hall

Beaches Negril

Beaches Boscobel

Riu Tropical Bay

Club Riu Negril

You obviously haven't seen the rest of the choices... lol

"""The resorts vary widely in quality and there are some very fun things to do with the kids (a la Dunns River Falls), but I find other islands (say Barbados) to be just as exiciting and a lot more relaxing."""

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Personally, I find Barbados is a close second, but still less relaxing for me and the people, although nice, are never as outgoing and friendly and playful with children as in Jamaica.

I'd say you went to the wrong resort...

Just my perspective.

Blessings and respect to you.

Steve