We got back a week ago from FDR and wish we were back there again! Below is our detailed review, if you have specific questions, feel free to ask.

Arriving in Jamaica:
• It is a LONG walk from the gates to Customs/Immigration. If you have more than one child who likes riding in a stroller, think about taking more than one (or a double stroller). If you use wraps or carriers, that’s also an option, but be aware that the air conditioning isn’t great. I had my 14mo old in a Snugli against my chest and almost passed out from the combined body heat. (Also, note that if you change planes in Charlotte, NC, it’s a hike between terminals.)
• We had arranged through our travel agent (Warna at Let’s Take the Kids Travel) to have a private transfer to the resort, rather than using their shuttle. It was a great decision and well worth the cost (in our case, it was included in the price from the agency) mainly because the private transfer (not a car, but a large van) has car seats. It’s a strange oversight for a family-oriented resort like FDR that they don’t have car seats in their vans.
• It’s about a 1 1/4hr drive from the airport to the resort. We had water bottles left from the flight, but if you don’t have drinks, you might want to try and find them before heading out. (I didn’t see any gift shops in the arrivals area, but I’m sure there’s something.)
• There are porters available to take your luggage out to the street to wait for your transfer, but be aware they expect $1/bag and won’t hesitate to let you know if you’ve not tipped enough.

Arriving at FDR/Our Suite:
• We arrived at FDR and were immediately greeted enthusiastically by the front desk staff. One of them took our 14mo old in her arms and didn’t want to give her up!
• We were then taken to our suite. With two small children, we had decided to get the two-bedroom, two-bath, one floor suite. It was huge! Our bedroom had a king with two twins in the second bedroom (we had them bring a crib into that room for our 14mo old). There were two full baths, with shower and tub, and a long counter with the sink (lots of space for all your toiletries). There was also a good-sized living room with a TV and DVD player, a large dining table, and a small kitchen with a fridge, stove, and sink. All of the floors are tile, which means that things break easily (we dropped a glass one night and it shattered), but it cleans up quickly as well.
• We were in Block 8, Suite 2, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. We had a semi-private “back porch” with chairs and a table, and our unit led directly to a small beach area and two hammocks. It was great because we could pretty much be alone over there most of the time. Beyond the small beach was the outdoor spa facility and the gate to the Beaches beach (more on both of those later). Going out the front door, you immediately hit the playground, children’s arts & crafts area, and spa. 30-40 feet to the right and up a ramp was the pool and just beyond that were the bar, restaurant, and grill.
• One of the best things about FDR is the size. With two small children, you don’t want it to be a long hike from your room to the beach or pool. It was never a hassle to run back to the room for a sippy cup or swim toy. We drove by a few other resorts on the way to and from the airport and some of them looked massive. I can’t imagine a small child wandering around—they’d get tired just getting to breakfast!
• When we arrived we had a small plate of sliced cheese and some crackers in our fridge, along with a few cans of soda. Our nanny (more about her later) showed us forms that we could use daily to request a number of different food/drink options. We had her bring whole milk for the baby, 2% for the rest of us, Diet Coke (or Coke Light as they call it) for my husband, and pineapple juice for me. Every day we’d also request more cheese and crackers so we could have a late afternoon or midnight snack. We don’t drink beer, but Red Stripe is also on the list! There’s also a line for special requests and I truly think they’d go out of their way to get you anything you asked for.

Our Nanny
• Ah, the very best reason for going to FDR. Our nanny was Sophia and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better. She totally took to our children and very much went with the flow. We had her babysit every night and it was great to have dinner alone with my husband! At $4/hr, it’s well worth it (we would usually tip to make it equivalent to $5/hr).
• The nannies arrive at 9am, take lunch from 12:30-1:30, and are done at 4:30. If you want them to stay later, they take a one-hour break and then return. They are also responsible for cleaning your room, which we did find a little odd—not to denigrate cleaning staff, but a lot more skills are required to be a nanny! We tried to work it so Sophia could clean while we were eating breakfast or directly after her lunch break when we were likely to be having lunch ourselves. She was also happy to put our 14mo old down for a nap and then clean while she was sleeping.
• The nannies are not allowed to eat with you unless you let the restaurant manager know (the nanny can point her out). Sophia had breakfast and lunch with us a few days and also joined us on our last day for the Beach Buffet dinner.
• Before we left we tipped Sophia $100, which seems to be the usual amount for a week’s stay. We also left behind extra diapers, pull-ups, and wipes that we had brought with us. The cost of diapers is ridiculous there and while Sophia has an 11 year old, she said that she had family and friends who could really use them.

The Grounds
• There are three pools—a 100ft slide pool, a kiddie pool (really small), and the main pool. The cool thing with the main pool is that the only true deep end is in the middle of the pool. All around the edge the water is about 4’ high, with the shallow end about 3’ with wide steps and two “fish tanks”—small glass block-enclosed areas. Being able to walk the perimeter of the pool is great when you’re playing with kids who can’t swim. There are also two small slides into this pool as well. Surrounding the main pool is a sunning area with two tiers of lounges and a few tables with chairs. The waitresses from the bar circulate constantly, so you’re never far from a pina colada!
• There are two beach areas, the small one that I mentioned earlier and the main beach. Be aware that because FDR caters to families with small children, this is not a mile-long, white sand beach. It’s a protected cove with a somewhat rocky beach and it’s fairly shallow for a ways out. I would recommend some type of water shoes or socks to make everyone’s feet more comfortable. Further up out of the water is a sandy area for building sand castles or just playing. If you want a more “typical” Caribbean beach, FDR guests are allowed to use the beach at the Beaches resort next door. It’s accessible through a gate next to the outdoor spa and has nice swimming areas. The rule, however, is that you’re not allowed on the beach above the water line, so it’s not a place to lie out.
• Gym: I was on vacation. I didn’t go, but I’ve heard it’s nice. The fitness instructor, Donovan, is a character. Watching him leading water aerobics every day was a fun show.
• Disco: There’s a dance room that starts at 6:30 for the kids, then at 8:30 for the teens, and 10pm for the adults (or something like that). My husband and I never went, but our nanny would bring the girls there after they had dinner for dancing fun.
• Water Sports: There’s scuba diving (extra fee), glass-bottom boat tours, and probably something else I’m forgetting. I’ve never fancied seeing myself in a wet suit, so we gave that a pass. ;)
• Kids’ Activities: My three year old’s favorite was tie-dying. Bring white t-shirts with you so you don’t pay a fortune for them and you can make as many as you want. She was able to make one for herself, one for her baby sister, and one for her best friend. I wish I had picked up some inexpensive white shorts or a skirt so she could tie-dye that.

The Food
• The main restaurant, Verandah, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day (exceptions noted below). Breakfast is a buffet with made-to-order omelets or fried eggs, scrambled and hard-boiled eggs in heating trays, and a selection of fried potatoes, fried dumplings, waffles, pancakes, sausage and bacon. There’s always a hot pot of oatmeal with various toppings and warm croissants, rolls, and sweet breads. A cold spread includes assorted fruit, cheese, and usually something fishy—smoked salmon, sardines, etc. There’s also a toaster with bread and English muffins, plus butter and assorted jams. For drinks, there are juices on the buffet or you can order coffee, tea, or pretty much anything else from the waitresses. I was on a huge pineapple juice kick down there and had it with breakfast every day.
• Lunch was also a buffet, this time options included soup, macaroni and cheese, a couple of hot entrées and sides/starches, salad makings, and assorted desserts. Their hot entrées were great—one day they had Chicken Lo Mein and it was so good. (With all the eating, I’m amazed I didn’t come back with an extra 5-10lb!)
• The grill, which is next to the bar, is open 11am-12am and has hamburgers, hot dogs, a couple of different sandwiches, and jerk chicken. They also have 1-2 flavors of ice cream each day for cones.
• Dinner at Verandah is sit down and they have tables out along the pier. It’s a four-course meal (appetizer, salad, entrée, and dessert) and the night we were there it was terrific. I had a yummy scallop risotto for my appetizer and wish I could have made it a full meal.
• For the kids, they have a dinner buffet that has the usual suspects—macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, etc.
• FDR also has two “adult-only” restaurants—The Pier, which is Italian, and Overproof, which is traditional Jamaican. We ate at The Pier our second night and I have to admit we were less than overwhelmed. My husband had red snapper (in fact, he had snapper three nights in a row!) that was good, but my Fettuccine Alfredo was pretty institutional. But what do you expect from an Italian restaurant in Jamaica? ;) Overproof, where we went the next night, was super. I’m a real weenie when it comes to spicy food, so I was worried, but everything was just incredibly flavorful with some spice. I had a pork tenderloin dish that just melted in your mouth.
• Twice a week they have special dinner nights. Unfortunately, the Jamaican buffet was the first night we were there and my husband and I were so tired, we slept right through it! Wednesday nights there’s a beach buffet with the tables set up on the beach and a show put on by the staff and some of the guests. The food was a little more varied—there was a stir-fry stand, carved roast beef, and then assorted hot and cold trays.
• Overall, you don’t go to FDR for the food, but you’ll be well fed when you’re there. Some of the food is what I would call “generic hotel food” but if you look for the more authentic Jamaican dishes, you’ll be happy.
• The bartenders will make anything you want and usually have a specialty drink each day. We lived on pina coladas and rum punch and were very happy. :)

Tours
• There is a shopping tour of Ocho Rios included with your package. I went and while it was fun, it’s definitely a trip for the dedicated shopper. First stop is a combo tourist schlock, liquor, and jewelry store. The guy in the jewelry area is very hard-sell, but will keep coming down in price if you haggle. I was looking at a ring with a price tag of $980 and by continuing to say no, he brought it down to $294. Stupidly, I didn’t buy it because I’ve since seen smaller stones for more money! :( After that store, the driver will bring you over to a whole duty-free shopping plaza, pretty much all tourist stuff or jewelry stores. Across the street is a craft market and here’s where the people got really pushy. Thankfully, I was on the tour with a family of Jamaicans now living in England, so I wasn’t doing it alone. You will be amazed how often you need to repeat “No, thank you” in one small craft market! Unfortunately most of the stands had the same stuff—Bob Marley t-shirts, small leather goods, carved wooden birds, etc. I got a cute bracelet and a pair of earrings but if your taste isn’t for “Caribbiana” there’s not much there. Overall, if you want to get out for an afternoon and see a bit more of the island, go on the tour. But if you’re bothered by pushy salespeople, stay back at the pool.
• There are other tours available, which we didn’t take (we were only there for five nights; if we had been there longer, we might have tried one or two). We did overhear a family in the pool one day saying that the Dunn’s Falls tour was a real bust.