When it comes to family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, the choices seem endless. As popular as the island is for couples and honeymooners, its playful vibe also lends it to family vacations.
Though many may be marketed as such, not all family-friendly resorts are created equal. To make your vacation planning easier, here’s a roundup of the best of the best, so your family can relax without stress!
Beaches Negril (Negril)
The Beaches resort chain specifically caters to families, making it one of the best choices among family-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.
Beaches Negril has its own waterpark — the Pirates Island Waterpark — and the chain is officially partnered with Sesame Street, so kids can interact with their favorite characters in real life!
Other kid-friendly amenities include a kid club and nursery, as well as an Xbox Play Lounge for older kids and teens. Teens at Beaches also have their own exclusive club.
Beaches is also the only resort chain in the Caribbean to be certified autism-friendly (IBCCES Autism Certification), which is a huge plus for families with special needs kids.
Moon Palace Jamaica (Ocho Rios)
Moon Palace Jamaica is a huge, sprawling resort with a spot on Ocho Rios Bay Beach. The resort is close to downtown Ocho Rios, making it a great choice if you and your family would like to get out and explore the town!
This resort offers fun for all age groups; it has a dedicated playroom and kids club, as well as a lounge for teens and lots of late-night entertainment for grown-ups.
A unique offering here that’ll be fun for the whole family is that you can swim with dolphins on the beach!
The only potential downside of this resort is that its sheer size and the amount of walking required may tire out small children.
Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites (Montego Bay)
Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites has not one but two sister resorts — Grand and Beach — but Suites is the one that offers the best blend of luxury and family-friendliness.
Beach is technically the most geared towards kids but it is not as upscale as Suites. And besides, guests at Suites have full access to the amenities at Beach!
The kids club at Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites is fully decked-out with its own pool and waterpark, as well as a video game room. There is also a lazy river and a massive infinity pool with an ocean view! The spa here is expansive, as well.
Royalton Blue Waters (Montego Bay)
Royalton Blue Waters has a sister resort, the Royalton White Sands, that is essentially the same resort.
Blue Waters and White Sands are on the same property and share amenities such as restaurants, bars, and the beach. Rooms at Blue Waters, however, are more spacious and modern, as well as more geared toward families.
There are two freshwater pools at this resort — a lazy river pool and an infinity pool — as well as a small waterpark on the White Sands side of the resort.
Compared to other Montego Bay resorts, the kids club at Royalton Blue Waters stays open later — this could be a deciding factor!
Beaches Ocho Rios (Ocho Rios)
Like its Negril counterpart, Beaches Ocho Rios is specifically geared toward families with kids. It has a Pirates Island Waterpark (with 11 slides), official Sesame Street activities, an Xbox Play Lounge, and a teen hangout.
Beaches resorts are certified autism-friendly, so families with special needs kids can rest easy while their kids are at the kids club or the certified Autism Centers.
Golf lovers in the family will enjoy that this resort has its own private golf course and also includes green fees for the nearby Sandals Golf & Country Club, recognized as one of the best on the island.
Royalton Negril (Negril)
This family-friendly all-inclusive resort is located on the shores of Bloody Bay, a gorgeous bay just north of the famous Seven Mile Beach. The great thing about Bloody Bay is that fewer resorts share this beach compared to Seven Mile Beach.
Royalton Negril has a kids club and offers plenty of coordinated, supervised activities to keep kids and teens occupied. This resort also has its own mascot, Turbo the Turtle, to entertain younger kids!
You can lounge in the expansive ocean-view pool and swim on over to the swim-up bar, while the kids play at the resort’s splash park. As a family, you can enjoy a selection of free watersports!
Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall (Montego Bay)
This resort has consistently been one of the top-rated in Jamaica. It features a modern spa, a large pool with a whirlpool and swim-up bar, and luxurious suites.
Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall is one of two Hyatt resorts in Montego Bay; it has more restaurants and attractions than its adults-only sister, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall.
There are a plethora of things to do here, including plenty of evening entertainment. Hyatt Ziva is very family-friendly, though it doesn’t have many exclusively kid-oriented amenities. It does, however, have a supervised kids club and play area.
A standout feature of the Hyatt Ziva is its Moroccan-themed rooftop lounge, offering a bit of Mediterranean spice to your Caribbean vacation!
Jewel Runaway Bay (Runaway Bay)
If you and your family prefer to steer clear of the saturated tourist areas, consider Jewel Runaway Bay. This resort is located in the quiet yet beautiful seaside town of Runaway Bay.
Jewel Runaway Bay is extremely family-friendly. The resort has a nanny service, as well as kids’ and teens’ camps.
This resort also has a waterpark — the Jewel Lagoon Waterpark. For a waterpark within a resort, it’s quite massive! There are many slides, as well as a lazy river, a family raft ride, and splash pools.
This is another resort that golf lovers in the family will want to make note of, as a stay here includes green fees for the nearby Runaway Bay Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course.
Azul Beach Resort (Negril)
Lying on the gorgeous Seven Mile Beach is the Azul Beach Resort by Karisma. There’s an adults-only section to this resort, as well as a family-friendly side.
Azul Beach Resort is kid-friendly, with a kids club and play area (the adorably-named Azulitos Playhouse). Teens won’t feel left out either, as there’s a teen club as well. Adults will enjoy the lounge, the bars, and the comprehensive spa.
The resort is also very well-equipped for families with babies and toddlers, with cribs, highchairs, strollers, baby monitors, and pretty much everything else you’d need available for you!
Hilton Rose Hall (Montego Bay)
There are few resort chains as ubiquitous as Hilton — you read the name and know to expect luxury.
Located on a historical 18th-century estate, Hilton Rose Hall has an Old World charm to it but has all the comforts of modern hospitality. The resort feels equal parts homely and warm yet private and intimate, thanks to its expansive private beach.
For kids, this resort offers babysitting services, a kids club and teen club with coordinated activities, and the Sugar Mill Falls Water Park (one of the largest waterparks in Jamaica!).
For adults, there is a premier golfing spot — the White Witch Golf Course — located on the same estate.