KINGSTON, Jamaica – As the close of the school year quickly approaches, families planning a summer vacation will find family-focused packages and activities in Jamaica, where hotels and resorts are gearing up for summertime travelers. Properties are creating family escapes ranging from kids clubs and reunion packages to “Dive In” movies and complimentary stays.
With non-stop flights available from most major cities across the U.S., Jamaica continues to be a popular, easily accessible destination for travelers. Accommodations range from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to beach clubs and villas. Special family packages in Jamaica this summer include the following:
This summer Sunset Beach Resort Spa & Waterpark in Montego Bay and Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort Spa & Conference Centre in Ocho Rios welcome families with its “Play in Paradise” package. The resorts feature its signature Club Mongoose Kids programs, including the new Dive in Movie and Dinner, where a movie is projected onto a large screen poolside while kids watch from seats and water tubes floating in the pool. Other activities include bonfire on the beach, beach Olympics, ping pong tournaments, kayak relay races, scavenger hunts, children’s volleyball, mini-golf and a variety of video games. Parents can enjoy free time with Sunset Resorts’ Nanny Program. Additional charges apply for the Nanny Program. Rates start at $220, for double occupancy, excluding tax and gratuity. Visitors should book using the code PLAY by July 31 for travel June 25 through August 20, 2011. Visit www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com for reservations.
With three spectacular locations set on the most beautiful beaches in Jamaica, Beaches Resorts Family Reunion package is the ultimate getaway for multi-generational families. Groups who book five or more rooms for a minimum three-night stay will receive added incentives, including a private family picnic*, a group dinner gathering, a family portrait session complete with a complimentary 5×7 family photograph, private check-in, a surprise family reunion gift, a mouth-watering farewell cake, a family reunion concierge and additional exclusive family reunion activities. Groups traveling in September and October of 2011 and 2012 will also receive one room category upgrade for a VIP or group leader and a 20 percent discount for the entire group on an Island Routes Catamaran cruise.* Packages must be booked by December 31, 2012, and rates start at $137 per person, per night, inclusive of resort taxes & fees. Children are $105 per child, per night and kids under 2 stay free. Travel is through 2012 with no blackout dates, but the package is based on availability. For more information, call (800) 327-1991 or visit www.beaches.com.
This summer families can relax in refined comfort and breathtaking surroundings at the all-inclusive Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa. The resort’s “Island Getaway” package, offers children 12 years and under a complimentary stay when sharing rooms with an adult. All-inclusive pricing starts from $259 per room, per night based on double occupancy and a two-night minimum stay. The oceanfront resort features the Sugar Mill Falls Water Park (the largest in Jamaica), a championship golf course, a full-service spa and private beach with a water sports center. The package is available for travel May 1 – August 31, 2011. For more information, visit www.RoseHallResort.com.
For families seeking a luxury travel experience in Jamaica, Round Hill Hotel and Villas has a Summer Family Package offering two free nights for guests who book a five night stay in an oceanfront room. Rates start at $359 per night. As an added bonus, children under 12 dine for free all summer long and can enjoy activities in the complimentary Pineapple Kids Club. Travel must be booked by June 30, 2011. Additionally, guests save 50 percent on connecting children’s rooms for the first five nights, with rates starting at $180 per night, plus receive the last two nights free for both rooms booked. Rates are exclusive of a 10 percent tax and 15 percent service charge. The package is available May 1 – August 31, 2011, based on space availability. Round Hill includes 36 Ralph Lauren-designed oceanfront guest rooms, 90 luxurious villa rooms and suites, and a selection of 27 private 2 – 6 bedroom Signature Villas – most with private pools. For more information, visit www.roundhill.com or call (800) 972-2159.
Jakes, a boutique resort nestled in the quaint fishing village of Treasure Beach, offers a collection of vividly decorated villas, suites as well as spacious cottages ideal for families. The resort includes snorkeling, swimming, fishing and canoeing on the private beach. Family focused activities include its mosaic tiling workshop. Also, Paint Jakes is a series of watercolor classes accommodating painters of all levels; and during the Shell Design Playshop –children paint their choice of bird house, trinket box, etc. Jakes also offers interactive cooking lessons, which teaches little aspiring chefs about the famous Jamaican cuisine. Babysitting are services offered, allowing mom and dad to unwind at the full-service Driftwood Spa. A great base from which to explore, families can enjoy the diverse activities available in the areas surrounding Jake’s, including a visit to YS Falls, the most stunning waterfalls in the region where kids can jump from a rope swing, Tarzan style, into the cool water. Rates start at $95 per night (after April 21st). Visit www.jakeshotel.com or 1.800.Outpost.
Family reunions of up to 20 people, can book a 10 bedroom guest house at Two Seasons Guest House this summer for $670 per night, including breakfast. Two Seasons Guest House offers ten bedrooms with private bathrooms, and seven standard rooms. A comfortable living and dining area is equipped with board games, a dvd player while the full kitchen completes the guest house. A deck adjoins the living and dining area. For more information, visit www.2seasonsguesthouse.com
