This past Thanksgiving, we joined family in Negril, Jamaica. It was our first time staying at an all-inclusive resort! Needless to say, we felt incentivized to stay on the property rather than explore. To help you decide if Beaches Negril is right for you, we noted some pros and cons.
Pros
- Great for Divers: Some of our family members are avid divers, and it didn’t take long to see why they chose Beaches for the holiday. When we hear all-inclusive, we immediately think unlimited food and booze. Beaches takes it to another level by including unlimited diving as well. Even for an all-inclusive resort, the Beaches price tag can seem ridiculous, but taking multiple trips with their diving staff can go a long way towards justifying the cost.
- Complimentary Airport Transfer: The Beaches resort is not close to either Jamaica airport (~2 hours to Montego Bay, ~4 hours to Kingston), so having a complimentary transfer goes a long way. Something worth noting: the complimentary transfer is good for either airport at any time of day. We had a 7am flight out of Kingston, and we were still able to have a private car take us from the resort to the airport at 2am. Not a fun experience, but exceptional service considering the situation.
- Note: If you are keen to explore more of the island, we recommend taking advantage of this service! We flew into Kingston a day before our transfer to Negril so that we could get a taste of the city (and the jerk chicken). Sweetwood Jerk Joint was everything we expected for a casual stop, and it was conveniently located next to the Courtyard Marriott (one of the nicer Courtyards we’ve visited) and Emancipation Park (big, open space that seems great for events). We rented a car for the day to save money on taxis to and from the Kingston airport, but we’ve made better decisions. Driving in the city was chaotic, and motorbikes (which are not insured) are everywhere. Plan accordingly. They also drive on the left side of the road, if you’re not used to that kind of thing.
- Food
- Restaurant Variety: While we are adventurous with our food selections, some of our group isn’t the most bold. For lunch, the resort offered a grill with hamburgers and hot dogs, a buffet restaurant with rotating options, a pizza restaurant, and a Mexican restaurant. Then for dinner, on top of the lunch options, they also offered a Japanese steakhouse, sushi, Italian, and seafood. Then for dessert or anytime during the day, you had the option to go to the Café de Paris for a crepe, coffee, and/or other snack. The resort also offers a Jamaican restaurant, which was closed for renovation during the majority of our trip but was open for one night towards the end of our vacation. It’s a beautiful setting – tables on the sand against the ocean.
- Local Ingredients: One of the most underrated parts of a vacation is the appreciation for and quality of the local cuisines. In Jamaica, there is a wide variety of fresh fruits and snacks (i.e., cassava, mango, sugar cane, etc.), which are all very tasty.
- Dietary Restrictions: The hotel was very accommodating of food allergies. One of our family members is gluten-free and dairy-free, and we were able to make sure he had a special dish for every meal. His favorite was the gluten free pizza, which he was able to have made without cheese of course!
- Complimentary Photo Shoot: Depending on the package you purchase for your family, you may have an included photo opportunity. My mom was very excited about this opportunity since our vacation was a family trip and we were able to grab professional shots of the whole family. While maybe not the best quality, the photos are definitely a great memory, and they are “free” with the multi-thousand dollar purchase of a resort stay.
- Family Friendly (depending on who you ask): The big draw of Beaches Resorts as opposed to Sandals Resorts is that kids are welcome. There is a large collection of kid pools and activities specifically designed for children, so the little ones in our group were always entertained. There are even scuba lessons offered for kids! We were really impressed with the friendliness and patience of the whole staff. The resort did offer nightlife options. However, the options were geared more towards tweens/teens rather than adults, so best to avoid that part of the resort.
Cons
- Family Friendly (depending on who you ask): Almost all of the activities seem geared towards kids and teens, and it is sometimes difficult to partake in the all-inclusive activities because there are so many families that want to participate (i.e., paddle boarding, banana boat, etc.). In addition, the night activities were very focused towards child entertainment, such as a Sesame Street show. Don’t expect adult nightlife here.
- Food Options: Only the main buffet changes its menu over the course of the week, so the available options can become a little exhausting. Overall, the quality wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t anything special. The most disappointing meal was Thanksgiving dinner, but it would be asking too much to have a Jamaican resort recreate the most traditional American homecooked meal.
- Trapped in Paradise: Options to get away from the resort are limited, so we felt somewhat forced to stay on the premises (poor us). The one time we left the resort was for a complimentary catamaran ride. While this sounded fun at first, it turned out to be an overcrowded shuttle to an empty Margaritaville. Drinking at our all-inclusive started looking better and better.
- Wifi: Unless we were near the lobby of the hotel, the wifi was pretty terrible. Since there is also little nightlife for adults (assuming you don’t want to venture off the resort), you definitely have a lot of time to sleep and spend quality time with your significant other or family!
Overall, we recommend the Beaches Negril for families, but we encourage you to explore other options for a romantic getaway or adventurous trip. Beaches Negril is a great place to relax, spend time with family, and not worry about what you will be making for your next meal – just make sure you’re looking for a family-friendly trip.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan