Family Holidays: Jamaica family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

We can think of very few reasons why not! Jamaica is a first class destination, it is a long way to go and accomodation is a bit hit and miss, but it is worth any amount of discomfort. Rightly famous for its beaches and music, beautiful, brash Jamaica is much more besides. There's certainly plenty of white sand, turquoise sea and swaying palm trees, but there are also spectacular mountains and rivers, tumbling waterfalls and cactus-strewn savannah plains. Far more than just a resort, the island also boasts vibrant towns and cities such as sprawling Kingston, which inspired the music of Bob Marley and countless other home-grown reggae superstars. Take the kids on a holiday of a lifetime.

Top left: Jamaican sunset
Top middle: Jamaican beach
Top right: Hotel restaurant

Bottom left: Not just a beach
Bottom right: View from the pool

When

Jamaica enjoys its best weather during our winter. Cheaper times to visit are spring and summer, though beware of the humidity. Rainfall is highest in October when there is also a likelihood of hurricanes (book at the very last minute if you wish to travel then).

How

Jamaica is just under 10 hours flight from the UK and there is a five hour time difference. You can fly directly to Kingston or Montego Bay on a number of scheduled or charter airlines. Check flight deals to Jamaica with British Airways and Expedia.

Stay

Jamaica practically invented the all-inclusive resort single handed, so it shouldn't be too much of surprise that there are many to choose from, for example ClubHotel Rio Negril. The other reason why all inclusives are a great option for families are the hotel run entertainment programmes for all ages, and of course terrific kids activities and clubs. If you are looking for a room only option, check out The Half Moon Hotel, and Round Hill Resort and Villas, with more deals from Thomson, (save an exclusive £30), and Virgin holidays, (save 5% by booking online). Villas and B&Bs are also in abundance on the island. The most popular areas to stay for families are Negril with its 7 mile long sandy beach, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios with its mountain backdrop and cascading waterfalls.
Also check Expedia for Jamaica family holiday deals and offers.

Do

Do - Any number of beach related activities, but Jamaica has so much more to offer:

Try introducing your children to reggae at any number of outdoor venues in Kingston; leave the lovely Long Beach behind and climb up to Reach Falls, where your kids will have a ball scrambling through the hard, green cascade and if you are feeling fit, you can take them (with a guide) up into the rainforest afterwards. Visit the Bob Marley Museum and pay homage to the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley in his former Kingston home and recording studio, or plan a day trip to Bob's birth place and final resting place in Nine Mile, a village situated in the parish of St. Ann.

Visit Reggae Explosion in Chris Blackwell's, (founder of Island records), Island Village complex in Ocho Rios. This is an evolving exhibit that celebrates Jamaican Music by using images, videos and soundtracks from the 1950's to the present day, running from ska through rock steady and reggae right up to dancehall, helped along by all-singing, all-dancing tour guides. There are also tons of other things to do here, such as the 100ft water slide, cinema and massive 40ft high stage overlooking the 'village green' that can hold up to 3000 people, beach sports, water sports, kayaking and boats and eateries for all ages.

Go to Hellshire beach, a quiet place for most of the week with horse riding and watersports on offer, but its where Jamaican families come to party at the weekends.

Travel up the coastline East of Port Antonio, where the beaches are legendary - Frenchmans Cove and Dragon Bay and for those of you who have seen the film - Blue Lagoon.

Try the smaller, more bohemian area of Treasure Beach where fishing villages still survive and the wildlife is in more abundance.

Explore the beauty of Montego Bay Marine Park in a semi-submarine on an underwater tour or visit the Royal Palm Reserve, Negril's number one eco-tourism attraction, and natural habitat for 114 plant species, and over 300 animal species including birds, butterflies and reptiles.

Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Jamaica.

Eat

From fiery jerk meat to inventive seafood dishes and ubiquitous rice and peas, the Jamaican diet is surprisingly varied, and the Rasta preference for natural cooking means you can get good vegetarian food fairly easily. Snacking is good, too, with beef, vegetable or chicken patties the staple fare, and there is a vast selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Outside Kingston and the north-coast resorts, international eating options are limited. The classic – and addictive – Jamaican breakfast is ackee and saltfish. The soft yellow flesh of the otherwise bland ackee fruit is fried with onions, sweet and hot peppers, fresh tomatoes and boiled, flaked salted cod. It's usually served with the delicious spinach-like callaloo, boiled green bananas and fried or boiled dumplings. If you cannot imagine your kids giving up cornflakes for this, just try, the beauty of the place and the constant sunshine might have gone to their heads!

Cost

The cheapest hotel deals, including flights, can be found from an amazingly low £470 at 2 star and some 3 star hotels. Generally you can expect a family holiday to cost from £550 to £1, 200 per adult. Expect to pay from only $95US per night for B&B accommodation, (some including 2 meals) and villas to cost from £700 to £4,500 per week. Tipping: Most restaurants generally include 10-15% on the bill to cover tips. Taxi drivers expect to be tipped after the trip; this ranges between 10-15% before midnight and 25% from midnight to 5am. Some taxis are unmetered so arrange a flat fee with the driver before you start out.