The best Jamaica all-inclusive resorts come with private access to white sand beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, plus a variety of activities and water sports for kids and parents. That means that whether you’re a family of water worshippers, adventure addicts, or nature lovers, you’ll find something to love on the spirited yet serene island of Jamaica.
I visit the Caribbean at least four times a year and have stayed at dozens of resorts in Jamaica. These are my personal recommendations for the best Jamaica all-inclusive resorts.
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1. Beaches Negril Resort and Spa
Negril, Jamaica
You’ve heard about Negril’s famed Seven Mile Beach, one the the best Caribbean beaches on any island in the world. There’s a reason it’s part of the storyline in many vacation tales, so why not write your family’s next vacation chapter here? With a wide variety of guestrooms, suites, and villas to choose from, Beaches Negril Resort and Spa is one of the most popular all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica for families of any size (including very large families, who can book the resort’s Tropical Beachfront Three-Bedroom Walkout Grand Butler Family Suite that sleeps up to 12 people.
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Even some of the smaller rooms at Beaches Negril offer butler service, which simplifies everything from restaurant reservations to activities for the whole family. If you have a picky eater in your group, you’ll be pleased to find 11 dining options onsite at this Jamaica all-inclusive, and nobody can possibly get bored with kayaking, windsurfing, hydro bikes, snorkeling, Hobie cats, paddle boarding, knee boarding, scuba diving, basketball, tennis courts, and more.
Your kids will especially love the Pirates Island Waterpark and the Xbox Play Lounge. The little ones will enjoy Beaches Kid Camp and the resort’s exclusive partnership with Sesame Street. For teens, there’s Club Liquid. And when you’re ready to kick back for a bit of renewal, head to the Red Lane Spa. Beaches is an award-winning family resort brand owned by Sandals. While Sandals is known for its adults-only all-inclusive resorts, Beaches brings together luxury and fun for families traveling with babies, kids, tweens, and teens.
2. Beaches Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club
Boscobel, Jamaica
Set on 22 acres of lush greenery, Beaches Ocho Rios is the other Beaches resort in Jamaica along with Beaches Negril. In addition to its own gorgeous stretch of beach, this all-inclusive Jamaica resort location offers activities galore, including PADI certified diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and windsurfing. Have you tried aqua trikes? Now’s the time.
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This all-inclusive Beaches resort has clubs for kids and teens (including the popular Xbox Lounge). And, for everyone in the family, there’s the beloved Pirates Island Waterpark with its waterslides, lazy river, and more. Other highlights include five-star global gourmet dining at seven restaurants, the nearby Sandals Golf and Country Club (included in rates), and spa treatments at the Red Lane Spa.
3. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Expect big fun and and a lot of food at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, where there are 16 dining options. You’ll cheat yourself if you don’t go for the spice at Barefoot JerkZ, the beachfront Jamaican jerk shack. Italian, Asian, and Brazilian fare are among the many other culinary options. Choose which pool to visit based on your mood—there’s a quiet pool and one for the party folks. The activities pool is also where you’ll find water spinning.
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Leave the children ages three to 12 to the KidZ Club for beach sports, arts and crafts, and games during the day; come nighttime, there are PJ and disco parties. The entire family can enjoy sailing on a catamaran, boogie boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you’re hankering to try something new, there are dance lessons and cooking demonstrations. Your family will especially love the Jamaican street music with steel drums and theatrical performances.
4. Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa
Montego Bay, Jamaica
The 18th-century Rose Hall estate is straight out of the movies and makes a drop-dead gorgeous playground for families. At Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, the star of the show is of course its private beach. There’s also a championship golf course, 11 places to eat, plus seemingly limitless things to do like yoga and Pilates classes, tennis, beach volleyball, billiards, an arcade/game room, boat tours, nightly entertainment, karaoke, kayaking, parasailing, snorkeling, and sailing.
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There’s also a separate Kids Retreat (for ages four to 12) and Teen Zone (ages 13 and up). The biggest attraction for families at this Jamaica all-inclusive resort, however, is the Sugar Mills Water Park, the largest water park in Jamaica, with lagoons, a lazy river, jungle garden with a rope and wood suspension bridge, and replicas of the former Rose Hall Plantation.
5. Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay All Inclusive
Falmouth, Jamaica
If you have children younger than age four, you might opt for a different Jamaica all-inclusive resort. But for families with kids ages four and up, the allure of the Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay is downright irresistible. This Autograph Collection resort has a great mix of offerings for kids and adults, including poolside cabanas, a pirate-themed water park, reservation-free dining, and daytime and evening entertainment.
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The Clubhouse Kids Club is where children ages four to 12 can relax, watch cartoons, play games, and meet a special character called Turbo the Turtle. Everyone can come together for snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, beach volleyball, floating down the lazy river, or trivia games. You can even take dance and cooking classes. There’s also a spa featuring hydrotherapy circuits and spa treatments.
6. Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa
Lucea, Jamaica
This Jamaica all-inclusive resort gets kudos for being home to the largest kids’ club in the Caribbean, with special spaces for babies (ages one to three) and kids (ages four to 12) as well as a Junior Club hangout area for teens. There are 10 restaurants onsite at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa, and plenty of places for a late-night slip-away for the grownups. (Parents, take advantage of the onsite babysitting services and childcare.)
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You’ll love that you can pay at one resort and play at two as well. Guests of the Grand Palladium can enjoy the facilities at its sister property, Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort. Your biggest decision will be choosing which of the five pools to take a dip in. Snorkel, sail, kayak, play mini-golf, or wind down at the full-service spa.
7. Bluefields Bay Villas
Bluefields, Jamaica
You don’t have to stay at a mega resort to have an all-inclusive experience in Jamaica. If you’re looking for an intimate getaway, make your way to Bluefields Bay Villas on the island’s south coast. This small collection of deluxe villas is perched along the hilly coast and overlook the ocean. There are a mere six villas, so privacy is a premium. Each villa has Instagram-worthy views, private pools, butler and maid service, a full kitchen, and a chef, all working to give you the easiest and most relaxed vacation you can imagine.
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For the the full Jamaica all-inclusive experience, you can also get nanny service 24/7. And there’s elderly care for seniors, too. Soak up the sun on the private beach or at the pool. Here, there’s no pressure to buzz about, so you can feel free do as little or as much as you like. If you do want to get out and about, though, you can arrange scuba diving tours, deep sea-fishing, glass-bottom boat cruises, and more.
8. Jewel Runaway Bay Beach Resort and Waterpark
Runaway Bay, Jamaica
It’s all about the water at Jewel Runaway Bay Beach Resort and Waterpark. This all-inclusive Jamaica resort’s Jewel Lagoon Water Park boasts nearly a dozen attractions, including a family raft ride, lazy river with rock grottos and waterfalls, and even live entertainment. When it’s time to get out of the water, there’s kids’ programming for all ages from tots to teens, including nannies for the little ones and a kids lounge for tweens and teens ages 11 and up. Meanwhile, parents can play at the pool or beach.
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There’s also a private 18-hole championship golf course and nearby shopping and dining. At the end of the day, your whole family can come back together for a meal and a dive-in movie. Unlike many all-inclusive Jamaica resorts, Jewel Runaway Bay Beach Resort and Waterpark is locally owned, meaning your travel dollars stay local when you stay here.
9. Moon Palace Jamaica All Inclusive Resort
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Location is everything. At the all-inclusive Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, you’re situated in a regional park and a short walk to Ocho Rios Craft Park, where you can buy arts and crafts from locals. Turtle Beach, Dunn’s River Falls, and Dolphin Cove are only three miles away, too. Onsite, kids love the Flowrider surfing simulator. There are also four restaurants, the Playroom Kids Club for kids ages four to 12 (open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily), special kids programming called The Dreamery, and the Wired Lounge gaming center and arcade for all ages open 9:00 a.m. to midnight.
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Cool off in one of the five pools with waterfalls, or plummet down the Lighthouse Waterslide. Show off your tennis skills on the championship tennis courts, and check out the weekly themed party. Drink up at eight bars or see how good you are at beating the odds at the casino. Ready to relax? Head to the afternoon tea, stake out a spot on the private beach, or book an appointment at the full-service Awe Spa.
10. IBEROSTAR Rose Hall Beach
Montego Bay, Jamaica
At IBEROSTAR Rose Hall Beach in Montego Bay, kids will feel like they own the joint. That’s because the Star Camp children’s program features its own pool and children’s park. As for you, you’ll feel pretty good, too, whether you’re pampering yourself at Spa Sensations or getting your diver certification at the Dressel Diver Center.
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You’ll want to explore the Montego Bay Marine Park, as well the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, one of the world’s best dinoflagellate-fueled glowing waters. Be ready for more action back at the resort, with tennis, a fitness center, an array of water sports, and golf at two 18-hole golf courses nearby. When the sun goes down, it’s all about the live music, shows, and this Jamaica all-inclusive resort’s lively game room.
11. Franklyn D. Resort and Spa
Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Complimentary nanny service? Yes, please! That’s just one of the many family amenities offered at Franklyn D. Resort and Spa in Runaway Bay, about 20 minutes from Ocho Rios. This all-inclusive Jamaica resort also offers the Yellow Bird Kids Club, teen-only discos, an onsite water park, playground, live entertainment, glass-bottom boat tours, and the ever-important spa. All accommodations are suites, so there’s plenty of room to spread out.
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12. Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Montego Bay, Jamaica
The ocean views at Round Hill Hotel and Villas simply cannot be beat, nor can the deluxe accommodations, some of which feature private swimming pools and open-air spaces. Round Hill has two kids’ clubs for younger and older children; water sports such as snorkeling and wind surfing; land activities including golf and tennis; live entertainment; a deluxe spa; and three onsite dining options. Traveling with little ones and want to enjoy a quiet meal alone? Early dining for kids and nanny services are available as well.
