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Our visit was in April, off-season. Windy weather had limited watersports before our arrival, but we had fine weather.
Vacation Nannies
 The "vacation nanny" idea is super, especially for parents of babies and toddlers. Your nanny will care for your family as much or as little as you want between 9 a.m. and 4:40 p.m.; she'll continue in the evening for $3/hr.* She also stocks your fridge with snacks and drinks, cleans your room, and is generally helpful-- for example, signing children up for activities.
My 9-year-old happily spent time with our nanny, which allowed my 12-year-old and I to sample more activities. Nanny Roxanne also-- on her own initiative-- gathered material for my 12-year-old's school project on Jamaica. (Read guest comments about nannies at the FDR site.)
Franklyn D. Resort: Suites
 Right:: sample photo of large dining/sitting room area.
Our huge suite similarly had full kitchen; dining area; large sitting area with tv and french doors; large master bedroom, with more french doors; kids' bedroom with two single beds; two (smallish) bathrooms. Two-story units are larger still.
Activities
Do as much or as little as you wish.  Daily list of activities announces fitness classes, bike rides, poolside magician shows (left), family bingo, scavenger hunts...
FDR has coordinators for different age groups: if a group of teens arrives, activities will be posted for that age.
Some of our favorites:
- early morning power-walk; route was in an upscale residential area
- bike-rides: one route was semi-rural, with quiet streets and a slice of local life; you can ask to be taken at any time
- glass-bottom boat rides: all ages can see coral and fish
- snorkeling boat takes groups to the coral reef; youngest age for kids is probably 6.
- windsurfing, with instruction
- sunfish sailing: a staff member took us out. Instruction is also available.
- kayaking: mainly done in a small sheltered bay, but you can venture further depending on wind and waves.
- For an extra charge: scuba with instruction for ages 10 and up: super for teens! "Bubble-makers" for younger kids introduces scuba gear in the pool.
Kids and grownups also enjoyed the games room, with foozball, air hockey, and pool tables.
FDR: Pools
 FDR has one main pool, a small kiddie slide nearby, and a 100-foot waterslide near the beach.
Beach
FDR doesn't have an extensive beach; and much of the beach area is taken up by a watersports zone, a waterslide, and boardwalk restaurant. Still, there's an area for lounge chairs (under shade trees, if you like) and beach games; also, guests are encouraged to walk off-property a few steps to a sandy shallow beach, where kids can snorkel by a bit of coral with colorful fish.
Kiddie Centre
Virtually every kid-guest does a tie-dyed t-shirt, which makes a good souvenir. The Kiddie's Centre (open 7 a.m. to 10 pm.) has a baby-area, crafts area, movie-watching, and Super Nintendo with games. Being a mean Mom, I limit my kids' wired time, and was pleased that the games are only played during certain hours.
 Meals
Breakfast buffets offer all you could want, including cereals, omelette bar, Jamaican breakfast (such as saltfish or callalloo), and blender smoothies. The Verandah restaurant is airy and by the sea, and you can't beat "buffet" for speed with hungry mouths to feed.
For lunch, the Seaside Grill is another option: a cute place, with a tree growing right through it, stocked with hot-dogs, hamburgers, jerked chicken and pork. Evening kiddie buffets at this restaurant included spaghetti available with or without sauce.
For dinner some nights, a five-course dinner was served on the Boardwalk with items such as conch soup, ginger sushi, fresh seafood entrees. Children are welcome. (Some eat first at the Seaside Grill, or even bring food from the Grill to the boardwalk dining area.) A Jamaican buffet, with show, happened on Saturday. Adults can also dine at the adult-only restaurant.
Another plus at FDR: your fridge is constantly replenished with the snacks and drinks you choose, including cheese, pop, juice, etc.
Entertainment
 A small stage is located by the boardwalk; most nights, a small band plays, and once a week it's Jamaican show-time complete with dancers, limbo-under-fire, and flame-eater. Later in the evening, grown-ups can head to the Piano bar or Disco; there's teen/kid disco, too.
*check for updates at the FDR site.
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Reasons to Visit: