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Beaches Resorts

By Teresa Plowright, About.com

Turks & Caicos; photo courtesy of Beaches Resorts.

Beaches Resorts - Background

"Beaches" is the family resort brand of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), a dominant player in the world of Caribbean all-inclusive resorts. SRI has three other brands:

Sandals Resorts, all-inclusive resorts designed for couples.

Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts -new brand of value-priced all-inclusives that welcome singles, couples, families, groups.

Royal Plantation Collection: boutique resort in Jamaica (the Royal Plantation Ocho Rios, Jamaica); Royal Plantation Island, Exumas, Bahamas, a private island in the Bahamas (six luxury villas); Royal Plantation Villas; and more properties in development. Children can stay at the Villas and Royal Plantation Island; trained nannies are available.

Beaches Resorts - Features
There are currently three Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and one in Turks and Caicos -- see more, below.

Beaches Resorts offer a higher-end type of all-inclusive experience, are "ultra all-inclusive", have nurseries and extensive kids programs, plus some attractive extras such as a partnership with Sesame Street -- part of a special focus on the preschool age group. Butler Service, too!

Features for families:

  • Kids Programs serve many different age groups: infants; toddlers; 6 - 7-year olds; 8 - 12-year-olds; and 13 and up. Hours for the older groups extend to 9 at night. Professional nanny care is available after hours.
  • Sesame Street: character appearances, stage shows, story-time with Elmo, cookie-making with Cookie Monster, and more.
  • Crayola Art Camp: using Crayola products, kids create art such as scavenger-hunt collage frames, island medallions, etc.
  • Xbox Gaming Center - state-of-the-art
  • watersports include waterskiing, sailing, glass-bottom boats, kayaking, aqua-trikes, hobie cats, snorkeling (check availability at individual properties).
  • watersports also include scuba, for ages 10 and up. Guests who aren't certified divers need to take a "resort course" for $70 (valid for one year at all Sandals / Beaches resorts) ; afterwards, a guest can then dive once a day up to 30 feet dives. Tip: be sure to sign up early for the daily dive (and for snorkeling trips as well!)
  • land sports include volleyball, pool, basketball, horseshoes, tennis, squash, and more (-check availability at each property)
  • Single Parents Months: during May, and late August to October, Beaches waives the "Single Supplement" for single parents-- a nice price break. Special events are offered too, as is an annual trip by Single Parent Tours.

The Beaches Resorts:

  • Beaches Turks and Caicos: flagship property, known for white-sand beach and turquoise sea; Pirates Island kids center and mini-waterpark is another draw.
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