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.
- Butler Service: comes with certain Suites, at most Beaches resorts
- Hurricane Guarantee - discontinued.*
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.
- Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club, Jamaica- on the north coast, near Ocho Rios; golf clinics for kids included at nearby Sandals golf course
- Beaches Negril Resort & Spa: on Negril's 7-mile beach; with waterpark
- Beaches Sandy Bay, Jamaica: styled as the "best value in Negril"
*Always check web sites for updates!
