FDR Pebbles has ceased operation as a family all inclusive resort. Please see Franklyn D. Resort.
Reasons to Visit FDR Pebbles:
FDR Pebbles: Background
FDR Pebbles is on Jamaica's north coast, 25 miles from Montego Bay airport. Sister resort Franklyn D. Resort -- also with vacation nannies -- is also on the North Coast. Both properties have won awards and accolades as family resorts.
Reasons to Visit FDR Pebbles:
- vacation nanny for each family!
- kids' club, entertainment, games, watersports
- promotions throughout the year
FDR Pebbles: Background
FDR Pebbles is on Jamaica's north coast, 25 miles from Montego Bay airport. Sister resort Franklyn D. Resort -- also with vacation nannies -- is also on the North Coast. Both properties have won awards and accolades as family resorts.
FDR Pebbles- Review
FDR Pebbles is a pretty and friendly mid-sized resort with a winner concept: vacation nannies take care of kids as much or as little as you like.
Vacation Nannies
The "vacation nanny" idea is super: wish we'd visited when kids were small. Your nanny is available 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (minus an hour for lunch); she'll continue in the evening for an hourly rate. She also stocks your fridge with snacks and drinks, cleans your room, and is generally helpful-- for example, signing your kids up for activities.
Many families bond with their nanny, and ask for the same nanny trip after trip. Read guest comments at the FDR Pebbles site.
FDR Pebbles - Activities
Daily activities might include power-walk, glass-bottom boat rides, snorkeling trip, bike ride, aquacize, reggae dance class...Also, check daily activities at the kids' club: kids need to sign up for some outings such as snorkeling trips; parents can come along.
During our visit, the Teen Center had a schedule for older kids. Some outings were scheduled, such as a trip to the Montego Bay waterpark. Activity coordinators worked hard to involve Teens/Preteens, with campouts and other activities. Also for teens: scuba-dive courses (at an extra charge).
Unfortunately, when I visited with two kids (12 and 9) there there were few older kids around for group events; still, activity coordinators reached out to new arrivals, and made sure a campout took place. (And the weekend before, the resort had been packed).
Vacation Nannies
The "vacation nanny" idea is super: wish we'd visited when kids were small. Your nanny is available 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (minus an hour for lunch); she'll continue in the evening for an hourly rate. She also stocks your fridge with snacks and drinks, cleans your room, and is generally helpful-- for example, signing your kids up for activities.
Many families bond with their nanny, and ask for the same nanny trip after trip. Read guest comments at the FDR Pebbles site.
FDR Pebbles - Activities
Daily activities might include power-walk, glass-bottom boat rides, snorkeling trip, bike ride, aquacize, reggae dance class...Also, check daily activities at the kids' club: kids need to sign up for some outings such as snorkeling trips; parents can come along.
During our visit, the Teen Center had a schedule for older kids. Some outings were scheduled, such as a trip to the Montego Bay waterpark. Activity coordinators worked hard to involve Teens/Preteens, with campouts and other activities. Also for teens: scuba-dive courses (at an extra charge).
Unfortunately, when I visited with two kids (12 and 9) there there were few older kids around for group events; still, activity coordinators reached out to new arrivals, and made sure a campout took place. (And the weekend before, the resort had been packed).
Here are some activities we did sample*:
Pools
Pebbles has an Olympic-size pool, with a little-kids section at one end. My kids enjoyed the big swim-up bar.
Beach
Pebbles has fine sand, good for sand-castles (and sand toys are available.) The beach extends 600' and you can continue walking past the Bamboo Village craft huts toward the Breezes Trelawny resort. For swimming, two sheltered areas have been created.
- Kids' campout on the Martha Brae River: good place to make friends.
- Early morning power-walk: a seaside route with shady trees
- Escorted bike ride. Check the route: ours went along a busy highway, which was no place for a nine-year old.
- Tie-dying: virtually every child makes a beautiful tie-dyed t-shirt, with a nanny's help.
- Kids club, which was open from early morning until 10 p.m., with videogames, a toddler play zone, movie-watching zone, and craft table.
- Foosball, air hockey and pool, in the Teen Centre above the lobby.
- Scuba: we did instruction and in-pool preparation, but choppy seas during our short visit meant that we couldn't try a dive. Scuba is offered at an extra charge for ages 10 and up. Younger kids can try "Bubble-makers", which introduces scuba gear in the pool.
Pools
Pebbles has an Olympic-size pool, with a little-kids section at one end. My kids enjoyed the big swim-up bar.
Beach
Pebbles has fine sand, good for sand-castles (and sand toys are available.) The beach extends 600' and you can continue walking past the Bamboo Village craft huts toward the Breezes Trelawny resort. For swimming, two sheltered areas have been created.
FDR Pebbles: Meals and Rooms
During our short stay, we sampled two buffet dinners in the Oceanside Restaurant and one beside the swimming pool. Grown-ups can also head to Sabbia's for a la carte Italian dining. One night a week, Pebbles had a Jamaica Night with local specialties and entertainment. Most meals including breakfast had some Jamaican dishes, such as "run-down".
One night, a kids' dinner was served above the Oceanside Restaurant; other times, kids had a special buffet section with hamburgers, pasta (sauce separate1), hard-boiled eggs, cheese, carrots, fish fingers, fries, etc. Snacks R Us had pizza, ice cream, etc. We also liked the poolside Beach Side Grill, with fries, hamburgers, plus Jamaican patties and a Jamaican lunch. The swim-up bar was my kids' place to get the "drink of the day."
Keep in Mind about FDR Pebbles
During our short stay, we sampled two buffet dinners in the Oceanside Restaurant and one beside the swimming pool. Grown-ups can also head to Sabbia's for a la carte Italian dining. One night a week, Pebbles had a Jamaica Night with local specialties and entertainment. Most meals including breakfast had some Jamaican dishes, such as "run-down".
One night, a kids' dinner was served above the Oceanside Restaurant; other times, kids had a special buffet section with hamburgers, pasta (sauce separate1), hard-boiled eggs, cheese, carrots, fish fingers, fries, etc. Snacks R Us had pizza, ice cream, etc. We also liked the poolside Beach Side Grill, with fries, hamburgers, plus Jamaican patties and a Jamaican lunch. The swim-up bar was my kids' place to get the "drink of the day."
Keep in Mind about FDR Pebbles
- A "junior suite" means a large room separated by a partial wall.
- Some recent visitor comments note that very few local Jamaican dishes are served
- This is not the right resort for those wanting posh accommodations
Find Out More about FDR Pebbles:
- See the FDR Pebbles site , which includes guest comments
- Check recent visitor comments at a site like TripAdvisor.com
- Check prices at Kayak.com
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
