by Fran Falkin

"Top 10 Getaways for Tiny Travelers" award-winners have demonstrated their commitment to you by offering superior children's programs for babies as well as older kids, gracious service for all ages, luxurious amenities, recreational facilities and a genuine commitment to the environment. Our parent company's, www.FamilyTravelForum.com 's staff and contributing editors acknowledged these hotels, resorts, a cruise line and a tour operator in 2003. Here's a look at Beaches Boscobel today.

Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
876/975-7777, 888/232-2437
The long, bumpy road from the Montego Bay Airport to Beaches Boscobel is worth the ride. This beautifully landscaped, rambling beach resort cascades down to the sand, overlooking nothing but blue water. A longtime favorite of family travelers, and winner of FTF's Tiny Traveler's award in 1998 and 1999, the resort's quasi-Disneyesque atmosphere has been renewed after a recent change in ownership to the luxury Sandals resort group.

Boscobel looks and feels much larger than its 224 rooms, which sprawl around tennis courts, three pools with waterslides, coconut palms and an outdoor buffet restaurant. Like other all-inclusives, the focus on noisy, communal events that revolve around the oversized pool reminds us of our college days, but Boscobel pulls it off with a seasoned confidence. Ask for a room which overlooks the ocean, away from the daytime and nighttime microphone and music
 
The new management has retained the resort's past focus on providing kids a safe, spirited, complimentary childcare program, thereby giving parents the peace of mind to enjoy all the resort has to offer. The climate-controlled nursery, open from 9am-6pm daily, is where infants and toddlers through age 5 are under the care of Ultra Nannies who receive two weeks of training in childcare, CPR and First Aid.  Infants are pampered primarily indoors with gentle play, while toddlers build sand castles, play lawn games, and enjoy the toddler pool.  When it's time for a nap, there is a quiet, dark room with cribs and rocking chairs. After 6pm, nannies are available to sit privately. 

Toddlers can enjoy their Beaches vacation with television friends Cookie Monster, Grover, Zoe, Bert, Ernie, and Elmo as well as the newest muppet, Abby Cadabby, through Beaches Resorts Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street, featuring year-long activities and appearances by beloved Sesame Street characters. The jam-packed agenda of Sesame Street-themed fun includes programs such as Sesame Street Stage Shows, storytime with Elmo, and baking with Cookie Monster.  Every Sunday, a Sesame Street character will appear before a children's movie plus there's an ice cream sundae kiosk and snacks, popcorn, and beverages. Your kids can participate in a parade alongside the Sesame Street and Beaches characters with music, clowns, and costumes. At an additional charge, families can meet with the gang at a Character Breakfast (reservations a must!). The resorts also offer themed parties where Sesame Street friends wish your child a "Happy Birthday" during a festive celebration.

Kid's Kampers (6- to 7-year-olds) are kept busy with pool games, crafts, tennis, nature walks, movies, parties and trips, and the cutting edge XBox Game Oasis Center, an air conditioned room where all guests are given complimentary use of the most exciting sports, racing and adventure games. (Heaven to some kids, purgatory for some parents). The pre-teen group (8- to 12-years-old) adds snorkeling, beach volleyball, glass bottom boat rides, and reggae jam sessions.  Both of these groups' programs are available from 9am-9pm.  There is also a program of activities for teens (13-years-old and up) and a teen center where they can hang out and shoot pool.

Our room was a step above the ordinary with a king bed and pullout sofa for our kids and plenty of space. Like other rooms overlooking the beach, our sliding glass doors shared a terrace with dozens of guests, but we soon accepted the fact that privacy is not the reason people come to Boscobel.

There is a decent choice of restaurants to make mom, dad and kids happy most of the time. The breakfast buffet has everything kids and adults could dream of and some interesting Jamaican dishes (breadfruit, salt fish and ackee). The barbecue lunch is simple and near perfect. For dinner, the Tex-Mex (in Jamaica?) was disappointing, but the Italian (after an hour wait) was a nice change from the buffet line.

The calm beach seemed small for such a large place, but it was rarely crowded and was well suited for little tykes and teens. We rode aqua trikes and paddleboats and bounced on the water trampoline. Boscobel also offers kayaking, windsurfing, organized scuba, sailing and glass bottom boat rides, though the beach attendants seemed a bit disorganized and unaccommodating at times.