The real deal about Things to Do in Jamaica with Young Kids
I had a wonderful time exploring Jamaica in the October off-season and researching what to do in Jamaica with young kids. The sum total of my activities on my trip included horseback riding with Chukka Caribbean Adventures; swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Cove; touring Rose Hall Great House; partying on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship Adventure; zip-lining at Y.S. Falls; hunting for crocodiles on the Black River Safari.
All of these activities I felt were appropriate for kids 7 and up, generally speaking.
Yes, there are some kids that start horseback riding and swimming with the dolphins at age 3, but generally speaking, that’s still a little young for most parents. Besides, staying on a horse’s slippery back, in mane-deep water, was a real core workout. A guide would probably help pull the horse along but your average 6 year old might find it challenging to keep his/her balance.
One of my funniest moments in Jamaica was on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship. This was a great evening activity/attraction, however, there were some elements of this party boat that I thought were more appropriate for a 16+ crowd. (I have the pictures to tell.)
Here are some activities that I thought were age-appropriate for the 6 and under crowd:
- The Kids Cove at the Grand Palladium is a big selling point and is appropriate for younger children. Drop the little munchkins off and hit the spa or just take a tropical break while the kids play with their peers.
- YS Falls had a calm swimming lagoon that would be appropriate for that age range. I didn’t have a chance to wade in it because I was too busy channeling my inner Tarzan, flying through the Jamaican jungle on gravity defining zip-lines.
- Dolphin Cove not only had the dolphin experience, but also a small animal park that would be more appropriate for the under 6 crowd. Touching a dolphin is one thing, just as long as they’re not afraid of larger mammals, however, swimming with one at a younger age may be a little risky for your taste.
Other activities that would be appropriate for a family traveling to Jamaica with young kids include: day tours, nature walks, zoo visits, boat rides, foodie experiences, or simply relaxing near the water.
My press trip was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
Grand Caymanian Resort Review – Cayman Islands
In July, our family of four stayed at the Grand Caymanian Resort in the Cayman Islands. The property is situated on the North Sound of Grand Cayman about 15 minutes from the airport. The resort’s location was serene and removed from tourist congestion.
Transportation
Taxi service to the resort cost $40 for our family. The resort didn’t offer airport pick-up service for its guests, something that took us by surprise. The resort does offer a shuttle to different attractions and transportation to the local market, however you’re on someone else’s time. Management politely suggests that guests rent a vehicle if interested in touring the island fully.
Amenities:
A scuba shop
A c-store
24-hour access gym
An onsite restaurant
Two pools, including a kiddy pool
Tennis court
Water sports
Private beach access complete with hammocks, beach chairs, and a pier
The Villa
We stayed in two connecting villas that had a lock-off option. We put our boys in the larger villa and stayed in the one-bedroom villa, keeping the doors open in between the two. The larger-sized villa included a full kitchen complete with a refrigerator, microwave and stove; a washer and dryer unit; a 6-person dining table, couch and love seat, an entertainment unit, a double-entry balcony over looking the pool, restaurant, and beach, as well as a large double-vanity bathroom. Our smaller villa offered a kitchenette, a desk, small couch, and a private balcony as well.
One of the things I loved about having the connecting villas was the separation of space and the extra room for the kids to run around and explore. The other pluses that worked well for my family were the in-suite washer and dryer and the full-size kitchen.
Criticisms of the Grand Caymanian:
In my opinion, here are some things I think the Grand Caymanian needs in order to count itself as a true 4 star resort:
- A proper gym complete with free weights, a television, towels, and in general, more state of the art exercise equipment
- Personalized activities for kids
- Updates/Modernization to the decor of its older villas
- An expanded concessions store
- Airport shuttle service for guests or some equivalent
Most importantly, wi-fi service in all rooms. Using the business office or lugging my laptop down to the lobby to use the service was a grand inconvenience. When I’m on vacation, most of my computer time is done late at night when everyone is asleep – leaving my villa in the dark to get internet service is not an option and a deal breaker for me when deciding to be a repeat vacationer at a resort. Hopefully the new owner will see the value in providing this service for their (mainly) American guests in the near future.
Wrap-up
There are plenty of things that the Grand Caymanian does right for its size: its hospitality and offering on-site water sport amenities. Guest activities like the free coconut-picking demonstration and paid in-pool scuba diving training can keep guests entertained for a spell but for the most part, you will need to go off-site if you’re looking for more action. Notwithstanding mom’s critical eye, my little family had a great time at the resort swimming, relaxing, and soaking in the Caymanian sun.
Wordless Wednesday: Things To Do In Jamaica
If you’ve ever wondered about things to do in Jamaica besides sitting around the beach and drinking rum punches, I’m here to tell you that there’s plenty, especially for the adventure traveler. Now, I’m not talking about sky diving or swimming with sharks but a few of these activities will get your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing nonetheless. The Jamaica Tourist Board sponsored me to visit the country to try on some of these activities for size.
I’d have to say that I was surprised to find out that there were all these other activities I could do while down there. The few times I went, it was a much more mellow experience. I do remember my husband and friends driving ATVs on an excursion arranged by our cruise ship. However, I knew nothing about swimming with dolphins. And to be honest with you, I probably wouldn’t have done it at the time anyway. I’ve seemed to have gotten more courageous with age – who knows why but that’s the case.
Horseback riding through shallow waters was interesting but I felt bad for the horses. They seemed to have been struggling. I think my favorite activity was probably zip lining through YS Falls. Whew! Talk about an adrenaline rush. If you’re traveling with kids to Jamaica, you could probably do the dolphins, horseback riding, and ziplining with a 9 year old and older. I might be a little apprehensive about the ziplining at that age but it also depends on the kid. It’s definitely an experience that neither one of you will forget.
I don’t think anything beats just chilling poolside at the resort after a few days of exploration and adrenaline-rush activities. I wouldn’t stay there everyday, there’s just so many things to do in Jamaica and it would seem like a waste of a trip. But to each his own – enjoy your vacation the way you want. It’s just good to know all the options you have in front of you and take a leap of faith once in a while…or a zip-line of faith. You may surprise yourself.
Traveling To Jamaica? Learn some dancehall moves before you go.
We had a great time visiting Holiday Inn Montego Bay in Jamaica last week. Part of the family-friendly fun was a dancehall dance class with the resorts’s mascot, Rocky the Turtle. Here are some of the moves he taught guests that day. See how much you know. Can you name those moves?