For Christmas, my family swapped snow for sand and headed to Beaches Negril for our first multi-generational vacation. Our group of 13, ranging in age from 4 to 73, chose the all-inclusive resort based on glowing reviews from travel agents and mom bloggers raving about its family-friendly vibe.
As a mom of a 4-year-old, I was excited about the convenience that this resort promised. But as a seasoned travel journalist who’s stayed at resorts worldwide, from Bali to The Bahamas, I was skeptical about the hype—especially considering the hefty price tag.
The end of our trip left me with mixed feelings. While Beaches Negril delivered on ease and family-friendly amenities, especially for our large group, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Despite its popularity with families, the resort came up short in a few key areas during my stay, failing to deliver the ‘wow’ factor that might have justified its steep price tag.
Here’s my review, plus a few tips to make the most of your stay.
Getting to Beaches Negril
Traveling to Beaches Negril can be a bit of a journey. Most fly into Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and take the complimentary 90-minute Beaches shuttle to the resort.
Traveling with a toddler during the busy holiday season, I opted for private transport with Island Dream. It included a fast-track escort through customs and a bottle of champagne for the ride, setting the stage for a stress-free start to our vacation.
I’m glad we splurged—especially after hearing that my family, who arrived a day earlier, dealt with a frustrating four-hour delay with the Beaches shuttle.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The drive to Beaches Negril is a bit bumpy, so motion sickness meds may help. Or, for a faster and smoother ride, treat yourself to a private air charter to Negril Aerodrome (NEG), which cuts travel time to just 15 minutes.
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First impressions of Beaches Negril
From the open-air lobby, we were greeted with stunning views of pools, the beach and ocean. The serene hum of “island time” was palpable—a perfect invitation to slow down and unwind.
The resort’s compact and easy-to-navigate layout was a welcome relief, not only for me but also for the seasoned all-inclusive travelers I befriended. We were all used to much bigger, sprawling resorts. This one felt intimate and safe, a tropical home-away-from-home.
Set on the widest part of Seven Mile Beach, Beaches Negril features multiple pools, a lazy river, splash pad, Pirate Island Waterpark, more than a dozen restaurants and swim-up bars serving kid-friendly drinks with names such as “Superman” and “Cotton Candy” alongside the grown-up cocktails.
Despite being peak season, the resort never felt overcrowded—a pleasant surprise. I was prepared for crowded pools and beaches, but that wasn’t the case during our stay.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Skip the pricey resort gift shop and bring your own sand toys, inflatables, sunscreen and medicine.
Family-Friendly Accommodations at Beaches Negril
The room options at Beaches Negril can be overwhelming—there are at least 29 from which to choose. To make things easier, we worked with a travel agent who knew the property inside and out. For our family of 13, it saved us time and stress by quickly pinpointing the best choices for our group.
Firesky Reserve Villa
- Ten members of my family stayed in the coveted Firesky Reserve Villa, a three-story oceanfront gem that boasts four bedrooms, a private pool, a private beach cabana and butler service.
- The villa is stunning. It’s one of the most desirable accommodations at Beaches Negril, with only six available, making it perfect for large families who want to stay together and have a dedicated butler to help coordinate activities, drink orders and meals. It even has an in-unit laundry.
- The butlers pampered my family staying in this villa, anticipating needs and remaining proactive throughout the vacation. The villa’s immediate access to the beach and close proximity to the watersports building were also huge wins.
Tropical Oversized Concierge Suite
- For my family of three, we booked an oversized suite with dedicated concierge service. This allowed us to have our own private space near the villa.
- Our room had a king bed, a daybed, and a pull-out couch, offering plenty of space for my toddler to stretch out. The bathroom was family-friendly with two sinks, a bathtub, ample counter space and step-stools for kids.
- Downsides to our suite:
- Lack of privacy: Without a separate sleeping area, naptime and bedtime meant the whole family went to sleep at once.
- Wear and tear: The room felt a bit tired—bathroom fixtures weren’t properly secured, and the tub had visible chips.
- Concierge service: It didn’t live up to expectations. It took multiple requests to get specific juices stocked in our room refrigerator and secure fresh towels.
- Noise: On our first night, a loud party at a neighboring resort lasted until 3:30 a.m. with fireworks. It was surprising that Beaches Negril didn’t coordinate with nearby properties to warn guests of these events or offer proactive solutions.
Tropical Beachfront 1 Bedroom Grand Concierge Family Suite
- For our final night, we were upgraded to a 1-Bedroom Family Suite as a make-good for our noise complaints.
- I wish we could have booked this room for the entire duration of our stay. The first-floor suite had a small patio with ocean views, plus a second bedroom with a door—finally, a bit of separation between us and our toddler and a room in good condition.
Family-Friendly Activities at Beaches Negril
If you’re bored at this resort, you’re doing it wrong. With an array of activities and a cheerful staff, there’s always something to do—or nothing at all.
- Waterpark fun: Kids will love the Pirate Island Waterpark, featuring thrilling waterslides and a lazy river that’s perfect for family bonding.
- Beach adventures: Build sandcastles, try boogie boarding or simply unwind with a tropical drink in hand.
- Sports and games: The resort offers activities such as tennis, pickleball and basketball—perfect for staying active with the whole family.
- Kid’s Club and Sesame Street: The Kids’ Club and Sesame Street activities keep little ones entertained while you get some kid-free time.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Book excursions and activities at check-in to avoid disappointment.
Sesame Street at Beaches Negril
If you have a toddler, the Sesame Street experiences will likely be a highlight—as they were for us. For my daughter, it was like a Disney experience in paradise—spending each day with celebrities. For me, it was a blend of her excitement and my own childhood nostalgia.
- Character appearances: Elmo, Cookie Monster and friends make regular appearances around the resort for impromptu photos, hugs and high-fives.
- Themed activities: The Kids Camp features themed activities like “Number of the Day with The Count” and “Bake Cookies with Cookie Monster.” Evening events include everything from dance parties to character parades.
- Special experiences (additional fee): We participated in a Sesame Street character breakfast on the beach, where my daughter got to meet and dance with her favorite characters, and we joined the Sesame Street Sunrise Yoga class, where Elmo was among the yoga participants. Both events were huge hits with my daughter—and me.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Don’t miss the Sesame Street character breakfast. It’s worth it just to see the characters’ Jamaican-inspired dance-off.
Drinking & Dining at Beaches Negril
We ate and drank our way through nearly every restaurant and swim-up bar—one of the best perks of an all-inclusive resort. With unlimited access to food and drinks, you’re never far from something to satisfy your hunger or thirst.
The resort offers a variety of dining experiences, including more than a dozen restaurants spotlighting “gourmet” cuisine from around the world—such as Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Peruvian. Nearly every sit-down restaurant has kid-friendly options, and there are also grab-and-go spots for pizza, chicken nuggets, salads and frozen yogurt.
While the all-inclusive dining is convenient, I wasn’t wowed by the food. Coming from Chicago, where incredible cuisine is at my doorstep, I may be a little spoiled—but some dishes here felt basic (think cafeteria-quality Italian dishes and rubber-like sushi), and service was slow. My husband and I couldn’t decide if this was a staffing issue, the no-tipping policy or just the laid-back pace of “island time.”
The standout meal, however, was our private dinner at the villa, which included grilled lamb chops, steaks, and lobster, paired with a sunset. This meal option is included if you stay in a FIresky Reserve Villa.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Don’t stress restaurant reservations. We made most of our reservations at check-in or same-day.
Christmas in Jamaica
Beaches Negril embraces the holiday spirit with festive décor, including green garlands, red bows, and a giant Christmas tree in the lobby. Holiday-themed events, like parades and music (think Calypso versions of “Jingle Bells”), set the mood for the season.
On Christmas Day, we joined a group parade that wound from the resort to the beach, led by a marching band of elves, Sesame Street characters and resort guests. Santa arrived via green sports car boat to greet everyone and give each child, including my daughter, an individually wrapped toy.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re staying in a villa, the butlers will set up a Christmas tree. For our suite, I brought removable holiday stickers to decorate the windows.
Free Photo Sessions
All guests are offered a free 20-minute photo session on the beach. My strong recommendation: do it. These photos became my most treasured souvenir from our trip.
Resort photographers also capture candid moments around the property. I’m grateful to the photographer who, unbeknownst to me at the time, snapped a sweet moment of my daughter and I playing in the pool together—photos that I ultimately purchased.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Budget for photos. The photo sessions are free, but the actual photos come at a cost. I purchased a $499 package for 45 high-res digital images and a hard-copy album.
Final Thoughts: Is Beaches Negril Right For Your Family?
Here are my key takeaways.
Pros:
- Multi-generational appeal: Beaches Negril proved to be a place where every member of my family found something to enjoy—from toddlers to tweens to grandparents. We drifted in and out of individual experiences, coming together for meals while still having plenty of space to do our own thing throughout the day.
- Gorgeous tropical setting: Seven Mile Beach was the perfect backdrop for our family getaway. The soft, white sand was ideal for building sandcastles, and I felt completely comfortable taking my daughter into the warm Caribbean waters. We spent most of our days lounging in our cabana, with no agenda other than soaking up the tropical paradise and enjoying each other’s company.
- Compact, family-focused resort: This resort is all about families, and it’s highlighted throughout, from the staff’s understanding of family dynamics to the resort’s thoughtful design. There’s a sense of ease here—an unspoken understanding between parents, grandparents and the staff, all attuned to the rhythm of family life while on vacation. There were no side-eyes or snide comments when my toddler had a public tantrum—because everyone “gets it.”
- Sesame Street experiences: This was a highlight for my family—and it distinguishes the resort from other Caribbean all-inclusives. If you have a child who loves Sesame Street and tropical settings, Beaches Negril is a win.
- Engaging and cheerful staff: The resort felt safe, nurturing, and above all, generous. The staff went out of their way to make my daughter feel special, bestowing her with the title of “princess” and showering her with attention.
Cons:
- Price: Beaches Negril is not a budget destination. For what it offered my family, it felt overpriced, especially when it came to food and service.
- Service inconsistencies: Outside of the butler service, service can be hit-or-miss, especially at mealtimes and for housekeeping—even when factoring in “island time.”
- Food: While convenient and diverse, the food didn’t live up to expectations for a premium resort. (When a Caesar salad I had daily for lunch stands out as one of the highlights, something’s not right.)
- Travel time: This resort is a bit of a trek from Montego Bay, especially with kids. Compared to other all-inclusives across the Caribbean and Mexico, this one is less convenient to access.
Despite its drawbacks, Beaches Negril offered a sense of ease that I don’t always find with my usual DIY trips. The predictability of the all-inclusive pricing allowed me to relax and be fully present with my family—something that’s priceless. However, that peace of mind didn’t fully compensate for areas where the resort fell short.
When paying a premium, families expect exceptional quality at every turn. Unfortunately, Beaches Negril didn’t quite meet that standard during our stay. There are other all-inclusive resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean that are more affordable and may offer better value.
If you’re considering a Beaches Negril vacation, take time to assess your priorities and budget. While it’s beloved by many families, particularly those choosing butler-serviced rooms, it didn’t deliver the ‘wow’ factor we expected for the price. Nevertheless, we left with cherished memories and a deep appreciation for the time together in this family-focused Caribbean setting.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Club Mobay VIP service at the airport is a lifesaver for families. It offers fast-track lines, a comfy lounge and Wi-Fi. It was especially helpful when our return flight was delayed. Having a quiet place to relax with my toddler—while sipping a multi-colored cocktail called “The Bob Marley”—made the wait easier.
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