Jamaica: Negril, Beaches Sandy Bay Resort - Low Key Caribbean Family Fun.  It’s a special kind of paradise created just for families and thus offers a unique atmosphere combining an easy elegance with an upbeat rhythm that is relaxed and family friendly.

Here’s the story. At 6:30 a.m., my son and I roam along a deserted beach, depositing shells into an overturned sunhat, and taking photos of the boats moored off the shore. At this hour, there are still no shadows. But by the time we return to the room, a soft light has settled over the white sand and clear blue water. The warmth of the rising sun is slowly saturating our skin, and I can hear a grackle calling outside our balcony.

This is the lazy way I started our first morning here at Beaches Sandy Bay, the smallest, most low-key and budget-conscious of the four Beaches family resorts (three of which are in Jamaica), and all of which are part of the luxurious Sandals chain.

All inclusive and for families. As a couple, the term “all-inclusive” was not part of our vocabulary. But now that we have kids, “all inclusive” is the vacation buzzword. We were looking for a beach holiday that offered a laid-back, intimate feel—without high rises, line-ups at the buffet table or loud reggae music blasting from speakers into the wee hours.  But we did want all the amenities—the option of a kids’ club, snorkeling, perhaps a massage on the beach, and some fine jerk chicken. We found all this at Beaches Sandy Bay.

Located on Negril’s seven-mile strip of white sand, all 128 rooms face the ocean, and have balconies or patios with spectacular views, some only a few feet from the beach.  In fact, pretty much anywhere on this six-acre property, there is a view of the water. And the 1,000 feet of beachfront never feels overcrowded. Although completely booked while we were there (capacity never exceeds 350 people), we could always find shade, an empty chaise longue, and often a hammock.  

Caribbean family-style dining. Dining is centralized into one area with three restaurants: the Bayside, which is the main buffet-style restaurant open for breakfast lunch and dinner and two adjacent specialty restaurants, The Vista Sul Mare, serving Italian; and The Sundowner, on the floor above it, offering Caribbean food. There is also the Sesame Grill next to the main pool.

For a small resort, food was surprisingly diverse. The Bayside, although buffet-style, had fabulous made-to-order omelettes every morning, fresh chocolate chip pancakes for the kids, and choices that included smoked salmon, steamed callaloo (a leafy local vegetable not unlike spinach), and doughnuts still warm from the oven.

Our favorite was Vista Sul Mare. The two specialty restaurants, open in the evenings only, offer high-end cuisine, and are open to both adults and kids. We would start our meal with fresh lobster and olive tapenade at the antipasti bar, and then wait for the server Damaeon to roll up to the table with the Caesar salad bar, arriving with a glass of milk on his red-capped head for one of our kids. Over several evenings’ samplings, our favorite dishes became the beef tenderloin and pesto-marinated salmon fillets.

Family - friendly tropical beach atmosphere. Throughout the property we found helpful, friendly staff, asking about our day, or putting a welcoming arm around one of our kids. This could be a human arm, or a furry one. A trademark of all Beaches Resorts is the Sesame Street characters which roam the property, greeting guests, performing (they did a winning rendition of “When I Grow Up”) and leading a weekly parade.  Each Tuesday evening kids (and sometimes parents) abandon their dinner table to join Elmo, Bert and the gang as they hand out balloons and wind through the restaurant and around the lawn accompanied by a stilt-walker and dancers.

Fun only for children. While there are supervised kids’ programs, open from 9 am to 5 or 6 pm for the littlest ones—and from 9 am to 9 pm (for ages six and older), we found these barely used when we were there. Hourly activities are posted, and parents tend to select activities in which to enroll their children.  At the camp our five- and seven-year-old attended, the Sesame Street-themed activities tended to be most well attended, especially dancing and doing the limbo with the pink tutu-clad Zoe, exploring with Grover, and making chocolate chip cookies with the Cookie Monster.

Other activities included swimming, making sandcastles and even a lava-oozing volcano on the beach (with the help of red food coloring, vinegar and baking soda). One morning, they made bandanas and eye patches and played pirates on the beach. And in the hottest times of the day, they did arts and crafts in air-conditioned rooms. Fun included beaded necklaces and bracelets, picture frames decorated with shells, and tie-dyed t-shirts.

While many of the activities at Sandy Bay are geared to younger kids, the older kids do have a supervised teen centre, known as “Trench Town,” with its glow-in-the-dark [wall] murals,  plus they have specialized supervised hours at the disco (Liquid at Beaches), when no alcohol is served. Daily activities include kayaking, sailing and other water sports plus use of X-Box 360® Game Garage.

Vacation privileges at Beaches Negril.  Another big draw for many at Beaches Sandy Bay is the promise of full privileges at Beaches Negril, the more luxurious sister resort less than five minutes away. (A complementary shuttle operates hourly between the two resorts.)

Although we preferred the small, tranquil feel of Sandy Bay, teenagers looking for more stimulation, adults seeking more dining options (and a date night at one of their adult-only restaurants) or kids who love waterparks will find Beaches Negril is the answer.

Pirates Waterpark vacation bonus. For our family for whom childhood is a phase of life well worth revisiting, the 92-foot lazy river at their Pirates Waterpark occupied many hours—and afforded me some decent stretches of reading time. The currents of the meandering river can transport swiftly. Peering over my book, I watched as my son disappeared at high speed around a bend. With his tight curls, he looked like a drenched poodle.

On two separate nights, we sampled one of their many specialty restaurants: the Kimonos restaurant for fun factor—we gathered around a grill with two other families, and ate a smorgasboard of shrimp, chicken, beef and pork teppanyaki while chefs sang Bob Marley and current R & B at high volume. And for romance, we ate at the Stew Fish, where we sat at a candlelit picnic table on the beach, playing footsie in the sand, and eating crab cakes, and lobster and shrimp satay.

Checkout Dolphin Cove.  Lucea’s new Dolphin Cove, one of the largest natural dolphin lagoons in the world, is only a 45-minute drive from Negril or Montego Bay The 20-acre dolphin habitat affords a stunning vista of the island and surrounding sea. The actual encounter is Caribbean natural immersion at its best. We treaded water and awaited the actual dolphin encounter. On the signal of a trainer, in one maneuver, a dolphin swims swiftly on either side of the anxious participant (me). I grabbed each of their fins and was swept along several yards. It was thrilling for sure. Meanwhile the kids enjoyed the Dolphin Cove Touch program, patting a dolphin, kissing one and watching as they dance and, yes, sing.

Beaches Sandy Bay Resort.  For our family these were more than pleasant distractions. But always, we were happy to return to the quiet of Sandy Bay—to watch the shadows elongating and then disappearing into the darkness of evening, and the orange sunset with no longer a trace in the sky.  Antonia would fall asleep clutching her stuffed Zoe, and Felix spooning with Ernie. And we would breathe a sigh in the stillness and quiet of another magical day in Jamaica.

Location on the planet. Beaches Sandy Bay Resort is located on the most tranquil side of Negril's famous seven-mile beach with easy access to its sister property Beaches Negril.

About Beaches. Beaches Resorts is part of the Sandals Resorts family, the Caribbean's largest operator of Luxury Included® resorts, and has been voted the World's Best Family All-Inclusive Resort for 12 consecutive years.

Make it happen. For Beaches Resorts, call toll-free 1-800-BEACHES (1-800-232-2437) or to learn about Beaches three Jamaica properties or log on to www.beaches.com

Planning Details and Things to Do with Kids.

Dolphin Cove  Hanover St. Ann's Bay Jamaica.  (876) 974-5335. Call toll-free from U.S. or Canada 1- 877-OK-1-STOP(651-7867),  or outside North America use 001-1-416-595-9278  and for details log on to  www.dolphincovejamaica.com

Content provided by Diana Ballon a Toronto – based writer and editor specializing in family travel, parenting and mental health issues. Her four and six-year-old children inspire her to see the world through other lenses. Images by Diana and Beaches. Copyright 2011.