Family Getaway at Beaches Boscobel in Ocho Rios Ja

We wanted something fun and exotic, something away from the US borders, and we chose Ocho Rios. We opted Beaches as it was advertised to be a all-inclusive, family-oriented, fully contained resort of unquestionable quality.

It was all those things, but to a lesser degree. As it turns out, Beaches offers resorts on a continuum, and the less you pay the less you get. Also, if you go in a less popular time, you can expect to see a lot of the amenities and features limited, closed down, or out for repair (literally).

If you say at Boscobel, beware... You can't plan a 5-day trip as being that. When you fly into Monterey Bay you have a nearly three hour drive to the resort, so you've basically lost your first day, and equally, the same back - so a 5-day vacation is actually 3 days at the resort. Plan accordingly. And bring lots of entertainment for those long drives, my kids had their gameboys and lots of batteries (thank God).

We were disappointed by the size of the room, but delighted it was literally on the beach. We were excited to see all the activities and restaurants, but soon found out they were most often closed, or infrequently available/open.

The breakfast buffet was a nightmare, in the US it would have been closed down for sure as a health hazard (I grew up in the restaurant business and will attest to this), and the "fine dining" that was only open one night, was not anything special or tasty. I can testify their pool-side snack bar, which was most often open had the best food and service at the resort. The barbecue, chicken, fruit plates, and everything they produced was top-notch.

A bit of another warning... The "beachfront" you can walk along is really a cove that will not be something you can really stroll along, that too was pretty misrepresented (like the travel time, restaurants and features open). But the water is warm and beautiful and my kids enjoyed it nevertheless. What is novel was the vendors who float in boats just outside the resort selling their wares, we had fun shopping with them and the ones in shacks alongside the resort bay (although admittedly, the quality and price was better at the resort gift shop).

I opted for this Beaches location for the free golf and lessons, the "zoo," and the water park, but the water park was never open (although always promised), the "zoo" was dirty, minimal and disgusting, and although the golf was available daily IF you could get a ride there, the lessons were Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - and since we came in on Monday, left on Friday, we only had Wednesday to take lessons - not what the reservationist represented.

I wouldn't be fair if I didn't mention the X-Box game room my 7-year old son will not forget and could not stay out. It was perfect, as was the Arts and Crafts room, and pool activities.