Beaches Negril Resort & Spa has been ranked as one of "The 10 Best Beach Resorts for Families" by Parents Magazine, an online publication with a circulation of over two million people.

The Westmoreland- based resort was placed sixth after an indepth, exclusive survey among 200 beach resorts in the United States and the Caribbean. The survey is part of Parents Magazine's ongoing "10-best series" which looks at room rates and other resort costs, the quality of the supervised children's programme, the variety of family activities, the pool and beach area, as well as other factors that parents would consider when selecting a resort.

Beaches Boscobel Hotel

Beaches Negril came out ahead of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, Hawaii; Ocean Edge Resort & Spa based in Brewster, Massachusetts; Loew's Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa in San Diego, California and Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort Casino & Spa in Puerto Rico.

A second Jamaican Beaches resort, Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club near Ocho Rios, St Ann, was named runner-up in Parents Magazine's "More Great Spaces to Stay" category. Just last year Beaches Boscobel unveiled its expanded Pirate's Island Waterpark, providing guests with a "splash-tastic" vacation experience.

"After a US$3 million expansion to the resort's existing aqua playground, Beaches Boscobel welcomes guests of all ages to a fun and fresh waterpark experience, featuring new slides, rides and wet n' wild features for the entire family," said Adam Stewart, chief executive officer of Sandals & Beaches Resorts.

The waterpark features an expansive 27,000-square-foot Pirate's Island-themed aqua playground with six new kiddie slides. The waterpark also includes a Treasure Isle AquaPlay area, complete with water cannons and a treasure chest. For the resort's tiniest waterpark enthusiast, Pirate's Island has a pirate-themed kid's zone and zero entry kiddie pool complete with a misting crab, a squirting sea turtle and a splashing seahorse. Also included in the kiddie complex is a 1,500-square-foot grass sundeck and 7,000-square-feet of pool decks.

"We are quite pleased with the ranking of our Beaches brand," said Stewart. "The Beaches brand is a very dynamic one. We try to adapt to the needs of families, while meeting and exceeding expectations consistently."

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