THIS weekend, Jamaica’s premier vacation destination, Negril, will be jam packed because of ATI and Dream Weekend, but for those who want to get away from this excitement and just relax, there is Beaches Boscobel.

Entering the resort, older people are brought down memory lane, and younger ones enter a world they are familiar with through television as they are greeted by a 123, Sesame Street sign, just like on TV. The hotel has attractions for all ages, like the Pirate’s Island Water Park where the inner child got its chance to break free as we went down the three terrifying but fun slides. The Xbox 360 Game Lounge allowed Kim to enjoy some NHL action with one of the game room workers. On our way to lunch we stopped by the stage for some bingo and lunchtime entertainment, where we learnt of the night show featuring characters from Sesame Street.

The resort boasts several dining options catering to all ages. Children flock to the BBQ Park grill, for burgers, jerk chicken, and fries for lunch, as well as the exceptional finger food buffet. Also for lunch you can stop by Arizona, where they play classic Country Western music, and enjoy the Tex-Mex cuisine.

For dinner there are two options: Italian and Caribbean cuisine. At The Venetian you lose track of your location as the dishes and art work create a façade of a true Italian restaurant. The second dining option, Eleanor’s, provides exceptional Caribbean cuisine in a secluded setting. The main restaurant, Bayside, is open all day and serves breakfast from eight to eleven and later at night offers a wide array of dinner selections and midnight snacks. This restaurant is located by the pool with a view of the white sand beach, and it also has a section specifically for the kids. The restaurants had us wanting more after each meal, and while I was calling my friends to tell them about it Kristen and Kim were busy savouring the tastes of the delicious meals.

Part of the hotel’s all inclusive service is a camp for each age group: five and younger, 6-12, and 11-17. Each camp opens at 9:00 am and closes twelve hours after to keep the children occupied all day. We visited the camp rooms where we were greeted by the Sesame Street characters and other entertainers dressed as rabbits as well as entertainers dressed in Jamaican bandanas sharing our rich culture with the visitors. While touring the rooms we learnt that the teens have outdoor and water activities, including group water sports, boat cruises, pool olympics, and tennis clinics.

Also, the teens have their own pizza and soda bars and a nightclub which closes at midnight. But for those TEENs, who would like to maintain their summer bodies, the fitness centre allows you to work out all day, with personal trainers at your request. So after all the eating we did the three of us decided to make a visit to the gym to burn some calories. We tried the many exercise machines at our disposal, but soon we were very tired and dehydrated, so we began our search for refreshments. We didn’t have to wander too far as the hotel has many bars to refresh its visitors with kid-friendly tropical mixes.

Three days only exposed the icing on the cake, and a vacation here will not disappoint. Beaches Boscobel provides spacious rooms, exemplary service, and a terrific family experience.