This 22-acre oceanfront property just east of Ocho Rios and two hours from the nearest major international airport in Montego Bay is one of those super-sized, all-inclusive vacation meccas that promise to be all things to all families. And in the case of Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club, it's a promise pretty much delivered. With 223 rooms and suites staggered throughout several buildings on a stretch of Jamaica's north coast, primarily dotted with apartment residences and fishing villages, the resort (part of the Sandals family) is an entity unto itself. So comprehensive are the entertainment, dining, sports and water-centric activities here, it's a fair bet that many families will never even venture off the Beaches property during their vacations. Not that there's nothing to do away from the resort -- from here, you're a short taxi or tour bus ride to top Jamaica attractions such as Dunn's River Falls, Mystic Mountain and Dolphin Cove, all located in and around the busy cruise port of Ocho Rios. Among the resort's comprehensive onsite amenities are five restaurants, six bars, a 27,000-square-foot water park with eleven slides, tennis courts, a Kids' Camp, spa, scuba diving facilities, water trampolines and pretty much every water sports offering under the sun. Rates are all-inclusive, and cover all meals, snacks, premium brand drinks, wines and beers, recreational activities and tips. Oddly enough, however, you have to pay for wireless Internet.

The property opened under the Beaches name in 2002, but many of the buildings have been around far longer. In previous incarnations, this ultra family-friendly property belonged to SuperClubs and, funnily enough, even functioned as a Playboy club back in the 1970's.

Beaches Boscobel was closed in Sept. 2010 for renovations, and re-opened in Dec. 2010 following facelifts and interior upgrades to the Kids' Camp building, Bayside Restaurant, Arizona Restaurant, piano bar, Eleanor's Restaurant and disco. The rooms and suites, too, got a revamp during the same period and some continue to be a work in progress (all rooms are slated to have been updated by May, but it might take longer). The renovated rooms and suites have updated bathroom fixtures, contemporary dark wood furnishings, all-white linens on the beds and are fitted with swipecard technology instead of the old traditional keys for room access. Old metal lounge chairs by the pool are also, slowly but surely, being replaced with more luxurious wooden lounge chairs. The overall look of the resort is comfortable, clean if not brand spanking new and with that ubiquitous tropical flair complimented by plantation shutters and lazily spinning fans.

The resort's easy-flow layout leads guests from the lobby to the pool area and down an elevator to a small, but well sheltered and shaded beach where all manner of water toys -- from catamarans to kayaks -- are available for use with your all-inclusive rates. The beach, while not the longest, is a good place for families to swim since the water is usually very calm.

Beaches Boscobel, overall, is as family-friendly as resorts come, and kids of all ages are welcome pretty much everywhere during daylight hours. If what you're looking for out of your vacation is a resort that keeps your children entertained, your teens feeling reasonably cool, and the adults in your entourage well-satisfied with good drinks and food, then this resort hits the nail on the head.

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