Jamaica has more than its fair share of fine white sandy beaches that ring the mega-sized island. In fact, I've been to this Caribbean country seven times visiting Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, and Port Antonio and I've never been disappointed with the soft white sand. The problem, especially for families with young children, is the strong surf once you step foot in the ocean. My children prefer to swim in the pools to avoid the constant barrage of waves. Yet, at Riu Palace Tropical Bay, the kids wisely choose to spend most of their day in the soothing waters of a sheltered bay. The shallow ocean floor gently slopes out to sea, so the kids could swim and walk as far out as they wanted. Children of all ages swim in the warm water, not having to worry about waves.

I've always liked the Riu chain, a Spanish hotelier who makes an effort to include the indigenous food and culture of the country their resort resides in, rather than simply offering a generic all-inclusive experience. In Jamaica, that means listening to live Reggae bands and lining up at 12 noon to get my plate of jerk chicken at the jerk hut on the beach. The grounds of this 416-room property is far more intimate than most all-inclusive properties, so it won't take you 15 minutes to walk from your room to the restaurants and beach.

That's not to say there aren't a slew of activities to keep families busy. Youthful entertainers engage the children with a variety of activities during the day, from volleyball games to dance contests to treasure hunts to games of bingo. Virgin pina coladas are waiting at the swim-up bar in the pool. The water sports facility offers kayak and Hobie cat rentals, and, for an extra charge, takes families on sunset Catamaran cruises to snorkel and see the cliff divers at the famous Rick's Cafe. At night, after dinner at one of the five restaurants, there's a nightly show of dance and comedy on the main stage. A week's vacation goes far too quickly at this resort, the reason why many European families choose to spend two weeks at this Negril gem.

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