Last week I talked about the arrival process at Beaches Negril Resort, the room, and dining options! Today I'm going to cover a few other important things you might want to know--kids' camp, activities, spa, and more!
In the midst of chaos, we took leap of faith and opted to go for it. We’ve actually packed more in this summer than any I can remember – we were able to experience Universal Studios with little to no wait for most rides (with our masks of course) and we’ve been to several beaches on the East Coast including one of our favorite beaches in Jamaica, the 7-Mile Beach in Negril.
Kid’s Camp
Every time you enter the Kid’s Camp, to register, ask a question, drop off or pick up a child, your temperature will be taken and logged before you can do anything. I recommend accounting for this time if you have a reservation or spa appointment. Only one family can be in to sign in or sign out at a time.
Counselors have a list of activities for the week and you can sign your children up in advance for activities. They limit each activity to 10 kids. The activities were never full when we there – in fact in some cases my daughter was the only one in her age group when I dropped her off. They will still do the activity even if there is only one child which was nice because my daughter wanted to make jewelry. She was happy when another girl came shortly after they started. Beaches is known for their Sesame Street characters. During a drop off, Cookie Monster was doing the letter of the day with the toddlers – priceless!
Tweens and Teens age 11-17 could participate in various activities with the camp counselors or hang out in the teen hang out called Trench Town which has foosball tables, pool tables, and air hockey tables as well as some lounge areas. Each night from 10 to 11 p.m. teens were able to take over Liquid, a music and dance club open to adults only after 11 p.m.
Families taking a break from the sun could enjoy the Xbox Play Lounge with gaming choices for everyone. Kids and teens had dedicated times with their age group with the Kids Camp but could also enjoy it on their own.
Activities
Sanitizing was in full force for water activities as well. Life vests, paddle boards, trike handles, paddles or oars – you name it. The staff made sure everything was sanitized before each guest used it. There were activities like tie dye, volleyball, trivia, and other events scheduled throughout the day. Don’t miss the All White, Chocolate Party night – staff served chocolate treats to guests during the party. Each evening there was a variety of entertainment available in the Big Top Theater with plenty of space to social distance. If you have littles, don’t miss the Sesame Street parade and character greetings. There were roped off areas for families to gather and photographs were available one character at a time keeping in mind physical distancing. They did an excellent job adapting to a new way to allow character photos.
Red Lane Spa
The spa was open and provided services by appointment. It wasn’t busy when we went for our appointment, so I think they may have been limiting the number of services or appointments at one time to avoid too many people in one space. Plan on a temperature screening here as well prior to any service. Hair-braiding also moved from an area on the beach to the spa.
Mask Wear
The Beaches Negril team wore their masks consistently. When we first arrived, it seemed as though more guests were wearing their masks as well in indoor areas but seemed to decrease as the week went on. A lot of the common areas are outdoors, and even indoors, capacity was limited so I never felt unsafe or at risk.
My daughter had a blast and said having to wear a mask wasn’t fun but didn’t ruin her time. When asked what her favorite part was, she said, “Everything!”
Gym
I don’t want to fail to mention the gym. Gym time is important to my husband, and I know it is to others! They gym at Beaches Negril is open. One couple we met said they were so happy to see the gym open as theirs back home was still closed!
There were two fitness areas, one entrance with cardio equipment including treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipticals. Every other one was out of service to allow people to have appropriate space while working out. The other entrance has weight machines, free weights, mats, benches and racks. Hand sanitizer is located at the entrance of each as well as wipes to use before and after equipment use. Staff also came in at set intervals to wipe down the equipment. There is a hot tub in between the fitness buildings as well as restrooms and a locker room and shower across from the fitness areas.
Overall Feel
Reduced capacity at the resort had its pros and cons. Restaurants typically open every day had set days which required some planning but there was no problem getting in on days they were open. One of the pool bars closed at 6 p.m., and although there were a few other bars open, it seemed early for this one to close. Translation = our favorite bartenders were at this pool so we wished it was open later and I imagine in a non-COVID time, it would have been.
Considering travel in these challenging times, with the isolation of being in one location with a population required to undergo extensive screening, and the emphasis on sanitizing and cleaning, my family and I felt safe travelling to Jamaica and staying at Beaches Negril during this pandemic. I’m thankful we decided to go and take this time as a family and turn 2020 into positive memories. Despite having my temperature taken more times in one week than probably my adult life, I encourage you to try it – and one note of advice – forget packing hand sanitizer, you won’t need it – use that allotment in your luggage for bug spray. You’ll appreciate it.
Christin Michaud is an avid cruiser and loves making memories with her family. In light of the cancellation with cruise travel she and her family opted to try an all-inclusive family resort for their last summer vacation adventure. You can contact Christin or your Wishdrawals agent to assist you with booking your next adult-only or family all-inclusive or a cruise for your family. Contact her at christin@wishdrawals.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment