Beaches Resort Worth it?

Is Beaches Resort Worth it?

When it comes to free, Beaches Resort outdoes them all! This all-inclusive resort makes having fun, relaxing, and even eating and drinking so effortless. I have been to all three Beaches Resorts with my family many many times and I am aa cheap bastard.  Yeah I hate spending money on vacation unless it’s worth it.  Look, I am ok spending my hard earned vacation stash on a high quality, great service vacay, but it really has to be worth it for me to spend $5,000 – $15,000 on a vacation.

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It’s Included – Beaches Resorts is All Inclusive

These two words are magic to my ears on vacation.  It’s Included mean I am not pulling out my wallet every time my kids want a drink, snack, or to do something.  Really, there is no reason to pay for anything when you visit any of the three Beaches Resorts, but they do offer some paid activities if you want to splurge, but it’s not necessary. There are so many free things to do, that you will have a hard time fitting them all in your stay.

I am here to help you with figuring out your Beaches vacation, By highlighting the most exciting and unforgettable experiences that Beaches Resort has to offer. Below you will find the to things that you would be crazy to miss on your stay at one of these resorts.

 

What is Beaches Resort?

Beaches Resorts are family all-inclusive resorts.  There are three Beaches Resorts and all three are located in the Caribbean.  Two of the resorts are in Jamaica (Beaches Negril, Beaches Ocho Rios) and one Beaches Resort is at Turks & Caicos.  Any of these three Beaches Resort are good choices for a family vacation, but each has pros and cons and I will get into those to help you choose the best resort for you and your family.

When I say Beaches is all-inclusive I mean I literally put my wallet in my room safe when I arrive.

What makes Beaches Turks and Caicos so fantastic?

What I love about Beaches is again, I pay once and it’s done.  Also it’s a true vacation with something for everyone.  Our last trip was to Beaches Turks & Caicos and we got a Butler category room.  Yeah I know.  I would normally not spend this money on a butler room but WOW I was not disappointed.

Hey, I usually vacation on the cheap so I have been to Beaches Resorts in the entry level room many times also and had a fantastic time.  Anyway, the butler was so great because they would set up our day for us.  They would reserve a pool side cabanna for us each morning, stock the cabanna with our favorite beverage selections, towels, etc.  They would stop by with lunch susjestions and bring us lunch.  You get the idea.  So I could hang out at the cabanna and my family would hang out there too.  But everyone could also do their own thing.  activities, water park, pool bar, beach, kids club….  right.  Everyone could have their own Beaches vacation.

There is no rushing around at Beaches like at a theme park for the typical family vacation.  You wake up when you want, head to breakfast (Included) go to some fun activities, or chill by the pool or beach.  I love grabbing an inner tube and just coasting around the lazy river too.  So that’s the Beaches Vibe and why so many people come back year after year.

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Where should you stay at Beaches Resort Turks & Caicos?

I touched on this earlier.  Again I have stayed at Butler level suites and also the entry level rooms.  It really depends on what you want out of the room accommodations and what you are celebrating at Beaches.  If you are doing a multi-family Caribbean vacation and have 10 people, there is an Old Key West Villa with a Butler and private pool literally on the beach that has separate rooms and can accommodate up to 12 people.  So that might be the perfect fit for you.

If there are three of you going and you want to save some cash, grab a French Village or Caribbean Village standard luxury room category.

Look, you get to enjoy the same on site resort activities and amenities if you book a butler suite or a standard luxury room.  So you can dine at the same restraunts, get the same drinks, etc.  Some all inclusive resorts block off sections of the resort and make you wear wrist bands to access certain area or dining.  Not a Beaches Resorts.

How Much Does Beaches Turks and Caicos Cost?

I’m not going to sugar coat the costs.  Like I said earlier I am a cheap bastard and proud of it.  So yeah, it was difficult to spend the money for my first Beaches Resort vacation.  But my family LOVES Beaches so much now that I have to talk them out of going just so we can experience other vacation destinations and not go every year to Beaches.

Costs – I would budget $1,000 a day for a family of four during the slow season.  You can spend around $8,000 to $9,000 for a Beaches Resort Vacation for a family or four for a week.  If you did a Concierge Level or Butler Level Suite you can spend $15,000 to $20,000 for that vacation package.

But you have to understand that you are getting an all inclusive vacation.  You literally just have to get to the airport at Turks & Caicos or Jamaica and from the airport to the resort you are taken care of.  Airport Transfers, food, drinks, entertaiment, activities, room…  Included.

I just paid over $70 per kid for a character breakfast at Disney World where one of my kids ate one strawberry.  I think that breakfast cost me almost $400 and my kids ate one strawberry.  Ugh.  It still drives me crazy.  So don’t cheap out on the total all inclusive price for a vacation at Beaches, because, again, it covers everything.

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What’s included with your Beaches Resort Vacation?

Let me break down what you get:

Dining – each Beaches resort has so many dining options to.  For example Turks & Caicos has 21 restaurants.

Insider Tip:  I like to grab some sushi at SOY, then go to dinner, then grab a late night coffee or dessert at the cafe.  So don’t think you have to go to just one restaurant, you are on vacation!

Unlimited premium liquors – I don’t really drink, but the great thing is if I order a drink and don’t like it, I just order a different drink.  It’s Included.

Every Beaches Resort has bar and Beaches Turks and Caicos has 15 bars, including swim-up bars which are my favorite.

You get a bar set up in your room.  Wines, Beer, Sodas, Water, Blue Mountain Jamaica Coffee.  Also Concierge and Butler level suites get premium liquors, just fill out the request card and they will take care of you.

Sandals has a partnership with Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines.  Some of these MAY have slipped into my luggage.

All tips, taxes and gratuities are already included.  Now if you have a Butler they do accept tips.

You also save $$$ with Roundtrip airport transfers being included at all Beaches Resorts.  Some Beaches Resort like Negril and Ochi are over an hour from Montego Bay and that expensive transfer is included.  Oh, Turks and Caicos Beaches is like 15 minutes from the airport, and included in your vacation price.

Kids Camps – Included for all ages.  X Box lounges, game rooms, beach activities, crafts, Karaoke, hang at the water park, and much more.

Included waterpark.  There is no extra charge to go to the water park like at other resorts or cruise line islands.  Everything at the Pirate Island waterpark is included.  Slides, lazy river, water splash areas, and more.

Sesame Street Characters – There are shows, photo ops, and even a parade.  If you have little ones this is perfect.

Take out a Hobie Cat, paddle board, or kayak for a fun beach excursion (All Included).  Nit sure about sailing a Hobie Cat, we had the friendly beach guy take us all on the Hobie Cat so we just had to hold on.

PADI-Certified scuba diving (and all equipment).  I know right!  It’s included.  Now if you need to get certified or re-upped you can take a class and they charge for that.  But your dives are included.  This is a massive perk!  My wife LOVES this.

Snorkeling – This is more my speed and there are some great snorkeling spots that you can even walk to at Beaches Turks and Caicos.  They provide the gear too.

Even More Beach Stuff – Beach volleyball and corn hole

Get your Sports on – basketball, pool tables, air hockey, ping pong, some weird soccer thing, shuffle board, giant chess, tennis and pickle ball (coming), oh and Xbox lounges if that’s a sport.

Teen Night club that kicks the kids out late so you, the adults, can also party all night.

There is a fitness center and also water aerobics classes each day that are included.

Day and night entertainment including live shows, check our guide printed out in your room.

Free WiFi, There is also a preium WiFI but the free one gets you all you need unless you want to Facebook Live your friends and brag about your vacation.

Pools, Hot Tubs, More pools, More Hot Tubs, and these floaty things that you can hang on while drinking a Humming Bird in the pool.

Even more stuff that I can’t remember right now is included

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Travel Time to Beaches Resorts

How long is the drive from Turks and Caicos Airport to Beaches Resort?

There is a Beaches shuttle that is included that will take you to and from the airport.  The drive is only about 15 minutes.

How long is the drive from Montego Bay airport to Beaches Negril?

The drive from Montego Bays airport to Beaches Negril is an hour and a half. (1 Hour 30 mins).  It’s defiantly longer than say Beaches Turks and Caicos.  Also with Montego Bay area traffic this ride can take two hours.  I just did this ride and it was 2 hours both ways with no rest stops.  Be sure and go to the restroom before getting on the bus, I almost died on the 2 hour ride back to Montego Bay after drinking so much coffee and juice for breakfast.

How long is the drive from Montego Bay airport to Beaches Ocho Rios?

The ride from Montego Bay airport to Beaches Ocho Rios resort is one hour and thirty minutes (1 hour 30 mins)

Flight Costs

One thing that’s important to take into consideration is the overall cost of yo0ur vacation.  Flights can add up quickly for.a family.  I fly from Atlanta GA and I can get most anyplace with nonstop or maybe one stop.  Jamaica often prices out much more reasonable for flights than Turks & Caicos.  So often times I find myself traveling to Beaches Negril in Jamaica instead of Beaches Turks and Caicos simply because of the cost of flights.  So take a look at both islands and flight prices to make a better informed vacation decision.

 

Child Care – Kids Clubs at Beaches

 

Is Beaches Resort good with kids with special needs?

Beaches has Autism trained staff.  I met with them on my last vacation and I need to put together an entirely new article just on this program.  But until I have time to do that I wanted to link you to that program and also the Kids Clubs.

Also Here is more information directly from Beaches on this program:

Certified Nannies & Kids Camp Staffers

 

Free Waterpark and Activities at Beaches

Pirates Island Waterpark is included

If you’re up for an adventure and feeling like a kid again, why not visit the Pirates Island Waterpark included in each Beaches Resort? Waterparks are fun and this one if free!

Get a little adrenaline pumping through you by taking the super-fast, high water slides. Or avoid adrenaline altogether and take a leisurely float down the lazy river.

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at surfing, you can do it here with the surf simulator. There is a waterfall pool, a whirlpool, and much more.

Want to avoid the swarms of kiddies? Try it early in the morning or close to closing.

Scuba Diving is included

If you and your honey are certified scuba divers, Beaches Resort offers free diving. This is no ho-hum dive. We’re talking an award-winning diving experience. PADI named Beaches Resort one of the top 5 dive operations in the western hemisphere, so you know they are safe and reliable.

What kind of views can you expect? The beautiful waters of the Jamaican islands showcase corals, a colorful collection of fishes, eels, rays, and even some sharks. You can expect to see sea turtles up close and underwater vegetation.

If you aren’t certified, don’t worry. Beaches resort offers certification on site for a fraction of the cost of normal certification practices. You can take an even smaller certification course and be able to do a less invasive dive but still be able to use the boat, scuba gear, and professional dive leaders for free.

The dives offered at each of the three locations will differ(obviously), but they all offer a variety of dives with differing difficulties and depths. If this activity has got you all excited, the Turks and Caicos location is supposed to offer some of the most breathtaking dives in the world.

Bonfires and Beach Parties

It’s your honeymoon. It’s time to get your partying shoes on and dance on the beach! Picture tiki lamps, a roaring bonfire and authentic dancers and music from the Caribbean islands, all under the clear starlit skies.

Every week, Beaches throws an unforgettable beach party. They put out a spread of delicious foods, and of course, free booze. They will have extra entertainment to make you throw in a few oohs and ahhs.  Some of the traditional culture is displayed and experienced like rhythmic drums and fire eaters.

After a relaxing day on the beach or by the pool, there’s nothing better than an upbeat atmosphere to share some cocktails and enjoy the cool night breeze. These nights on the beach will be liberating and memorable for both of you for years to come.

Paddle Boarding at Beaches Resorts

The variety of things to do in the water at Beaches Resort is endless. We just talked about the waterpark and mentioned scuba diving, but the list just goes on and on. If you love the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and are dying to get out on the ocean, you’ll be a happy couple of campers here.

Paddleboarding is one of the many water sports available to do at these resorts that is absolutely free. If paddleboarding isn’t your thing, they offer aqua trikes, tubing or waterskiing. Windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and Hobie Cats are also available to use for free.

I know what you are thinking. You’d have to write out a schedule to fit all these activities in! But I suggest that you chose two that you want to really enjoy and linger in and maybe a third to just try out. That way, you really get to learn the art of these water sports and not just feel like a total newbie.

Of course, the amount that you can fit in all depends on the length of your stay, so the longer you stay the more activities you get to enjoy!

Don’t Forget the Adults at Beaches – Bar Hopping

Each of the three Beaches resort has up to 15 bars. This is the perfect bar hopping because you don’t have to worry about a cab, you just walk (or swim) from bar to bar.

Each bar is unique, and some have an international flavor. For example, the Turks and Caicos resort has an English Pub called Cricketer’s and the atmosphere is very fitting. With high upholstered bar stools and wood paneling throughout, you can sit back and enjoy a Guinness and feel like a merry ole chap.

A great starting point would be at one of the many tiki beach bars and grab a coconut filled with delicious Jamaican rum. You can even grab a drink in the pool from one of the swim-up bars.

Then you can move on to something a bit fancier like one of the piano bars that Beaches offers. Sip on a fancy drink while you listen to the cool tones of piano jazz and chat about deep subjects.

When it comes to having a drink, you have plenty to choose from. The beauty of it all is that it’s completely free! All premium liquors, wine, and drinks you order are included in the price of your stay. Bottoms up!

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Eat, Eat, Eat! – Dining Options at Beaches Resorts

The variety of foods available at Beaches Resorts will make anyone feel like a king and queen. The all-inclusive menus of the up to 21 different restaurants will ensure that you never go hungry while on your honeymoon. You might need the extra energy (hint, hint). Of course, you don’t want to go overboard because you still want to look good in your bathing suit.

There are several restaurants that make their mark on a visitor’s tongue. One of the most memorable and delicious restaurants is Schooner’s Seafood grill. This restaurant gives you delectable seafood that melts in your mouth in a seaside atmosphere. They even offer some of the local fares like conch and mollusks. Of course, they offer a juicy steak, too.

Another very popular restaurant on the resort is Kimono’s Oriental Cuisine. This is one of those restaurants where the chef isn’t just to cook but to entertain. You’ll be dazzled by some amazing tricks with fire and knives then blown away with delicious food perfectly spiced and grilled to order.

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Is Beaches Resort Worth it?

 

More Helpful Beaches Resort Articles:

Beaches Resort Locations  – I have put together all the Beaches Resort Property Maps and locations for you.

The Best Beaches Resorts Ranked. – This full article covers each Beaches Resort and the Pros and Cons of each resort.  Each resort is ranked and has my full review.

Beaches 777 Deal of the Week.  I post the current special offers every Wednesday and they are good just for 7 days.