A remote all-inclusive resort is a great way to vacation with your family. Beautiful beaches, almost guaranteed sunshine, unlimited food and drink, and ultimately no onerous bills. joy.
But the potential for piƱa coladas for lunch, prosecco for dinner, and a dessert station to rival Wonka's Chocolate Factory comes with its own set of problems. As you can imagine, even if you live a healthy lifestyle, it takes a lot of will power to avoid free fries and rum punch.
During a week-long family vacation to Jamaica's all-inclusive Negril Beach, I didn't want to be the fun police, but I also didn't want to lie around all day and save up calories from booze and cookies. So I took it upon myself to create a little healthy retreat among the bottomless cocktails and ice cream dispensers. What happened was…
So how easy is it to stay healthy?
On a cold, gray day in January, I flew to Montego Bay with my two children (10-year-old Sonny and 6-year-old Sol), so I was all smiles when we landed in bright sunshine. . A short trip along a path lined with palm trees brought us to the resort. There, we were greeted with a delicious fruity welcome drink. I chose the non-alcoholic option. I'm very healthy so far.
This resort sits on the edge of Negril's 11 km of pristine soft sand beach, arguably one of the best beaches on the island. After settling into our stylish family room (two double beds, spacious balcony), we headed to the watersports center and signed up for just about every service. Over the next seven days, we rode on a gorgeous glass-bottomed boat (we got to see sea turtles, dories, and even a shipwreck!), rowed the bay on a giant marine tractor, kayaked, paddleboarded, and blissfully warm We enjoyed snorkeling in the sea.
Scuba diving is included if you have a qualification (a real bonus, as it usually costs around Ā£100 or more per session), but if you want to learn to dive, it costs Ā£125 (for 10 year olds). above) at a bargain price.
Back on the shore, I got my heart rate up on the waterslides and Lazy River at the resort's colorful Pirate Island Waterpark. I definitely felt like I burned more calories jumping on floaties and chasing my kids against the current than HITT. I also attended an aquafit session and spent hours tossing a ball around the pool with other enthusiastic young people.
If cardio doesn't work for you with kids, Red Lane Fitness Center has a great air-conditioned gym and activities like 8am Power Walk and Caribbean Shred (think low weights, high reps, and cool songs). There are daily classes. You can also book a PT session.
While I was sweating away from the midday sun, the kids escaped the hottest part of the day in the Xbox Play lounge. They loved living there. And thanks to an action-packed morning and afternoon in the fresh air, I didn't worry too much about movie time. Besides, balance is important in life, right?
We also tried our hand at basketball, beach volleyball and tennis, and in the evenings we played outdoor games like shuffleboard and giant chess, or soaked our feet in the warm water while listening to frogs chirping.
Is there a spa to level up?
yes.red laneĀ® The spa is located in a large, quiet building, away from the busy bars and restaurants. I booked as many treatments as I could get that week. That included Earthly Harmony, a massage with CBD-infused oil that's great for helping you sleep.
Where were the kids while I was on the massage table? Spend a luxurious time at Sesame Street Kids Camp. It's as loud and fun as you can imagine. The headquarters has a splash pool, a play area, and TV characters make regular appearances (I saw Bert and Ernie in a dance-off I'll never forget). There's no need to worry about anyone getting bored, as there are plenty of activities for different age groups (even teens and their teens), including baking with Cookie Monster, a talent show, a treasure hunt, and a billiards olympiad. there is no.
And how can you avoid all the sugary treats?
With nine restaurants, it's relatively easy to skip the fries, donuts, and ice cream and keep your diet nutritious and healthy (though frozen yogurt is fine every now and then).
The best part was the soybeans, and we sat under a cherry blossom mural and used our chopsticks to surround plates of wonderfully fresh dishes: nigiri rolls, wonton soup, tender sashimi octopus, and edamame. It was so delicious that we ate there twice.
The kimono was another highlight. At our dedicated cooking station, teriyaki chef Lenroy sings, tosses bits of food into the kids' mouths (well, almost), and juggles utensils while creating sensational noodle and rice-based dishes. I made dinner. They stared at him in awe, feeling like they were looking at a pop star.
Mariachi was an open-sided Mexican restaurant, and we all got our hands dirty with fish tacos, guacamole, and piping hot meat and corn platters. The Mill is the resort's main restaurant and serves breakfast and dinner daily in buffet style. We ate there on an Italian night, and while the kids loaded up on steaming plates of spaghetti, I stayed away from the carbs and piled a bowl of mussels.
When I wanted to get some caffeine, I stopped at CafƩ de Paris for some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (it's the best bean in the world, so it would be rude not to drink it), while the kids dismantled freshly made crepes. I refrained from joining.
A good deal of their time was spent visiting the frozen yogurt shop YoYo's. There, dispensers labeled “Birthday Cake,” “Chocolate Cake” and “Lemon Sorbet,” as well as a sprinkle station containing hundreds or thousands of gummy bears, caused a lot of excitement. . . It would be no exaggeration to say that it was a hit. Even I, after I stopped eating dessert at restaurants, was tempted by a pot of yo-yo from time to time.
verdict
Want a sun-filled vacation packed with incredible activities and delicious, healthy food, without a pesky high bill at the end? I'm all for it. This wasn't some fancy Swiss spa or intense yoga trip, but you can't take the kids anyway. Additionally, I returned home feeling rested, recovered, and truly rejuvenated. Is this the point of a healthy trip? And swimming, hanging out in the Xbox Lounge, eating frozen yogurt sprinkled with gummy bears all day long, fitness classes, spa treatments, fresh seafood salads and more make your ideal getaway easy. I also liked the fact that I could build on it.
Let's go there!
Seven nights in a Grand Deluxe King Room from Ā£3558 per adult, including all-inclusive accommodation, return Virgin Atlantic economy flights and transfers. Visit Beaches to book or call 0800 5970002.
Enjoy a tropical daydream…
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