8 Best Hotels in Jamaica

This family-friendly all-inclusive has something for everyone: a prime Negril Beach location, upscale dining for adults, and multiple attractions for kids and teens—a chief asset is the impressive 18,000-square-foot water park, Pirates Island. Also keeping everyone happy are an Xbox lounge for kids (and plenty of adults); Sesame Street characters, who roam the grounds ready to interact; nine restaurants (plus seven bars for the adults); a supervised kids' program; and scheduled teen activities.

Popular with couples, conference groups, and families, this self-contained property on a former sugarcane plantation occupies 400 lush acres of well-manicured grounds and has received regular upgrades and enhancements over the years, making it a top choice in Montego Bay. Facilities include a huge water park, complete with lagoons and lazy rafting river, a private beach with deluxe cabanas, and 11 restaurants and bars. All rooms and suites have their own private balcony with views of the property and ocean, and there are a couple of excellent courses right across the street.

Family fun is tops here, but many couples and singles are also drawn to the not-crazy prices and good location, 6 miles (10 km) east of the airport. You can find seven-room blocks spread along the long beach and large public areas that can, at times, feel a bit overrun with kids and the noise they produce. Adults can find some peace in the quiet, adult-only pool, which has its own swim-up bar, or at the spa. On the other side of the grounds, a lighted nine-hole miniature-golf course offers night play. A moderately priced shopping mall is directly across the street. Children 12 and under stay and eat free.

This sprawling resort, built in two U-shape wings each overlooking a pool, is one of the largest in Jamaica. Rooms are generously sized and well maintained, although there are long walks to public areas. All rooms come with an all-inclusive package, but suites include such extras as 24-hour concierge service. In-room amenities include daily-stocked minibars, liquor dispensers, and private balconies. There's a separate waterpark with slides and a special pool just for kids. There are seven restaurants, many of which can get crowded, and a buffet that serves three meals daily in a massive dining hall.

An extensive array of dining options (including five bars) and activities are offered at this all-inclusive resort just 20 minutes east of the airport and surrounded by beautiful beaches. The resort features a massive infinity pool with a swim-up bar (and a separate pool area for kids), a nightclub, golf course, casino, and diving school. The resort has some of the same feel as the brand's popular Mexico properties, and this is reflected in its thatch-roof poolside palapas, tropical dance lessons, and around-the-clock action.

Embodying a theme of wellness and rejuvenation, Jewel Paradise Cove comes pretty close to being an actual adults-only tropical paradise with seven dining options and six bars (three of which are swim-up), and the white-glove-service restaurant even has a wine cellar with premium wines. There's also a Zen garden, smoothie bar, state-of-the-art fitness facilities with spinning and yoga, water sports, tennis courts, and three pools. The full-service Radiant Spa features locally sourced natural products, where you can get treatment complete with the relaxing ocean breeze, is the centerpiece of this resort, which focuses on fitness, health, and well-being. Butler service is also offered. Paradise Cove has attracted some big-name live music acts to perform, including the Grammy-nominated Morgan Heritage.

This small boutique hotel, opened in 2012, is a good value, particularly since it's on a lovely stretch of Negril's famed Seven Mile Beach. The oceanfront rooms are especially nice, not just because of the view but because of their huge claw-foot bathtubs. The hotel's contemporary design includes wooden floors, photographs of Jamaican scenes, and other stylish touches. Wi-Fi is available on the balconies and throughout the public areas. There's also a gym and full-service spa that offers a range of services. There are also two restaurants and a bar.

Often packed with charter groups, this expansive resort can be a good value if you don't mind mass tourism. With one of Jamaica's best (and most-used) lobbies, a water park with pirate ship, a teen center, and excellent beaches on a peninsula jutting out into the bay, the resort has enough to redeem the motel-basic rooms. You can swim around in any of the four swimming pools or the state-of-the-art aquatic park, and when it's time to take a break from the sun, hit the Sunscape Spa or slots-only casino. Although the rack rate is high, the resort runs a number of promotions throughout the year.