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Hotel guide · All-inclusive · Runaway Bay, St Ann

Franklyn D. Resort: what to know before you book

By Michael RainfordBorn and raised in JamaicaFacts checked Sources
Waterslide, sea-view dining terrace and gazebo at Franklyn D. Resort
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. At a glance
  3. Pros and cons
  4. Rooms
  5. Food & drink
  6. Pool & beach
  7. Location
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

My local take

FDR is the opposite of a big-brand family resort. It’s a small, Jamaican-owned place in Runaway Bay with 56 suites, and its whole idea is the vacation nanny: every family gets one, included in the rate, from 8:30 in the morning to 4:40 in the afternoon. My take: for parents of babies and toddlers, that’s the single most useful thing any resort in Jamaica offers.

If it’s not quite right, look at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios, a big family resort with a water park, or Beaches Negril on Seven Mile Beach. More options: the best all-inclusive family resorts in Jamaica.

At a glance

Area
Runaway Bay, St Ann, by the sea
Resort type
All-inclusive family resort, Jamaican-owned and operated
Status
Open, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board
Rooms
56 suites with 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms, living and dining areas, kitchenette basics and a balcony or terrace
Vacation nanny
One per family, included, 8:30 am to 4:40 pm daily; after hours US$12 an hour, an extra nanny US$50 a day
Kids and teens
Yellow Bird Kids Club (ages 2–11, 7 am to 10 pm) and supervised pre-teen and teen activities
Restaurants
4 by the ocean; The Pier and Overproof are adults-only at dinner
Pools
4 pools, the 100-ft Big Blue water slide and a toddler water-play area
Beach
Private kids' beach, with a mile of white-sand beach next door
Included
Airport transfers from Montego Bay (MBJ), premium drinks, wine with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi property-wide, taxes
Airport
About 1 hour from Sangster International (MBJ), Montego Bay

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. See sources. Something changed? Tell me.

What stands out

  • Your own vacation nanny every day, included in the rate.
  • Suites with 1 to 4 bedrooms, so children can have their own room.
  • Kids' club for ages 2 to 11 open 7 am to 10 pm, plus teen activities.
  • Four pools, a 100-ft water slide, toddler water play and a private kids' beach.
  • Airport transfers from Montego Bay and premium drinks included.
  • Small and Jamaican-owned, so it feels personal rather than corporate.

What to know before booking

  • Small, with 4 restaurants: less choice than the big resorts.
  • Nanny hours end at 4:40 pm; evenings cost US$12 an hour.
  • Two of the restaurants are adults-only at dinner.
  • The Seagrape Spa opens only on selected days, and treatments cost extra.

Rooms

FDR has 56 suites with one, two, three or four bedrooms, each with separate living and dining areas, a coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, cable TV, safe, and a large balcony or garden terrace a few steps from the sea.

Food & drink

There are four restaurants by the ocean. Honeycomb Shore serves breakfast and lunch buffets and dinner, with themed nights such as a Tuesday beach barbecue and a Saturday Jamaican buffet. The Pier (Italian, French and Indian) and Overproof (Jamaican, Tuesdays and Thursdays) are adults-only at dinner. The Sea Cotton Tree Grill serves jerk, pizza, patties and burgers from 11 am to 10 pm. Premium drinks, beer and wine with meals are included. My take: Overproof is the one for proper Jamaican food.

Pool & beach

FDR lists four pools, the 100-ft Big Blue water slide, a kiddie slide and toddler waterfall, and a private kids’ beach, with a mile of white sand next door. Kayaking, tennis, pickleball, mini golf and an open-air gym (16 and over) are included.

Location

FDR is in Runaway Bay, about an hour from Sangster International in Montego Bay, and transfers are included. The front desk books tours to Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain and Dolphin Cove, and Green Grotto Caves is close by. See where to stay in Ocho Rios for the wider area.

Questions people ask

Is the nanny really free at Franklyn D. Resort?

Yes. Each family gets its own vacation nanny, included in the rate, from 8:30 am to 4:40 pm daily. After 4:40 pm it’s US$12 an hour, and an extra nanny is US$50 a day.

What ages is FDR best for?

Babies, toddlers and young children get the most from it, with the nanny, the Yellow Bird Kids Club for ages 2 to 11 and toddler water play. There are supervised activities for pre-teens and teens too.

How far is FDR from Montego Bay airport?

About an hour by road, according to the resort. Transfers from Sangster International (MBJ) are included.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — Rewritten as a researched guide; facts re-checked.
  • — Moved source citations out of the text
  • — Removed repeated advice
  • — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

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