Overview
If you’re on the hunt for Franklyn D Resort and Spa reviews, you’ve come to the right place.
I recently had the chance to experience this family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, and I’ve got some insights to share.
Let’s start with the basics: Franklyn D. Resort has everything you need in one neat package.
From loads of activities for all ages to spacious three-bedroom suites, it’s a top pick for multi-generational trips.
What sets this place apart is the fact that each family gets their very own Nanny for the entire stay – talk about a helping hand.
The resort’s beach is on the smaller side, but fear not.
You can hop over to the neighboring beach, which offers more space to stretch out and soak up the sun.
Keep in mind, though, this isn’t the spot for a romantic getaway.
Franklyn D. Resort caters to families, especially those with young kiddos.
Picture this: a cozy, laid-back atmosphere that might not scream luxury, but definitely exudes warmth.
Some guests have mentioned that the decor feels a tad dated, and you may notice a few signs of wear and tear on the facilities.
However, the friendly staff and abundance of activities truly make up for it.
If you’re after a memorable vacation with plenty of fun and friendly faces, Franklyn D. Resort and Spa might just be your ticket.
Stick around, and I’ll fill you in on all the nitty-gritty details, personal experiences, and whether this resort is the right fit for you.
What We Love
- Teen-friendly with free WiFi, a games room, water sports and activities
- Nanny included in the rate
- Fun, lively atmosphere with nightly entertainment
- Three-bedroom suites available
- 100 foot water slide
What We Don’t Like
- Decor is dated
- Beach is small, although you can use the beach next door
- No room service
Location and Layout
Address: Main Street, Runaway Bay 99999, Jamaica
Phone: +1 876-973-4124
Website: Franklyn D. Resort and Spa
Things to Consider Before Booking
Budget
Franklyn D. Resort is a mid-range hotel, not budget but not at the top end either. For all the amenities that are included, it represents good value for families.
Almost everything is included in the price, so it is very easy to stay within budget in an all-inclusive resort.
However, not everything is included, so you may want to set aside some cash for tours, a trip to the spa, souvenir shopping and any food you eat while outside the resort.
Packages
Franklyn resort offers a wedding package for $1000, which includes all the associated fees, a wedding planner, floral arrangements, a cake and a candlelit dinner. Extras can be added on.
Vow renewals are another available package, featuring the same services as the wedding package, for $500. Post wedding, you can spend your honeymoon at one of the resort’s beachfront Honeymoon Suites.
Although the resort offers wedding packages, it is primarily a family resort, so packages are aimed at couples who are bringing their kids.
The hotel is welcoming to single parents, waiving the single supplement. Extended families can ask for a discount – there are “kids stay free” and even “grandparents stay free” promotions.
Family Interests
Runaway Bay is one of the most beautiful spots on the island, with white-sand beaches, clear water and a coral reef. The town itself is dominated by resorts but there are also local bars and restaurants where you can find jerk chicken.
Nearby attractions include Green Grotto Caves, an underground cavern system with a lake, and the famous Dunn’s River Falls, where tourists climb hand-in-hand from the base to the crest.
Thrill-seekers can head to Mystic Mountain, where they can bobsled through the rainforest or zip line through the canopy.
Across the road from the hotel, guests can play golf at 18-hole championship Runaway Bay Golf course, although there are fees to pay.
Also included in the room rate is a glass-bottomed boat tour, so families can experience the beautiful coral reef just offshore from the hotel.
FDR in Runaway Bay is in a quiet, laid-back spot between the beach and the mountains but if you want to see a bustling town you can take a free shuttle to nearby Ocho Rios. Buses leave the hotel on Thursdays at 2.30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10.30 a.m.
The closest airport to Franklyn D. Resort (FDR) is the Donald Sangster International airport, which is one hour’s drive away in Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica.
Related: The Best All Inclusive Family Resorts in Jamaica
Check-in Time
Check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out time is noon.
Features & Benefits
Amenities
- Vacation Nanny
- Four swimming pools
- Water fitness classes
- Glass-bottom boat trips
- Tennis court
- Fitness center
- Free WiFi
- Ice cream treehouse
- Mini golf
Vacation Nanny
A step up from a babysitter or kids’ club is the Vacation Nanny, included in the rate. Every family is allocated a Nanny on arrival and has the option of using the service from 8.30 a.m. until 4.40 p.m. every day of the vacation.
As a parent who has enjoyed this incredible service, I can’t emphasize enough how it elevated our getaway.
From the moment we arrived, our dedicated Nanny became our partner, providing invaluable assistance and care for our children.
From bath time to meals and different activities, our Nanny was there, ensuring our kids were happy and engaged.
Nannies will even go with you on off-site excursions, or look after your kids while you go on a tour yourself.
Your Nanny is also available after 4.40 p.m. for an additional fee.
Swimming pools
During our stay, my kids had a blast splashing around in not just one, but three amazing pools and a hot tub.
There are three pools and a hot tub. The main pool has a shallow end and water slide for younger kids, while older children will have fun on “Big Blue”, the 100 foot waterslide in the water sports activity pool.
There is a separate pool for kids, with a mini water slide.
This resort was a water wonderland that left my family smiling from ear to ear.
Water fitness classes
Aquacize and AcroYoga classes are offered in the resort’s water sports activities pool. Daily yoga classes are available on the deck next to the pool.
Glass-bottom boat trips
Glass bottom boat rides go out daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tennis court
FDR has a tennis court for guests to play on during the day. An instructor is available for lessons, or for a game. Beach volleyball and basketball is also available.
Fitness center
The open air fitness center is open daily and has treadmills, weights and fitness equipment. The gym is open to guests 16 and over.
Free WiFi
Free WiFi is available throughout the resort.
Ice cream treehouse
Kids will enjoy their own secret treehouse hideaway, with ice cream on tap.
Mini golf
A mini golf course is available on site.
Family Activities
- Kids’ club
- Teens’ Games Room
- Snorkeling and kayaking
- Games and activities
Kids’ club
Yellow Bird Kids’ Club is fully supervised and open from 7.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Activities include tie-dye lessons, arts and crafts, snorkeling lessons, cooking classes and games.
There is also a children’s playground and TV room.
Teens’ Games Room
Teenagers have their own hangout. There is a computer room with Xbox 360′s and Nintendo Wii’s, plus a games room with pool, ping pong and foosball.
The resort has a teen entertainment director who organizes on-site games and off-site excursions, especially for teenagers.
Snorkeling and kayaking
Guests can borrow snorkeling and kayaking equipment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There is a covered pier that extends from the hotel to the water. Fishing is also an option, although there may be an extra fee to go out in the boat.
Games and activities
Staff organize games for kids and parents, including crab racing, tie dye and even goat racing on the beach.
For Mom and Dad
Live entertainment
The live band plays nightly and adults can dance under the stars or join in a karaoke session with the piano player. A variety of singers, acrobats, fire-eaters and dancers also perform regularly.
The Pier
There is an adults-only restaurant at the resort. Nannies are available after 4.40 p.m. for an additional $12 an hour, so parents can enjoy a night out without their kids. The Nanny can either put children to bed, or take them out to the supervised kid’s disco for more fun.
The Sea Grape Spa
Guests can enjoy a relaxing massage to the sound of lapping waves at the spa, which is located right on the beach. Treatments are European and Asian-inspired, with Jamaican ingredients.
Dining Options
The resort has four restaurants and a kid’s buffet. Three are open in the evenings, although not all dining venues are open every night. All the restaurants are open air and all the food is included in the room rate.
Honeycomb Shore Restaurant
International cuisine on the boardwalk by the beach. Guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast and an a la carte menu in the evening. On Wednesday, the restaurant has a Barbecue Beach Buffet by torchlight and holds a Jamaican buffet on Saturdays.
The Pier
The resort’s a-la-carte, international restaurant is open for dinner most nights. This venue is adults-only.
Overproof Restaurant
FDR’s Jamaican restaurant, Overproof, is located on the beach and decorated in red, gold and green. The menu features local cuisine such as curried conch and oxtail. The authentic Caribbean cuisine here is highly-rated by guests.
The Sea Cotton Tree Grill
The poolside grill offers all-day snacks, including the island’s famous jerk chicken, as well as paninis and wraps.
Kidz Buffet
If Jamaican cuisine is a step too far for your kids, take them to the children’s buffet, where they will find familiar fare such as mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, PB&J and burgers.
Room Information
The hotel has 80 one, two and three-bedroom suites. Rooms are spacious, if a little simple, with separate living and dining areas. They are more like little homes than traditional hotel rooms.
The amenities are good, with wired internet, air conditioning, satellite TV, free internet and a kitchen with microwave and fridge. Every room has a balcony or terrace.
If you want an ocean view, ask for a beachfront suite, as some of the rooms have views of the pool rather than the ocean. There is no room service in any of the rooms, although the refrigerators are stocked with drinks and snacks daily.
Cribs can be provided in all rooms, on request. Children are considered adults when they are over the age of six, so bear this in mind when booking.
Garden/pool view one-bedroom suite
Up to 540 square feet, with a separate living room and dining room. One king-size bed and doubles for the kids. There is a maximum occupancy of two adults and three children under 16 years.
Garden/pool view two-bedroom suite
Two bedrooms – one with a king-size bed and another with two doubles – plus two bathrooms, a living room and dining room. These suites are up to 1,082 square feet and most have an ocean view. Maximum occupancy is four adults and three kids.
Garden/pool view Junior suite
This suite is for two adults and one child and only has 540 square feet but what it lacks in indoor space it makes up for in outdoor – there is a 400 square feet deck on the beach.
Junior garden/pool view two-bedroom suite
Another two-bed and two-bath suite, this room has 540 square feet and a private terrace. There is a king-size bed and two twin beds. Maximum occupancy is two adults and three children.
Junior beachfront two-bedroom suite
The Junior beachfront two-bedroom has two bedrooms in 540 square feet, plus two private, ocean-facing balconies. The maximum occupancy is two adults and three children.
Beachfront two-bedroom suite
With up to 1,080 square feet, these rooms comfortably fit four adults and three children in the two bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own full bathroom. There is a balcony or terrace facing the beach.
Beachfront three-bedroom suite
The three-bed suites can accommodate up to six adults and three children. Two of the bedrooms feature king-size beds and the third has two twin beds.
Each bedroom has its own full bathroom. Guests get a spacious patio and 1,200 square feet to spread out in.
Wheelchair Accessibility
There are wheelchair accessible rooms on the ground floor, with roll-in showers. The resort as a whole is reasonably wheelchair-friendly.
Booking.comCustomer Reviews
I searched the internet and found these reviews from guests who have visited Franklyn D. Resort recently. Overall, the reviews were very positive – from the food to the service, all aspects of the hotel received glowing feedback. The Nanny service was particularly praised.
Alternatives
Looking for family-friendly properties in Jamaica that rival the amazing Franklyn D. Resort and Spa?
Some fantastic options include Beaches Negril Resort & Spa with its luxury accommodations and a fun water park and Royalton Blue Waters, which combines elegance, a private beach, and a splash park.
Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort, which offers thrilling water sports, is also an excellent alternative.
Jewel Runaway Bay vs Franklyn D. Resort
Franklyn D. Resort’s neighbor, Jewel Runaway Bay Resort, offers a similar all-inclusive experience in the same location.
However, Jewel has some of the polish that Franklyn is missing. Rooms and facilities are decorated and maintained to a higher standard at Jewel, plus there are more restaurants to choose from.
It’s still not as luxurious as a high-end chain resort – rooms have tiled floors and simple furnishings – but it has a casual, island charm.
While there are no Nannies to take care of your kids all day, there is a huge on-site water park, so parents of older children might prefer this option.
There are plenty of activities on site, including a fitness center, basketball and tennis, plus the use of non-motorized water sports equipment. Across the road from the hotel is Runaway Bay Golf Course, which guests can use for free.
Guests can also hang out at the four pools and two swim-up bars, with plenty of shady loungers.
For children, there is a kid’s club and the water park to keep them entertained. WiFi is free, there is 24-hour room service and guests can request a free airport transfer.
- Water park
- Room service
- Golf course
Conclusion
Wrapping up my dive into Franklyn D Resort and Spa reviews, I’m here to give you my final thoughts.
If you’re all about connection, togetherness, and being present with your family, Franklyn D. Resort and Spa is our top choice.
It’s a charmingly intimate place that offers the perfect family-friendly all-inclusive vacation spot.
Compared to other resorts in the area, it has a homey vibe that I found both comforting and delightful.
Now, every place has its quirks.
For this one, the decor might feel a bit dated and the beach is smaller compared to others, but the neighboring beach is just a hop away.
The absence of room service might be a downer for some, but remember, this is an opportunity to truly disconnect and spend quality time with your loved ones.
But let me tell you about the pros, which in my eyes, far outweigh the cons.
The spacious three-bedroom suites are ideal for larger families.
And let’s not forget the lifesaver of a nanny service that made my stay here much more relaxed.
The abundance of activities for all ages keeps everyone entertained.
Plus, who can say no to a 100-foot waterslide?
Overall, based on my experience and others I’ve read, Franklyn D. Resort and Spa receive high marks for its family-oriented atmosphere, activities, and genuine warmth.
If you’re seeking a fun-filled, memorable family vacation, this might just be your ticket.
So grab your suitcases, because this resort awaits with open arms and sunny skies.
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