Franklyn D Resort & Spa All Inclusive

The Franklyn D. Resort & Spa is authentically Jamaican. A family resort where you have a truly local experience, and can have a vacation with the kid care they provide (it’s the only place with included nanny care). And to top it off, it’s not financially out of reach like many resort chains are for many folks. I believe there are two types of folks: first, those that won’t like this place because it’s not as polished, new, sprawling, or pristine, or has 19 restaurants including a teppanyaki grill like the mega resorts. The second: folks that appreciate a place like FDR because it’s NOT the above. It’s local. It’s small. The staff will know your names and your kids names. They tailor activities and venues that are open to capacity. There are some unfinished projects next to new finished ones, interspersed with charming and beautiful gardens and pathways. The small cove is not a curated beach; it’s like an aquarium TOUCH POOL with corals, fish, anemones, crabs and snails. The food is mostly Jamaican cuisine with options for European and American travelers. If you’re like me, you only want to drink Red Stripe, Appleton, and Wray & Nephew overproof. You won’t complain about the odd things, and you appreciate the authenticity, local flavor, and UNMATCHED hospitality. THESE are the folks that will LOVE FDR - they are my people. There is no other place we would rather go in the Caribbean.

I’m here now and it just reopened. It is an older property with huge rooms and very cold AC. The beach is very beautiful and I went kayaking yesterday. Everyone who works here does a great job and I also got the best pedi over at their spa by Tracy I highly recommend her. I’m also vegan and gluten free and there was plenty of delicious things I could find to eat here and all I had to do was ask for what I would like. Very safe too

If you are looking for a quiet relaxing trip with family and kids this is a wonderful hotel to book. The hotel can be described as old time Jamaican property not to be compared with a big chain inclusive. It's much smaller but quaint with personality. The grounds is well kept with lots of trees, gardens and beautiful sunsets. The best part of the trip was the people. People 10/10 Everyone was super pleasant and accommodating. Not to mention Sharlene our nanny. We only had her for 2 days but she felt like true family. She genuinely shared love for my daughter and we felt safe in her care. Food 8/10 I didn't give 10 as I am used to lots of buffet options/restaurants in a typical inclusive. There was sufficient food at min 3 options for breakfast lunch and dinner but only 1 restaurant open due to low occupancy. The grill was opened which was a plus but I didn't eat there so cant give a comment.The food was overall super tasty and consistent (i am Jamaican so I should know!). Room 7/10 again not your typical modern room, but for the weekend getaway it was comfy and functional. It felt old time but homey. Value 9/10 the price is one of the most affordable you will get. It doesn't have a million add-on, but for the nanny experience it's more than worth it! You will not get this anywhere else in Jamaica! There was little entertainment. Again this property is more for relaxation and family bonding time. There was a beautiful singer at dinner which was a nice sing along with my family and we played luudo after dinner. Honestly the big hotel entertainment/night club wasn't missed. They also offer night time nanny service for us$12 per hour which is more than value. So couples can feel free to explore a restaurant off property (Ocho Rios is 20 mins aways via taxi). Beach 10/10 there is small cove at the hotel but you have access to a beach next door and let me tell you it's one of the best stretch in Ja. Prestine beautiful clear blue water with soft sand. I spent hours in there! They also had water activities for the kids glass bottom boat, kayaking, snorkeling and water slides. There is a whole playground area with swings, live rabbits, kids club, tennis and basketball court. In summary if you are looking for a quiet retreat or quality family time with a boutique Jamaican hotel experience this is for you. If you have kids and you need a break this hotel is even more suited. They even take care of young kids. The nannies are superb hands down best ppl experience as well. They treat you like family. I am going back with more family members in July based on the good experience I had. Also key to note as the property is small it's great for older family members to get around as everywhere is easily accessible and close by.

We have been going to FDR for 26 years, so it was only fitting to have our son's wedding ceremony at the resort. Their dedication and support truly made our special day unforgettable. From the moment we started planning, their wedding coordinator, Trish Davidson, was there to guide us through every decision, answering our countless questions, and seamlessly coordinating all the moving parts. FDR is the perfect place to celebrate a wedding or renewal of vows.

The Davidson’s had a family reunion at FDR and were not disappointed. We received VIP service from the beginning of our stay until the very end. The entire staff were accommodating, friendly and welcoming, and the food was exquisite!! I highly recommend this family friendly atmosphere. The front desk staff were very helpful in scheduling tours while tending to our needs each day. Bravo to you all!! We can’t wait for another visit with you all.

Okay, let me start off by saying we are immeasurably blessed to be able to vacation with our children outside of the country. That said, this is by far the most disappointing vacation we've ever had. I'm really inclined to believe these previous online reviews which ranked this place so high are fake. Our first thoughts were Bates Motel. The entrance area is a wooden gate with a manual lock, nothing hugely secure or guarded. Check in was signing docs on carbon copy paper followed by a brief walkabout. NOTHING about this 'resort' is as described! The grounds were very unkempt with debris and outright dirty. The decor and buildings were very outdated. There was ongoing loud construction. The jacuzzi and kiddie pool was filthy and semi filled with dirty rain water. The nightly entertainment was 'okay' with the exception of 2 musicians who were extremely talented. There are stray cats wandering everywhere, especially in the dining areas. The spa was joke, equally run down and unkempt. There are NOT several restaurants, there's only one and it's called take it or leave it. Most of the food options were repetitive and bland and often times ran out without prompt replenishment. All of the dining tables are outside and most times the food was barely covered in saran wrap, hence the attraction of insects. The other restaurants described online were closed and visibly inoperable for some time, as was the disco, teen club and jacuzzi area. There was a beach grill that made food to order, but very limited options. There were daily activities posted but rarely were done. The beach is extremely small and dirty and not managed well, with rarely a life guard in site. Thankfully the beach to the other side of the resort leading into the public area was much larger and cleaner and allowed for swimming and snorkeling. While it is relaxing, there is ZERO shade and very limited beach chairs and access to this area closed at 6pm! There were quite a bit of small children's activities daily that were managed by personal nannies however despite traveling with 2 children, we were never offered this service (although the resort website states this is included in the stay). The staff was hit or miss. The front desk and many of the servers and staff were not miserable but not pleasant either. The bar manager, activities director and tennis coach were all amazing and accommodating. The gift shop attendant was nasty and rude both times we encountered her. The bar service was okay, nothing spectacular and often times the resort was pitch quiet with no music or daytime entertainment. The pros were: the rooms were very spacious (apartment sized) and the AC outstanding. One note about that is there are small gaps on the bottom of the doors which allowed for huge cockroaches to creep in, (which they did!) The resort was very small and you never felt crowded or overwhelmed with people everywhere. The clean side of the beach was relaxing white and good for snork