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Planning a trip to Jamaica with kids and wondering if it is safe, where to stay and what to do? We went to Negril, Jamaica, as a family in November 2024, and the kids had a blast. This guide covers the questions parents ask most before booking Jamaica with kids: how safe it is, how to choose between Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios, how to get from the airport to your hotel, the best excursions for young kids, the best time to go and what to pack.
If this is your first time, start with my Jamaica travel guide for first-time visitors, which has a full itinerary and a list of things to do in every region. This post adds the family side of it.
Is Jamaica safe for families with kids?
This is the first question most parents ask, so here is what the official travel advice says, in plain words.
The Government of Canada asks travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” in Jamaica because of the high level of violent crime, particularly outside tourist areas. That page was last updated in May 2026. The US State Department has Jamaica at Level 2, “exercise increased caution”, after lowering it from Level 3 in January 2026, and it lists a few specific neighbourhoods at a higher level. Read both pages before you book, because they change.
What this means for a family on holiday is very practical. According to the Canadian advice, violent crime is mostly concentrated in parts of Kingston, Montego Bay, St. Catherine and May Pen, and it is lower in tourist areas and at resorts, where police are present. Most families stay in the resort areas of Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios, and they leave the resort for planned excursions with a known company.
Here are the safety tips that matter most with kids, taken from the Canadian travel advice:
- Use only taxis ordered by your hotel or authorized by JUTA, which have red and white “PP” plates. Taxis are not metered, so agree on the price before you get in.
- Avoid driving or walking at night in areas you do not know, and keep your phone and valuables out of sight in busy places.
- Gated resorts with security are considered the safest place to stay. Keep your room locked, even at an all-inclusive.
- Riptides are common, and not every beach has a lifeguard or warning flags. Swim in marked areas, never alone, and keep the kids within arm’s reach in the water.
- Police checkpoints are common on the North Coast Highway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, so carry your ID and allow extra time.
The advice I already gave in my first-timer guide still stands: stick to reputable guides and tours, and avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas. The US advice also notes that medical care can be limited outside the big towns, so buy travel insurance that covers the whole family and check what it includes. If you have ever wondered what to do when someone gets sick on a trip, here is my post on medical challenges while travelling.
Is Jamaica open after Hurricane Melissa?
Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on Tuesday 28 October 2025, and the western parishes, including the areas around Montego Bay and Black River, were the hardest hit. All the major airports have reopened for commercial flights, and most of the big resorts in Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios have reopened in stages since then.
Recovery is still going on in some areas, so before you book, check directly with your hotel that it is open and that the pools, restaurants and kids club are running. Do the same for any excursion, especially in the south west around Black River.
Where to stay in Jamaica with kids: Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios?
Most families fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, so the real question is how far you want to drive with the kids after a flight. From Montego Bay, Negril is about 1.5 hours by car and Ocho Rios is about 2 hours.
My pro tip from our trip: you can stay in one city and still visit attractions in other areas as day trips. Just be ready for some driving.
Montego Bay, for the shortest airport transfer
Montego Bay is the gateway city, with the international airport, big resorts and easy access to attractions. With a baby or a toddler who does not do well in the car, staying close to the airport makes the first and last day much easier. Most of the large family resorts are outside the town, along the coast towards Rose Hall, while the town itself has the Hip Strip, Doctor’s Cave Beach and the craft market.
We have stayed at the Grand Palladium Jamaica twice, in 2016 and in 2018, on the coast between Montego Bay and Negril, and the view there is gorgeous. Palladium is one of my favourite hotel brands. If you want to look at options around Montego Bay, you can search Montego Bay resorts and hotels on Booking.com.
Negril, for the beach
Negril is known for its relaxed vibe, Seven Mile Beach and the sunsets. This is where we stayed with the kids, and Seven Mile Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen. If your family is happiest with sand, calm days and a pool, Negril is a very good fit.
We stayed at Skylark Negril, and it is a place I recommend. The beach is beautiful, the food at Miss Lily’s is delicious, and the staff made sure our family was always having fun. It is a boutique hotel with amazing hospitality, and that is what makes it feel special. It is perfect for a laid-back family vacation.
If you want the all-inclusive experience without staying overnight, we also spent a day at Beaches Negril with a day pass. Here is how the Beaches Negril day pass works, with what it includes for kids.
To compare places on Seven Mile Beach, you can search Negril hotels on Hotels.com.
Ocho Rios, for adventure
Ocho Rios is the adventure hub, with waterfalls, zip lines and river tubing. It is the best base if your kids are a bit older and you want to do more than one excursion, because Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain and Dolphin Cove are all close by. The drive from the airport is longer, so it works better on a trip of a week or more.
Resort area or town?
With young kids, most families choose a resort area, because everything is in one place: the beach, the pool, the food and the kids club. If you are still deciding between an all-inclusive and a hotel, here is how I pick an all-inclusive resort for a family vacation, and my 10 tips for your all-inclusive vacation. Staying in town puts you closer to local food and markets, but you will rely more on taxis. A boutique hotel on the beach, like Skylark in Negril, is another option.
Getting from Montego Bay airport to your hotel with kids
When you walk out of arrivals at Sangster International Airport, many drivers will offer you a ride. Pre-booking your transfer is the safer and calmer option with kids, because someone is waiting for you with your name and you do not have to negotiate a price while holding a tired toddler. I go through every step, from the C5 customs form to the exit, in my post on Montego Bay airport with kids.
You can book a private airport transfer from Montego Bay on Kiwitaxi. If your kids still use a car seat, ask for one when you book, or bring your own. Many hotels also offer an airport shuttle, so ask your hotel before you arrive.
For travel between towns, Knutsford Express is the intercity bus that the Canadian travel advice recommends. With a lot of luggage and young kids, a pre-booked driver is usually easier.
Things to do in Jamaica with kids
Resorts are amazing for relaxing, but there is so much to see outside the hotel. With young kids, keep it simple: one activity a day, less than 1 to 2 hours from your hotel, with shade, breaks and beach time. I have a full list in my post on excursions from Caribbean resorts for families with young kids, and here are the ones that work best by area.
Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios
Dunn’s River Falls is the most famous waterfall in Jamaica, and families climb it slowly with a guide, with many shallow pools along the way. According to the park’s own website, falls guides are available on site, and there is a kiddie splash pad for little ones who are too small to climb. Water shoes are sold at shops inside the park, but bringing your own pairs from home is easier. Check the park’s website for opening hours and tickets before you go.
Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Café, Negril
Seven Mile Beach is soft sand and shallow water. It is great for snorkelling, beach lounging and glass-bottom boat tours. In the evening, the sunsets get applause. Other families love watching the sunset at Rick’s Café, famous for its cliff jumping, so keep the kids close to you near the cliff edge.
Doctor’s Cave Beach and Martha Brae River, Montego Bay
Doctor’s Cave Beach is one of the best-known beaches in Montego Bay, with calm water that is easy for young kids. Martha Brae River rafting is a very calm bamboo raft ride on the river, and it is a good half-day outing for a family.
If you have more time
- Blue Hole near Ocho Rios, with small waterfalls and natural pools surrounded by jungle.
- Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios, for the bobsled ride and zip lines with older kids.
- Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios, to see dolphins up close.
- A catamaran cruise, with snorkelling stops and beach time.
- Rose Hall Great House near Montego Bay, a historic mansion with a spooky backstory for older kids.
- YS Falls and the Black River Safari on the south coast. This area was badly hit by the hurricane, so check that they are running before you plan the day.
You can look for Jamaica excursions and tours on Viator, where you can read reviews from other families and check the pickup point from your hotel.
Book a family photographer
I love taking photos on vacation, but I am always the one behind the camera. In Negril, I booked a photographer, @tusonphotography, and now we have photos of all of us as a family. If you are celebrating something on your Jamaica trip, it is worth thinking about.
Food in Jamaica with kids
For me, the best thing about Jamaica is the food. In Negril, we ate at Miss Lily’s at Skylark, and Pushcart Restaurant and Rum Bar is the place for local flavours. In Montego Bay, try the jerk chicken at Scotchies. Other families find Jamaican patties, rice and peas and fried plantain an easy option for kids.
At dinner one night in Negril, the live band was playing, the lights were on, and one of the girls fell asleep right at the table. We do not build our itinerary around naps, so the kids sleep anywhere and everything continues: stroller, car, plane, or the dinner table. If your kids are picky, here is what helps us with picky eaters when travelling.
What is the best time to go to Jamaica with kids?
The best time to visit Jamaica is from November to April, when the weather is drier. That is also when Canada is cold, and I will never say no to a beach trip when it is winter here. Christmas and March break are the busiest and most expensive weeks, so book early. If you are deciding where to go for the holidays, here is how to choose your family’s Christmas break destination, and here is my guide to March break 2027 with kids from Toronto.
Hurricane season runs from early June to late November. If you travel then, book flexible fares and hotels, and be ready to change plans at short notice.
Getting there from Canada is also getting easier. Air Canada starts a daily flight from Edmonton to Montego Bay on Monday 7 December 2026, on top of the flights already running from Toronto and other Canadian cities.
What to pack for Jamaica with kids
- Lightweight clothes, swimwear and a cover-up for each of you.
- Sunscreen, sun hats and insect repellent.
- Water shoes for everyone, for Dunn’s River Falls, rivers and rocky beaches.
- Passports for everyone, and the C5 customs form done online before you land. Travelling without the other parent? Bring a consent letter, and read my post on how to travel alone with your kids.
- 2 days of clothes for everyone in the carry-on, in case the checked bags do not arrive, plus pyjamas for the first night.
- A crossbody bag, so passports, cards and medication stay on you and your hands stay free.
- Small bills in US or Jamaican dollars for tips.
- A way to stay connected. You can get a Jamaica eSIM on Airalo before you leave, so you have data for maps and messages as soon as you land.
For the beach part, here is how I prepare for a beach trip with a baby or a young kid. For the rest, I run the same checklist before every international trip with kids. And if Jamaica is on your list with other islands, my Nassau, Bahamas with a baby itinerary and my Europe or Caribbean with kids guide can help you compare.
What I pack for trips like this
The things I actually use are in my Amazon store: my packing essentials list and my electronic must-haves for travel list.
If you are planning Jamaica, my pre-travel checklist is the list I run before every trip, and it is free. You can get it here.
Planning Jamaica with your kids? Send me a message on Instagram and tell me when you are going.