We stayed for a week at FDR in March and didn't want to leave. Our nanny Natalie was great and the rest of the staff was equally impressive. The resort is much smaller than others we have been to, but we loved the fact that we could see our Son with the nanny while we were doing other things. This was the first vacation we were able to do things as a couple and also have time with our Son. The food was good and the variety was nice. We enjoyed the fact that we didn't have to eat at a buffet every night. This was an extremely family oriented resort and the staff goes out of their way to make sure your children enjoy themselves at the resort. The snorkeling was great. We went out every day with our boat captain/lifeguard Junior and have an amazing time. The glass bottom boat was a lot of fun for our Son too. He is 2 1/2 and Junior let him drive the boat and feed the fish bread. He is still talking about it after being home for 3 weeks. The rooms are nice as long as you get a renovated room. The first room we were in was not great and there were so many things wrong with it, but the resort staff graciously moved us to a new room by the evening. The staff was truly gracious and friendly. They always had a smile on there face and were so laid back and relaxed that it rubbed off on us. I've never in my life fallen so in love with a resort and been sad to leave. I cannot say enough wonderful things about FDR. We plan on going back at least once a year!

Our stay was from the 17th of Jamuary to the 20th, this seems to be off peak time so the place was not that crowded.
The staff was really really friendly and down to earth. The nanny came and took out son and i just lounged about, my wife made full use of jacuzzi, and the pool to get a tan, also you can go on the beach next door @ Breezes resort.
This is the ideal place for a family with kids vacation but i did meet a few people from chicargo without kids who were enjoying themself and I met a lot families who had been there more than 3 times, one couple told me it was thier 7th time back. The funniest thing to me was hearing the mother conspiring everyday at the bar how they could possibly steal the nannies and take them back to America with them.
The nannies are perfect and my son was very resistant to leaving with a staranger at first but after a hour with "Jewel" he didnt even want to have lunch with us because he was having so much fun especially hanging with the other kids. He made a lot of friends and looked foreword to hanging out with them everyday.
Breakfast is usually a wide selection of good to great food but lunch and dinner was usually ok to good but still a wide selection. If u really want great lunch sneak over to the workers eating area and get a plate.
The tennis lessons were great and they had a really cool gym instructor, I never went out on the glass bottom boat but I heard that was great also, I tried to get a fishing rod but they kept sending me in a circle and I ended up with stick with fishing line and a hook on it but I did go fishing on the beach with it and caught a few 1/4 fish that I threw them back. It was fun regardless.
The bar staff were extremly friendly and they would make any drink you want. If I wasnt fishing or playing tennis I slept most of the day with my balcony door open to recieve the cool sea breeze. At night after dinner I was usually by the bar hanging with some lovely people I met.
i have been to better resorts when I Iwas single but the joy that my wife and son displayed at this place was priceless. I told her we will try some other place next year and she said she is coming right back to FDR. afterall why fix it if it aint broke so I guess we will be one of those family telling people "this is our 7th time here" and they will look at us like ' You havent tried anywhere else?"

Our 10 and 12 year old sons were a little apprehensive about having a vacation nanny and they were among the older children there. There were some teens but they seemed to have younger siblings. Antioinette, our nanny, was awsome and had won them over by the time we left. Although we didn't neccessarilyu need the boys to be watched all the time it was like having our private concierge. She kept track of each days activities and helped to guide the boys to the right things. Once she knew that they liked snorkeling she would make sure that they were included in snorkeling outings. She kept our room picked up allthe time. Room is really the wrong word. It was more like a villa. We relly chose FDR for the suite. Our reservation for a one bedroom suite was upgraded to a two bedroom suite with 2 1/2 baths. (poor water pressure was about my only complaint all week) Transfers were easy and friendly. Excursions were convenient. Green Grotto caves were great. Dunn's River falls were too crowded. If you go i suggest you do this on a day without cruise ships in Ocho Rios. Still a fun day climbing up the falls and The Nanny who accompanied us guided us past all the "hawkers." If you want white sand beach You have to walk a couple of hundred yards but its an easy walk through a gate with FDR security and no nudes to walk past contrary to some of the reviews I've seen. the best part of FDR is the staff. In addition to the Nannies, there are great people working there. The lifeguards do double duty with snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, sailing lessons and more. Guided bike rides and power walks were just the start of the fitness programs. They were made special by the enthusiasm of Donavan and Quya our guides. Quya did a great job with activities all day long. I got a great Tennis lesson. I took the resort scuba course with my sons and had a great dive. I just wish we had taken it on our first day to take advantage of the opportunity to get certified. The food was excellent. Take advantage of the Adults only restaurants at least one night to provide a little more variety. There is competition for poolside lounges but there were plenty of places to enjoy the sun throughout the resort. I did not meet anyone all week that wasn't happy and most of the guests are repeats so that tells you something. "Go to this Resort!!! you'll love it!!"

This was our second time having Coretta as our son's Vacation Nanny! Why? She's awesome! She's our family away from home...Tyrese wanted to go back to the resort the next week after coming back home just to be with her! Coretta is very professional, yet friendly and always gives 'service with a smile!' She's a definite asset to the resort as she goes above and beyond her call of duty, making sure that you are always satisfied, providing what we call here in Canada - "world class service!". Tyrese always wanted to be with her and would not dare allow her to take her lunch breaks! We took advantage of the baby sitting at nights, which enabled my fiance and I to go out to dinner alone every night, which was such a wonderful treat we don't often get back home.

We also had the opportunity of having Carmelina for the first 2 days of our vacation. She was also an excellent choice and was very pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable! We loved her too, and she was a big help to us when we needed her most, getting prepared and ready for our Engagement Party!

If you are ever looking for a great resort to take the family, FDR is the place to go - the staff will treat you right!!

Corine, Everton, & Tyrese