We Just returned from FDR at Runaway bay .. The pictures on the web dont explain the fun and the beauty this place is all about . The property is a bit tired compared to the modern resorts but its comfy for a family and you soon overlook some of the the wear and tear . The property is well maintained and clean .. The people who work there from the Nannies to the entertainment directors , even the omlete man are very well trained totally focused on you and your kids enjoyment . The size of the property is small but safe .

the wonderfull part was how they had activities organzied they had some thing diffrent for the toddlers , pre teens , teens and even adults . The water sports was always open for snookling , glass bottom boat rides etc etc .

They keep you smiieng all day by say Hey Mon .


i know it is all inclusive and food is not the priority ... they had a grill which served good foods if you did not like the buffet which was okay plenty of choices for whole family . They had adult only dining which was in a beautiful setting but the food was a let down .

My kids have traveled to plenty of other high end kids resorts and they all said this was the most Fun because of the people .

take your kids , and a camera .

The facility is run down but clean. There is entertainment at night but it goes on until about 10 pm and can be heard in virtually every room regardless of where you are in the resort so it makes it hard for the little ones to go to sleep.

The beach is tiny but there is an adjacent beach which you can use but you can't use the facilities at all so you have to walk back to FDR for batch rooms etc. I tried to use the beach shower to get sand out of my 5 year olds eyes and had a security guard come up to me in 30 seconds to say we couldn't use the facilities.

Food was ok but not great - eating out over the water was beautiful so it made up for the lack of variety.

The bath rooms while clean are very small, the water pressure is low and we didn't always have hot water.

The trip to Dolphin cove is definitely worth the money. Our entire family had a great time with the dolphins.

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?"