Meliá Braco Village – Jamaica All Inclusive

Meliá Braco Village opened in early 2016 and is set on a lush, 84-acre oceanfront property full of palm trees, blossoming flowers, and grassy fields. Most of the grounds remain intentionally undeveloped and its prime oceanfront real estate, like the the restaurants, bars, and guest rooms, have gorgeous ocean views. What really stands out is the colonial architecture. Modeled after Falmouth, the nearby town with Georgian-style structures, the resort’s buildings showcase accents like tall pillars, contrasting trim, and wood-shingled roofs. The lobby has a vaulted ceiling and blends shabby-chic and modern styles. Expect brown-and-white studded Louis XV armchairs, delicate latticework transoms and modern accents like metal-wrapped chandeliers and a minimalist gold wall panel etched with a psychedelic spider web. The resort’s divided into two areas: the general resort and a VIP area for Level guests who’ve splurged on the upgrade. Most amenities are still shared except for a second pool, private lobby, small buffet restaurant, and lounge. Resort guests are mostly couples and families from the United States and Canada -- and though it's family-friendly, it doesn’t feel overrun by kids. 

Meliá Braco is located on Jamaica’s north coast, between the quaint colonial town of Falmouth and the tourist hub of Ocho Rios. Falmouth (a 25-minute drive) is known for its  Georgian architecture and dates back to its days as a British commercial hub (and, sadly, slave trading post). Falmouth is the best place to find a pharmacy, market, local restaurants, and gas stations. Ocho Rios (a 49-minute drive) has a gorgeous beach, big craft market, and many tasty restaurants. Dunn’s River Falls, the beautiful, climbable waterfall that spills into the ocean (and visitors climb from the ocean to its top) is a 43-minute drive away. Dolphin Cove is across the road from the falls and the spot to swim with dolphins in the ocean (as opposed to pools). Also near Ocho Rios is the Blue Hole, a waterfall perfect for jumping into its bright turquoise swimming hole; it's an hour-drive. Glistening Waters (a 16-minute drive) is the bioluminescent bay where visitors can night swim in the glowing water. Montego Bay, the capital of Jamaica’s north coast with lots of restaurants, beaches, bars, and a huge craft market, is a 55-minute drive away. Sangster International Airport, also located in Montego Bay, is about a 50-minute drive from Meliá Braco.  

Meliá Braco has eight room types, but each looks the same decor-wise. Beachy chic rooms feature wood laminate floors, tall woven or leaf patterned headboards, and white walls accented with photos and paintings of sunsets or tropical vistas created by local artists. Spaces open to large balconies or terraces, which keep the rooms bright. Each is furnished with two modern rocking chairs, and views range from the gardens to the ocean. Guest rooms have either one king bed or two double beds topped with beige throw pillows, and white-on-white striped sheets. Cylinder-shaped hanging lamps are modern and minimalist -- some are glowing orbs while others have cutout grids shaped like a bird’s nest. Tech-wise, flat-screen TVs with cable and movie channels are standard, as are iPod docking clock radios, free Wi-Fi, and a smartphone loaded with hotel details and activities. Coffeemakers come with free coffee, and free minibars are stocked with local beer, soda, water, and juices, and snacks (refreshed daily). Irons, ironing boards, safes, and umbrellas are stashed in closets. Families can request playpens for kids. 

Spacious bathrooms have bowl-shaped sinks and rainfall showers. Standard bathroom amenities include bar soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and shower caps. It's worth noting the upgraded Level rooms are slightly bigger and have more bathroom amenities, like shaving kits, dental kits, sewing kits, cotton pads, and cotton swabs. Watch out for guest rooms in buildings six and 12 -- they're the farthest away from the hotel and its amenities.  

Meliá's features focus squarely on entertaining and feeding beach-loving vacationers. The gorgeous beach is long and lined with lounge chairs. There are a few cabanas, but not quite enough parasols and seaweed can be a problem. There’s also a beach-volleyball court and special section for Level guests. A nice plus are the free kayaks and paddle boats available to borrow. Snorkeling equipment and Hobie Cats are also available but there’s a fee (and a hotel skipper comes along for the Hobie Cat ride). 

The two ocean-view pools (one is for Level guests only) are framed by lounge chairs, have swim-up pool bars, and free water aerobics classes. Both pools have standalone heated whirlpool tubs and life guards are on duty during the day. Lots of activities take place here, including games and sports. In the evening, there are a variety of shows and entertainment like reggae bands. 

The resort has six all-inclusive restaurants and some have dress codes and irregular hours. The Market Place is the popular buffet restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. It's located next to the pool, has ocean views, and serves international and Jamaican cuisines with live stations and a smoothie bar. Musicians also perform pop hits in the mornings. Golden Sands is the small, poolside buffet just for Level guests. 876 Prime is the glitzy steakhouse with mirrored walls and cylindrical, crystal chandeliers. The Asian fusion restaurant, Nikkei, serves a blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine and has teppanyaki tables setup around a chef station; it also has a sushi bar. Plan ahead to sit at the grill tables, reservations are required. O’Grille is the open-air la carte grille that serves Jamaican cuisine. It has a jerk pit (essentially a barbecue area where meat is grilled in metal drums) and self-service soft-serve ice cream. Room service is also available (free only for Level rooms). Across from O’Grille is the Rasta fruit stand for fresh cut fruit, sugar cane, and coconuts. Bars are scattered throughout the property, and there's a fun night club that stays open late. 

There’s a small gym with Life Fitness treadmills, elliptical machines, weight machines, stationary bicycles, and weights. Personal training sessions are available (for a fee) and free fitness classes like body sculpting, water aerobics, stretching, and Zumba are offered regularly. There’s a free motorized bicycle tour of the property’s nature trails and a weekly 5k group run led by the resort’s general manager. Three tennis courts are presented, and private lessons with a pro are available (for a fee). Rackets and balls are free to borrow. Yhi Spa is named after the Australian Aboriginal goddess of light and creation. It provides standard spa services like massages, wraps, and skin treatments. The salon offers manicures, pedicures, facials, haircuts, and waxing services. 

The kids' club is for children ages 5- to 12-years old and has lots of activities like tie-dye, educational games, crafts, and a Wii, Xbox, and TVs with programming in different languages. For an adrenaline rush, the adventure park is definitely worth a visit. The park has a high ropes course, trampolines, a rock wall, zip lines, and a paintball field scheduled to open in the spring of 2017. Other outdoor activities include table tennis, life-size Connect Four and checkerboards, bocce ball, and poolside dominos tables. Other amenities include a gift shop, duty free shop, sundries shop, and an ATM. There’s a dedicated tour desk that can organize excursions. Hotel staff can arrange taxis, tour guides, babysitters, and airport transfers. Laundry service is available (for a fee) and there’s fast  and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.