We packed up our crew of four and flew to Jamaica for a week of sunshine, connection, and all‑inclusive ease.
Where We Stayed
📍 Mountain Spring Bay Trelawny St, Jamaica, Duncans, Trelawny, Jamaica, JMCTY05
First Impressions
From the moment we arrived at Ocean Coral Spring, the vibe felt exactly right for a family vacation – bright, welcoming, and surrounded by the kind of turquoise water you dream about. The resort sits right on a white‑sand beach with calm, clear water and had a peaceful, tucked‑away feel.
The property is well maintained, modern, and spacious with plenty of open areas for kids to explore safely. While we’re mostly out of the stroller phase, the resort does have wide walkways perfect for stroller‑friendly navigating. The scale of the resort immediately stood out: large pools, a lazy river, and tons of family‑oriented amenities, all spread out enough that nothing felt crowded.
Why We Chose an All-Inclusive
For our family of four (with a 6‑year‑old who eats constantly and a 4‑year‑old who changes preferences every 12 minutes) an all-inclusive made this trip feel effortless.
Ocean Coral Spring offers:
- 24‑hour all‑inclusive service
- 10 restaurants and 9 bars, so there’s always something kid and/or parent‑approved available
- Ice cream + coffee shop, a highlight for little (and big!) sugar lovers
- Daily entertainment for all ages
Everything about the resort is designed for families who want fun without the constant planning or budgeting. It let us slow down, say yes more often, and truly enjoy being together.
Our Room: Privilege Master Suite
We stayed in the Privilege Master Suite, which was perfect for our family with young kids. The suite included:
- A separate bedroom + living room, giving everyone space
- Sofa bed for the kids
- A private terrace with a Jacuzzi, ideal for winding down after pool days
- Daily‑restocked minibar, including the kid essentials (snacks!)
The room comfortably accommodated 4 people, and the extra space made such a difference during rest breaks and early kid bedtimes.
Beach, Pools, Lazy River & Kids’ Areas
This resort is a dream for water‑loving families like us!
Beach Access
The resort sits directly on a beautiful stretch of white‑sand beach, just steps from the rooms and pools. The water here is that classic Jamaican turquoise; it was calm, shallow in spots, and great for kids who are still gaining confidence in the ocean – our littlest one had just learned to swim independently this summer, and she did great!
The beach vibe felt relaxed and easy:
- Plenty of loungers
- Soft sand perfect for digging
- Gentle water that’s great for little swimmers
- Close enough to resort amenities that quick trips back for snacks or sunscreen don’t feel like a mission
It’s exactly the kind of beach where you can spend hours without realizing time has passed.
✨ A round of applause for Josephina-in-the-sun for keeping our littlest one protected and adorable during our sun‑soaked days in the cutest swimsuit.
Pools & Lazy River
The resort features:
- A main expansive swimming pool
- Jacuzzis
- A lazy river with a gentle current: Low‑stress, slow‑floating fun both kids LOVED
The layout makes it easy to rotate between splash time, floating, and relaxing in shaded areas, all without long walks or logistics.
Kids’ Areas
The family amenities are a major standout:
- Daisy Club kids’ program for ages 4–12
- Water park designed specifically for children
- Family pool
- Playground + games room
- Daytime entertainment activities
There’s truly something for every energy level – whether your kids want to slide, swim, dance, or just splash the day away.
Food + Dining with Kids
Dining at Ocean Coral Spring was one of the smoother parts of traveling with our little ones. Overall, eating here felt easy, flexible, and kid‑friendly, but there are a few things worth knowing – especially if you’re traveling with young children who do best with earlier mealtimes.
Dinner Reservations: Plan Ahead
Most of the resort’s restaurants require reservations for dinner, and the popular early time slots fill up quickly. If your kids eat earlier (or melt down when they don’t), make it a priority to book your dinner reservations as soon as you arrive – or even earlier if allowed. Scheduling the early dining hours saved us from the “overtired + hungry” combo that no parent wants on vacation.
Poolside Options + Privilege Perks
One of the biggest wins for us was how many casual food options were available near the pools. Whether the kids were splashing in the water park or drifting down the lazy river, we could easily grab something quick without dragging everyone back to the room.
And as Privilege members, we had the extra perk of ordering lunch delivered directly to us under the cabana while the kids played – honestly, a major parent win. Not having to pack up wet kids for a meal was worth every bit of the upgrade.
Trying the Restaurants
We tried the majority of the resort’s restaurants throughout the week and didn’t run into any issues with the food or service. Everything felt easy, relaxed, and accommodating for families.
A Family Favorite: Martha’s Market
Hands down, our kids’ favorite spot was Martha’s Market, the resort’s buffet. It was a perfect match for two indecisive little eaters who like to “try a little bit of everything.” The variety made meals stress‑free, and the quick access to food meant no waiting around with hungry kids.
Kid-Friendly Drinks Everywhere
One of the unexpected highlights? The smoothies. Every bar on the property offers kid‑friendly drink options, and our two quickly developed a full‑blown obsession with the strawberry and mango smoothies. It became a daily ritual – and honestly, we didn’t blame them.
Getting There: Flights + Arrival
Our Flight Route
Our travel day took us from San Diego → Atlanta → Montego Bay on Delta Airlines. In total, the journey ended up being just under 10 hours of combined flight and layover time – long, but surprisingly manageable for our little crew.
A Sudden Change of Plans
We were originally scheduled to leave San Diego on Friday evening and arrive in Jamaica the next day. But travel had other ideas. When we arrived at the San Diego airport, we learned our flight to Atlanta was canceled due to hailstorms and an emergency shutdown at ATL. The kids were devastated, and honestly, so were we.
After waiting in a long, slow‑moving line with two upset little travelers, Delta was able to rebook us at no extra cost on the next available route. Our new itinerary had us flying out Sunday evening and arriving in Montego Bay the next day. No compensation, but at least the trip was still happening.
Traveling With Two Young Kids: Wins + Challenges
Wins
Once we finally departed, both kids slept a good portion of the flights.
- The total travel time (9h 36m) felt surprisingly doable with their ages.
- Our layover timing (about 2.5h) in Atlanta was actually perfect – just enough time for everyone to use the bathroom, reset, and then sit down for a full meal together before boarding the next flight. It made the whole second flight feel calmer and more grounded for all of us.
Challenges
- Managing disappointment from the cancellation (and explaining weather delays to young kids).
- Keeping spirits up over an unexpected 48‑hour delay.
- Helping the kids regulate big feelings while stuck in an airport line that felt endless.
But once we landed in Jamaica, it all felt worth it.
Navigating Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)
Sangster International Airport is busy, but easy enough to navigate with kids:
- Follow signs for immigration – lines can get long, so prepare snacks for your little ones.
- Have your customs form ready before reaching the desk.
- Baggage claim is close to immigration, which is a relief after a long travel day.
- Before exiting baggage claim, take advantage of the last easy bathroom stop.
It’s bustling but straightforward – and once you step outside, the warm Jamaican air feels like the official start of vacation.
Transportation to the Resort
Booking transportation directly through the resort wasn’t available, so we pre‑scheduled a private driver that the resort had recommended. I was provided with the driver’s WhatsApp contact information, which made communication incredibly easy – especially once our travel plans changed unexpectedly.
When our original flights were canceled and our arrival shifted by two days, the driver was extremely accommodating. A quick WhatsApp message was all it took to update our pickup date and time, and he adjusted without any issues. After a long travel day with kids, having someone reliably waiting for us outside the Montego Bay airport felt like such a gift.
A couple of helpful tips if you choose this route:
- Have cash ready – payment is per ride, not a round‑trip package.
- U.S. dollars are accepted, which makes things much simpler.
- Confirm your pickup spot in WhatsApp before exiting the airport; the arrivals area can get busy.
The drive to Ocean Coral Spring takes about 30–40 minutes, and it’s scenic and peaceful – exactly the reset we needed before diving into vacation mode.
Excursion Highlight Coming Soon!
We did squeeze in one off‑resort adventure during our stay – and it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the whole trip. I’ll be sharing a separate post all about our experience – stay tuned!
Everywhere, Together 