Fall travel to the Caribbean island of Jamaica might be your family’s great escape.  Whether you are choosing a family beach getaway because you want to extend the summer or because the back-to-school savings make it more affordable, there are plenty of Jamaican resorts that are offering big discounts, free nights, resort credits and other options.  Each one is different, some need to be booked right away and others include the Christmas week, so make sure to read carefully and choose wisely. 

As a recent visitor to Jamaica, I promise it's pretty hard to go wrong once you get your toes in the white sand and experience the easy-going culture.

Families that want to save up to 35% might consider staying at one of the two Sunset Resorts on Jamaica.   With the Play in Paradise sale, available at both the Sunset Beach Resort & Spa in Montego Bay and the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios, all-inclusive rates start at $140 per person, based on double occupancy with two children.  Only available for travel until September 30^th 2009, this package should be booked as soon as possible.  Both beachfront properties include free organized activities for children ages 2-12 with Club Mongoose, while teens can enjoy their own private club.  The pools at both resorts also feature fun water slides and there are a ton of activities included in the all-inclusive price.

If you want your children ages 3-13 to stay, play and eat for free, head to SuperClubs’ Starfish Trelawny.  With this package, valid for travel until December 22, 2009, a family of four can save up to $100 daily.  Nestled on a 3-mile oceanfront beach, the resort caters to families with a specific family pool that features two slides: one is 84-feet long and the other 124-feet long.  There are 350-rooms to choose from, including cottages which are perfect for larger families.  Also, daily age-specific activities make it a parent’s dream as toddlers, kids and tweens are all taken care of.

Beaches, with three different resorts around the island of Jamaica, is offering savings up to 65% and up to two nights free when booking a minimum of seven nights.  Available at the chain’s Negril, Sandy Bay and Boscobel locations, your vacation must be booked by October 29, 2009 for a stay through December 31, 2009 (some blackout dates do apply).  Although the specific layout and certain features at each location are different, the standard of service at all three of these Beaches is the same.  Boasting excellent family-and-kid-friendly activities, including Sesame Street-themed shows, character meet-n-greets and The Pirates Island Kids club, each Beaches will have something for your family.

Located in Montego Bay, Rose Hall Resort & Spa, a member of the Hilton family of hotels, is offering a new Kids on Us package that lets children 12 and under share a room with their parents for free.  An all-inclusive special, the kids also play and eat for free.  Children (and the adults too) will love the on-site Sugar Mill Falls Water Park, which features a 280-foot water slide, three terraced pools, lagoons, and waterfalls, plus a lazy river and dive-in movies.  The resort has three restaurants and also offers excursions (not included) for families to explore Jamaica.  This package starts at $249/N per room and is valid through December 20, 2009.

If a vacation with a nanny included is more up your alley, then consider staying at one of the FDR properties on the island.  Both resorts are giving families who book a seven-night stay a $500 discount for each adult. This deal is valid for stays from now until December 17, 2009. Located in Runaway Bay is Franklyn D. Resort & Spa and in Falmouth, the FDR Pebbles Resort; both provide two-bedrooms suites, all food and beverages, WiFi on the beach and the aforementioned fully-trained nanny for free from 9am-4:40pm (afterhours, the cost is $6 per hour).

And for savings of up to 50% stay at the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego Bay.  From now until December 23, 2009, families can save half off their room rate, which includes one of the 524 guestrooms, all meals, snacks and beverages, as well as resort activities and entertainment.  Plus, at the Sunspree, with the KidsSpree Vacation Club, children 12 and younger stay for free.  And unlike most packages, there are no blackout dates and no minimum stay required to book this deal!

For more information on other family-friendly and wallet-friendly packages available in Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com.