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Revisit FTF's 1998 award winners to see how family travel has evolved -- and if these resorts still cater to infants and active kids.

Ten years ago the concept of "family travel" was not as refined as it is today, with hotels mainly targeting the 5-12 age set when it came to services and activities. Therefore, in 1998, Family Travel Forum set out to discover the best getaways for new parents with infants and toddlers under 3-years of age. After months of research, investigative reporting, site inspections and networking with moms, we came up with 10 great resorts that were certainly above the curve when it came to pleasing babies and parents.

After a decade of tremendous change in the travel industry, it was time to revisit these winning pioneers. Today, every niche market can use technology to make its needs known, and moms and dads have demanded a more personalized and richer family vacation experience. To celebrate FTF's 10th anniversary of the "Top 10 Getaways" awards, we examined the 10 original winners to learn how they are meeting new demands, how they have changed and in what ways they grew to accommodate today's family customer. And lastly, as our original tiny travelers become 4th graders, what does the evolution of these resorts teach us about the phenomenon that is family travel?

Top Beach Resorts

Beaches Boscobel (formerly Boscobel Beach)
N. Coast Hwy
Box 2, St. Ann's Bay
Ocho Rios, Jamaica, W.I.
888/BEACHES; 876/975-7777
Stacy Royal, PR director for Boscobel, notes that 10 years on, many more moms and dads are bringing along extended family and grandparents on vacation, so the resort (a Superclubs property back then and a Sandals resort now) has renovated to offer multi-room suites accommodating families large and small. The second biggest change is that more time-starved parents are looking for time off while their children are engaged in entertaining and age-appropriate activities. As a result, Boscobel, as well as all Beaches Resorts, offers more certified Ultra Nanny care and a wider variety of activities including a petting zoo, glass bottom boat rides, an Xbox Game Center, and new programs like Crayola Art Camps. Cementing its FTFQ (fantastic for families quotient) with young parents, Beaches teamed with Sesame Street to entertain and educate its tiny guests with weekly character parades, delightful character breakfasts, and superb learning activities. And while toddlers can try Baking with Cookie Monster, Boscobel has also stepped-up to parents' demand for healthier (and a few ethnic) meal alternatives to the standard kid-favorite chicken fingers and fries requisite back in '98.

And as waterparks began to dominate the theme park business, the Beaches chain responded with its own impressive array. Boscobel's Pirates Island Waterpark has just received a US$3 million expansion featuring an Aqua-Play area; tube, body and speed slides; and a crawl around cargo net among nine new rides. This waterpark's Kid's Zone even caters to the tiniest of travelers with a zero-entry pool, misting crab, squirting sea turtle, and splashing seahorse. We know we can expect more from this savvy family brand as innovations spread to their Beaches Negril and Beaches Turks & Caicos properties as well.

Franklyn D. Resort
Runaway Bay, Jamaica, W.I.
888/FR-KIDS, 800/654-1FDR
Franklyn D Resort remains a popular choice among families because of its signature service: rivate Vacation Nannies assigned to each arriving family throughout their stay. While working conditions for nannies have improved over the years, the cost for additional nanny service has only gone up $1 since 1998 -- it's now $4/HR if parents want to hit the nearby reggae clubs at night. Safety and quality standards are still ensured because each FDR Nanny, recommended by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is trained in the hotel's Vacation Nanny Training Program, which includes CPR and FirstAid. Perhaps just as important to today's over-worked parents, nannies also keep the condo accommodations tidy and stocked, arrange for excursions off the property, and assist as a family helper, making for a worry-free vacation.

Tina Yap, Marketing Director for Franklyn D Resort, notes that families have always been attracted to the property because of the intimate size, the 1:1 staff to guest ratio, and spacious suites, a winning formula that's little changed. In 1998, the resort offered Mini-Clubs for children and a Teen Program with all the usual activities (arts'n'crafts, nature walks, snorkeling, and kid parties). Today, the resort entices families with these same favorites plus more: the latest game systems and computers, aerobics, bike tours, glass-bottom boat rides, disco nights, soccer and cricket clinics, Jamaican fruit tastings, cooking classes, spa treatments (for a fee) at the BodyWorks spa, and whatever guests want next.

Franklyn D Resort has also noticed two other growing trends: increased demand for family-together adventures and child-enrichment activities, and familymoons. To meet the first need, FDR's concierge can arrange Canopy tours, ATV tours, watersports and more. To meet the latter need -- more couples flocking to the property for destination weddings and honeymoons with children from previous marriages in tow -- Franklyn D Resorts has built a two-bedroom honeymoon suite with its own private 500-square-foot deck right on the beach. And, for those families seeking a more casual atmosphere with a focus on ecology, nature and even more adventure, FDR has opened Pebbles, a second resort in Jamaica. Located near Montego Bay on the north coast of the island, a perfect spot for learning about the sea and the extensive coral reefs, Pebbles also offers the Vacation Nanny and programs for all ages.