Thrillseekers will love the action-packed paradise that is Jamaica’s Montego bay and it’s fun for kids
From quad biking, river climbing and zip lining, to fascinating history and wonderful food, a stay at Hilton Rose Hall has it all
I AM covered in mud from head to toe – and of course the kids find this hilarious.
They’ve worked out if they ride in front of my quad bike and gun their feet to the floor every time we move off I am sprayed with brown slime kicked up by their back wheels.
So much as I’d love to be admiring the lush tropical vegetation and stunning views of the Good Hope Estate, near Falmouth in Jamaica, I’m spending time wiping globules of mud from my sunglasses as the kids almost fall off their bikes laughing.
Tempted as I am to try to get my own back, the sheer concentration involved in steering the roaring machine across sun-drenched grasslands and through orchards groaning with citrus fruits means I give up.
I’ve already resigned myself to be the butt of jokes. As has their dad.
Nothing is funnier to a teenager than watching your parents don harnesses and helmets for the canopy zip-line aerial course through dense tropical forest.
The two activities are just part of the fun for all ages with Chukka Adventures at the Good Hope Estate.
The Ultimate Thrill Seekers day there includes the chance to enjoy not just the quad bikes and zip lines but a high-ropes course, river-tubing, kayaking and more.
Lunch is included and there’s a swimming pool to relax by after all the adrenaline-fuelled fun, as well as an aviary with tropical birds to admire.
So while the kids take to the Martha Brae river on giant inflatables, we decide we’ve had enough humiliation for the day and head to the Great House for a glimpse of the estate’s colonial history.
Good Hope began life as a sugar plantation in 1774 and, at one point, its owner John Tharpe was the largest land and slave owner in Jamaica — with more than 3,000 slaves.
Today, the Great House remains one of the finest examples of genteel colonial country living.
The kids may have enjoyed their mud fun but we had the last laugh — ending our day with a rum tasting the teens were definitely NOT allowed to enjoy.
As every parent knows, keeping the kids, tweens or teens happy is the key to any successful holiday and our base for the week was guaranteed to do just that.
The Hilton Rose Hall in Montego Bay is set in 400 acres of ocean-front lush tropical landscaping, once part of a great 18th century sugar plantation.
It not only delivers two stunning white sand beaches but also Jamaica’s largest water park.
And while the two slides and lovely lazy river may not be extensive, it’s the perfect place for kids to let off steam and make friends.
There’s also a kids’ club for under-13s with supervised activities as well as a Teen Zone where older kids can hang out complete with all the popular video games.
Tennis courts, beach volleyball and more mean there’s hardly a second when they don’t have something to keep them entertained.
And with the kids off your hands, there’s also plenty for adults to enjoy from the 18-hole championship-style Cinnamon Hill golf course and spa to watersports and scuba-diving.
Sailing, fishing, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba-diving are available from the resort’s beaches and, although most of the motorised sports are extra, the prices are not too bad — from $15 for a glass bottomed boat tour or banana boat ride.
And as an all-inclusive resort, it is the variety of dining options that could make or break your trip — but Hilton Rose Hall doesn’t disappoint.
As well as a main buffet restaurant offering freshly cooked Jamaican and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there’s also a decent Italian, lovely beachfront romantic restaurant for local Caribbean specialities and our favourite, the atmospheric Three Palms restaurant with its old-world charm and great views over the golf course.
After dinner, there’s entertainment each night with live music and dancing, as well as a nightclub and bar for those who want to keep the party going.
And difficult as it may be to tempt yourself away from the Hilton’s gorgeous beaches and pools, it is worth making the effort to book a trip or two outside the resort.
The town of Ocho Rios is an hour and a half from Montego Bay and, for another day with a difference, the kids will love a visit to Mystic Mountain.
Here, there’s a chance to get really close to the dense rainforest as you soar 700ft above it on a chairlift that takes you directly to the mountain’s summit.
Once there, the fun really starts — with the Bobsled Ride that pays tribute to the Jamaican Olympic team whose true-life bid for glory was brought to life in the hit movie Cool Runnings.
You’ll climb aboard a specially adapted bobsled for a hair-raising, twisting, turning 1,000-metre ride through the rainforest.
There’s also the chance to take part in yet more zip-lining and canopy tours, a lovely restaurant with views over Ocho Rios and the Caribbean Sea, and a pool with slide for the kids to enjoy.
Having worked up an appetite, we headed into Ocho Rios for a restaurant that’s a favourite with the locals — Miss T’s Kitchen.
It’s a laid-back joint with gorgeous gardens and a traditional Jamaican menu that delivers fantastic flavours, from jerk chicken and shrimp to Miss T’s curry goat.
But there was still one more chance to keep the kids laughing on our whistlestop tour.
Dunn’s River Falls sees fresh water tumbling over 600ft of rocks and, while the sensible would just admire the view, we joined the hordes climbing UP the falls — slipping, sliding and soaking each other on the way.
My tips for that adventure? Bring decent water shoes, don’t bother with a guide as it’s more fun to do at your own pace, and be prepared for a high-pressure sell from the touts and stallholders.
A firm but friendly “no, thanks” will keep them at bay.
I may have been soaked and muddied — but spending precious, relaxed time with my kids, making memories to last a lifetime, made that more than worth it.
GO: JAMAICA
GETTING / STAYING THERE: Virgin Holidays has a week all-inclusive at Hilton Rose Hall from £1,123 per person, based on a family of four sharing. Includes return Virgin Atlantic flights direct to Jamaica from Gatwick on May 26. To book, go to or call 0344 739 2119.
MORE INFO: For Good Hope, see chukka.com. Also visit and .