Hi all,
We returned on Sunday after spending a our week at Braco. We spent 4 days on the Textile side and 3 on the A/N side. I had posted the some questions on this site because I did not know what to expect when we arrived. Here's my 2 or 3 cents worth.
The textile side is sort of a zoo. I played volley ball there everyday once or twice, never had a problem getting a game started, sometimes I did have to get some people involved but soon had 9+ on each side (the only problem I saw here was that one of the staff was too vocal and verbally abusive to the guests, mind you I'm always up for a good game but it is just for fun, one day I even left the game after having to get after him 3 or 4 times for his remarks to other guest including my wife. The first part of the week was quiet until Friday when a bus load of people arrived, We were playing golf at the time and saw them come in. I inquired when we finished and heard that they expected 4 busses that day. I did not see the other 3 but the resort was FULL after that and the pool was crowed. they also closed the main restaurant for a total make over which made eating breakfast and lunch a challenge for finding a seat. Bad timing at best. they do seem to have quite a few locals come in for the weekend as well which is why I think they have "Jamaican night" on Friday.
We went diving everyday at 9am. all other dives were cancelled due to wind which picked up at about 9am. But the Dive Staff is OUT STANDING! I'm a Dive Master and do a lot of diving and would recommend you give it a try if you Dive and take the resort course if you don't it's worth the time.
The rules for dress at the restaurants is strictly enforced as well as for the events. Casual Elegance is the best term for it! While I did not like taking a coat to Jamaica It was nice to have one of the best French meals (although lately I am disappointed with the french it did not stop me) I've had on a vacation in a nice setting. The Japanese restaurant is wonderful, there are 2 sides "stir fry" and "sushi" you must make separate reservations for each or you will be put in the stir fry side by default!. for the stir fry side make sure you take your camera and volunteer to help cook for 30 seconds or so, it's fun.
Do make your reservations before you go through e-mail, some people I spoke with could not get reservations after Friday because the restaurants were full.
Also keep in mind 2 things, 1st your on Jamaica time so service can be slow. 2nd It's a nice resort, they are trying to make your stay a nice one and give you a certain level of service. this does not always work when you have to catch the bus or taxi to go horse back riding or Dunn's river falls or something. The only real problem is that you have to wait for Water, Orange Juice or other liquids to be brought to you as well as silverware. This did take some time in some instances
The Disco,
PJ nite, 40/60% mix, 40% in PJ's. I purchased a nice short semi see thru baby doll for my wife to wear, which she did and there were others in similar dress as well. Yes there is FLANNEL in Jamaica, why I have no idea! We wear that up hear in Seattle but why in Jamaica????? Some people just don't get it either, do men really sleep in shorts and t-shirts, I don't think so. do they sleep with cameras around their necks? I don't think so! I saw 3 cameras there, 2 were ok they took one or two images of THEIR FRIENDS OR SPOUSE! the 3rd one was NOT and he know who he is, I will not embarrass him as he seems to do a fine job by himself. This one person was asked by the staff 3 times to stop taking pictures of women, they thought he had. I spoke to the staff about him because he had resorted to the aim in the general direction and take a pic without looking through the lens so they would not know. While I was talking to them about him, he took a pic and was again asked to stop and I don't know if he did because we left. his lame excuse was that they were his friends, ya well he passed us on the way back to the A/N side and there were about 5 couples in the group who went to the pool and hot tub afterwards. I saw him take pictures of more then just the 5 ladies in the group he was with. It's sad when you can't have fun and do your own thing with out fear of having your wife end up on the net on some JERKS web site or maybe even hanging on his wall at home.
So if you want to go and have a good time, do it! just keep in mind there are others there trying to do the same thing and don't do anything that you might regret later. ( i.e. if you get asked to leave and can't enjoy the rest of your evening as planned). I made sure I kept my back to him and my wife in front of me, had he tried to take her pic I'd a pulled his memory card! he can keep the camera but just run the card past the magnet on the back of one of the big speakers and look no more pic's.
Toga night, clothes under your toga? why? some people do make you wonder, it was about a 60/40 mix, 40% in clothes under their toga's. We had a great time. put on the sheets with our birthday suites underneath and went dancing.
Do everyone a favor and leave the cameras in your room and take your pics outside, before and or after the event.
By the way, I'll agree. The A/N side was very nice. totally different then the textile side. it was quiet, nice. the staff was the best and made our stay a good one, not sure why everyone's so wild about the "Wayne's world" drink tho. We don't run around in public nude, this was our first time as a matter of fact. I did feel fine wearing my towel up to the bar for drinks or lunch, I did think that the lunch was lacking tho, but it was convenient. The one thing that I will disagree with is that since we spent our time on the beach it was interesting to find that when ever a new woman appeared on the beach a lot of men appeared on the decks of their rooms to check her out. seems like the nude dudes are the biggest gawerkers of all!
The Beaches,
Are nice on both sides. We do like to walk so we did go out side the resort walls, they do discourage this! I pressed the bar tender at the small restaurant at the far end of the textile beach for a reason why and he just said that it wasn't safe. we did walk down that way but you can't go more than 50 or 60 yards or so. very rocky and you would need shoes. my reason why, there is a rock quarry on the opposite side of the road from the hotel and a lot of guys work there. you never know so just be safe. what your going to steal from a person who's in their swim suit or nude I have no idea. but then we do have to protect our women. don't we. As always I recommend wearing some sort of foot wear when on the beach or in the water. the beach is made of coral and there are sting rays in the shallow water as well as a lot of other stuff to step on, I did not see any glass which is great. I snorkeled the whole thing a couple of times.
Snorkeling
is much better on the A/N side just outside the break water. it's 5 to 15 feet deep and there are some nice coral heads there. not much fish life and there were local fishermen out in boats each morning. I did see some 'blue water divers" out 2 days and after seeing them one day a small shark they had killed washed up on shore. it was only 3 feet or less long, other then the 2 barracuda's we saw this was by far the largest fish we saw and the first shark I've ever seen while in Jamaica, diving or other wise. If you think you can snorkel over to the A/N side inside the break water just to try it out, think again. in front of the gym the water is less than a foot deep, even at high tide.
The Golf course,
It was fun, we went twice. the first hole is by the club house ( small white covered area by putting green). It is FREE to golf and they do have score cards if you want them, just ask. There is ice water at a number of holes with plastic cups provided so no need to take any.
also the bars do have bottled water. the dirty banana is the best!
Sun, Fun, White Sand, Palm Trees and 84o Water, what could be better?
Have fun, it's no problem mon.