Trip Report - April 25 thru May 2, 1998 - HEDO Converts: Maureen & Fred

Going to Jamaica - we talked about it for years! We browsed the catalogs. We dreamed. We wanted a place that required no dressing up, no reservations, no schedules - in short we wanted to be beach bums in paradise! We thought we would find all at Hedonism. Then one day reality was within our grasp. We took the plunge and booked seven days at Hedonism II!!

We decided surfing on the Internet would be a good way to find out more about our selected piece of paradise. We were right! We read the trip reports; memorized the helpful packing lists, drooled over the photographs and worried if we’d actually be able to strip down to bare skin and enjoy the experience!

We flew USAirways without a hitch from home to Montego Bay! The walk through customs was slow, but not that slow. Having read all the trip reports we pretty much knew what to expect so that helped remind us to SLOW down we were in Jamaica!

The SuperClubs desk was very unorganized as predicted and we really didn’t know where to go once we had filled out all the papers, but we followed the crowd and watched our luggage so we could go where it went! Eventually (remember you’re in Jamaica) our luggage and us were gathered and walked to a big bus for the ride to Hedo. Believe what you read about the bus ride, but don’t miss the adventure! It is definitely the way to go. Jamaica unfolds as you hold on tight, pray and travel the most unbelievable narrow, winding road following the coastline. Some of the views are breath taking while others are depressing. The soft expletives and gasps from the other 5 or 6 couples told me I was not the only one backseat driving. Fred who has been known to drive in much the same style from time to time snored softly.

When we pulled up at Hedonism II the "ahs" said it all. This is a beautiful resort from the brilliant main reception area to the palms at the oceans edge. The front desk crew (4 people only) without aid of computers were handling the overflow of arrivals smoothly by sending everyone to the bar and asking us to check back in an hour. It was almost 4 pm and we were tired, but how bad could it be we thought. An hour later Fred walked to the front desk was seemingly being ignored by the staff, but since he didn’t go away they offered to help - said they were overbooked and offered us a room on the Prude side not our confirmed Nude side accommodations. They said they would move us to the Nude side the next day morning (and they did). Again, we had read this in trip reports so we accepted the deal. It turned out we literally got the last room in the place cause the rest of the group that came in with us ended up across the road at the Grand Lido for the night.

Our room was very typical of most US East Coast beach areas except for having a tile floor. We thought this was great since beach life with carpet is really disgusting to us. The towels shaped like a swan with flower petals spread on the bed was such a tropical touch. Our room was cleaned everyday and fresh towels left for us. Do note the stories about the hot/cold showers are true! Be flexible learn to leap when you feel the change or better yet take baths.

FIRST TIME ON THE NUDE BEACH - Let us tell you - as so many before have - it’s no big deal after the first 5 minutes AND (for most) you will never be the same afterward!!!! We wasted no time getting into our swim suits and heading down the hill to the beach. We turned toward the nude beach and talked about whether, this being our first nude experience, we would actually be able to take it all off in a moment. The walk was short! We took a deep breath, stripped down and headed immediately into the warm, clear ocean! The plants in the water by the nude beach were a surprise. Didn’t expect them and now understand why everyone said bring water shoes. You could get step on something you didn’t want to easily. Deciding that the water plants could wait we determined to dare a walk over to the nude beach bar for a drink! Easy! And so began seven days of bliss!

ON BEING NUDE - what a great feeling of freedom! We will never again feel that we don’t measure up to some obscure standard set by unknown entities! There is nothing like a few days on a nude beach to clarify that all people are not created equal and yet who cares???!!!! We never saw open gawking - even though it would have been understood in a few instances. We saw a lot of people discretely sharing intimate moments and laughed with everyone when some got too steaming to be called discrete and had to be cooled off quickly by liberal splashing! But we never felt or saw anything sleazy. An important point to remember when choosing HEDO as your trip to paradise - the very grass and grains of sand exude a sensuality and languid swaying that will penetrate the most hardened soul and send it chasing after it’s partner all day, all night and way past when you thought you couldn’t do ‘it’ again! It’s wonderful! So relax , enjoy!

Hedo is great in that it, simply put, PROVIDES EVERYTHING.

Towels, beach chairs, shade, sun, unlimited entertainment, all the liquid of your choice, food in great variety buffet style, music-music-music, a staff that once you make the effort to connect on a human to human level (remember RESPECT) would go out of their way to keep you smiling. It was amazing to us that they could remember what we were drinking since each day we selected a new drink-of-the-day! There is even a stack of floats for the using, left by the folks who have been there before you. We brought two floats, but added them to the pile before returning home. Also we would say don’t bother to take cups with you unless you really are too lazy to get up once in a while and replenish your drink. Nothing is far apart and we usually found the drink in our cooler cups got hot before we finished such a big serving. Better to walk over to one of the bars or the many self serve drink stations and get it fresh and cold. There is every kind of water sport at your request. We snorkeled, but were honestly to lazy to try out the rest. Laying on a float satisfied our needs just fine.

MEALS - Breakfast was my favorite meal - good basic choices and plenty of hot coffee - it was always leisurely spent. We usually ate lunch at the nude beach grill - excellent service and everything we had was good! Dinner was always an event. We would get together with several great couples we met at HEDO and laugh our way through dinner. The open air dining and entertainment pavilion was cool at all times we were there. The ceiling fans spread the ocean breeze very nicely.

ENTERTAINMENT - Every night is there is different entertainment. We enjoyed it all, but agree TOGA night is the premier event! What ever you do, don’t miss this night! Practice tying your toga at home and bring your own stuff - just having a length of gold braid and previous practice made our togas contenders for the Most Roman Looking contest! The PJ party is interesting and yes it is hot as everyone says. The disco is small and LOUD, but you can really get into the dancing in there. PJ night is an anything goes dress night. We even saw one guy with only his Predator body painting on and he looked appropriate! Go as outlandish as possible to really enjoy this event. After dinner the Piano Bar is a great place to hang out especially if you like to laugh and sing off key! A walk on the beach or beating your mate in a midnight game of shuffle board or ping pong or billiards all with drink in hand is a wonderful way to work your way toward the late night dip in the hot tub before finally giving up and heading for sleep. We did them all.

The only thing we did, but would not recommend was the island picnic. This is inappropriately named. We were lucky in that good HEDO returnees that we met told us it was really a ‘frat drinking’ party before we went. Yes, we went anyway - what the hell. And yes that is exactly what the couple hour event was. We did have a lot of laughs and the food (they did feed us) was simple and good, but believe me playing games in the water and drinking for three hours was something you can easily do right on the nude beach without leaving the resort. Have to admit that staff member - Louis - and his great lady helper made the event a lot of fun, but we saw them everywhere and they made every event fun.

SECURITY was never an issue. The presence of Security Guards day and night was not alarming, but rather comforting. Security around the hot tub was rather inappropriate, but we understand this will be changed. Early one morning we walked through the gate at the end of HEDO’s beach and strolled down the beach past half a dozen resorts enjoying the view. The security personnel along the way were polite and never hindered our stroll. We didn’t take any trips off site, but other who did told us that security was great to have along and unobtrusive.

 SUN - tan before you go and don’t be fooled thinking that will protect you - bring the 45 sun screen and wear it along with sunglasses and a good hat! Since that is all you will be wearing you will get the most beautiful tan of your life and become the envy of everyone back home!

The RESORT GROUNDS AND BEACHES both nude and prude sides of the resort were very nice. The grounds are groomed continuously and it shows. The flowers and greenery is beautiful. The beaches are wonderful. Trees to the waters edge provide shade and for the sun lover the jetty on the nude beach is pure heaven. There are hammocks tucked here and there - wish there were more - that are a real treat! The nude side near the hot tub has an aviary and gardens that are wonderful to see. One day it rained sunshine! It was so lovely to see. Truly a tropical delight.

The nude beach area is the most active part during the day. We rarely saw more than 40 people on the prude beach. Both beaches are clean and the water wonderfully clear.

The NUDE BEACH BAR is neat in that you can walk up when on land or swim up when in the pool staying cool! We spent one whole day puttering around in the pool drinking red stripe beer which isn’t half bad! It was a gooood day! All the bartenders are great. Try every drink they make!

The PEOPLE you will meet at HEDO are as varied as you’ll ever find. We made connections with several couples over the Internet before going. It was fun to try and find each other, even though a few were never spotted. After all there is at least 560 guests there at any given time! Since returning home, discovered through email discussions that one of the ‘missing’ couples were actually staying 2 doors down from us and yet we never ran into each other! Everyone we met was having a great time! In 7 days we never heard a harsh word. We made some great new friends that will remain connected. Already plans are afoot for a HEDO reunion next April.

HEADING BACK TO THE WORLD - On our last night we looked for the check out slip that everyone said would be put under your door, but since this was our second room our slip never showed up. No problem - we stopped by the front desk and got our flight confirmation and the time to have our bags outside our door and what time the bus to the airport would be leaving. Everything was right on time and the ride back to the airport was totally uneventful. Everything looked different after a week in paradise. We were at the airport with plenty of time to spare. The only irritant in our return trip was going through customs back in the states. What a waste. We are a paper laden suspicious society. Too bad! Be prepared to line up and wait.

TO SUM UP - we have never had a more relaxing, fun week in our lives! The best part is the HEDO atmosphere - no worries, no pressure, no TV, no phones ringing - nothing but laid back fun day and night! We’ve been back in the world 3 weeks and have not lost that feeling. We are enjoying the change - nothing bothers us - we turn the stereo on more than the TV - we smile at each other an awful lot and we strip down to as little as possible as often as possible and agree we will return to HEDO again and again and again! We are HEDONITES and hope you have the same great experiences.