We started our countdown to our first "Virgin" visit to Hedo at about the 120 day mark. I’d highly recommend using the visitors board. We contacted several from the board in advance and settled into a small bunch of like minded couples that we opted to write a whole lot more to. It turned out to be the absolute best part of our trip…..the friends! Larry and Sandy, George and Lisa and Jerry and Debbie rounded out a super group of 8 with Donna and I. Emails also by either us or another member of the group helped us to meet others of fun and similar interests such as Dan and Jen Morris and Delisa and of course the wonderful Ken (Biff) and Patti! …..just to name a few!
We used Lance at GO CLASSY and received excellent service and value and had not one hitch. Flew US AIRWAYS (the carrier of choice!) out of BWI and connected in CLT for our final leg into MoBay. We prearranged using TimAir and shared a plane with Larry and Sandy who we met up with in Charlotte and enjoyed the experience. It was probably a little nerve jarring for all of us when the pilot couldn’t get engine number 2 started, so he went and started number 1 first, coming back and finally getting the other engine started. I won’t say the plane was totally a rattle-trap…..as it safely got us to GNAT, but we did have our moments. Landing at Negril is quite an experience. Depending on where your sitting in the plane…it looks either like your crashing into the jungle….or your wondering if you can put that tiny plane onto that even tinier runway cut into the jungle floor. When you use TimAir……be warned that at MoBay they have quite a little plan of getting your money. The porters all do this handoff of your luggage along the way from the main terminal at Sangster ….until you get to the General Aviation area where TimAir is located. I think 4 or 5 different porters had their hands on our luggage and each one asked to be taken care of. When you arrive at GNAT there are many taxi drivers all ready to scoop you and your luggage into their awaiting taxis….Don’t let them…instead go to the TimAir shack located on the left, right at the road. Tell them there that you need transport to Hedo and they will call for it. A Juta Tours van arrived in about 5 minutes and is paid for by the resort.
Our check-in was all we expected. Our rooms were not ready. We expected this and took off to have a quick exploration of the place. The first area immediately after the check-in desk is the Dining Hall. We headed through it towards the beach and over to the right towards the volleyball court. It was here we saw our first nekkid people and knew we were really here. We didn’t want to offend anyone (though we found out later that no one really cared) so we headed back to a table in the Dining area to have a drink. Within a half hour or so of arriving Larry and I went back to the desk. They had a room for Donna and I on the ocean au natural side (as paid for) but Larry and Sandy’s wasn’t as easy. They said they had no room for them. Well….Larry being the New York Italian he is….didn’t settle for that answer and (while still being diplomatic) convinced them that either he got cash in hand or a room. They quickly and magically found their room indeed was ready!
Donna and I went to the room and immediately disrobed. As it was going to be our first time naked in front of others, I wasn’t going to let myself get cold feet! We slathered on the SPF30 and headed out for the beach. I just went as I was, figuring I wouldn’t chicken out if I didn’t have a cover-up! Donna went covered, but quickly it too came off. While at the nude beach we met up with George and Lisa, Jerry and Debbie and Larry and Sandy. I at first didn’t even recognize Sandy without clothes…..You GO girl!…..and she said she needed a diet! We immediately became the 3 baldies and the flat-top…..okay….the 4 baldies the group knows what we mean! It took no time at all for us all to feel like we’d known each other for years and the group was formed. We did almost everything together. A typical day consisted of meeting for breakfast…..heading for the nude beach…having lunch and enjoying the lunch time spin activities (Love that wet T-shirt contest on Monday!) Heading back to the beach…… going to dinner around 7 o’clock…..getting into the nights entertainment…..and finishing off the night at the nude hot tub. It couldn’t be any simpler! Just have fun!
The previous trip reports covered most things…..the fluctuating water temps in the shower was one thing I noticed…..the Wally’s and Vinnie’s at the hot tub…etc. I’d have to say the thing that bothered us the most was the hot tub Wally’s. During the week we were there, there was always the single men who spent the night watching……I say whatever floats their wood…..but the biggest turn off all week was the group of 3 to 4 guys, possibly Jamaicans who thought ALL wives were fair game. They’d come up and sit right with a couple…..and just stare as if they thought that was sexy or something……These dudes would hit on anyone…..I think male or female….. My method of handling it was a simple smile and a "sorry pal….private party here…" most of us didn’t even think they were guests of the resort, and one put on quite a show…trying to find his room key to show the security that he belonged. We handled it though and had a ball. There was plenty of sex going on in the tub, though discreetly…..many would just have their partner sit in front of them…."plow the field" and carry on a normal conversation. It wasn’t offensive in any way to us, other than the night that the "pond-scum" got a bit thick…..when it was a bit much we just felt it was time to hit the room.
Leaving was the hardest day. As Donna and I had to leave a day earlier than the rest of the group, we felt torn about having to leave. Missing our kids (3 dogs) and knowing the "real world" awaited us. We had breakfast and went back to the room to pack. Then we went down to the beach to say our good byes and of course the promise that we indeed all would be getting together soon. Then it was off to GNAT where we spent a short time chatting with Nick and Christy who we had seen often but not met…..our loss….real nice couple! Then we were boarded on the Cessna 182 for our trip to MoBay. I asked the pilot if we could buzz the beach to say good bye to our friends and he said "No Problem!" We took off and he immediately banked left for the pass over the beach. We could easily recognize the beach by the jetty and he wiggled the wings as a final farewell wave to our friends (I gave him a $20 tip for his extra efforts)…..The rest of our trip was uneventful. Left MoBay…..made our connections….and before we knew it we were back to our "real world".
Summary
It was a blast and would recommend it to anyone! The food was good……great variety every night…. Pastafari was excellent though the portions small…..nudity is no big deal…..saw everything from young hotties to wrinkled grannies……anorexia to huge…..and it didn’t matter one bit! You are what you are!……People still treated each other with respect and friendship. Souvenirs are available right at Hedo or for a savings….at the small shacks that are just out the gate and to the left…across the street on the right…Just a gas station separates it from GNAT. At the shacks, you can bargain for a decent price. We didn’t push too far down as we were quite aware that we were much more fortunate than the local folks doing the selling. They have everything from T-shirts to wood carvings, baskets and beaded jewelry…..Friendly too! I’d recommend it to kill an hour or so. Go shirtless to the meals if you don’t want to take a lot of clothes…I went through the few shirts I had quickly with the humidity…..ladies…..take your wildest outfits!…..Dresses that say "SLUT" were the best! Many had them……all were enjoyed!……Find a closet at home….and just before the trip…..throw your inhibitions into it!……You won’t need them!……If you don’t drink alcohol and just want a break from it…..Pepsi…..ginger ale…..Ting (like Squirt)…..and water….(probably another choice or two) were all available at the self serve stations located at the bars and right near the nude hot tub. Also to save waiting time at the bar….there is also Red Stripe at the self serve….and I’m told it was colder than at the bar……..The scheduled parties were fun and we participated. You will find though that the Disco is really tiny! It was literally cheek to cheek on the dance floor for the PJ party. Toga was much better as it was held in the Dining area. SO!…..Have fun and be yourself!…..or……be someone else! Who cares!….It was worth ever penny!…….just a "LOT" of pennies to save!… Hope to return soon. To the rest of the Baldies Brigade……can’t wait for those new screen savers!………DAVE AND DONNA