FIRST TIMERS VIEWS MAY 1999 GLEN & CONNIE
GETTING THERE
We booked our vacation through Go Classy Tours, and we must say, they were very helpful and considerate of our needs. Lance, you are a champion! We had never done the nude thing, so we weren`t quite sure how we would like it. Let me assure you, had we known then what we know now, we would have booked a much longer stay, (and definitely will next time, and yes, there will be a next time.) But, being new to all of this, we only booked five nights, just in case. Booking and reservations were a breeze. Waiting three and a half months for our vacation time to arrive was not so easy. But, arrive it did, and we were very excited about it. Flying out of Houston was our only problem. It seems there were some rather nasty storms moving through the area around departure time, so we boarded the plane, departed the gate on time, taxied out to the end of the runway, and there we sat for three and a half hours! Needless to say, by the time we arrived in Miami, we had missed our connecting flight to MoBay. Now here is the really bad news....we had to wait six hours for the next flight out to MoBay. Well, we finally arrived in Jamaica at 7:45 pm and immigration and customs were no problem, mon. We were approached in the airport by some locals who wanted to know if we needed any reefer for the stay, but we politely refused, and got no hassle. We promptly took our seat on the bus......(oh, no! Not the bus ride from hell...at night!) After one short beer stop(Red Stripe, of course) we were on our way. As a whole, it wasn`t bad at all. Before we knew it, we were careening through the countryside at what seemed like break-neck speed. Arrived at Hedo at around 10 pm. Check in was no problem, mon.(Maybe because we called Go Classy Tours from Miami to inform them of our delay, and were told the resort would be notified of our situation, and would be expecting us later than planned. All went well.) We got the room we had booked & didn`t get bumped, as we had feared. After spending a few minutes searching for our room,(it was dark, and we didn`t know our way around) we found it to be quite nice. Room 2264, garden view, au naturel, front door facing the basketball court. We walked around the grounds for a few minutes, then decided to try out the hot tub. After all, it was dark, and it would be much easier getting naked! So, off we went...and let me tell you, it was very easy being naked. We felt very relaxed and comfortable, and not like we were being stared at(as we had feared). We didn`t stay very long, because we were exhausted from our trip. The first night, we were in bed around 1:00 am. We were a little disappointed about missing most of our first day due to bad weather and airline delays, but what could we do? Just grin and bear it.
PEOPLE
Everyone we met during our stay was extremely nice and outgoing. That includes guests and workers. All of the staff there were very nice and helpful to us. No one asked for a tip, or even hinted about it. Everyone was always ready to help us in any way we needed. We met some of the best people there, and have truly made some good friends. We met a lot of people from Denny`s visitors list, and chatting with them before vacation time started really made the meeting process go a lot smoother. We felt like we knew these folks before we met them in person. I guess there`s no better time than now to thank Denny for the wonderful web site he maintains. We learned a lot, and met a lot of people through it, before we began our trip. It was very helpful for us, so...THANKS, DENNY!
WEATHER
Sunny every day except our last full day there, when it was overcast. Temps were very comfortable, with highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s. Sunshine was plentiful all day, except for the daily thunderstorm, usually in mid-afternoon, but the rain lasted just a few minutes ( 30-45 minutes). Very pleasant at night, and warm in the daytime. Our room air conditioner seemed to work just fine, keeping the room very comfortable and we never had to turn it up very high.
ROOMS
The rooms are nice. There is a coffee maker, with a daily supply of coffee, clock-radio, CD player, hair dryer, and telephone. (Yes, there are phones in the rooms). No carpet on the floors, but who needs it because we were hardly ever in the room anyway. We had no problems with water pressure, but the water temperature does vary somewhat. Generally speaking, no shortage of hot water, though. We had a king sized bed, nice and comfy. Ya gotta love the mirrors over the beds!
SERVICE
Anything we asked for, we got. But be patient. For example, when calling for reservations to the Italian resteraunt, let the phone ring.....and ring......and ring. Someone will eventually answer. The food and service at Pastafari`s is very good and we really enjoyed it, so much so that we ate there two of our five nights. But please, don`t forget to make reservations early! Remember, the dress is casual elegant. The service at the bar in the main dining room was very good, considering the crowd. The service at the bar on the prude beach....forget it! Stood there forever and couldn`t get a drink. But Delroy`s at the nude pool....excellent! We never had to wait more than a few seconds. And Delroy can make just about anything you might ask for! We have never seen a bartender any happier than Delroy. Makes some great drinks, too! Hey, how about another Dirty Banana?
POOL & HOT TUB
It seems as though most of the daytime activity centers around the pool and Delroy`s. Lots of friendly people hanging around, meeting new friends, enjoying Delroy`s drinks, and just relaxing. If you plan to work on your tan at the pool. be sure to get there early, so you can claim a pool-side chair. Usually, you can claim one by leaving your beach towel on it. Most people will consider a chair taken if a towel is left on it. We brought our own pool floats, ( the kind with drink holders, of course,) but we never took them out of the box or inflated them. Most of the pool chairs have cushions that double as pool floats. Just remember to get one early, or you will have to inflate the one you brought from home! This can be done by bringing it to the dive shack, where they will gladly inflate your float.(or so we heard!) We didn`t see many PDA`s at the pool, with one exception. One afternoon, (I forget which day) during the daily rain shower, some of the guests put on quite a show for everyone`s enjoyment. It started rather playfully in the hot tub, and adjourned to the grotto when the rain began. Three girls seemed to be taking on several guys (and each other) and were not shy about it at all. It was in plain view, because the waterfall was not working all week, hence, nothing to hide their activities. The show went on for quite a while, and when security finally came along, THEY STOOD AND WATCHED ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE! The show went on for almost an hour! At night, however, the sex police were of a totally different frame of mind. There was some lovin` goin` on, but for the most part, the sex police quietly broke it up. Most of the activity seems to center around the hot tub at night. Need I say more?
PJ PARTY & TOGA NIGHT
We definitely saw some unusual dress at PJ night. But, for the most part, it wasn`t all that great for us. The disco is just too crowded, and the adjoining bar is just too hot and stuffy. But, ya gotta go just to see the assortment of costumes and varying dress styles. Toga night was lots of fun. Be sure to attend the toga tying demonstration Thursday afternoon if you need help learning to tie a toga. We did notice the "no sheet-no eat" rule was not very well enforced. But, who cares! We had a very good time. Toga night activities are held in the main dining room, where it is much roomier and cooler. Might I suggest moving PJ night to the main dining room also?
FOOD
There was never a shortage of food to eat. I can`t say it was the best, but it was good. Breakfast on the nude beach, courtesy of Go Classy Tours, breakfast in the main dining room, burgers at the nude pool, lunch in the main dining room, or Jerk Chicken on the nude beach, or supper in the main dining room, or the midnight buffet in the main dining room. It was all good, and there is plenty to eat. The food in Pastafari`s was very good, but like I said, remember to make reservations!
WHAT TO BRING
Maybe next year I`ll bring my shaving kit....that`s all, just my shaving kit. We might have had our clothes on for all of six hours the whole trip, so pack light! You might need a couple pair of shorts and a T-shirt or two. Maybe some nice casual clothes if you plan on visiting Pastafari`s, or going into town. Ziploc bags were very handy to have, as they helped to keep our cigs and lighters dry. Water shoes, if you plan to venture out into the water at the beach ( it`s rocky on the bottom). Plenty of cigarettes, if you smoke, because your brand is probably not available at the resort. If they are, you will pay dearly for them! I really can`t think of anything else other than plenty of sunscreen! The Jamaican sun is very hot, and if you burn easily, you can`t forget the sunscreen. Don`t say we didn`t warn ya! But seriously, maybe next year I can just fit everything I`ll need into that little ol` shaving kit...
WHAT`S LEFT?
To sum it all up, this was the best vacation we have ever taken. For us, it was because we really didn`t do anything other than relax, and then relax some more. Not to say there wasn`t plenty to do, but after all, this was our vacation, and we really wanted to take it easy. There are plenty of activities to join in, but we just didn`t feel like exerting the energy it would have taken to participate. As a result, we returned home relaxed, tanned, and longing for more! We made some great friends there, and I would love to thank them for the good times. To Dub & Sandi, you guys are the best. You were lots of help for a couple of Hedo-virgins. Thanks for all the "inside info". And thanks for bringing Captain Pecker along for the trip! I think everyone enjoyed it. Dub, you really are "hooked up!" Hello to Steve & Donna! Steve, I think you set a world speed record for getting out of and then back into your toga! And may I say that nobody, and I mean nobody can paint puppies like you can, Donna! Jeff & Loretta...probably the two happiest people there! Wish we could have spent more time together. How`s that hip, Jeff? B. & J. from our home state, it`s really good to get away, isn`t it? Hope to see ya there again next year. Jim & Lura, time flies when you`re having fun. Another Red Stripe, Jim? Rasta Bill, you are crazy...that PJ outfit, the cork thing, where do you get all these ideas? Jimmy & Holli, (uh, Holli, we all enjoyed your ride on Captain Pecker! I`ll bet Jimmy taught you how to do that!) To everyone we forgot......sorry! We can`t possibly remember all your names! Too much rum, I guess. But one thing`s for certain, it`s the people that make Hedo what it is. Quite simply the best group of people we have ever had the opportunity to get crazy with. The only problem was it ended too soon.
SUMMARY
Fantastic trip! What more can we say? The main ingredient in all of this is the people. Bring whatever you want, but leave your bad attitudes at home. It`s all what you make of it. Just a bunch of friendly folks getting "nekkid" in the sun and having fun. We can hardly wait to get back for another stay in paradise. If I could just concentrate on my job, now. I realize what dreaded island fever can do to ya! Hey, go to have a good time. Bring an open mind, and enjoy the surroundings. You won`t be dissappointed.