Jay - April, 2013
We dropped in for a short mid April visit to check up on the new management situation. Our trip through immigration and customs was a breeze as we were number one in a very short line. In case that I forget to mention it later, the departure immigration procedure has been eliminated. Just be sure to save the departure part of your immigration form to give to your departing airline agent. We met our usual driver and had an uneventful drive to Negril. We did stop to see our friend who runs a tree bar in Green Island. The entrance to Hedo seems a little ragged as some of the landscaping was in need of care. We were happy to see some familiar faces at the front desk. Tricia and Patrena who could not be any nicer were just leaving for the day. The other young lady on duty who helped us check in had an attitude that seemed to indicate that she did not want to be there and she would not honor our room request. She indicated that she was just too tired. Our room did seem clean but it was really run down. The door to the bathroom was warped and the shower door was hard to move. Our phone never worked but after being attended to by an employee we found that it would ring for incoming calls but when we picked up the phone there was no sound. Very aggravating. The TV was old and tired with a rather poor picture. We observed serious wood rot all over the resort.The $10 million may go very fast. We have been coming to this resort for a very long time and I have never been so disappointed. I have never in all those years had anything but praise for the food.I have always considered the food above average. Breakfast is hard not to like and this was no exception. The other meals were really bad. What you might find at a high school cafeteria . I really tried to find at least one item that I could eat-I did not. I was so happy to see Delroy. He was in the best of moods. We go back to the 70s together .The pool decks and tiles all seem to need attention. Hedo is now, in my opinion, below a three star rating. I had a brief conversation with Kevin Levee who, by the way, looks younger and is in better shape than ever. He did not tell me anything that we have not already heard. I did mention a couple of former employees that I wish were still around. Kevin gave me no indication that he wanted my opinion on the subject. Fair enough, but I tried. The employees that were rehired were indeed happy to be there and they are indeed some of the best. There seemed to be no common factor in who was rehired. Now I am an older guest who enjoys the nude beach as much as anyone. What I am about to report will, no doubt, bother some. The fact is that I have never in all these years observed guests as gross as those in attendance on this visit. I saw maybe two people that did not repulse me. And I am a fairly tolerant person who could lose a few pounds. Frankly, a nude nursing home could not have been worse. Now these are all subjective observations but if this resort is continue to attract paying guests, then this scenario will not be successful. People can be all shapes and sizes but they should try to take minimum care of their appearance . I am concerned about the future of this resort. In fact, as we arrived, a newbie couple practically ran from the resort after only a brief look around. Where do we senior citizens fit in without scaring away the younger crowd. Do we have our own takeovers. Well, we love the place, but are not so eager to return. Kevin, Jon and Harry don t let us down. Perform a miracle!