Peter - October, 2013

Hedo II Oct 17 – 24, 2013

 

For the interest of Canadian readers, we took a package with WestJet, out of Toronto, using the 3:00pm flight, getting us to the resort in time for dinner. Flights both ways were on time and comfortable. No charge for checked bags, but no meal service.

Ground connections (included with the package) were smooth, on time, and fast (60 mins. to the resort, 75 mins. back, in rush hour).

A couple of groups were wrapping up their visits as we arrived. They were a great crowd and very inclusive (thanks Suzie!).

The weekend of Oct 19 – 21 was a Jamaican national celebration and holiday. The resort was ‘taken over’ by a local radio station and their fans. So Jamaican rap and techno music plastered the main pool, prude beach, and disco from HUGE speakers. Most of the local guests (with some very friendly exceptions) did not venture too close to the nude beach. Those of us with a more northern complexion did not exactly fit in. But the resort sure was filled up and jumping.

Strangely, the Entertainers did not switch the Jamaican Night theme to match the local festival, so the scheduled Naughty School Girl was a total and confusing flop. Shame, and a big disappointment.

 

After the weekend the resort was very much quieter—we were able to have a conversation with new friends until an EC showed up and cranked up the ‘music’ then proceeded to talk (shout) over it. Music good: music and verbal instructions—bad.

The beach was immaculate. Loads of new loungers and umbrellas. They were under constant washing and cleaning. The hot tub has two four-step stairways into them. No excuse for face plants into the hot tub with a glass in hand. The various steps by the hot tub and pool all have grab rails. No/less chance of broken or sprained wrists from falls. The ocean was bath-tub warm.

A block of hot tub rooms along the beach was being renovated by expert craftsmen. They worked through the night to prep the new rooms for a full-house Halloween. The new rooms look great. The bathrooms are larger and well fitted. But I do wonder how many guests really want an on-view toilet in a glass-walled chamber. I’ll stick with the old, slightly shabby but comfortable cheap rooms.

Two great meals at the Italian restaurant, with its slightly modified menu. The former antipasto is incorrectly now termed Tapas. Immaculate but very friendly service. A great place to eat. K enjoyed her Japanese meal. I missed it. Regular buffet meals were really quite good—exceptional roast beef, good duck and roast turkey, and two overly large lobster tails. Good though repetitive salads. Delicious breads and croissants. The omelet man does a great job. Bar service everywhere was friendly, accurate and welcoming.

As in the past, the ECs were not up to the job. As on-stage entertainers they are all very talented and required to work long, hard hours. But many are way too young to ‘read the audience’ and understand that the guests (median age while we were there was closer to 50+ than 40+) have very different ‘likes’ when it comes to music. We also tend to expect that advertised activities will happen. A number of times I saw ECs sitting under a tree or away from the action, chatting to each other while guests waited for an activity to begin. Among activities that did not happen: body painting, some Bocce Ball games. The latter game was so popular (when it happened) that we had 10 guests wanting to play.

The ECs now have to run the evening shows as outside entertainers have been trimmed way back. The steel band group were very good but the MC’s constant, “give them some love” got boring and very irritating. Shut the **** up when the music is playing!

The Piano Bar was jumping the evenings it was open. At times it competed with the Jamaican festival. Sitting midway between venues made conversation problematic. The piano man is a great entertainer and very popular.

The grounds look beautiful and were under constant grooming. White paint was being applied around the main pool.

This was probably the best of the recent dozen or so visits. A real plus was finding out from Lorna (guest relations) that all guests who visit for 14 nights or more are entitled to an extra three nights. The visit does not need to be a two-week-long visit. So we are already booked to return in December.

The changes and refinements are almost all positive, under the new Marshmallow ownership.

Peter