Sara - February, 2014
2/21
to 3/1 2014
Where to start? Well, it feels weird writing a review and not including
all the fun stories and people that make Hedo what it REALLY is…but I
will try (have to protect the not so innocent and the down right
dirty)…but I really want the reader to know that without the people the
place isn’t as magical. We had so many fun moments an so many amazing
conversations that will never be captured in any review.
We have been to Hedo II three times prior to this trip. We had never
gone “with” a group and our last trip was nine years ago. We booked this
past summer for the February Fluff takeover week as a part of the group.
We booked 8 nights starting Feb. 21st. The booking process was fast and
efficient. We opted for an upgraded ocean view nude room. We also opted
for the Club Mo Bay pass in and out.
When the time came on 2/21 we left for the airport excited for our
adventure. Our flight was direct from PHL to MBJ and was uneventful.
When we arrived we were greeted by our hostess and escorted past lines
of people. We made it through the airport and procedures to the lounge
where we met our friends. After a quick drink our bus was ready for the
ride to H2. (The investment in the lounge was totally worth it…the
carefreeness of it started the trip on a high note.)
The bus ride was long (we have always had Tim Air in), but it was fun.
The bus was only H2 peeps – so that was nice. We made a bar stop (think
to have enough cash on you in case yours does to). When we got to the
resort it was the oddest, happiest sensation ever. It was like we had
never left, but that so much had changed. It was like when OZ goes from
black and white to in color. We were seated in the pit and given
clipboards. There were seven couples if my memory is correct. My husband
and I were given our room within ten minutes of entering the pit. The
check in was so fast hubby hadn’t even made it back with my first drink.
I was amazed. Since when do Jamaican’s have a speed other than “yeah
mon, no problem mon, wait a little more mon.”
We went off to our room…I actually teared up as we neared it. When we
entered the room it was breathtaking! The newly upgraded room pics you
may have seen online do NOT do them justice! They are built to be a
sensory experience and a photo can’t capture that. The new mirrors above
the bed no longer have “sensor bars” as I call them. They also have
lighting options that give the room a different vibe depending on the
selections you make. The bathrooms (which I had wondered about before
seeing them in person) were great. We had abundant HOT water all week
(once I figured out how to turn it on! Something I would recommend you
try when sober). The new mirrors above the dresser are about 4X4 inch
pieces all bending in different directions – there is always a multitude
of different views to enjoy. There is less storage, however as soon as I
was in the room I was back out the slider and didn’t unpack for days so
I am not really sure that ended up mattering to me. I think the storage
thing could be fixed if the bench on the end of the dresser was made a
tad higher – then a suitcase could fit in the under part. Our room came
with a fridge that was continually filled as well (ice cold water in the
AM – SO nice).
This was our “live it up” vacation. I think twice we went to bed around
2-3am, the rest of the days we closed down the nude bar at 5am. We never
slept past 10am; most days were up by 9am and only found ourselves
distracted when we did try to nap. That all being said we saw all shifts
of staff and times of day. We only encountered one staff person that was
less than an A+.
We did not see much tipping going on. We did encounter the shell man and
others selling on the beach. We also noticed that the spa ladies were
seriously trying to drum up business on the beach. The bars were stocked
well (Jamison, Dewers etc.). and stayed full. We saw staff in various
locations working all week (roof on dining room, new lighting by spa,
new loungers for the decks…etc.). The food was great - it was also
abundant. We tried both restaurants twice and ate in the dining hall the
other nights.
The entertainment staff seemed to be keeping guests entertained. Some of
the stuff was the same as nine years ago – some was new. H2 is what you
make of it – so if you don’t like the nude pool game they offer make up
your own. Hubby enjoyed being the designated shot giver for several…
The hot tub…well it was the H2 hot tub. It was at times too hot. It was
at times too chemically. The new stairs are ugly and gritty. Watch your
toes under them as they are no longer anchored to the bottom and if you
are say kneeling your toes can go under and get crushed (saw it happen –
twice…).
Not directly related to the resort but worth noting…we loved the fluffs.
We were roomed next to Jon and Janet (head fluffs) and saw endless
gestures of good will and trying to appease everyone. This was not for
show, it was my casual observation. The flufferdeck parties were some of
my favorite times. We would have met the fluffs without the group – but
with all the chats and parties being in the group made a huge difference
in the quality of our new relationships.
When it was time to go we found out at the airport our flight was
delayed and delayed and delayed. We had a BLAST in the lounge as our
friends came and went. The $60 was SO worth it. We lounged and ate and
showered and partied and drank until it was time to go.
The downs of the trip (since if I don’t list some you will think I am a
commercial). We did not have doormats by the bed or near the slider,
however after two days housekeeping brought some when she saw we were
using towels.
There needs to be sand strips or grippies on the nude pool/bar stairs…or
you need to be sober…I watched each day as people fell…careful there!
Several tips and tricks (for newbies)…
-If you have any kind of upgraded room – make sure you get your code for
the slider door when you check in. I have been told you can also request
a special number if you wish – but didn’t do that myself.
-No sex in the new showers (or even shaving your legs for that matter!)
without grippes on the floor. Next time I will bring some!
-New rooms have sliders – you have to push a button to go out…in some
rooms that is hidden behind the curtains.
-You can ask to have the waterslide turned on – I never saw it on and
learned this on our last day.