COMPARISON OF HEDONISM II TO SANDALS MONTEGO BAY
First, let me say that Randy and I have been to Hedo II two years in a row, and intend to make one Hedo or another an annual vacation destination. ("Once you go nude, you never go prude"?) So imagine our surprise when in November, his mother announced that she is taking the entire family to Sandals Montego Bay December 1 - 9 for a once-in-a-lifetime super-duper Christmas gift. "Oh Wow - we're going to Jamaica!!!" "Oh no, we're going to Sandals" "Oh Wow, we're going to Jamaica for free!!!" "Oh no, we're going with the entire family!" Oh wow, we should be in Sangster leaving on the same day as the WWW gang is arriving!" "Oh no, we will be leaving Jamaica the same day the WWW gang is arriving!" So many mixed emotions! But I for one will never turn down free tropical travel, so off we went.
Second, let me say that we did have a wonderful time with his family. His family really is a lot of fun. His parents sure can party for a couple of prudes! It helped that it did nothing but RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. And not a gentle rain either, we got POUNDED. Every day. Until our last day (Wednesday - because of earlier commitments, we couldn't stay as long as the others, so we avoided getting to see the WWW gang off on their adventure). So we huddled under a beach hut (all twelve of us), and drank ALL DAY. EVERY day. When we got cold, we took over one of the hot tubs and drank there. An awful lot of bonding going on (come to think of it, if they weren't all related, some Hedo action may have happened!). And I learned a new drink - called either BangBang or BamBam, who knows, who cares. First, with your back to the bar, kind of lay your body over the bar with your head hanging over where they bartenders are. They pour from a number of bottles directly into your mouth (I was told recently that it was kamikaze, but at the time I didn't know or care), shake your head around and swallow. Then everyone cheers for you, which is the best part.
Next, SANDALS SUCKS!!! Yes, it is close to the airport. TOO close. Airplanes overhead all day, sometimes so close you duck when you hear them. Food sucked even more than it sucks at Hedo (said tongue-in-cheek). But really, NOT good. The Japanese restaurant and Italian restaurant never opened while we were there - they are outside/open air and we were in the midst of a typhoon. In the morning, first you had to beg for a coffee cup, then you had to beg for the coffee to put in it. Organized activities virtually non-existent, either indoors or outdoors. Workers not nearly as friendly as those at Hedo, some (The Hoarders of the Coffee) were downright surly. Watersports guys were ok, the one day we were able to use them, and they sure were busy, after having been rained out for days and days and days in a row.
Next, Air Jamaica Rocks! We went to airport, flew, got off airplane and went to resort. Easy in, easy out. No problems, mon. On the way home, our bus was scheduled one hour prior to flight time, arrived 20 minutes late, sat in traffic, and we entered the airport to be told that our flight was boarding. Quick sidestep to buy some alcohol, step onto plane and take off!!!! Wonderful!!!! (Especially as opposed to last years 12 hour delay!)
Next, I have to say, the rooms are really nice. We had oceanfront (Thanks, Mom and Dad!), and there was a huge, tall, fourposter bed that was SOOO comfortable, with great pillows!
Overall, not too bad for a free vacation, but I would be really upset if I had paid for it. Of course, we would have never choose Sandals having been to Hedo before. Of course, the rain was not their fault, but I think the rain kind of made it more fun than it would have been. There was a kind of camaraderie there wouldn't otherwise have been - like, "we're all in this together" kind of thing that sometime accompanies natural disasters. Also, it is great that we went in a group. I couldn't imagine being there alone with Randy, as much as I love him, it really could have gotten boring (also, the direct opposite of Hedo). Also, I'm kind of glad that we left early - it would have been TOOOOOO heartbreaking to run into Denny and company in the airport - I would have stowed away!
Anyway, I am this week making reservations for my next Hedo trip, and a much better trip report will follow!