Glenn & Shannon's Hedo III Trip Report 4/6/01 - 4/14/01
JUST DO IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! For those going to a Hedo resort...and are scared or hesitant of going "au naturel"...as all of the other reports you read....there is nothing like it! It's not just the fact of being "naked" around others that you think are staring at your every body part...it's about meeting people for who they are and what they are....you'll notice after your first trip that you are MORE intimidated by the "prude resorts" than by just biting the bullet and doing it...you only live once!!!
ARRIVAL I won't elaborate on the plane ride...plane was 4 hours late leaving from Phoenix..slept all the way and arrived at Hedo III around 11:00 a.m. We checked right in to the room. I should say that we were first-timers to Hedo III, but I've been to Hedo II three times, and Glenn has been 13 times, more on the differences of the 2 resorts later. The room was extremely nice compared to Hedo II. We were in room 128, which got to be really loud at times during the night (especially when our next door neighbors came home two different mornings fighting..and security had to come)...but we were right above the Jacuzzi in the quad. From what I've heard the 600 block is the best to get. Make sure you have a refrigerator in your room and a CD player. We had neither and didn't know we could have had a fridge that they stock daily in our room until the last day. The roman tub was great, and after a couple of days, showering with the shade up was no big deal! :o) The tropical look to the rooms and the comfort surpassed Hedo II by far.
ACTIVITIES Glenn and I mostly hung out at the nude pool. We met so many wonderful people there and the sunset Jacuzzi parties were a blast! (OH MY GOD BECKY...LOOK AT HER BUTT!!! IT IS SOOOO BIG!!! *inside joke to Shelly and Jim!* I played one volleyball game, but there seemed to be a few games going on just about every day. Suzette the bartender was incredible (get to know her..and the others..learn their names..and RESPECT!) She remembered our names and what we were drinking. Anne-Marie was also great...ask her for her "bartender special"..her's is the best in my opinion. One day I was picked to do the "oil wrestling" contest and didn't do well, but I think that's because I wanted to wrestle with Sparky! There were a couple of creeps that showed up to the nude side...but that was because they were the type that couldn't handle alcohol without showing their true jerk colors. Enough on that...they know who they are! Glenn played one of the games in the dining room and won some Hedo bucks. I suggest that if you want to meet people..play the games..it's a great way to get involved.
RESTAURANTS As in many other reports, we thought the Japanese restaurant, Munahana's was the best. The service was great and the food was incredible. The chef even let me get up there and throw the knives around! We met some real nice people at dinner because you all sit around the same table. Pastafari I thought was much better than at Hedo II...bigger for sure. Scotch Bonnet was incredible..mostly because Antoinette was such a sweetie (our favorite gal at the resort..tell her we said "hi!") and the jerk pork & chicken was great. Also the pepper soup was hot..but good! The main dining room wasn't very good most of the time...next time we'll stick to making reservations for dinner at the restaurants every night. It was hard to find an empty seat and the service wasn't as exceptional as at Hedo II. We usually had to end up sitting at a table that wasn't set, and then deal with the wasps. The service wasn't as good either, at Hedo II they automatically bring wine to your table..at Hedo III you have to ask for it and hope you get it. No biggie... The nude pool grill was also great...and they had nachos!
THE PEOPLE By far...this was the best group of people that I have ever met and had fun with!!! Gloria and Tom (my Coyote Ugly SISTER!..YOU'RE GREAT!!!) Scot & Michelle...(by the way Scot...I had to magic-marker that picture so I could put it on my mantle! ha ha) Shelly and Jim...Congratulations on your engagement!!! You make a great couple!!! (LITTLE IN THE MIDDLE BUTCHA GOT MUCH BACK!!!) SPARKY!!! We miss you! Come visit!!! Ron & Michelle, Greg and tatooo Greg from Long Beach...(you know you're welcome here anytime!), Steve and Christy (we'll never forget you...and Christy...we can't wait to Email you a picture of Glenn on his Harley with the glasses!)...Rick and Michele....Kim and Wesley (you two were so awesome...we can't even tell you how glad we are that we met you!!!), Josh and Nikki (we didn't get to talk to you much...but you make the cutest little married couple!..congrats!) Dee and Larry...(wow Dee...You know what they say about guys who are good on the trapeze!! Way to go!!)
There were so many more, I'm sorry if I forgot anyone!
HEDO II vs. HEDO III From my point-of-view...not being a Hedo II "veteran" was intimidating at times when visiting II, because a lot of the people who go there have been going for years. You could tell by age group and just talking with people that this was there first experience at Hedo III. I felt more comfortable there right away. Also, the age group tended to be a little more towards the younger ages such as 30's, 40's and 50's, whereas Hedo II seemed to be mostly 40's, 50's, & 60's. The things that we DO like better about Hedo II is: 1. The nude Jacuzzi is much bigger 2. You can walk for miles on the beach..whereas at Hedo III you can't walk anywhere 3. The service and food at the main dining room excels by far...as well as the nighttime entertainment 4. The sound system is much better at Hedo II...maybe because the dining room is so much bigger.
The reasons I like Hedo III better: 1. The WATER SLIDE!!!!! TOO MUCH FUN!! Don't forget to get a group of people around 3:00 from the nude side to jet over to the waterslide. This is check-in time when all the newbies come in and it's a blast to watch the expression on their faces!!!! It was also a great effect that it goes through the disco! 2. The grounds and room are much nicer and cleaner 3. Better selection of restaurants 4. The disco was set up better...more open and I liked the bar being inside the disco so we could do our "class-act!" I only did the cage once, but it was fun! 5. The people! The coordinators (CRAZY SHAWN, CAROL, and the bartenders at the nude pool as well as Antoinette at the Scotch Bonnet was our favorites!) 6. Close to Dunn's River Falls. Only about a 20-minute bus ride. I'm not in to touristy things, but this was alot of fun and very beautiful. Too far from Negril, (wouldn't want to leave the nude pool that long!!!) but be prepared to tip well for them taking your pictures...although I think it's worth it.
Well, that's my trip report. We are already planning our October Hedo trip. Not sure if it will be at Hedo II or Hedo III because of some leftover credits we have from II.
Respect, Shannon and Glenn rivergal777@citlink.net