Here's our trip report. Thanks a million for the fabulous web site. It makes ALL the difference in the world dude!!! We couldn't live without it!!!
Trip Report – Hedo III, Oct. 22 – 26 (27), 2005
Here’s our trip report.
Trip down from Philly on Saturday. Yada yada yada. There was only 19 people on an Airbus 320. Empty plane! Stewardesses were doing high fives!
It’s been two years since we were there. At the airport, there were now jetways (yippee!) and the new Superclubs reception room was very nice. Nice improvements. We saw Warren in the Superclubs room and he took us to our bus in a matter of minutes. Nice to see you again Warren!
For me, it’s as much about the people as it is about the fun. And I mean the Jamaican people as well as fellow resort goers. Our bus ride was with a fellow named John. Frankly he was kinda scary lookin but looks can be deceiving! He turned out to be a great person, host, travel guide, driver, etc. While there was the obligatory rest stop and a stop at Braco, he handled everything quite well and kept us moving. He made the time pass very quickly. Thanks John!!! It was great to get to know you.
Check in at the resort was very quick since it was just us and a couple of guys from Canada. They made us wait 10 minutes while they did a pre-inspection of our room. We had emailed specific requests (demands???) prior to going. Our room was in the quad and turned out to be squeaky clean with a new air conditioner. We dropped luggage and beat a path to the Scotch Bonnet (or whatever these days). Watched a great sunset. Fiddled around some and went to the beach party later that evening. Ran into Errol now working at the main bar. Last I’d seen him he was working nights at the nude bar. Great to see you Errol! Great drinks! Hung at the nude hot tub later that night but not too late. We were beat.
For us it was mostly a quick low profile trip. There were reasons for that. We wanted to stay longer but simply couldn’t get the time off. The energy of the place is as it always is. Even though occupancy was probably 50% or maybe less. The quad was dead. The prude side was dead (or course). The nude side was busy but not full. Our room was second floor over the pussy fountain in the quad. So it always sounded like it was raining outside. And it was about half the time. No hurricanes but plenty of rain around from time to time. It could have been worse. MoBay was being flooded daily it turns out.
David (restaurant manager?) came and sat with us on two occasions and we chatted about life in general. He recognized us from past trips and thanked us for our repeat business. We discussed menus and people. A host gracious with his time even though he is quite busy. And he always seems to be everywhere. People we want to say thanks to include William the omelette man (so great to see you William!). Standing back there making omelettes and ALWAYS with a smile. One of my favorite people. Maureen waiting tables in the morning. Same thing. Always very cheerful and neat and makes you feel like the only people in the resort. Uncle John at the Scotch Bonnet. A big shout out to John!!! You are the best man! We owe him an apology. We were supposed to see him regarding the PROPER making of jerk sauce our last afternoon but our off premise excursion ran over and we missed him. If someone could tell John we didn’t blow him off. We really did miss him and are very sorry for that. We feel bad about that.
Shirlene (I think I butchered the spelling) at the Scotch Bonnet. I only got a glimpse of her. She has been SO GOOD to me on previous trips. We miss you dear! You looked well and it was wonderful to see you’re still there. We’ll be back!
The guy who does the food and ice sculpting. I don’t know his name but his stuff is just unbelievable. You are a true artist man!
The two ladies working the main bar in the afternoon. I forget their names. One started with an “I” I believe. She was the best. It was awesome talking kids with her and just passing the time. Take care of those kids!!!
Had to stop by the quad bar and say hi to Sunshine. She is the nicest lady… I was joking with her about being world famous. And we did have a bit of chocolate we’d scrounged and saved for her.
A special thanks to Donna Grant. We’ve exchanged emails now and while I missed meeting her, she has been nothing but nice in her emails. Since I’d filed such specific requests prior, I filed a report with her after. She seemed genuinely grateful for the follow up. I suspect they don’t always get that but I felt it my duty. Areas they need to work on continue to include the hitting on guests as well as the number of locals they let in sometimes. Frankly I find the locals for the most part just spooky. Sitting around staring etc. and that’s at its best! A whole story in itself.
The front desk staff was awesome! The housekeeper for our room. Such a pretty lady and so friendly too! Thanks so much for your extra efforts and we sincerely appreciate all you did.
Other recollections. The spongy floor in the gift shop is gone. That was so weird last trip! The guys in the jewelry store. We really like their stuff and did buy a ring and necklace. They really crack me up with their calculators. The one guy acts like he’s doing all this calculating (I was watching a LOT closer than he thought I was) and he barely can work the thing. Finally after all these “calculations” he simply types a number in and holds it up to you and says that’s the price! Just a suggestion guys. Dump the calculator game. In your business it’s all about credibility and the game doesn’t help. We haggled for two days and finally got the deal we wanted.
The piers on the nude side. One was torn up and the other was closed presumably because the ocean was so stirred up. To bad!!! We love the piers.
Landscaping. There was a lot or trimming (butchering?) going on. Man, they can sure hack a tree up! Hopefully they’ll grow back in quickly. On the other hand, the hacking with machetes is probably preferable to listening to chain saws…
The pools and hot tubs all looked clear and in reasonable shape from what we could tell. Towels were always at a premium but that’s the usual. Chairs were too on the nude side. We do NOT reserve chairs. We prefer to go and we take what’s available. That’s OUR preference. Yes, we lose out some that way but “our” chairs are otherwise fully available before we sit in them and after we leave them. OK – I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Food was very good. The scotch bonnet for lunch is mandatory in our book. The buffet was good morning and night. Did the Italian one night and it was good. The beach party was good too. High fives to David and the restaurant staffs!
The people. Even with low occupancy there was plenty of “energy”. I don’t know… The resort always treats us well. And the people who go are in a class by themselves. That’s why we go. It’s just a LOT of people out to have FUN. While there are many definitions for fun, the bottom line is that all are friendly and all are there for that reason. That’s 90 percent of the battle and what helps set the place apart. We enjoyed the company of quite a few. They know who they are. And it was fun celebrating one couple’s anniversary under the weirdest circumstances. It’s all what you make of it. We can’t emphasize that enough.
The bus trip to the airport. It was hell. Won’t go into it ‘cuz its been covered on the message board. Yes – we were on that bus Wednesday. Missed our flight. Got rebooked for the next day. We were one of the lucky ones. Spent the night at Breezes MoBay. I’m grateful for them putting us up but… I can’t help it…. What a dump. We were secure, and had reasonable buffet food for dinner and breakfast the next morning. But that’s about all I can say for the place. And ended up with a WONDERFUL group of people in the same predicament. Now THAT was cool!
One last thing. For us personally, it’s all about reconnecting. And not just that, but (most importantly!!!) being able to do it without the distractions of kids, and responsibilities and jobs and life in general that we simply CAN NOT seem to escape while at home. Hedo (for us anyway) magically removes all the distractions and leaves us with each other. Like it was for us in the beginning so many years ago. It makes me feel like a teenager. That’s a wonderful feeling to take the time and recapture. At Hedo, it happens.
So that’s it ‘til next time!!!
We MISS you all and the place already. I wanna go home!!!! LOL
Thanks to EVERYONE.
ALL the best! Chip & Lu