P & K - September, 2008

Hedo III

Sept 26 – Oct 3, 2008

 

It may appear, from reading this report, that we might not have enjoyed our return trip to Hedo, but that’s not the case. We had a great week. But we know that Superclubs, and Hedo III, can do much better.

 

Let’s set the scene: It was election time in both Canada and the US. The much-anticipated Vice-Presidential debate ran during our vacation week, as was the Leaders’ debate in Canada. It was hurricane season: the island had already been hit once this year, and various storms hit the US and Canadian coasts just before our trip. And the economy tanked.

 

So people stayed away from Jamaica in droves. Hedo III was empty (I estimated 140 people at maximum). That meant some services were also minimal.

 

We took a sell-off all-inclusive package out of Toronto on Sunwing

—good flight and on time both ways. We arrived at the resort late Friday evening and were met with no fan fair and no glass of bubbly. But our room was ready and in order.

 

The first weekend the place did not seem so empty, but once a large Jamaican ‘hen party’ left there was empty space everywhere, and the entertainment staff also disappeared.

 

Nobody goes to Hedo for the food. That’s good, because the food was less than exemplary. Fresh fruit disappeared over the week, to be supplemented with tinned. The Gala Dinner was a sad apology (never did see any fresh fish or lobster!) We had a couple of good meals in the Italian place, but the duck flew away, and the salads were pathetic. Dinner in the main restaurant was usually a la carte, but the menu descriptions and actual plates rarely matched. The poolside snack bar and Jamaican restaurant (for lunch) did a much better job (except when the staff went AWOL for half an hour—go figure). But we ate enough and did not expect too much.

 

Bar service and staff was good, fun, friendly—even when the beer ran out.

 

We don’t go to Hedo for the ‘entertainment’ but we usually join in many of the activities. The “wild and crazy (or was that lazy)” entertainment crew had more reasons to cancel an event than I could count. The printed and on-line listing of events had nothing in common with actuality. If the staff showed up at the nude pool by noon, then that was a successful day. By the time a PA system was set up, it was sure to be raining, so time to scrap the events. We guests were great at making our own things happen, and we did.

 

The hotel has the worst set of microphones. They are guaranteed to not carry a voice, and when mixed with a bad DJ (“take it down Mr. DJ”) you can ensure nobody knows what’s happening. Rap filled i-Pods should be banned from the hands of entertainers, especially when they are working.

 

Staff shows were ‘high school musical’ amateur night—pathetic. Thursday’s staff/guest show was not a great success. We had a number of professional entertainers on the guest list. Nobody from the hotel had seen or heard them at the piano bar, so they were not invited to join the talent show. The ones I spoke with were unaware of the show until after the non-event. Again, the blame is on the lackadaisical entertainment crew (who were, generally, very nice friendly, shy people!)

 

Apart from the obvious, we go to Hedo for the people. Over 29 years we have met a cross section of the most interesting guests. This week we met some of the best—fun, loud, quiet, vivacious—always very friendly and great to be with.

 

It’s the new friends we met in and around the nude pool and hot tub that turned an average week into a memorable experience. The quiet times were peaceful. The noisy times were hilarious. I’m still looking over my shoulder in case a water balloon whistles over my head.

 

Thanks to everyone who made the week!

 

P&K