I've never done a natural resort before, at 5'8" 190# there is a pretty good reason. And going by myself didn't sound like a lot of fun. But spending another New Years watching Dick Clark's ball drop over a tumbler of whiskey sounded even worse.
The flight was a flight like any other, too long, too boring. Just too, too. The bus ride from Montego Bay to Negril was actually quite nice! I had a lot of fun listening to the driver tell stories about the villages we went through, watching him avoid this car then that one, then the bicyclist. He couldn't avoid the cow that decided to take up residence in the across the narrow two lane road. It was great fun watching him wave his arms out the window and scream at the cow to move on. It finally did.
Hedonism is a GREAT PLACE. The staff is friendly and very helpful. The entertainment staff is very helpful and always ready to pump up the volume!! The facilities are very well done. The rooms are well furnished and very clean. I like the fact that there are no TV's anywhere except in the disco bar which is always too crowded to watch anything anyway. Just a CD player and a telephone (for the wake up call on the last day). Just enough technology for me.
The hot tubs and pools are also well maintained. I stayed on the nude side 90% of the time. There is a "prude" side for those not interested in 100% nudity. The nude side was always packed. There wasn't an organized group there during my stay. It was just people out to have some R&R in the sun. Oh, yes, there was the occasional "extra credit" activity in the hot tub after midnight. But for the most part is was pretty R-rated.
Two events stand out from my trip. First was "The Island Picnic". I participated in two of these events, but I think the first one I'll not soon forget (or is that remember). It was a rainy day so we could not go out to the island. That really knocked down the interest and it ended up that only six people decided to participate. Because there were so few, Tavis (the entertainment coordinator) decided we will play "3-Mon" (3 Man). This is basically a dice/drinking game. Who ever is "3-Mon" when 3 comes up on the dice in any combination or singularly has to take a big drink of rum punch. If you need the complete rules, e-mail me. Anyway, it ended up that I was 3-Mon for the better part of 2 hours and 5 liters of rum punch. Not to mention the two joints that went around. Somewhere in there my mind stopped recording. The game slowed down when Tavis was carried off the beach by the resort nurse. The game stopped when this rain storm swept the beach. Everyone ran off, leaving me passed out in a deck chair. Mark, another entertainment coordinators, came back and helped me back to my room. Where I spent the next 10 hours (including New Years) sleeping it off in the bath tub. Luckily there were about 50 people for the picnic the next week. It was fun, but nothing compared to the first one.
The other great even was the "Nude Cruise". This is not included in the price of the resort but is well worth it. It was fun, fun, fun. It is done on this big catamaran. Basically as soon as you push off the dock, let the sun shine. You're also advised at the first snorkel site that you see more fish if you're nakee. We had Reggae Ralphy on board. He's great. This was certainly party central for an afternoon.
If you like snorkeling, or scuba, I can't imagine a better place. I don't scuba, but there were two snorkel boats a day when the weather would permit it. The water was clear and warm. And if you had just a little bit of bread you had all the fishy friends you could want.
A couple quick notes: * If you are going to the dinner on Toga night, WEAR A TOGA !!!! Don't show up wearing street clothes. It just ruins the whole thing. Participate damn it! That's what life (and Hedonism) is about. * PJ Disco is packed, loud, hot and pump'n. If you want to move with the gruv you got to get there early and fight for your spot on the floor. * And PLEASE!!! The nude side is not some sort of freak show! If your on the nude side, take'm off baby!! Life is better when your nakee anyway!
I'm already making plans for New Years 1998-1999 (if the asteroid doesn't get us first). But only a week this time, not two. Except for the sun being out more, the second week was like de ja vue all over again. The resort really is geared for "Be wicked for a week". Though there was one guy there for four weeks! I think one is about my interest level.
If you have any questions please drop me an e-mail at glenc@esdl.com
Cheers .... Glenc
Thanks for posting your trip report, Glen. - Denny