Tina & Steve - November, 2011

Trip Dates: November 12-20, 2011

From:  Tina from California  (First Time Tina)

 

   We highly recommend bringing another couple when going to Lovevoodoofest.    We brought our close friends to their virgin trip to Hedo II.  This was our virgin trip to Lovevoodoofest week.  The deal was we were to make plans to meet daily  at breakfast around 9:00am and dinner at 8:00pm.   In between…. was however the “chips may fall”.   Oh…how…the chips did fall!  We had a blast.

      With the help of our wonderful Hedo staff, we had the opportunity to deliver a birthday cake in our “birthday suits” to my special girlfriend.  The staff was great about bringing champagne…and a cake…TWICE…to our special couples room. Thank you!

    I don’t like to recite a schedule about when we landed in Jamaica…how long the shuttle ride took…time of arrival. The trip was very long, and we were exhausted when we landed at Montego Bay.  We did appreciate completing the final paperwork at the airport, which enabled us to arrive  “home”…and just grab our room key.  One note about customs:  when you fill the form be careful about the details.  If you make a mistake or forget to sign the paperwork, they send you to the back of the line.   Don’t ask how I know this…. trust me.

    I’m a review person.  I read trip reports and reviews on the Internet regardless of how many trips I have made to a resort.   I was concerned with the comments: “ you go to Hedo for the people not the food”, and “not a first class resort, but comfortable”.   I have been in the restaurant business for many years.  I’m not sure people realize the effort that goes into moving tables and equipment to have a special beach party for 600 people, having special pasta and omlette stations for individually prepared cuisine, the variety offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner, numerous sandwich and jerk chicken  items available on a continuous basis, and the challenge of keeping stocked bars available for over 500 guests a day.    I would like to know where these complainers dine…. I want to go there.   I did ask a guest who was complaining about the food what they would change in the menu.  After much thought, they decided filet mignon was missing from the selection.  Geez…picky, picky.

    I do agree…. the people make the trip.  We always run into the most interesting, wonderful people at Hedo II.   Friendships are easy to form.   You can create almost any fantasy your heart desires and easily find at least one other couple willing to enhance your experience.     That’s about as far as I’m willing to go with that subject.  Again…trust me.

    Our rooms were nice.  We always get the Garden View prude.  Cheaper and quieter.   Not mentioned in previous trip reports was the shower.   Jets coming out of the walls in addition to the main showerhead.  Nice.   One thing to mention to the ladies…bring lotion.  We did carry-on (and I still packed too much), so I brought three mini lotion bottles.   I could have used four.  Don’t bother with shampoo or soap, unless you need special items.  The wall dispensers are kept filled.      Bring good cold sore medicine…just in case.  My girlfriend saved my life on this one. 

    What to bring down for the maids/staff?  M&M’s.   They don’t melt…and decent chocolate was difficult to find on the resort.   Of course, if you do this hide some from your husband.   My stash was considerably lower at the end of the trip.    A quick note on tipping.  My theory is the gratuity is included. Why pay twice?  If you go to dinner and the 18% gratuity is tacked on to the bill…normally you do not throw another $10.00 tip on table.   I do understand many guests tip their favorite bartender or maid.  I have no problem with their decision.  However, we did experience staff asking for tips.  We also heard stories from guests being approached by bartenders aggressively  requesting tips.  This was uncomfortable.

     Theme weeks are great compared to weeks when the resort doesn’t have much going on.   I must admit…when I read Todd’s comments about being very busy on the resort, and not having time to visit with guests…I was a little snotty. I thought  “oh..poor guy…has to spend a whole week on a Caribbean Island trying to make guests happy in an all-inclusive situation”. 

     I was surprised. Surprised because Todd is much thinner than he looks in his picture, and his wife resembles our travel agent in appearance.  I kept getting them mixed up.   I will tell you….I would love to know where those girls purchase their clothes, because they had the most awesome outfits!    Back to Todd……I’ve never seen a man work so hard making sure the guests were happy.   Every time I saw Todd he was in a meeting with an entertainer or staff member or smoothing out a problem with a guest.  He stopped by our table at breakfast several times, so I don’t understand the comments about how he ignores his clients.  Todd and Elena did an awesome job with the entire week.  

   Speaking of staff…I  believe they are not appreciated for their qualifications.  Especially the guys in Water sports.    Being a volunteer on our local Fire Department, I can appreciate emergency situations.  Although there were no fires while we were at the resort…there were a few medical situations.   One involved a man slipping and dislocating his shoulder.   I was told the staff simply picked him up…put the shoulder back in its socket, and sent him to the nurse’s office.   Another guest broke the “snorkel with a buddy “ rule…went diving to get a good photo of the reefs, only to encounter a sea urchin sting.  One of the staff members had to jump in the water and do the “rescue thing”…because none of us noticed he was drowning from the pain!  

   Packing.  This was the first time we attempted carry-on.   I highly recommend cramming all your stuff into carry-on.   One issue is coming back with bottles of rum.  Save some space in a bag, you do have to check in the rum.   Girls…one pair of heals for evening and comfortable sandals for day.  Skimpy outfits fold well.  Don’t forget the lotion.  Guys…shorts..tee shirts…we don’t really care what it is you wear.

     Entertainment.  Another area I’m not sure the staff receives the credit they deserve.  Awesome dancing and singing.  Personally…I would skip the “Men of Steel” act.  They try to resemble Chippendales…doesn’t work.   This was the only flaw in the trip.  

     The strangest thing I witnessed my entire trip:  a man float up from a neighboring resort on a childs bubble raft…approach a couple…and tried to convince them Hedo II was a “cesspool”.   Therefore, his resort was a far better deal.   Wow.   Where is this mans pride?

 

     Loved  the trip, we already put our deposit down for next year.    Tina  ( and Steve )