The Calm between 2 Groups
(February 19-26, 2006)
Arrival: We waited about 15 minutes in the SuperClubs lounge before getting on a shuttle. There were 9 people going to HII and 6 going to Grand Lido. The ride took quite a bit longer than normal as we ended up stopping to buy a case of Red Stripe beer plus the usual halfway point stop, but it was a lively group mainly due to the antics of those going to Lido too bad for them next time book Hedo!
ROH Room: We had booked ROH/SuperSelect with the Fluffernutters group (though we arrived a week early) and once again were given a room on the nude side towards the middle which is perfect as it is easy access to both the dining areas and the beach. This was a bit surprising to me as the Bubbly Bares were just ending their tour.
The Days at Hedo: Overall our days were very similar. We would get up, eat either at Roberts grill or at the main dining area, hang out with our great new nekkid friends on the beach, eat again when the jerk chicken came out at 4pm, go back to the room for the late afternoon nap, eat again at dinner time, watch the dining room entertainment, head to the piano bar and/or disco, and end up in the nude side hot-tub or pool. It is always amazing how tired you can get from just eating, drinking, socializing and dancing!
What made the ultimate difference are the people we met during all of this, they were awesome and made what was an unusually calm week at hedo a very fun one! One of the couples (who were hedo virgins) brought a whole assortment of stickers, temporary tattoos and other fun accessories. Using letters, they spelled all sorts of things on backs, fronts and arms, such as Im Horny, Slut and FN Stud, just to name a few. These sayings then had to be worn into the piano bar and disco. Unfortunately, they also had to be removed before going out in the sun the next day as we didnt want a message outlined by suntan that could be seen back in the real world just imagine a co-worker coming up and asking whats that on your arm? J
This trip was also very nice as we met not only people from America, but from Canada, England, Italy and France. The number of people from Italy (@ 15 in separate groupings) was surprising as it took some of them 20 hours to get to the resort, but I think overall they found it more than worth the travel time. One of the ladies from England was a grandma and proudly asked if I had seen her at the disco the night before where she had danced around the pole. Granny was shaking it, she said. I told her that the rule of Hedo is that numbers dont count whether it is age or weight, so granny wasnt dancing around the pole, she was!
Memorable Moments: The group of us gathering together in one room to dress the newbies in their togas (as well as add stick on lips and other accessories to various body parts). Ray Ray happily pouncing on the man with the bunny ears in the disco. The guy collecting womens underwear & then hanging them around his neck outside the piano bar. The No Diving sign which was revised to read No Muff Diving and which was mysteriously set up near the hot tub at 2am. Sunsets with champagne, laughing with all of our new friends.
Banana Boat: One of the days we took the banana boat out, which was a new experience (extra cost). It is a large inflated banana or pink shark that seats 6 people and is dragged behind one of the water taxi boats. Although we did try to stay seated, we ended up in the ocean at least 3 times. I think we may have made a record as we tipped the first time within 50 feet of the resort landing area. J
Beware the Condor: We also experienced our first Condor. This is the name we came up with (instead of lurker) for an older man who (whether on the nude beach, at dinner or in the disco) walked or danced with his shoulder slightly hunched over and whenever a female approached his area, his usually bend arms would spread out to the sides. When the female left his area, his arms would return to their usual bend, but forward position. The positive side about this person was that he still came to Hedo when he was in his (guessing) upper 80s, I can only hope to have his same energy, but the negative side was that he was also a lurker by nature in that he waited and tried to corner many girls within his arm span. After having a couple contacts in this manner, we just generally avoided areas where he was known to be and continued to have a great time.
Disco Bar Area Renovations: For those of you who havent seen it yet, the disco bar area has been renovated to include several oval shaped lounging areas and tall white tables with chairs. These tables and chairs are also outside the disco both in the ex-skating rink area and near the water slide pool. The disco was usually very active about 11pm-2am. The water slide was not always running at midnight, but if you tell an EC they can usually get someone to turn it on and monitor it.
Staff: The EC staff has had a turn-over. Foxy and Ray Ray are still there, but there are also a number of more masculine male and talented female ECs. Lenny, Mega, Sarge, Sunshine, MichelleAnn (EC Supervisor), Chubby (Entertainment Manager) just to name a few.
Augustus was ever present as well and was very helpful in finding air mattresses that we could use each day (as most of the ones on the chairs were taken).
Return Baggage Check-in: This is the first year we havent checked baggage at the resort. We had a 5:50pm flight and the shuttle was scheduled to leave at 2pm. We once again checked out by noon and stashed our carry on bags in a friends room. Then we ended up leaving at 2:10pm or so and got to the airport by 3:30pm. It took about 20-30 minutes to get through to the Air Jamaica counter and 10 minutes to get through security. Though, as we were heading towards security the baggage check in line doubled once again we were lucky to be ahead of the crowd.
Airport Shopping: We did shop for some items at the airport and found at least one item that was cheaper at the resort than it was at several shops there. This may not be true for all things, but it did surprise me a bit.
Helpful Hints
Immigration: Have both immigration forms completed and ready before you reach the immigration area. We arrived to find a long line, but were quickly escorted to the front of it as it seemed like an entire airplane of people either did not have both forms or they hadnt been completed.
Daily Sun, Fun & Hot-tub: Remember between the sun, alcohol, and the hot-tub, dehydration can be a major problem. Drink water or any non-alcohol/caffeinated drink regularly and always wear sunscreen during the day or the fun will stop. There was at least one guy who learned this lesson the hard way on his first day out and had to miss an entire day due to not feeling well. Even pre-tanning and wearing spf 45 didnt stop a slight sunburn on my first day.
Single guys: Dont be a condor, lurker or wally just be social and respectful and you will have a great time. I know that our new Italian male friends found this to be true to the maximum degree every day, to the point when they were asking for time to just lay in the sun!
Tipping: Be very careful if you decide to do this. We again heard real stories about staff being either fired or given time off without pay because of someone seeing this occur and this is the last thing that we would want to have happen to anyone there.
As always Hedo is what you make it. Lisa