Jan. 21- 29, 2006 (Virgin Trip)
Quick summation: Best vacation, and the best time we have ever had !!!
Even after we first decided to go, we took turns getting cold feet and wondering if thats where we should really go. Eventually, we went ahead and booked the trip, paid, and were ready to ride it out and see what we thought.
Prior to leaving, we received an invitation to join the ERA group on a Yahoo message board. We have seen many conflicting messages on the boards regarding if meeting on-line first helps or not. While we can see how it may be rare for everything to work right after only meeting on-line, we got lucky! We met the most awesome group of people we have ever met. There were more people posting in the message board than were actively present through most of the week, but a large number of us just hit it off and we all had a blast! For any others going on a first trip, give the message boards and Yahoo groups a shot. Maybe you wont like them once you meet face to face, but you have nothing to lose and could meet a great bunch of people like we did.
After we arrived, we had just long enough to look around a little and head to dinner. By the time we were done with dinner we recognized someone from the group, were introduced to others who had arrived, and were immediately swept away for the next eight days. We all went to the piano bar after dinner and. Well, yall can figure that part out. We decided we were tired and excused ourselves to go to bed. In the short walk to our room we decided Hey, were here now, lets just get nekkid and find Delroys first. Well, we found Delroys and spent an hour or so standing there talking to others and then found the hot tub. The next thing we knew it was 4 AM !!! If anyone else is going for the first time, we would recommend doing the same and just jump right in !!! Well, after being up almost 48 hours you might want to skip the 4 AM part :)
We have NEVER met so many friendly people in our lives, and not just the ERA group. Everyone we met was friendly! For those that were there: We were the ones with all the Packers stuff. We were approached over and over by people who were Packers fans, wanted to talk football, or wanted to harass us (always in a good natured way). It was awesome! It is sad in a way, but we now have more friends at Hedo than we do at home. Or, maybe we just joined the crowd that calls Hedo Home ?
We had also planned to do at least one or two things off resort while we were there. It never happened. We were just having too much fun !!!! How could we possibly leave for a day and miss all the great times with new friends we knew would be at the pool?
We have NO complaints at all. Everything was as expected or better. The only thing we werent impressed with was the food, but from reading other trip reports and message boards we didnt really expect much there. We didnt go for food anyway. We can get great prime rib or lobster down the road at home.
We DID walk down 7-mile beach a ways while we were there. THAT showed us more than anything. We didnt have to go far, before one of us pointed out Look, theres just a bunch of people all by themselves staring at the water or reading. It was almost like culture shock, after 5 days at Hedo, to see so many people in their own little world and personal space. There is no way the people at those resorts could ever compare to those at Hedo. If we had gone to one of the others, it would have been just the two of sitting on the beach saying Boy, isnt this nice? Its warm here. Well, I dont think well be visiting any of the neighboring resorts in the foreseeable future :)
For any other Hedo virgins nervous about going, or those considering it: GO !!!!!
For those in ERA that we made friends with and spent so much time with: Thank you !!!! You all made our trip more special than we could have ever imagined! We not only had a good time, and found many common interests or backgrounds, but feel like we have made life-long friends. For all the others we met there: Thanks to you too, even the harassment about the Packers :) We hope to see all of you again next year !!