Armando & Tiffany - December, 215/2016
Wet, Wild, and
Wicked~~ also lovingly known
as WWW
December 3 - 12,
2015 and
December 1 - 10, 2016
Ok, so last year for
the 2015 trip I WROTE OUT A WHOLE 8 PAGE TRIP REPORT within a week of
getting back and just never got around to typing it up. So this report
will be for 2015 and 2016 as I didn’t want to waste the 2015 info. So,
let’s just consider it a “comparison report”. Consider yourself
warned…this is loonnnggg…( The 2015 report was called “The Full Circle”)
TRAVEL
2015:
Southwest Airlines from
HOU Hobby has non-stop flights to MoBay. Although the flight time is not
great arriving at 2:50PM. You can’t beat free bags especially since we
like to bring kids gifts. Customs/immigration moved reasonably fast. So,
on to JTL(transfer) desk. Handed them my DennyP reservation paper and
luckily we were moved to the front of the CHAOS! Was immediately put on
one of the big buses. Our delight was quickly extinguished when we
realized they weren’t going to leave until the ENTIRE bus was full! THEY
WILL WAIT UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY FULL! …NEVER AGAIN will we choose this
free option esp. arriving in the middle of the day. Stopped at about 4
other hotels before Hedo plus a “pit-stop” as well. Imagine how long it
takes for a whole big bus to unload “grab a beer” and re-load. We
noticed at all these other hotels we stopped at were decorated with lots
of dark brown wood. Looked real dark inside the lobbys. Pretty, but
dark…TISK,TISK.
2016:
We flew American as we
were able to use miles for our flight. Flew from IAH. Nice, as we live
only 10 minutes from this airport. But the bag fees suck. Yes, I know we
didn’t have to pay for our tickets but I don’t believe in the bag fees.
Anywho, customs/immigration moved nicely. We chose a private transfer
with Daena Taxi this time and they were there waiting for us and off we
went. We did make our “special” pit-stop but as the trip went on we
realized we weren’t given a very good deal. Made it to resort in just
under an hour.
RESORT
2015:
Finally made it home…GASP!!!
TISK,TISK..home now looks like all the other hotels we saw!! Is it
pretty? Yes. Is it more glamorous than it was? Of course. IT IS
BEAUTIFUL but gone is that warm Caribbean feel. I miss the Caribbean
colors! The lobby is gorgeous, but the dining area is white and brown.
It looks too sterile to me. It needs COLOR! Check-in was fast and easy.
Room 1235 was perfect. A/C worked, plenty of hot water even at peak
times.
SUGGESTION: Some
sort of lighting placed above the big wall mirror. Nothing hanging like
before, something mounted on the wall like a light strip. I know I’m not
the only gal that thinks the bathroom gets too hot to get dolled up in.
There is something I wish I would have known about beforehand. They have
started a “go green” program. You have a go green door hanger on your
front door. Place it on the outside and when you decline some maid
services, i.e. hang towels up for re-use, turn off lights and A/C before
you leave, keep bed sheets you will be entered for a nightly drawing for
a 50.00 resort credit. On Friday they also do a drawing for 3 free
nights as well! The new beds are so much more comfortable! I love not
having the big ol TV jutting out begging you to hit your head on it!
(Armando anyway) Not me. HA! A nice flat screen now. Our room was
perfecto.
2016:
Ok, so the brown and white decor with the
dark brown wood just grows on you. Or maybe it’s better now that the
original shock is over. I can’t believe the seats are still white!!!
Check in was easy, breezy again. Room 1141 was perfect. Love a first
floor room too! Been years since we have had one! The new A/C’s are
great! Although I still don’t know what 70 F` is in C`! HA! The supplied
blow dryer worked fine. I brought a shampoo/soap holder that suction
cups to the wall to use in the shower that was a great help. There is
only 1 little soap holder in the corner. And they do supply sham/cond
and soap but I like to use my own. For our toothbrushes/toothpaste I
take one of the glass cups to the bathroom to set them up in. Don’t want
our toothbrushes on the counter. This room was fine! GO GREEN!
MAIN POOL
2015:
Love the new no skid tile. I don’t feel
the need to ice skate across it in my heels! Nice color lights in the
pool now. Over the top of the disco they have a nice seating area.
2016:
Still nice to have the new tile!!!
WATERSLIDE…..BOOOO HOOO HOOOO
2015:
Reports are correct… closed indefinitely.
I asked 3 different watersports guys, no BEGGED them to open it but all
they said was “ask the managers” or “under renovation” but there was no
renovation going on.
2016:
BOOOHOOOO…I miss the waterslide and it’s
gone…all gone.
L
I miss it so much.
DISCO
2015:
Same ol, same ol…. Except for the foam
party! YEEEHOOO! Be sure to check it out! Doing it nekkid is the way to
go! NO JEWELRY… the foam makes you slippery.
2016:
The foam party is now outside the disco
on the cement pad. Where there was supposed to be the ice skating rink.
We talked about that…who on earth’s idea was it supposed to be to put an
ice skating rink in Jamaica? At Hedo of all places? Talk about liability
there….Anywho, the foam party I guess was just as fine out there.
Noticed that if you wait about an hour it won’t be so packed.
THE DISCO is closed
“under renovation” we were told. I missed the Disco!!!!
PRUDE BEACH
POOL BAR
2015:
Exactly the same…the water is
FREEZING!!!!!!
2016:
DITTO!!!!!!
PRUDE BEACH
GRILL
2015:
Renovation is very nice! You can’t go
wrong at the prude grill. Food is good and it’s like sitting in a
civilized restaurant now with plenty of tables.
2016:
Still good as always! Although if you go
in there right at opening they will not always have what you want
quickly. i.e for a burger the grill needs adequate time to pre-heat…same
with the oil for fries. At least, that’s what we were told. But the food
is always good! I WISH THEY HAD THE MELTED CHEESE HERE TOO!!! It’s only
at the nude grill for the nachos.
WATERSPORTS
2015:
One day I brought a bunch of pool toys
and they used their air tank to fill about 20 little beach balls for me!
And they did it with a smile! THANKS GUYS! If you need something blown
up go to the watersports shack. We also, after all of our trips shook
off the sand gravity and took a kayak out to the island.
2016:
Brought more pool toys!!! On 2 different
days this time! Still got them all blown up with a smile! I even brought
some solar powered Santa and Penguin bobbleheads for all the tables in
the nude pool. I look at it as also a way for peeps to bring home a
souvenir from their trip!
Armando learned to
HOBIE CAT this time! YAY! We went out from 9:30 – 11:00 everyday. (Until
11:00 cause we had to get back in time for Bocce Ball!) So peaceful out
on the water! And a lot easier than paddling a darn kayak!!! Next trip
we will be doing this every morning the winds are good. Watersports
always opened on time.
NUDE BEACH
2015:
As pleasant as ever! So glad there are
new beach loungers. Also, no towel exchange anymore. You want a towel,
you got it. Lots of new beach umbrellas and side tables. Also added are
wicker tubs that hold water bottles that they keep iced down.
2016:
Still great! Wicker tubs for water
bottles now replaced with an actual insulated cooler. I’m sure they got
tired of constantly having to re-ice the old buckets. If my memory
serves me correctly I think they are put inside a wooden box to hide the
white ice chest.
NUDE BEACH
GRILL
2015:
Same ol good stuff! And midnight pizza is
still DA BOMB!!!!
2016:
DITTO!!!!!! Excited to see the
improvements to the nude grill next year!!
NUDE BEACH BAR
2015:
Excellent service all the time! Props to
Paulette & Lorenzo and all the others that may have served us! THANK
YOU!
2016:
DITTO!!! Although I didn’t see
Lorenzo?.still LOVE Paulette!!
NUDE POOL
COMPLEX
2015:
I miss the “water pools” we could rinse
the sand off our feet in. There was so much sand on the pool deck!
Although I’m sure those pools were hazardous. The pool deck is slippery
as heck & Harry said they will replace the deck. The pool ladder is
removed and now there is no easy way out of the pool on that side.
Always wondered why they didn’t do the same steps like they have on the
other side of the pool? They also did new steps into the hot tub which
are much easier to use. Love the new nude restrooms! Much nicer. The
pool loungers now have umbrellas for shade. Hot tub was decent temp.
2016:
On the pool deck are long black rubber
“runners”/ “mats” to walk on. They hurt the feet. Seemed the sprinkle
pool turned into the “rinse the sand off your feet” pool. There was so
much sand in there!!!!! The day after we left they started the
renovation!!!! YAY! I’m excited for a new pool deck/bar/grill!!!! But to
the Bocce Ballers…looks like some of our bocce ball court is being taken
away!
NUDE GARDENS
2015:
They made a “smoking area” over behind
the ladies restroom. The grounds were all kept nice like always. Noticed
there must be a painted rock cemetery somewhere because it seemed the
rocks have diminished in number. The huge tree between H-Block and the
old bird sanctuary for some reason does not have all the huge gorgeous
ivy growing from it anymore.
2016:
DITTO! Still the same nice gardens.
SPA
2015:
New manager, all new staff.
SUGGESTION: Can you
please include the spa menu in the welcome envelope like it used to be?
So, we walked into
the spa to make an appointment for a massage. NO familiar faces. We do
like sauna before massage but the back area was “under renovation”. All
massages were on the beach either in the new beach huts (which are very
nice) or the massage shack. So, since we did not have a massage menu
beforehand we went in unprepared. We were upsold to the dickens! Yes, I
know they need to sell, sell, sell their services but TOO PUSHY! We
ALWAYS do 2 (sometimes 3) massages in our 10 day trip but since it was
such an UNPLEASANT experience we ended it right there! We did 80 minutes
for 145/pp which was supposed to include some special acupressure on our
hands and feet but I assure you nothing special was done to our hands
and feet! They would have got a lot more money out of us if they would
have let us be and gave us time to look at the spa menu. And they didn’t
seem too organized with their scheduling. Also, you do not pay in the
spa anymore. It is billed to your room. They do print out a receipt for
your signature. I don’t like having to “close a balance” at check-out.
2016:
Ok, so they now have the Spa menu right
inside the door of the spa. Easy enough to get one on arrival. I do
understand putting one in every welcome pack is not very cost effective.
THE SPA PRICES ON THE HEDO WEBSITE ARE NOT KEPT UP TO DATE!!! The whole
spa area is now open. Glad to be able to have massage in A/C again.
Massages were good. I miss Roslyn. We chose to do 2 couples Swedish for
95/pp.
GIFT SHOP
2015:
Lots & lots of stuff! Open almost 24 hrs!
And guess what??!!! Drum roll please…….Hedo bucks are now treated as
real money to use on ANYTHING in the gift shop!!! BRILLIANT! BRAVO! Each
Hedo buck = 1.00 & like I said they accept them as real money. So
collect them, use them, and don’t lose them! (More on collecting them
later)
2016:
I think the gift shop may be open 24 hrs
now???? And they still use Hedo bucks! Hedo bucks can be used on more
stuff than just the gift shop. From personal experience this time, we
collected Hedo bucks but didn’t spend much in the Gift shop as going to
Hedo every year the “souvenir thing” just isn’t all it used to be. So,
our remaining bucks we were able to use upon check-out to go towards our
spa services. NICE! Ok, so “closing a balance” on check-out is not that
big a deal. I do miss the days of winning a bottle of rum tho. But at
least you can still get them in the gift shop with the Hedo bucks. Let’s
all chant now……HE-DO BUCKS! HE-DO BUCKS!
BIG
SUGGESTION…..WHY NO MORE HEDONISM SHOT GLASSES!!!!!!!???????
I don’t recall any
for at least 6 years!!!
PING PONG
2015:
Need balls please…..
2016:
We didn’t play ping pong this time…Or
maybe Armando did? I think? That was a rough night for me, our first
night I think. I heard all the paddles were gone except for 1. Saw 1 on
the nude pool deck. Now why I wonder would 1 be at the pool??
J
SLOT MACHINES
2015:
A few of them take 1.00 bills. Some steal
1.00 bills and don’t give you credit. But for the most part they took my
dollar, gave me credits, only to take them back again! HAHA! I was not a
winner.
2016: We did not
play any slots this time, nor did we EVER see anyone in there.
COURTYARD
2015:
Such a nice area now. I don’t use a phone
on vacation but that area has the WiFi. Love the courtyard renovations.
And the new restrooms are so pretty! They made a smoking area towards
the tennis courts next to the building that used to be the jewelry
store. Which is now the wine bar. Never went in there. Could use a bit
more seating in the courtyard.
2016:
Still a very nice area although I think
the green “turf” may be molding? Smells funny. WiFi is now throughout
the whole resort. Can’t comment on the connection as we never used it.
One night, I think Friday nights? They set up a stage with dance music
in the courtyard.
PIANO BAR
2015:
This trip spent more time in there than
usual. It’s fun again!!!!!
2016:
This trip not so much. Dion was sorely
missed! I think someone from Roots explosion was trying to keep it going
but it just didn’t work. It was painful. At least in the early hour
anyway….we didn’t stick around to see if it got better. We wish Dion a
quick recovery.
ESPRESSO BAR
2015:
At the back of the dining room. Never
ordered anything, so can’t comment.
2016:
Our friend T liked her espresso from
there. So, our friend K (already loving the Hedo coffee) went and got
some from the espresso bar. He couldn’t believe how much better it
tasted! So, there really is a difference although I personally didn’t
try it.
THE
RESTAURANTS!!!! Thank you,
Thank you, Thank you for no more reservations!! Totally awesome! If you
wanted you could sample something from each if you wanted! Start at
Harry San at 6:30 for a sushi bite and I think Pastafari closes at
10ish? With the buffet and Flame in between! WOOHOO!
HARRY SAN
2015:
Pretty good. Don’t like the new sauce
they are putting on the shrimp. Everything else good as always.
2016:
Ate here 2 times this trip. The shrimp
sauce is called curry coconut or something like that. Skipped the sauce
and just had plain grilled shrimp..and beef. Delicious. Our second time
eating here we were unfortunately sat with a true blue Vinny….not fun.
That’s all I’m gonna’ say about that.
PASTAFARI
2015:
Very good! Always our fav place to eat!
But what us up with the A/C in there?! Too hot!! Been that way for
years!!!!!!
2016:
Ahhh the temp delightfully more pleasant
this trip! Food delicious as always!
BUFFET
2015:
ALWAYS a good selection.Friday gala
magnificent! First time we went during lobster season!WOOHOO! My mouth
is watering right now! Don’t overlook the chocolate truffles on Friday
nights! Since we are there for 2 Friday’s we take some back to our room
and put in the fridge for late night sweet tooths! The “butter” they use
for the lobsters is surely not the same as the drawn butter we get here
at home. The sushi/martini bar etc. is exceptional. For breakfast and
lunch there are always plenty of choices!
2016:
Friday’s gala is still wonderful! Ok, so
I really didn’t like the “imitation butter” as I’ll call it. I went to
my local Red Lobster here at home and they put some drawn butter in a
clear mason jar for me. I wrapped it in a baggie and 3 layers of bubble
wrap in my luggage. It didn’t break! Drawn butter essentially has no
dairy in it so it never hardened up. About 30 minutes before we left for
dinner I shook up the butter and poured some in our little coffee maker
in the room. And Viola!!! REAL drawn butter for my lobster!!! It was
melted and ready in time for dinner and I just brought the little coffee
pot with me to dinner! Breakfast and Lunch still good with many choices!
If you go hungry here it is your own fault!! There is plenty of
delicious food to eat!
ENTERTAINMENT
2015:
Winston has done a superb job! Love all
the EC’s. Do not miss Wednesday’s Fetish Show! Or Friday’s Rock Star
Show!
2016:
DITTO AGAIN! YAY! Love all the nightly
shows! Watch every one!
EARNING HEDO
BUCKS
2015 & 2016….I
am a Hedo buck ho’!!!! Any way I can get ‘em. We LOVE bocce ball.
So, when you figure…playing bocce ball everyday we earned 40.00
just by playing bocce ball! Entering the contests…dressing for theme
night..you name it, I love it! Thanks to all ya’ll that voted for my
theme night outfits! So what did we learn today kids????
HE-DO BUCKS,HE-DO
BUCKS!!!! Collect them, use
them, and don’t lose them!
THE PEOPLE
2015:
First time ever going with the WWW Group.
And we had an ABSOLUTE BLAST! A great group of fine folks! So much so,
we re-booked with them as soon as we got home! Also immediately booking
another trip sure does help beat the DIF! We met soooo many of you peeps
and can’t wait to see you next year!
2016:
WHEW! What an awesome trip! Once again
DITTO the ABSOLUTE BLAST with WWW!!!!! To everyone we met….SOOOO darn
many of you! M&K..thanks so much for the awesome rainy day activity of
making our name beads! Perfect timing! M&B(B, did you pay attention in
A’s rolling class?? M, I finally have a dance partner that actually
likes to dance more than I do! YAY!) L&L….LOL!!
How is your CLAM, L?? HAAAHAAAA! I still say you need to patent
that! The other L…Any SQUIRTS lately! HAAAAA! D&N, D we need to invent a
pill/med that allows our men to wake up happy after a nap. N, can
someone say brownie? J&P sure missed ya’ll after you left! And
definitely ready for the Hobie cat races next year! WOOHOO! T&C…watch
out after T has her espresso..can you say jumping bean?
J
C&E Thanks for the jello shots! And loved your tu-tu
J
To everyone else we look forward to seeing all you again next year!
Cheers to all the Bocce Ballers!!! Thanks to Denny for allowing us a way
to give back to the community with our gifts for the children. Get well
fast Denny! Oh! Almost forgot to mention we won a free night at the WWW
Welcome party! Thank you M&K for not showing up so we could win!
HEHE..Once again we are already booked for next year WWW…
AND LASTLY…..
The Country and Rock
group….
HMMM, seems I am
quite on the fence about this. This group did not interfere with the
usual Hedo night time shows except for the 2nd Friday we were
there. If we would have been like most other people only going for 1
week then we would have been upset to miss Winston and Miguel’s Rock
Star Show. Luckily we saw it the week before. During the afternoon we
like to be on the beach, but hearing the “Country Rock” band goingon up
at the Nude pool during the afternoon was just not right.
It took away the Hedo vibe that we all love in the afternoons.
The night bands were ok, but 1 was definitely A LOT better than the
other. There were 3 bands. The Country band only performed once. Luckily
cause I don’t like Country. Yes, Were from Texas but don’t listen to
Country. The first band that played(303)did get us dancing. We had our
own party going on down by the waterslide plunge pool. The other band
was ok. BUT, BUT, BUT…….If you are performing twice at the same venue
with basically the same audience then why sing the same songs??? BOTH
nights?? So, anywho….if they are there again next year will I dance to
their music? Of course! Although I hope the Disco is ready by then!!!!
If it weren’t for the Disco/Piano bar issue I wonder if they would have
had much of an audience? And if they do come back….SURELY they won’t
sing the same songs! I’m sure a happy medium can be achieved…it’s HEDO
after all!!
So, now you know why
I called the 2015 report “The Full Circle” WHEW! I started from the top
and worked my way allll the way around!
All in all, we once
again had a wonderful time with WWW. Thanks to everyone we met that
contributed to our vacation fun! See you in 2017!
Until next
time….RESPECT always.