Phillip - June, 2010

Breezes Grand Negril  June 7th through 19th.
We have been going to Grand Lido Negril for the past 15 years to celebrate our anniversary.  This was our first year back since the rebranding.  We have also been to HII 10 times, Braco (before their change) 5 times and HIII 6 times.  We are very sad about the HIII since they seem to be throwing the baby out with the bath water and are doubtful we will ever return if it stays as has been announced.
To the dismay of many hedophiles we have always liked the Grand Lido.  Many had called it the “Grand Dead”.  To each their own.  We are not the late night party crowd, not into sharing.  We just really like being nekkid ourselves and especially like how nice and friendly other nekkid people are ;-).  Over the years we have formed a close knit group of folks who are always there at the same time celebrating anniversaries or birthdays.  Don’t get me wrong I like a wild partying crowd myself but I have also become fond of a few creature comforts.  I have always thought the best vacation was a combination of a few days at hedo and a few at GLN/Breezes Grand.  The step up is undeniable and the price is currently equal to or less than Hedo.
Back to our Breezes trip-  As I stated this was our first trip back since the big change over.  First the downside.  They have done away with free pedicures, manicures, laundry and dry cleaning services all of which had been free and we had frequently used, especially nice to come home with a clean suitcase of clothes ;-).  We liked these services but can do without them.  They have also done away with 24/7 room service for all but the suite rooms but since they had upgraded us for free to a suite this did not affect us and we enjoyed the room service frequently while getting ready for dinner.  And one last item, they too have gone to the towel card system although it seemed to be more of a guideline than a rule since it was only enforced in the morning and you were free to get as many towels as you like in the afternoon.  Towels were plentiful.
On the plus side, they are attracting a lot more, lot younger crowd.  At the repeaters party we were told that occupancy was approaching 85% (off season) and the reservations were up 15-20% for every month this year over last.  And it was evident.  There were weddings most every day.  More part nude/nude folks on the C/O side than we have seen before.  Every day we had some new folks that would wonder over from the clothing side because they had heard about all the fun or just to get lamb chops (favorite excuse) would stay to play volleyball, have a few rum punches and before you’d know it throw their swimsuit out the pool.  With the younger crowd comes more late night activity I didn’t attend but do understand that the disco was lively although I am certain not in the manner as HII.
So in my mind it has been a great trade off so far.   Lost a few niceties in exchange for a lot more people and a much lower price.  With the younger crowd as you might expect you have more folks on the C/O side with their clothes on.  I suspect this will vary week to week.  My wife prefers not to have so many clothed people since she considers them gawkers.  I am more of the “here I am” type and see these new folks as possible converts.  Change is hard but by all accounts needed to make the business model work.
I am happy to report that as far as we could tell everything else has remained the same.  The Grand Gala and Beach parties were great.  On Wednesday’s they have instituted a new “Poolside” party which had guest sitting along the main pool as chefs prepared the variety of dishes made to order, but the last couple of times it had been cancelled dues to too many people at the resort and the inability to get everyone around the pool.
The restaurants all remain top notch; Sushi Bar, Japanese Hibachi, Grand Café, Reggae Café, Italian Grill and Piacere.  Santa is leaving the Sushi bar.  For those who don’t know him he has world-class sushi credentials.  He is leaving because of a Jamaican rule that only allows foreign nationals in the country for a certain amount of time.  After that you must train a Jamaican for the job.  Our Piacere dinner on our anniversary was easily a dinner that would have cost $200 for stateside.  Huge sushi platter, duck breast appetizer, salad, French onion soup, filet mignon and desert.  Breakfast and lunch buffets are very comparable to Hedo.  My favorite place for lunch though is the all day grill at the C/O pool bar.  The jerk chicken and jerked lamb chops are fantastic.  Lamb chops are the perfect poolside food since each comes with an individual handle ;-).
Funny how the days all become a blur of good times with good friends but our typical days where;  Get up and have coffee, pastry and fruit at C/O pool bar, absolutely beautiful 3 mile walk on beach around Bloody Bay from the Breezes to the last Rui and back, breakfast, nekkid out by the pool, at some point the volleyball would begin, break for lunch, some would go to the Grand Terrazzo for lunch we preferred to eat at the C/O pool bar, sometimes a little afternoon siesta by the pool and volleyball again, play until last call at the pool bar (6pm), watch sunset, get shower, meet in martini bar, go to dinner, meet back in martini bar maybe a little karaoke then typically the wife and I headed back to the room (10:30)  the rest in our group stayed out till midnight and had a great time in the martini bar.
I know that Denny site has a higher percentage of those who are Hedo aficionados but if anything I have reported on appeals to you I would recommend giving the New Breezes Grand a try.
Have any question, please post them on Denny’s board and I will try to answer.
Respect,
 
Phillip