DennyP Travel Message Boards Forums Resorts Hedonism II Hedo anniversary week

How is the anniversary week? Is it busy. How's the weather?

Last Nov/Dec anniversary week was sold out. The upcoming anniversary week 11/25-12/02 is filling up fast. Request a quote using the link in my signature area below.

Who knows what the weather will be. There is no forecast for that far out. The same week from year to year can be totally different. It's best not to plan around past weather or you can be disappointed.

In my experience, on average...Late November Weather: It's Jamaica....usually in low to mid 80s F, rains at least a little about half the early afternoons. And it could be rainy or sunny ALL week too.

That close to the equator, sunrises and sunsets don't vary as much over the course of the year as they do at higher latitudes, but still, you will get about two fewer hours of daylight in the dead of Winter than you will in the Summer. If that matters to you.

Playing pickleball at 4:30pm in late November is when the sun is low enough that it doesn't get in your eyes (or fry you) but is still bright enough to play.

My take, is it's easier to see the sunsets in the winter months.
In late spring to early fall, there is more chance of evening rain and you have to walk down past Sandals to catch a sunset. And with clothes on!

The new anniversary date (Dec 1) was the first anniversary I've attended in my decades of coming here. I've been here for every New Years since ~'93. For both events the hotel goes all out! Decorations, food, entertainment were all over the top! It looks like a competition as to which event will be more extravagant. But I will say the fireworks for New Years was tops - rivaled displays I've seen in mid-sized US cities. Weather was fine - this year has been extraordinarily dry - I only counted one all out rainfall in the two months I've been here. A couple afternoon showers - but literally weeks with no rain at all. Book it sooner than later though.

My biggest problem with the anniversary festivities is the cost. They raised the rates for 10/27-12/09 so people not even at the resort on Dec 1 are paying for the party and the associated extra expenses.

I agree with Charlie ... book it as soon as you can. Some room categories are sold out. Use the link in my signature area below to request a quote sooner than later.

We've had a consistent issue since the change of ownership, and we are a part of the problem.

Folks have a HUGE list of "I wants" of upgrades, events, etc. that they want the resort to provide, but don't want to pay for them via increased rates.

Personally, I don't care for these huge, expensive events and the continuous facility upgrades, but I DO care a lot about the continuing increases in rates. As much as I enjoy Hedo, and have since I started visiting in 1983, it's just not worth the rates they're charging at various times through the year. That becomes even more significant traveling solo (don't bother giving me unsolicited advice about getting someone to share a room to reduce the cost). The single rate used to be lower various times of the year, which made the situation a little more tolerable, but that changed within the past several years to a flat increase all year long. If Hedo wants to cater to large groups and special events, that is their choice, but it will also affect others that decide the increased rates aren't worth paying.

Valid points here -- I've been traveling to this resort as a single since 1988 but never during the Anniversary Week (old or new). I've been doing New Year's since 1997 and it's prohibitively expensive. At this point, I find the current implementation of the New Year's Eve party to be over-the-top -- this is especially true if you consider the fact that it's an older crowd (tough for younger folks to afford vacationing at this week). Typically, I book 9-10 days during the Christmas-New Year's time frame, but I'm seriously considering downscaling it to 6 or 7 days primarily because of the cost.

I tend to agree that the basic stuff is what's most important to me - working AC, hot water, good basic assortment of food and beverages, scuba, snorkeling, friendly staff and grounds that are well-kept. The Friday gala nights are a nice add. The 1st anniversary was fun, but if having a week-long series of lavish events adds to the average room costs for the year, I'd vote no. But of course, it's all supply & demand in a competitive vacation space, with a changing clientele.

Hopefully, all of you are sharing your thoughts with the resort management. You can use the online comment card on my web site on the main Hedonism II Resort page.

You can use it even if you didn't just complete a trip and use the open comment area for your thoughts.

Resort management does read each one.