My First Big Girl Solo Trip To Hedo
I should start this review by stating that I normally travel to this resort as the female half of a couple and that this trip was my first solo adventure ANYWHERE, let alone to the Caribbean.
I decided to go on this trip last minute, and while most times that kind of thing can blow up in a person's face or cause extra stress and drama, this experience was seamless thanks to friends and Denny P Travel. They handled everything and made sure all incidentals was booked and secure and I had all my paper work and travel vouchers delivered to me via email ASAP further renewing my confidence in their ability.
My travel day was Saturday October 29, 2017. I have traveled on Caribbean Airlines before, however I have always done so with my husband so to maneuver the airport and customs solo was nerve wracking to say the least. I arrived for my 655 am flight at 330 am and essentially was the only person walking the airport terminal that early in the morning. I copped a squat in my terminal and waited for other travelers to arrive and sat near a charging station so I could watch tv on my phone and not kill the battery.
My flight was on time and scheduled to board with no delays except for the mini panic attack given to me by the fraud alert I received on my checking account 25 minutes before getting on the plane due to an error from a Duty Free purchase earlier that morning. It took me 15 minutes, three different ATM's, four phone calls to Chase bank and a lot of sweat on my upper lip to fix it..but after that, it was smooth flying.
Caribbean Airlines is normally a packed flight so I was both relieved and confused as to why this flight seemed so sparsely booked. Breakfast was gross and unappealing and I always wondered how people could think two pale sausages that look like amputated toes and microwaved eggs served in cardboard would be a risk you would want to eat right before your expensive vacation.
I opted for juice and water and nothing to eat..thanks to the chips I bought in the airport prior to getting on the flight.
My flight seemed longer than usual, mostly because I didn't have anyone to talk to and the guy next to me sat with his very large legs spread wide so that I had to sit angled in my seat with my elbows in the BANG position every time the rolling carts came down the aisle.
However, considering I was hours away from beautiful weather and glorious alone time, I was not really even going to complain. Except for right now...I guess.
The flight took 3 hours and 20 minutes and we landed to thunderous applause from a bunch of people just as excited as I was to get their vacation started.
After getting off the plane, it was very easy and simple to navigate customs. They directed me to a kiosk, where I scanned my passport (I kinda miss getting it stamped) and was handed a receipt that I then had to hand to the TSA agent at the desk. They asked why I was there, how long I was staying and where I was visiting. After I passed inspection, I walked quickly to my baggage carousel where a little confusion ensued because apparently 400 people all have black suitcases that look identical to mine and lesson learned I will always tie a ribbon or add some distinctive accessory to my bag so I can spot it quickly and not have to wrestle with anyone else over our belongings.
After grabbing my stuff, I walked though to my shuttle counter where I was given a wrist band and escorted to the parking lot and a waiting bus. There was 6 other couples on board and we were off as soon as I got on the shuttle.
I have never used JTL as transport to Negril, as I have always used Sun Holiday or a private taxi. I was pleasantly surprised with how fast and efficient they were and since the shuttle fee was included in my resort price, it was nice to have something free and reliable as well.
I got the resort at 1145 am, which is like ridiculously early on Hedo time and essentially had to wander the top deck and hug my friends who were there from the previous week and leaving on departing shuttles and stuff my face with the amazing lunch that the dining room always prepares.
My room mate was on a later flight and our room had an issue with being ready so essentially I got to eat lunch several times before I was handed keys and a luggage cart with all our stuff.
We stayed in room 2139 which is in H block and also happens to be a room I have stayed in before.
Once inside the room, my bunk buddy and I got down to the serious side of things which was to disinfect our room from top to bottom. Yes..I know, that housekeeping does an amazing job keeping the place clean. However, I have gotten the Hedo Crud far too many times and I am far too much of a germophobe to just accept one level of cleanliness.
So, we started wiping everything down with bleach wipes. We did the drawers, the closets, the mirrors, the headboards, the remote ALWAYS DO THE REMOTE, the benches, the bathroom counter tops and even the floors. After that we lysoled the air conditioning vents and filters and anything else we might have missed.
Now, you might read this and think we had lost our ever loving mind but we were there a week when people were getting sick left and right and me and my roomie remained unscathed. Coincidence? Maybe, but my butt and my lungs are all thankful, regardless.
After we cleaned, and unpacked, we just decided to stay in our room and get ready for dinner and just talk and get to know each other. Which I honestly think was the best decision we could have ever made.
After showers and slipping into our costumes, we headed to the dining room.
I know many guests of the resort will say that they prefer the tinier restaurants as opposed to the main dining buffet but I just love it so much, I guess I'm biased.
Tonight's dinner was prime rib, super thick mashed potatoes (which I'm pretty sure are mixed with another ingredient, maybe taro) tons of veggies and plenty of choices on the salad bar. The pasta station is worth my nightly fee alone, because how could you say no to or hate freshly prepared just for you pasta??
The show that night was a weird one. I normally love the resorts entertainment and will never say a bad thing about the crew because DUH..they are all just amazing people. However, the show felt off on this night. The crew looked like it was adding new people to it or maybe adding new routines they hadn't quite all memorized and it felt clumsy and just not as high energy and well performed as it had in trips past.
Add to that how exhausted you often feel on travel day and it was a no brainer that I was just off and ready for an early nights sleep.
I headed to the piano bar to see some old friends and meet some new ones, and hug Eldon and get my first of many specialty shots made just for me.
After heading to the courtyard to talk under the stars for a bit, I was excited about heading to bed and getting some sleep so I could better prepare my brain and body for the week ahead.
Day 2
I feel like I need to say incorporate that day 2 started at 2 am with the loudest roar of thunder I had ever heard in my entire life and it was one that scared me so deeply I stayed awake the entire night thinking the resort was either under attack or that the sky was falling because we kept losing power, therefore losing wifi and I had NO IDEA what was happening around us or near us and if I should don a poncho and run for my life or a helmet and hide under the bed.
My room mate, (lucky girl) slept like the dead and had no idea I was losing my ever loving mind only 3 feet away from her.
Luckily, the rain started and I was able to deduce that this was in fact just a really loud storm and not the beginning of world war three and I fell asleep for an hour or two before getting up hungry and anxious to start the day.
After showers and small talk, we headed to the dining room where my favorite meal of the day happens. Breakfast for me used to consist of omelets and bacon but my gallbladder hates all things delicious and now it's more about fruit, croissants and guacamole and truth be told..I'm not mad at that combination.
Breakfast in the main dining room is an interesting place to be. It's a lot of swollen, puffy, hung over faces but even in that state of disarray, you can feel the happy underneath.So, even if you're sitting next to someone wearing a low lying baseball cap and the darkest sun glasses they could find, you will also feel the excitement at the unknown for the rest of the day and the joy you can't help but let spill to the surface when you're there.
After eating with my room mate and filling myself silly with buttery goodness, I decided to venture to the nude pool by myself.
I have to admit, even though its a walk I have done countless times with my hubby on trips past, doing it alone kicked my ass times a million and I swear, I needed a hug by the time I finally got there.
As soon as I walked up the stairs, I locked eyes with a friend from the online group I belong to that discusses the resort on a daily basis. We talked about the page and the week ahead and he helped break the ice for me and it helped me not feel so anxious when I got situated.
After putting my things on the ledge, I sat my naked butt down in the fountain pool and just people watched and sipped my cocktail until my head felt lighter and my heart felt freer.
The pool can be quiet in the morning, which may or may not be a good thing. If you are new to the resort, the calm of the area might actually help your mind and body get acquainted to the surroundings and also give you a head start on all the partying that will surely occur there. Whether you are there as a couple or a single...venture to the pool early and just sit. Someone WILL talk to you. Someone WILL make you comfortable and at the very least someone WILL put on a show and give you something to watch and enjoy while you sip your bottomless drinks.
I came up with a game when I arrived that I would introduce myself to ten new people every day so that by the time I left the resort at the end of the week I would have made 70+ new potential friends.
Once I mentioned that game to one person by the pool, they turned around and made it an entire pool side activity that everyone joined in on and by the time I left the pool to get lunch, I had met over 70 people in just my first day.
Lunch in the dining room always makes me happy and I swear, I will never say a bad thing about anything they serve there.
After lunch, I called home and talked to my family and let them know I was okay and happy and then relaxed by the pool in the main deck and read a book until a nap stole the rest of my afternoon.
Theme that night was fetish and normally it's a large theme that everyone plays with and gets excited about and participates in but for some reason, it felt low energy and maybe because it was close to Halloween and everyone was saving their creative juices for that...it just felt off to me.
I ate in the restaurant Pastafari for the first time in five years. And while I have no real complaints about the food because it's essentially the same food they prepare in the dining room, just served in a quieter location..it was okay. I'm not a fan of the serve yourself antipasta and other than olives, which I hadn't had in years..there was nothing really stellar about the choices. I got some cheese and crackers and stuffed my face on those..all while sipping champagne with my room mate.
My pasta with chicken was delicious and very filling. After we ate, we walked to the dining room to watch the much hyped and anticipated fetish show that the resort normally knocks right out of the park.
The resort was packed and finding a place to sit was hard but we managed to share a table with a very nice person and were able to see the show all the way through, .including the new acts they added for anniversary week. I normally get seven kinds of excited over fetish night show and never leave the dining room until it's over, but for some reason it felt very stale and almost lackluster and it made me even sleepier than I was before I sat down to my carbapalooza dinner.
Because the show was so sleepy..I skipped the piano bar and just went straight to my room where sleep claimed me like an old lady before 11.
Here's the thing about Hedo..even though you might want to party until the sun comes up..trust your body. If it tells you it needs to sleep in a hammock..get your ass to a hammock. If it tells you that it needs soft serve ice cream at 2 am...grab a cone and make it happen. There is no set schedule or way of doing things except the one that your body tells you to follow.
Day 3
The third day in paradise was an interesting one. I slept like a baby because after awhile, the sun will kick your butt.
Breakfast was a lather, rinse repeat of croissants and bacon and guacamole with tomatoes and fruit and the weather was actually the nicest it had been since my arrival.
I had big plans for my morning, which involved nothingness, the beach and my kindle, all of which fell apart after just fifteen minutes of sitting in the heat and sun trying to read a book and drink a fruity beverage all while running from a bee that was determined to chase me around the beach.
I took that as a sign I should go to the pool because sweaty boobs are not attractive and I found myself a spot in the fountain once again where I made some friends and enjoyed light convo until water aerobics started and then shit got serious. LOL.
After getting my heart rate up and burning my morning calories away, it was a clear indicator that I needed to head to the dining room for some lunch.
I ate pork chops, mac and cheese (which always makes my bits tingly) and potatoes au gratin with a great big salad.
I love the nude grill...or any grill, actually..but the dining room is just cool and chill and you will always find something you wanted but never knew you were craving until you get there,
After my big lunch, we hung out at the main pool deck and did some sun bathing and gossiping and noticed an influx of people coming from the beach area all looking for a place to sit by the main pool.
Apparently, someone had relieved themselves in the pool and therefore, no one was allowed in that area until it was properly clean and disinfected (although whether that actually happened, remains to be seen) and for a nice long afternoon...the party was up top and a good time was had by all.
I prefer the main pool for a multitude of reasons. I can still be naked there, which I love and yet, not have to compete or vie for a small piece of real estate in the nude pool. When the pool area gets crowded it makes it impossible to stand..let alone swim and I like the main pool for the opportunity to lie on a raft and listen to the birds and tim air flying in over head and nothing else.
After we heard all of the poopy pants conspiracy theories, we headed to watch a friend get married on the beach and it was just perfection. After a few days of rainy and cloudy weather, I am so glad the skies cooperated and my friend had an incredible view to say her vows to.
After the ceremony, we headed to get ready for dinner because it was supposed to be on the beach and under the stars and even though I was less than excited about getting gnawed on by sand fleas I was looking forward to the experience. Sorta.
Mother nature heard my bitching because right after my shower, the skies opened up and the beach festivities were cancelled and moved to the dining room.
The cuisine was all caribbean which meant oxtails and tons of seafood and while I am not a huge fish eater I do love me some oxtails and made sure I filled my plate with that along with salad so my belly would be happy.
Jamaican night in the resort is my favorite because of the entertainment that they bring in and on this night they did not disappoint. The performers were exactly what the sleepy vibe needed and I danced my ass off, right beside my bucket of wine and loved every single second of the show.
They had a bonfire on the beach to close the night and it kept the bugs at bay and made for a beautiful view.
After that, I walked to the piano bar and tried to love it, I really , really did..but I just can't wrap my brain around it. I think the playlists need to change and I think the songs need to be amended because while I love the traditional Hedo anthems, they can get a bit tedious at times, especially if you make the trip to the resort more than one time a year. Sweet Caroline is a fun little diddy to sing, but maybe they can save it for the last song of the night and start with something fresh on different nights of the week, so it doesn't feel like groundhogs day in that place.
After getting annoyed and not drunk enough to pay it no mind, I decided going to sleep before midnight sounded glorious so that's exactly what I did.
Day 4
Day four is Halloween. How can anything screw this day up? It's all about fun and silliness and drunk costumes and I was really looking forward to it even though I'm not a huge fan of masks, body paint and latex scars and scabs.
I woke up happy and ready to eat buttery bread with veggies and I made sure that I totally made that happen.
After being there half a week, I had many observations. The one that seemed to be the most prominent was that the resort oozed a very mature and slower paced vibe. Maybe it's because the same people have been coming back year after year for the festivities and now they are all getting up in years or maybe because it's just not as hype of a party as i was once made to believe. Either way, its a much more laid back week and the majority of the guests felt over 50 years old. There were a few (myself included) that was under 40- 45 but they were few and far between in my opinion. The best thing about the resort is that everyone feels younger no matter what their actual age is..however, if what you are looking for is a younger crowd with a higher energy party vibe...you might want to consider the week immediately following or before to ensure that you get that experience.
I normally go with my husband, so to be there alone, I guess i could sit back and see things I normally wouldn't see because I was too busy partying and being silly with my spouse.
Solitude is a weird thing. On one hand you get to relax and not follow anyone else's agenda and on the other you can witness first hand all the partying and craziness as a bystander and it will either impress you and please you or irritate you because you wish you had a partner in crime to play along with.
Lots of people dressed up for the festivities but I still couldn't shake the feeling that no one was really having a good time. I half expected the night to be filled with people dancing in the dining room and partying all dressed like zombies and goblins but it felt more like a high school dance and i think in this instance that was more of my own insecurities than anything the resort was throwing down.
The costume contest was awesome..however I felt like the judging was based more on applause (even though they brought in outside judges) and it felt a little biased and a tiny bit "fixed". All in all...it was a fun night unless you got butt hurt over the costumes..then in that case, it was blah.
I know that when people read the reviews they want to be bowled over with sparkling recommendations and happiness but I'm going to tell you that while my vacation was 92% perfection, I will gladly and openly talk about the 8% that kinda sucked. And I do that so there's balance. I love the place and go twice to three times a year so if that doesn't speak on my dedication to the place, I don't know what does. It's just like, even with the bestest place on earth you will see some crap and I think talking about that is just as important as bragging on the happy.
As a single person who is normally part of a couple, it was hard to let a lot of my inhibitions loose and just go with the flow. I was too scared, too nervous and too self conscious to be the me I usually am when I have my partner in crime with me.
So, if you are thinking of going as a single, maybe try to connect with a few other singles that are also going before you get on the plane. I know a lot of travel groups have private facebook pages where guests can get to know each other before they take off and I think it's a great way to break the ice before you get naked and struggle to do it when you have no choice as opposed to easing yourself into the ice and smashing it a little at a time rather than going whole hog with your nips out.
Day five
Today was the 36th anniversary of Hedonism. Many, many years have passed and even more visitors have passed through the front door to strip themselves of their clothes and their inhibitions. The party was full force on this night and the staff and resort stepped up their game to make sure everything was perfect, and the food was plentiful.
I had such high hopes for this day but instead I started to see behaviors in people I didn't really like to be around and I was a tiny bit homesick. I am not into pettiness or aggressive or passive aggressive behavior. I understand that butt hurt happens, however, when I am on vacation I don't want to hear about it because I'm not there to constantly hear about or witness people talk badly on others or be childish or immature. I will smile when people act this way and maybe even stay quiet which seems like I am agreeing but I assure you, it turns me off in the worst way and it can really rattle the way I see people and will guarantee that I avoid that person/persons in the future to eliminate that kind of school ground mentality completely.
With that said...the party was well organized and the courtyard was the jump off with a DJ from studio 54 and a vibe that I often say needs to be replicated in that very spot every night of the week, or at least 2-3 times during a typical 7 day stay.
The resort had a photo booth set up and it was awesome to pose and feel like a celebrity. I chose to remove myself from the crowd and noise after awhile mostly because I missed my spouse and just wished I had someone to dance with.
I took myself to bed and watched the news until I fell asleep. I just needed to disassociate myself from the place for a bit and once I got my anxiety under control, I knew I made the right decision and slept like a baby afterwards.
Day 6
Day six was the infamous "day after" for me. I think my vacation took a turn after this, and I became more of an observer than a participant. I just wanted to maybe call it a day and get on a plane and go home. I know in this regard, all issues I experienced were mostly because of my mood and thought process...so bear with me when I try my best to shine a light on the positive.
Food was great and I will never bitch about the meals I ate. I think breakfast is my favorite but mostly because it means a fresh start to the day and anything can happen at any time after you leave that dining room and I think you can feel that energy right through your eggs and bacon.
The weather only got better after the first few days and I swear, if you remember to bring and apply sunscreen you will have no issues with too much sun and will go home with just the right amount of color on your skin.
I ate dinner at FLAME which is their newer steak/chop house and the food was pretty good. I loved their garlic wedge fries and their calamari has potential but I'm an old school and jaded italian woman who like her squid fried extra crispy and covered in marinara.
The vibe in the resort felt much more chill today. Almost like everyone else, not just me, was ready to go home as well. They were still enjoying their down time, but their bodies were ready to head back to reality.
I enjoyed my day, in its entirety and tried my hardest to forge through the day and find my joy whenever I could.
For me, that involved a little bit of quiet time in the main pool and a nap in a lounge chair with my kindle on my chest.
I remember when vacation meant going home hoarse from laughing, screaming and talking so much and while I miss those days..It was nice to recoup and relax and listen to my inner Michele tell me the things I needed to hear because often times, real life makes that voice sound almost nonexistent.
I found that when I shut out the rest of the world and just paid attention to what I needed everything felt and even tasted better. No complaints on this night, which was toga night...even when I had an issue walking alone to my room that caused me to question the way I do things within the resort when walking solo. My only comment and advice is be aware of your surroundings, tell a friend or buddy or spouse where you will be when you are going to step away from the crowd and always pay attention to your where you place your feet. When you're tipsy you can blow things out of proportion or forget crucial details you may need later on so try to be vigilant, all while having the best time ever. It IS possible to do both.
I went to bed with a pizza on my lap and even though I was disappointed in how my night almost ended, I tried my best to rally around that cheesy goodness and think about how the rest of my week was a pretty good goddamn adventure.
Day 7
Final full day in paradise and while I know that people say they often times wish they could stay longer, I was totally ready to go home to my babies and my house and my pets and my bed and my bathroom.
I love the resort. Hedo is my second home. I literally love it more than I love people in my own family. It is magical for me, and fills all my broken places and makes me feel like I'm reborn and healthier than I have ever been.
The day was spent with friends I met and saying my goodbyes and see ya laters to all the people I met the previous week. I got a great tan and laughed my ass off with people I genuinely love and connected with. And I got to really take a second and wrap my thoughts around my life choices and where I wanted my next vacation to take me. I loved the food on Friday night because it's a massive buffet. However, some people may or may not have gotten food poisoning on this night and for them and their sore tummies...I am bummed and sorry.
I really tried to stay awake and in a good mood on my last night but I think too many things have been factored into my behavior and I just tend to isolate when I get overwhelmed or home sick or just mentally unplugged and I think in my case I was a little bit of all three.
I can't stress enough how much hard work goes into running this place and everyone from the EC crew to the concierage really step up and do their best to connect and please every guest.
I think that's the magic about the resort that keeps getting guests to come back again and again. it's the genuine passion and love of the place that is infused into the hotel by every guest, worker, owner and visitor.
It's hard to hate some thing that everyone loves so much and in the end, even when we vent about the things we wish were different the love still remains and shines through.
My last night ended with love in my heart and heavy eye lids and I was blessed to have had the opportunity to spend a week to myself to heal and rebuild a lot of what was broken since my last trip home.
I totally recommend going as a solo even though my description might say otherwise. I made so many new and amazing friends that I think I will have for a lifetime and I regret nothing. Not Even the things I wish were different.
Day 8...going home.
Waking up at 6 am is brutal. Walking up the ramp to the dining room for your shuttle at the butt crack of dawn is even harder. I got to the dining room before breakfast was served and just had enough time to steal some croissants for the road before it was time to head out and go to the airport. I kissed everyone goodbye and looked back lovingly at the resort that has literally changed my life in so many positive ways I lost count.
I know I will back, I am even making plans as we speak to do just that. I know that this trip might seem like a wash to anyone reading this, but I can assure you it was the perfect hybrid of get away and disaster and just what I needed to reignite my interest in wanting better things for my body, mind, spirit and soul.
It IS my home.Not just when I arrive..but in my heart.
