This trip I tried to look at the trip and resort thru new eyes.
Travel
The ride in to the resort was tedious, we are used to fairly long rides but this one seemed to last forever, trip in was on a new bus so the air worked real well. But it was a full size tour bus and the driver was in no hurry. The road is in the worst shape its ever been in but thats because they have so much torn up to make it better. Getting a private taxi would likely save a lot of time wasted at the airport and stopping at other resorts. We stopped at Breezes to drop off two couples on a full bus. I would have liked to stop at Hedo first since there were a lot more of us on the bus.
Bus ride back was worse. Older bus with no air. Stopped at three properties to pick up people. And maybe it was worse because we were tired and just wanted to get on the plane and get a nap.
Air was probably worse than bus travel. We flew American Airlines and will never do it again. I'll go to Jamaica by Kayak before I do that again.
None of that is SuperClubs fault though. They contract with a bus line and the road work is what it is.
Resort Condition
The resort is showing some surface scratches and dings from age. Some things are so long forgotten they are never going to be fixed, remember when the water wheel used to turn? The pussy fountain was not working the whole week and the waterfall over the grotto was either broken or shut off.
We had hot (even Carolyn had to use some cold) water every day with the best pressure I can remember. They shut down the water one night from 11pm to 1am to repair a leak in a water main. Other than that we had plenty. The room was clean and comfortable and had room for all our junk for the week. You pay for the resort meaning the pools, bars, dining areas, and overall party. Room is for showers, sleep and a place to hold your clothes till you need them again. I've stayed in nicer rooms, but they didn't have all the scenery Jamaica offers.
Pool towels and others were in pretty good supply, face cloths were hard to come by and have been for a couple trips now, just what happens to all of them?
For those that follow the messages on Denny's board let me yell for a moment WE SAW NO MOLD, NOBODY ELSE MENTIONED ANY MOLD, I DID NOT GET SICK, MY WIFE DID NOT GET SICK, NOBODY WE KNEW THERE GOT SICK (with the exception being self inflicted alcohol sickness), THERE WERE NO MOLD RELATED DEATHS REPORTED! We did see one woman taken to her room in a wheelchair in what the nurse said was an alcohol induced coma, she and her husband were pretty much drunk from morning till well morning. There was no cause for concern, she was back at the bar just a few hours later.
Bar and food Service
Top shelf drinks were usually available everyday but when the bottle or bottles ran out that was it. There were a lot of new faces at the bars, and a lot of trainees during the week as well. Service was slow at times but usually not bad. Then again it's hard for me to take it out on a bartender working 6 12 hours shifts a week for 50.00$ US.
Service in the dining area was also hit and miss. Again lots of new faces around. We really only had one time where it took a long time to get silverware and water at the table. On the plus side there were times like late one night at the midnight buffet where the waiter told us he had set up our table and already had water there while we were still browsing. I'd have to say the service was okay overall. I have no idea how you manage an open seating area where people tend to come in pairs that often becomes a table of 8. I do know the staff in the dining room has been reduced and it's noticeable. I know the manager David Ewan fairly well and he's doing all he can with what he has. Also while talking with Michelle Davis we talked about the cutbacks and turnovers. If you are expecting service at the snap of a finger you will be disappointed.
The buffet was not as good as other trips. Variety was way down with fewer fresh fruits. The pasta bar was noticeably missing too. I am a fairly adventurous eater so I could always find something but for the meat and potatoes types it would have been bad. I usually look forward to the fish on the buffet but there was a lot less this trip.
We had dinner in the Pastafari two nights and the food was very good and the service better than you will get at most places in the states. I have always liked the Pastafari best for dinner at Hedo. We did not get a chance to go to the Munasan this trip but heard from others it was good.
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