5 Attachment(s)
April 18 to May 02 Our first trip during a pandemic in three years
Hedo April 18 to May 02 2022
Covid:
Jamaica dropped the antigen test 2 days before our trip. We were concerned about travelers with covid. We tried to avoid large groups and always wore a mask when we could. Some guests purposely defied the mask order in the dining area, despite comments from staff, who also had trouble keeping masks on correctly. Results were that the quarantine rooms were at max capacity the first week. The second week, they were over flowing and guest’s were asked to quarantine in their rooms. Estimates are 14 plus Covidians in quarantine the second week. More lounge chairs were requested from the front desk. If you wanted adult drinks, you had to order from the bar, one glass at a time, no bottles, and you get it when you get it, no mixer either. Meals were delivered as late as 22:00 hours, and cold.
All in all it was a better deal than you would have gotten at Grand Lido or Sandals, were you are isolated to your quarantined room, and have to pay for it (as reported in some newspapers).
We Canadians did not need to test to fly home, however, on return home we took the antigen self-test and turned up positive for covid. Others we know who flew in from Hedo, in Canada also tested positive.
Most people were asymptomatic and only tested positive on the test to return to America. But they still had to quarantine. Some folks in week 2 retested the next day and passed, and flew home that day. The antigen tests and the administration of is suspect, and is out of Hedo’s control. Being done by an outside party.
Rearranging last minute flights was costly for some.
Flights / Immigration, / Transfer:
Flew Air Canada to MBJ, perfect flight. Pre did the Jamaica Immigration form on line, but had to do the kiosks and interview again. Helpful people at the airport sped our way through and we were in Rocky's cab in no time (maybe 30-45 minutes through the airport) and on our way to Hedo. Driver asked if we wanted to stop anywhere, we declined. Quick drive (even passed a cop car because he was driving too slow, yikes) to Negril, little bit over an 75 min. Lost time through Lucea though due to traffic.
Check-in was quick, nice refillable water bottles supplied by the resort.
Room was clean and smelled like disinfectant. Veronica in house keeping kept it that way.
2 roaches found later in the week, belly up. Common in warmer climates, not a big deal.
Week 1:
Just two groups on site (LUSH and Butt Cracks), not sold out. Lots of room in the nude pool, which we avoided due to our covid protocols, preferring to stay on the beach.
Dinning room choices have increased, deli bar, enhanced smoothie bar, and taco bar. Usual food in the main dining area as well, and a terrific salad bar, from which you can make a meal.
Flame by the pool was nice and the steak was the best I have ever had at any AI in the Caribbean.
Pastafari, same comment on the steak. Sad that none of the old regular wait staff are there anymore.
Japanese restaurant was great up to the time the stage show started, then conversation was impossible.
Avoided the dessert bar, already have a problem with the humid Caribbean air shrinking my pants (nakedness not allowed in the dinning area), LOL, but it looked good.
Flame on the beach, Renovations are almost complete. Prude bathrooms being rebuild from the roof on down. Area cordoned off during construction
Trees by the nude pool have been removed, however they need to up the maintenance on the palm trees as I was almost hit by a falling branch. “Missed me by that much chief”. LOL, OK 10 feet. Seriously, I’m not into clear cutting and I think Hedo has cut down too many trees. Good tree maintenance is really all that is required.
Hedo mosaic sign on Manley Bvld replaced with more modern sign. Bye Bye Mosaic sign.
Parade to Sandals was awesome, as usual. Well done Doc, and the Butt Cracks.
New pop up hot food bar under the big tree by nude pool on some days.
Week 2
Reportedly sold out, but…… (groups, Biffs Bunch, Zoo Krew, Hotshots, Princess week).
Standing room only in the nude pool, as crowded as it normally was pre covid. Too close for covid comfort, we avoided the pool (like the plague) again this week. Also avoided the car wash both weeks.
Great DJ, good music although a little loud for my liking, and I was sitting on the beach under the big tree.
First time I heard the DJ/EC explain the rules about asking for permission before touching the person next to you, and instructing the car wash men on what they could not do with their hands.
Plenty of blue beach towels, plenty of good beach loungers, plenty of shade (trees and Umbrellas) and plenty of floats from previous guests.
Bocce Ball game every day, sell out crowd. Winning Hedo bucks
As mentioned, plenty of covid cases this week as detected by the antigen tests. We know of only two people with symptoms, but still plenty of people in cootie corner who tested positive and are asymptomatic.
Dion in the piano bar, very loud, spends too much time tuning his gear and not enough time singing. YMCA was nice, with the three lovely’s on the piano. Guy in drag and lady partner fawning and singing sensuously to him, on the piano. He did not remove any clothes but flashed stockings and panties teasingly, as he pretended embarrassment, was great too. Piano bar was only crowded one night in the two weeks.
Casino night was fun, float from the resort to get started. Dealers were very amateurish though and needed direction from the guests. No prizes if you won more than your float.
Skipped the foam party but others were using it. Skipped the disco, not our scene anymore, but we did see people in it. Also skipped the concert in the courtyard. Oh I wish I was young again.
Stage entertainment was great as usual, thank-you Winston. Sound level was very loud and we could not carry on a conversation at the same time as the stage show was going on. Dinner at the Japanese restaurant needs to happen before the stage show if you want to talk to the person next to you.
Watched a satellite burn up on reentry overhead as we sat in the hot tub at midnight. Was a nice show, but distracting from the task in hand.
Coffee bar in the dining area is now free.
Camera police out in full force with stickers to be placed over cellphone cameras. Tried to nail the wife with a sticker on her Koobo. Koobo didn’t have a camera though. Security seen thumbing thru guests cellphone too. Beach vendor seated by the massage shack didn’t have a sticker on his cell phone though.
Plenty of unused beach loungers all day. Lots of umbrellas and shade under a tree.
Textile police doing their jobs too.
Staff washing the beach lounge chairs on Saturday mornings.
Lagoon is getting shallower, about 15 inch deep at low tide.
Onion rings at nude grill are good, but soggy, and during a rush period the pizza was under cooked. Midnight pizza was fine.
Rained heavy, just about every afternoon for hours. When the rains came, we would just pack it in and head for the room. At least it was warm.
Special event (anniversary, birthday, etc) used to get you a fruit bowel and a bottle of Champagne. We got a card and a plate of slice fruit this trip, cost cutting I guess.
Some people in a group had “Stomach Distress” and needed to stay close to a shitter.
Book your exit covid test at check-in. Computer provided in lobby for self registration.
Made lots of new friends, repainted our rock, added our new date, and called it a great vacation and now looking forward to next April.
Perhaps next year I’ll take advantage of opportunities lost.
Pictures:
Prude Pool hot Hut area
Former water slide tower area
Rebuilt Flame Resturant
New Hedo Sign on Manly Blvd
Rebuilding Prude side Wasrooms.
