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An Earth Day (er …well Earth week) review of romance travel and adventure

www.sexwithsue.com, www.azulik.com

St martin and tulum 2010 053
Eco Mexico- Earth Day article

By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt, Clinical Relationship Therapists, Travel Journalists

Mexico in the past hasn’t been known for its recycling programs or environmental concerns. Recently that has been changing in a big way. Eco tourism, while not a new concept has really begun to take off.

As the planet celebrates Earth Day we went looking for examples of Green Mexico during a recent eco-minded trip to Tulum. Known as the “eco coast”, Tulum is home to a few large resorts and many small, six to 20 room boutique hotels. It is an area of authentic Mexican feel, lots more wilderness, and a bohemian, Jimmy Buffet laid back lifestyle.  Many of the Tulum resorts have an emphasis on being green. Driven by the close proximity to the Mayan reservation and the indigenous “spirit led” Mayan Shamans, there is a movement afoot to respect the land. Tulum is in the heart of Mayan (or native Mexican) country.

This part of the Yucatan is home to beatnik travelers, authentic Mexican music and amazingly fresh and healthy food. The Eco Tulum is a chain of resorts made up by three villa hotels Azulik, Copal, and Zahra. The concept is to provide huts on the beach, and blend in as closely as possible with the natural environment. In fact, the whole resort fits into the landscape better than anyplace we’ve ever visited. There are no lights, no outlets (so leave your hair dryer at home), and a generator powers a ceiling fan during the day. The rest of the time you are feeling a bit like you are in an episode of Gilligan’s Island. If you are looking for an accessible, convenient, well groomed hotel- this isn’t it. Eco Tulum is the opposite of a “big box resort” and we heard again and again how much guests were looking to stay anywhere but at one of the typical all inclusives. Each hut was unique, the pathways were made of sand and the stairways to climb into the hut were not for anyone with a disability. Some of the stairs were downright scary, but they had muted lighting at night, and the area had a very safe feel. The rooms were beautiful, clean, entirely made of wood (including a huge bathtub made out of a hollowed log) and offered a beach that would rival anywhere in the world.

There are iguanas on your deck, and gekkos in your room. The pelicans, ospreys and other large sea faring birds cast shadows over the patio canopy beds all day. We were woken up by spider monkeys on the thatch roof along with the nocturnal Kinkajou (a monkey-like mammal). Dolphins are known to swim up and down the coast, and crocodiles are common in the neighbouring mangrove swamps.

Eco Tulum has now introduced a recycling program and had separate recycling boxes out for batteries. And you needed to bring batteries. The downside of rooms with no power is that you had to set up your candles in advance of going for dinner otherwise you returned to pioneer-like blackness. It is a way to get in touch with your circadian rhythm (we were in bed by 9 pm and up with the sun). We found the candle light too dim to read by, and would strongly recommend packing flashlights or head lamps for walking. The wind blows constantly from the sea, and the waves ranged from gentle to spectacular during the week long visit. With Tulum’s wild coastline, it would be an astounding place to be in a mild storm.

One of the most notable things about a movement to more eco understanding in the Yucatan is the appreciation of the native Mayan peoples. The eco Tulum resorts and it’s adjoining Mayan Spa had both a Shaman and holistic healer on staff. They use only organic products, and many of the treatments are done with natural plants picked from the spa garden just minutes before treatments. They are known throughout the area for their traditional Mayan Temascal. A Temascal is a native sweat lodge that has been used for both healing and ritual purposes in Mexico for thousands of years. Throughout the Temascal, the Shaman used different herbs in conjunction with red-hot stones, misting, chanting and singing to cleanse the body and spirit. It is an interesting two hour (or longer) process that is to leave you feeling re-born.


The municipality of Tulum has been putting in bike paths to encourage this form of transportation. Biking really is the way to get around eco Tulum. They have them for rent inexpensively all over. You can tour the Tulum ruins, or head off to discover one of the 3,000 cenotes (fresh water sinkholes) in the area. Think of a limestone lagoon that opens up into underwater caves as part of the underground water table. They are all different, and the one we visited was like a small, deep lake filled with fish. It reminded us of swimming in a fish tank.  We were able to snorkel, and see the entrance to the underwater caves that are so popular with divers.

In keeping with the eco-theme of this trip, we opted to go on the highly recommended Sian Ka’an community tour. This tour absolutely made our trip. Sian Ka’an is a protected natural reserve of 630,000 hectares that crosses traditional Mayan land and is now a UNESCO heritage site as well as a wildlife reserve. Sian Ka’an Community Tours is an international success story. Many Mayan’s had been living in “reservation-like” communities in the jungle without a source of income. Many Mayans didn’t speak Spanish (only their local Mayan dialect), and despite vast knowledge of the jungle and various biospheres, they were just eeking out an existence. With the aid of a couple of non-profit NGO’s (including Equator Initiatives) that help indigenous peoples with sustainable development, the Mayan community near the Sian Ka’an reserve got together and started a business giving tours. They did intensive training in English, and business management. All of the money from this low cost tour ($99 per person including lunch, snacks, park fees, and transportation) stayed locally. It was a great education and we left feeling like we contributed to the local community.

Our seven hour tour included a guided hike through secluded jungle ruins. It followed with an adventure into an underground Mayan passageway built in 300 BC (where we got up close and personal with some fruit bats). We then went into the jungle on the Mayan reservation where we tasted edible roots, smelled copal bark, and burned dead termite mounds as a bug repellent. We climbed a 17 meter tower to observe all eight biospheres in the park before jumping into boats to re-enact a 1000 year old trade route crossing across two crystal clear lakes. After lunch we did a river float along a natural passageway through the grass savannah. We floated peacefully four kilometers an hour for a few kilometers at the edge of the mangrove trees- nursery to millions of baby fish. During our section of the river we saw vultures, a variety of multi-coloured song birds, and countless tropical fish. We ended the day with a snorkeling trip to a nearby cenote with an opportunity to hand feed schools of fish.

The final piece to our eco holiday came in a unexpected place as we made our way back up the coast to Cancun. We made a point to stay overnight at the El Dorado Royale resort in the Mayan Riviera to see their organic greenhouses. The El Dorado is one of those huge all inclusives and is changing the way produce is grown in Mexico. They currently produce over 1.5 tons of fresh vegetables a day. They supply all of their El Dorado and Azul chain of hotels, sell vegetables and herbs at reduced cost to employees and are now able to sell more to other neighbouring hotels. Besides the awe inspiring volume of food produced in the automated greenhouses, what is cool is that the growing medium is crushed up coconut shells and beach sand. The agronomist on staff is using abundant natural products to produce tomatoes the size of grapefruit along with a plenary of other herbs and vegetables.

Our eco holiday was affordable, personal, and left us feeling healthy (actually down a pound or two given the exercise and fresh foods). It was also a feel good story as we left Mexico feeling we had connected to the people, culture and land that is Tulum.

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Review of Club Fantastic, Orient Bay, French St. Martin. The land of the bare bums.

www.sexwithsue.com

Orient
Club Fantastico, St. Martin – So you want to get naked?

If you would like to try a safe, fun and slightly exotic walk on the wilder side of life, Club Fantastico may be right for you. Club Fantastico is the perfect spot to visit if you are looking to take your clothes off in public for the first time. So many people are curious about social nudity, but are intimidated about going to a big clothing optional resort. Club Fantastico is the right size for a gentle foray into an au naturel vacation. With an outstanding view of the Caribbean Sea and the neighboring islands, a large hot tub, pool, and space to lounge outside of your room, it calls itself “the home away from home for travelling nudists”.

Located on the French side of the half French – half Dutch island of St. Martin, it is a quaint little villa-style hotel that allows you to be clothes free all the time. Club Fantastico is small, but unique and is located inside the upscale Orient Village. It is also a quick ten minute walk from Orient beach, one of the largest and best known nude beaches anywhere.  Away from home is the best place to start shedding your inhibitions and fears about body image. Trying a clothing optional experience is a great first step.  And like with any nude place we’ve ever been to, nudity is encouraged but far from mandatory. However experiencing the feel of the warm Caribbean wind blowing across the entire length of your body is one of life’s great sensuous pleasures. Club Fantastico has a cozy, friendly and secluded environment that lends itself to casual acceptance. You can start disrobing in stages (or simply drop the laundry) and no one will think anything of it.

 

What makes Club Fantastico such an accepting place is the amazing management team. The happily married Mike and Peggy have been running Club Fantastico for the last three years after being involved with nude resorts all over the world. The welcome when we arrived was warm and heartfelt. It was very much the feeling of coming home. We had a hug and a cold drink from our hosts, despite having never met Mike and Peggy before, and an enthusiastic wiggle from the small house dog, a Yorkie named Mr. Bones. Given the social aspect of the spacious inn, you find yourself sitting and chatting with other guests in the comfortable rattan chairs. Nudists are a friendly lot. We also got to know our fellow guests through soaks in the hot tub and shared delicious French breakfast sitting around the pool. Breakfast, all drinks, and snacks are included with your stay. Every week, Mike and Peggy organize a group dinner outing to the nearby village of Grand Case. Grand Case is a small French village that is world renowned for its string of spectacular French restaurants along the beach. Grand Case is known as the “culinary capital of the Caribbean”.  As locals, Mike and Peggy arranged dishes to be brought in from a number of neighbouring restaurants and a party, (with exceptional food) broke out. There are also weekly group dinners with all the guests at Club Fantastico. Everyone pitches in for groceries, and you have a real chance to connect in small groups and enjoy unparalleled hospitality. Mike and Peggy are so much an essence of the Club Fantasico experience that we recommend you only visit for the nine months they are in residence.

Besides the home like atmosphere and the safe nudity, Club Fantasico also allows a “honeymoon atmosphere” if you are looking for a romantic get away holiday. The premier rooms have their own wrap around porches with a great view of the ocean. Complete with outdoor showers, they are private enough to block out the world, while open enough not to feel like you are spending the week inside.

It is easy to stay on the property and enjoy the pool or you can venture to nearby Orient Beach and blend into the multitude of naked bodies all lounging on miles of white sand. If you go the beach route, chairs and umbrellas are available on site at Club Orient for a nominal day fee.

Did we mention the food already? Even the food served at the many beach-side restaurants will have your mouth watering. For the more romantic, any one of the many local corner stores will have fresh baguette, cheese , fruit and a fine bottle of French wine for sale rather inexpensively if you want to picnic on the beach. Most people rent a car on St. Martin, and the island is safe to drive around so you can be adventurous. Other things to do on St. Martin include a farmers market, a new zipline on the mountain at Pic Paradis, or ferries to the neighbouring islands of St. Barth’s and Anguilla. The Dutch side of the island features many casinos or specialty shopping for those so inclined. Club Fantastico offers a nude boat cruise around the island, with stops at secluded beaches and non stop activities. As Peggy explains, ‘the cruises are fun and slightly naughty (you may moon a few passing boats) but sure to bring a huge smile to your face.” Once you try the Orient Bay area of St. Martin, you become hooked for life. Either way, you are anonymous, away from home and can either tell your friends that you actually did it or simply keep it as a secret between you.

We’ve been to many beautiful spots in the Caribbean. Club Fantastico, while not the most luxurious or with the most amenities has become a favourite of ours. The quaintness of the inn gave us the opportunity to make friends, be nude all day long, and have experiences that only a local host can provide. The laugh out loud fun of being in a like minded group, along with the ability to have intimate alone time was the perfect balance. Throw in a world class beach within walking distance, fabulous food, perfect weather, and a safe interesting island and the combination moved it near the top of our favourite places list.   

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Top 9 resorts to reconnect and crazy monkey sex with your sweetie

www.sexwithsue.com

Jade1 Jade 
 
  

Our Top Nine Adult-only Resorts in the Caribbean for Reconnecting

By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt

Clinical Relationship Therapists, Romance Travel Writers

January in Canada means hockey, snow, and day-dreaming about a romantic holiday to the Caribbean. You may think such a holiday is a self-indulgent luxury, but the new research by Dr. Terri Orbuch at Oakland University in Michigan finds that taking an adult vacation is an essential part of great marriages. She spent the last 22 years researching more than 350 married couples and found that  couples who take time to get away together, and have unencumbered time  (time when nothing is planned, nothing is programmed) have the strongest bonds. It is the single best thing you can do for your marriage.

So where are the best places to go to get the couples-only adult vacation you are fantasizing about? In keeping with this new research, we’ve come up with the top nine of our most recommended adult-only destinations (from tame to spicy).  Prices for these destinations vary from $1,000 – $10,000 per person per week (air fare included). There are various travel groups that go to some of these destinations in large numbers and get great deals. We recommend you research the destination and use the links to the travel groups that frequent them.

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

Jade Mountain is a one-of –a-kind resort on the west side of St. Lucia, near Soufriere, the site of the World Heritage Piton Mountains. Partnered with its sister resort Anse Chastanet, we discovered that it’s all about beauty, nature, modern art, and a blending of architecture into jaw dropping scenery. All this with truly exceptional gourmet food and service, Jade Mountain propels relaxation to the highest level in an adult only resort.

The rooms (or sanctuaries as they are called) are self contained units that come with everything you need to relax (no television, phone or radio). The sanctuary does have its own tranquil infinity pool in the three sided rooms which means you have the best of living both inside and outside for your entire stay. (authors note: The sanctuaries are rectangular with no outside wall. That means open air in all the rooms, dining and common areas. It is a very different concept, and one of the few places in the world that has limited bugs, very few mountainous creepy or slithering things, warm weather, offers reasonable shelter from hurricanes and tropical storms and is relatively crime-free and difficult to access along the mountain-side. Think tropical camping with decadent comfort and push of a button service. The sanctuaries really do have to be seen to be believed.)

As therapists, we’ve long believed that adventure leads to connection within a relationship. Anything that gets your adrenaline pumping together will bond you as a couple. One of the driving reasons to visit Jade Mountain is the duality it offers. At Jade Mountain there is the aforementioned complete tranquility of the sanctuaries, as well as the opportunity to take in couple adventures off the resort. We went zip lining, and during that tour had a quick lesson in the growing of bananas, bay leaves and cinnamon. We checked out the historic town of Soufriere. Other adventure couples took in the whale watching, rum tours, volcano hiking, and ocean kayaking.

With all of these amenities, Jade Mountain firmly falls into the highest end romance resort destination and may be the place to try this year.

 

 

Couples, Jamaica

 

Couples Swept Away is a spectacular all-inclusive resort in the middle of Negril’s famous 7-mile beach, and is one of the four Couples resorts in Jamaica. They are all adult only resorts, and are known for their emphasis on magical, romantic vacations. Couples is a mixture of wellness and decadence set on some of the best beaches in all the Caribbean. Complete with the requisite white sand, turquoise water, hot weather and starry nights.

 

Couples is traditional but open-minded. Three of the Couples locations have private nude beaches on property- or in the case of the Couples resort at Ocho Rios – a completely nude island. Couples Swept Away doesn’t have a nude section, but the Negril beach has been known since the 60’s for tolerance to being topless.

 

The Couples resorts seem to have a mandate to emphasize romance in all forms, and they work hard to convince you to fall in love, propose, get married, honeymoon and spend your anniversaries there. They take romance seriously. Their goal is to make you feel all that eye-gazing, pit of the stomach stuff that lovers rarely get a chance to experience between the kids, laundry and work deadlines. Think rose petals on the beds, chocolate fountains, and spectacular sunsets.

 

Ladera, St. Lucia

 

Ladera Resort in St. Lucia is one of the best rated in the Caribbean for overall romance. It is ranked on Caribbean travel and Life’s top ten most romantic resort lists, and was the #1 hotel in the world in 2005 as reported by Conde Nast traveler magazine. The resort is located in Soufriere, one of the most picturesque parts of St. Lucia, and maybe of the Caribbean. Similar to that of Jade Mountain, Ladera is known for their open-aired rooms, complete with their own individual splash pools in the rooms. Ladera also has two and three room villas that friends can share to bring down the costs. Ladera is closest to the famed volcanic hot springs and mineral baths, originally built in 1785 and rumoured to have been used by Napoleon’s Empress Josephine. The baths are reputed to cure everything from arthritis to digestive afflictions. Ladera has it’s own small mineral baths adjoining their spa, and given the peaceful rooms and emphasis on health, Ladera is a great choice for relaxation and bonding. 

 

Coconut Bay, St. Lucia

Coconut Bay describes itself as “two world’s in one”. It is a dual resort – a family resort on one side, and a huge, private, adult-only area called Harmony on the other.  Harmony was designed for couples seeking romance and relaxation as there are intimate cabana beds, hammocks, a very social pool bar, and lots and lots of beach to spread out and find solitude on. It is also home to the Kai Mer Spa, one of the biggest full service spas we’ve found anywhere in the Caribbean. With outdoor (but private) showers for two, secluded couples massages, and well trained estheticians (body snatched from the destination spas in the north part of the island), the spa was terrific and well worth trying. Coconut Bay also emphasizes the adventure side of couples get-aways. There is a new paintball course and go-cart track (currently under construction), mountain biking, scuba diving, ziplining, and parasailing nearby. All of this is available for couples who want the duality of relaxing quietly with a well attended pool bar and then stepping out of their comfort zones with exciting adventures

Breezes Grand Negril, Jamaica

There are nine Breezes resorts as part of the Superclubs group. We liked the Grand Negril resort best as it is on one of the top beaches in the world. The resort reminded us of a stereotypical grand southern lady; well appointed, gracious, classic, and understated. It is a more traditional resort. Think quiet refinement of the grounds, sumptuous food, and sophistication of the other guests.

Given the polish that is Breezes Grand Negril,  (classic and elegance really are the words we would use to describe it) what’s really interesting about Breezes is its slightly flirty feel. Between the oversized drinks, the activity staff that greet you with a wink and a smile, and the fact that some of the beach is clothing optional, Breezes feels decidedly grown up. Many guests we met had started on the huge regular beach, and had migrated to taking off their wet, sandy and uncomfortable suits over the years. We often say that taking your bathing suit off is the second hardest thing you’ll do on vacation. The hardest thing is putting it back on. The resort didn’t have a sexual feel, just a relaxed openness about it that was nonchalant and accepting. Many had made great friends there over the years as clothing optional bars, pools and hot tubs lend themselves well to starting conversations with strangers. Nudity really does lend itself to openness.

Breezes Grand Negril is set on a spectacular coastline. The turquoise water that stays shallow for a good distance offers world-class snorkeling right off the beach, which can be hard to find at a resort of Breezes quality. We saw hundreds of multi-colored fish, rays, beautiful fan coral, and even an octopus within sight of the resort. Elegant, with a spectacular beach, and serene would best describe the Breezes Grand Negril.

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Temptations, Los Cabos Mexico, Cancun, Mexico

Like their names, both of the Temptations resorts are the riskier, saucier version of the larger, more family oriented resorts along the infamous strip in Cancun and the tourist area of Los Cabos, Mexico. They are flirty places, but they maintain a sense of decorum in a fun way. Temptations is known for it’s raucous activity staff, who are always looking to engage guests in fun and energetic beach and pool parties. Typical events such as beach volleyball, water polo and salsa dancing lessons were popular. So were the water balloon fights and sensuous fitness, where women learn the basics of pole, chair and lap dancing. They have a game of tequila pool volleyball  where whomever flubs the ball takes a swig right out of the bottle. The Friday game we saw had everyone hang their bathing suits on the net and it left the entire pool filled with naked bodies. Finally, evening entertainment includes live bands, lingerie shows, sexy Latin dancing, and body shots before the busses take guests still raring to go up the road to Coco Bongo’s (Cancun) for more late night revelry. The activities are only slightly risque and stop before that invisible comfort line is crossed. They could be easily avoided if that isn’t your thing. Everyone has a choice as to whether they participate.  Empty nesters gone wild are the best words to describe Temptations.

 

Club Fantastico, St. Martin

If you would like to try a safe, fun and slightly exotic walk on the wilder side of life, Club Fantastico may be right for you. Located on the French side of the half French – half Dutch island of St. Martin, it is a quaint little villa-style hotel that allows you to be clothes free all the time. It is cozy, friendly and easy to enjoy. You can stay on the property and enjoy the pools and bars (all au natural) or you can venture to nearby Orient Beach and blend into the multitude of naked bodies all lounging on miles of white sand. If you go the beach route, the hotel will provide towels, chairs and unbrellas for you to take. They will even pack you a lunch! Either way, you are anonymous, away from home and can either tell your friends that you actually did it or simply keep it as a secret between you. The food in St. Martin is worth the trip all by itself. The nearby village of Grand Case is renowed for its fine cuisine and the island is safe to drive around so you can be adventurous. Even the food served at the many beach-side restaurants will have your mouth watering. For the more romantic, any one of the many local corner stores will have fresh baguette, cheese , fruit and a fine bottle of French wine for sale rather inexpensively. This makes a memorable meal on its own. The Dutch side of the island features many Casinos for those so inclined. Club Fantastico also offers weekly nude cruises to nearby islands. Just slightly naughty but sure to bring a huge smile to your face. Once you try the Orient Bay area of St. Martin, you become hooked for life.

 

Hedonism, Jamaica

Forget what you’ve read about Hedo in Playboy, or the myth of it being a sexually aggressive place. The words we would use to describe the two Hedonism resorts are silly, zany, relaxing, casual, outrageous, sensual, saucy and friendly. Clearly, some of the legends are no more than wishful thinking. Nobody jumps you, and it isn’t a place to go trolling for sex. You would probably have more luck at a nightclub. However, Hedonism is still home for an open-minded and adventurous crowd who are very comfortable in their own skins (with or without clothes). And in the wee hours of the morning at the nude pool, there is social interaction for those seeking it. It should also be noted that different groups (including lifestyle groups) take over large portions of the resort during set weeks of the year. You should check online to see who will be there before you book.

There are two large resorts, the 28 year old Hedo ll in Negril (we were there during their anniversary week the end of October), and the newer, nine year old Hedo lll in Runaway Bay, about three hours drive apart from each other. They have almost the same amenities, and similar cliental. They both have a 40% return of guests (unheard of loyalty for a resort, so those who love it, love it again and again), but if you have guests returning for over 28 years, they tend to now be in the 45 to 65 age group. Going to Hedonism was the closest thing we’ve experienced as an adult to re-creating that community feel of laugh-out-loud fun of camp. Only instead of mystery meat in the dining hall, and outhouses with flashlights, Hedonism offers spectacular sunsets, unlimited perfect banana daiquiri’s, hot tubs, cabaret shows, and sensuous spa massages.

 

Desire Resort, Riveria Maya, Mexico

 

Described as an elegant and exclusive, clothing-optional, couples-only resort, Desire is an adult-only, 114 room secluded resort somewhat off the beaten path. It’s what we call sensuously open, but more upscale than the party atmosphere of Hedonism. The resort is situated on a strip of Mexico’s typically breathtaking beach, complete with white sand and warm, turquoise water. The beach area includes 40 canopied beach beds (complete with drink-providing waitresses and cabana boys) situated along the edge of the water. These beds are the ultimate in decadent beach relaxation.

Desire is clothing optional, as opposed to nude meaning that bathing suits are seen, but the majority of the couples were either nude or topless throughout the day. They had typical resort games such as water polo and beach volleyball taking place, (nude volleyball is always an interesting eyeful) along with far more sexual ones such as the chocolate eating contest (where two couples compete to see who can drizzle and eat the most chocolate and whipped cream off their partners). Nobody was pressured to participate. The tone was entertaining and playful during the day, rather than sexual, and the evening theme was more erotic, rather than smacking of blatant sex. The activity staff was relaxed, but enthusiastic and did their best to be inclusive of everyone interested in participating, and respectful of those who wanted to read quietly, or simply lounge on the beach,

But it is one of the very few places that tolerate what we call upscale sexual encounters done with taste.

On the whole Desire really is what you make it. Elegant, upscale, quietly naked and romantic, or with late night happenings, disco dancing, and hut tubbing along with 50 new friends and sexual adventures under the stars.

 



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Destination Weddings for Second Time Brides. Review of Coconut Bay, St. Lucia

www.sexwithsue.com 

Wedding4
Coconut Bay Review

By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt

Clinical Relationship Therapists, Romance Travel Writers

 

We’ve both had a few friends who decided to skip the big production and head down south to get married. No seating arrangements to organize, no huge expense of feeding extended relations, and no church ceremony for couples who have rarely darkened a church door. Getting married in a simple ceremony on a beach (whether you elope or drag immediate family down with you) has the advantage of having your honeymoon start immediately. As well, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of turquoise water, lush vegetation, and a sunset of pinks and purples that beat any kind of man-made decorations.  

 

Most resorts in the Caribbean offer weddings – usually under a simple trellis overlooking the water. Sometimes they are set apart from the rest of the resort, but we’ve found many are wedged between the jet skis screaming in the background and beach walkers tromping by. We know this first hand because we’ve accidently stumbled by a few beach weddings ourselves in the search for interesting seashells. We’ve even attended (well sort of; more like politely and distantly crashed) a number of Caribbean weddings at resorts we’ve reviewed. We have sat off to the side in our bathing suits, peeked around the corner at a few, and were one of the cheering hoards waving from a distance at others.  With only one exception, all of the weddings we saw were first time brides dressed in traditional gowns that had chosen a service in a warmer, more exotic location. We lamented about where did the older first-timers (and as a couple in our 40’s we say that tongue in cheek) and second marriages happen down south? How do you find a place where you can bring kids from a previous marriage, (or rowdy nieces and nephews) and still have that sensual feel of a Caribbean honeymoon? How do you accommodate four generations of attendees, without getting into the wedding politics you flew away to avoid in the first place? Where can you have a fun wedding that can still become serious and memorable when appropriate?

 

 We found that The Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in St. Lucia known for its great water slides and adventure excursions was the perfect venue for elegant and romantic second weddings. We were surprised too.

 

Coconut Bay is a large resort on the south end of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. It is located a mere three minutes drive from Hewanorra International Airport.  It sells itself as “two worlds in one”. The family friendly side called Splash is home to the island’s largest water park, with a large slide and three pools. The resort also has a fully supervised kids club where you can drop off the kids for planned activities throughout the day and pick them up tired and happy. There were also cotton candy machines, unlimited ice cream, teen adventure groups, a paintball area, and they were in the midst of constructing a go-cart track. It was essentially heaven on earth for the kids we ran into. They even offered an outdoor, full length, supervised kids movie (complete with popcorn) during evenings so that the adults could have a quiet dinner. The resort seemed very safe, and the couples we spoke to with kids had no worries about letting their kids wander the Splash grounds unsupervised.  Off the resort but still nearby, many excursions and activities await more adventurous travelers. All of them safe, designed for families and most enjoyable.

 

On the opposite side of Coconut Bay is Splash’s alter ego. A huge, private, adult-only area called Harmony which was designed for couples seeking romance and relaxation. There were intimate cabana beds, hammocks, a very social pool bar, and lots and lots of beach to spread out and find solitude on. We took in people serenely reading and met a number of people in the “over 60 set” who had found their own coconut palm to lounge under.  It is also home to the Kai Mer Spa, the biggest full service spa we’ve found anywhere in the Caribbean. With outdoor (but private) showers for two, secluded couples massages, and well trained estheticians (body snatched from the destination spas in the north part of the island), the spa was terrific and well worth trying. The spa was also surprisingly reasonably priced, and a perfect place to get dressed for a tropical wedding.

 

Harmony is also where the large wedding gazebo is located. The gazebo has a nearby reception hall that can seat 60 people for dinner, along with a dance floor to host a good-sized reception if you come with an entourage. It is secluded and the resort does an excellent job in keeping the wedding private. However, for couples who want even more privacy during their vows, the resort is building a second wedding location at the Cape Moule a Chique Vieu lighthouse a few minutes drive outside of the resort in Vieux Fort. The lighthouse is the second highest in the world, and the view is spectacular for a wedding destination.  It has a view of both the turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea and the darker Atlantic water. You can also easily see the coastlines of half the island. Banana and sour sop trees surround the lighthouse point.  Coconut Bay is planning the first weddings there in September of 2010, and we think it will be as breathtaking as a sunset wedding for brides who are hoping for a one-of-a-kind matrimony service.

 

Coconut Bay does a moderate number of weddings throughout the year as compared to some other resorts where individual wedding services have a “turnstile” feel to them. We were quite touched about how hard the St. Lucian staff really tried to make each wedding unique. Janell, the petite, bubbly wedding planner was very determined in making sure any wedding was exactly how the bride desired it to be. We witnessed her pulling together a wedding in less than 24 hours. She said she takes pride in arranging weddings in 24 hours provided she has at least one working day. That means a full legal wedding license and international registry, minister, sunset boat ride; romantic wedding reception, spa service and attention to detail with a one-day turn around. Forget the long engagement, we joked about how a proposal, engagement, trip south and “I do’s” for a happily ever after can happen in less than 48 hours. Of course, all this is then followed by a fabulous honeymoon vacation.

 

So if you’ve been too busy to plan the nuptials and are trying to find a tropical wedding location where you can bring everyone down easily (including the kids), consider Coconut Bay, St. Lucia.  It is a perfect location for a multitude of family generations to gather, for any occasion.

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Jade Mountain- St. Lucia, a review

Jade2
Love and Architecture at Jade Mountain
Jade Mountain is a love story.
It’s the blending of the love of St. Lucia’s famed Piton volcanic mountains and one of the most breathtaking views in the Caribbean. It’s the love story of how Nick Troubetzkoy, a Canadian trained architect created his vision for a five star resort and destination spa on the west coast of St. Lucia at Soufriere. It’s also a love story for most of the couples and honeymooners who visit. Jade Mountain is a one-of –a-kind resort. Partnered with its sister resort Anse Chastanet, we discovered that it’s about beauty, nature, modern art, and a blending of architecture into jaw dropping scenery. All this with truly exceptional gourmet food and service, Jade Mountain propels relaxation to the highest level in an adult only resort. It’s got world class food, a clothing optional private space and top end service.

The quality of the food at Jade Mountain can’t be over emphasized. The resort boasts an American Academy of Hospitality Sciences five star rating for food and service. Much of the organic produce is grown on the owner’s surrounding 600 acre plantation including mangoes, spices, and chocolate used in their so named Caribbean culinary festivals. We had homemade rum and raisin ice cream that instantly became a lifetime favorite. By day two the staff had an understanding of our food and beverage preferences, and was suggesting a favorite tea. With English Butler Academy trained butlers (they call them major-domos) at your service to fulfill any need, the attention to detail was superb. The Guild of English Butlers means that these professional hoteliers can unpack for you, arrange for your favorite foods at preferred tables, acquire hard to find items, and aid in travel arrangements. They are available 24/7 with the push of a button on your firefly, a small little cell phone that you are given for the duration of your stay and which contacts the front desk or your butler instantly.
The rooms are called sanctuaries for a reason. They are huge, offering a fantastic view of the two famed Pitons (or mountains). The Pitons are the two volcanoes that UNESCO has deemed a world heritage site, and are bordered with a lush canopy of rain forest. St. Lucia is awash in color, even during the dormant season when we were there. The turquoise of the Sea, the silver of the volcanic sand, a rainbow of flowers, and the most beautiful multi-colored hummingbirds along with the spectacular St. Lucian parrot can best be described as a feast for the eyes.
Most of St. Lucia is mountainous and covered in rain forest. The whole island is only 29 miles long, but you can expect driving the length of it to take over two hours. The roads are switch back and a bit of a roller coaster ride- especially along the east side of the island. Bring your Gravol or other travel-sickness medication if you are driving around the island much. We read one report that suggested that “St. Lucia allows you to get in touch with your calf muscles” which we found to be oh, so true. Almost everything in St. Lucia is uphill or downhill (and it seemed more uphill to us), and everyone is expected to climb flights of stairs. Meals at Jade Mountain meant that we had to climb 10 flights of stairs to get to the dining area, with no elevator option. Fortunately, the food would motivate anyone to climb. If you are mobility challenged, you can request an upper room, but it is a resort on a hill and the lay-out of the resort requires a level of fitness to in order move around easily.
The rooms (or sanctuaries as they are called) are self contained units that come with everything you need to relax (no television, phone or radio). The sanctuary does have its own tranquil infinity pool in the three sided rooms which means you have the best of living both inside and outside for your entire stay. (authors note: The sanctuaries are rectangular with no outside wall. That means open air in all the rooms, dining and common areas. It is a very different concept, and one of the few places in the world that has limited bugs, very few mountainous creepy or slithering things, warm weather, offers reasonable shelter from hurricanes and tropical storms and is relatively crime-free and difficult to access along the mountain-side. Think tropical camping with decadent comfort and push of a button service. The sanctuaries really do have to be seen to be believed.)
The full 29 rooms were occupied during our visit, but the place seemed empty, with everyone living in their villa-like sanctuaries or taking in one of the adventure excursions. With a majority of people able to do anything from sunbath, partake in gourmet room service, swim, and relax completely undisturbed for the entire time while never leaving their rooms, the sanctuaries offer absolute privacy for couples wanting to get away from it all. Jade Mountain really is romance personified. The small touches are well thought out. There was local poetry on the pillow (St. Lucia boasts the highest percentage of Nobel Lauriat’s per capita on the planet) and live guitar music at dinner. The owner’s cocktail party and the sunset cruises added to the ambiance.
As therapists, we’ve long believed that adventure leads to connection within a relationship. Anything that gets your adrenaline pumping together will bond you as a couple. One of the driving reasons to visit Jade Mountain is the duality it offers. At Jade Mountain there is the aforementioned complete tranquility of the sanctuaries, as well as the opportunity to take in couple adventures off the resort. We went zip lining, and during that tour had a quick lesson in the growing of bananas, bay leaves and cinnamon. We checked out the historic town of Soufriere. Other adventure couples took in the whale watching, rum tours, volcano hiking, and ocean kayaking. The honeymooners we spoke to were just happy to be together and uninterrupted. Many were on the joint honeymoon package with a half-and-half stay at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet (where there was more beach living and marine life). Jade Mountain offers a shuttle service that can take you up and down to the beach that is situated on the edge of a protected marine area. A number of beach bars and restaurants are included on your Jade Mountain meal plan at the beach level Anse Chastanet resort so you only have to make the strenuous hike (or not-so- strenuous short car ride up the hill) once per day.
Jade Mountain is well on its way to becoming a complete destination-spa resort as well. Between a full menu of organic, low fat foods and a holistic health professional spa director with a well-trained staff (including a former US Navy fitness instructor), you can heal the body as well as the mind. And as mentioned, you have easy access to the famed volcanic hot springs and mineral baths which have been espoused to cure everything from arthritis to intestinal disorders. With all this emphasis on health (and all of the stairs to climb), you can avoid the five pounds of holiday bulge from too many umbrella drinks. You actually may return leaner than when you left without feeling like you’ve missed out on amazing food. It will be worth watching Jade Mountain’s evolution into a new level of spa and health centre.
Jade Mountain, while spectacular, is priced outside of normal vacation budgets, and lends itself well to short “get-aways” or long weekends. We traveled lightly and were able to get on and off the island over three days. We met a Miami physician and a New York lawyer who loved how they could arrive easily and leave without once hearing a telephone. It is perfect for intimate honeymooners, or couples wanting to recharge together. Many of the guests fly in via helicopter from the Hewanorra International Airport in the south of the island (which is a seven-minute flight), and land on Jade Mountain’s own private heli-pad. Read more specifics about this resort on our sister website playful coconuts.

With all of these amenities, Jade Mountain firmly falls into the highest end romance resort destination as the place to try this year.
If you are interested in romance adventure travel and want to travel with a kind, fun, sexy community check out Duckling travel and party with the best group anywhere. We want to include you.
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What's new at Hedonism II in Negril, Jamaica – an updated review March 2009

Minnie We had dinner last week with a group of people wearing an x-rated Minnie Mouse costume, and a Donald the Duck costume that came complete with a feathered appendage. Nobody batted an eye, or did anything more than tweak Minnie’s slightly lopsided ears. The Minnie and Donald in questions were two of over 400 “Fluffernutters” that descended on Hedonism II in Negril

Jamaica
this March.  The theme that night was “naughty Disney”, and if we had ever wondered what Snow White would look if she “drifted” that question was forever answered by another woman wondering by. Snow white

 

How do we explain the happy, but uniqueness that is Hedonism II – the legendary Superclub resort? Forget what you’ve heard, Hedonism II is appropriate for your adults-only, or girls getaway vacation with a relaxed, inclusive crowd comfortable in their own skins. Try it, it is the sensuous vacation that lets you adventure at your own speed.  

 

On arguably one of the best beaches in the

Caribbean
, Hedo II is the safest place to be sexually silly on the planet. By safest we mean that you can have a vacation from tame to completely crazy, without anyone exposing you, pressuring you, to do anything outside your comfort level. An atmosphere of tolerance permeates the grounds.  Along the spectacular beach at Hedo II is a complete ecosystem of sexual culture. And who doesn’t want to be in the know? At least to watch the antics, and to say you had the opportunity to dip your toe in the water? You can spend a week on the “prude side, adjacent, and in view of Sandals Negril reading a book, drinking the famous and frothy “Hummingbird drinks”, in a bathing suit and wrap. If you stay to yourselves on that end of the beach, you might never see and experience anything more daring than the occasional nudist slipping by before a guard hands them a towel.  You can have a vacation free of kids, with great weather and affordable prices and never do anything more risqué than hold hands. As you move down the beach you can go topless (or not), and be slightly more likely to see exposed body parts in various shapes and sizes if you know where to look.  But you need not do anything other than watch the turquoise ocean and see the pelicans flying over head if your idea of sexuality is tied up in sitting quietly with your partner. Finally, as you cross onto the nude side (and the sign warns of no photography- or clothes are permitted), you can see or participate in playful conversation with naked people. The mantra of any native Jamaican you meet is to bang fists with you in greetings, is “Respect”. And respect, without a doubt, is the underlying tone of Hedonism II.

 

Hedonism has had a bad wrap of being nothing but sex, and has been a victim of stories that have become larger than life. It isn’t about single men – the people who have the best time are happily married couples, and single women. We think it is the best place around for couples to reconnect or for women to go to discover her groove. We also think every women should celebrate her divorce, bachelor party, or experience the liberating safety of Hedonism once in her lifetime. Nothing happens that you haven’t invited to happen, and new people (and especially new women) are protected and charmed by a Hedo alumni that have been gathering for 30 plus years.

 Hedo3Such it is with groups like The Fluffernutters. The ‘nutters, like many of the naked travel groups that frequent Hedo II, can be defined as “a travel group that meets bi-annually to drink, sunbath , vacation, and laugh-out loud together. The “fluff’s” makes up x rated songs to popular lyrics in the piano bar every night, plays “capture the flag “ on opposing catamarans – dressed as pirates, and dresses up to giggle at each other. Other groups frequent throughout the year, but we enjoyed hanging around the “fluffs”, who all had hats, t-shirts, and beaded necklaces portraying their names.  We’ve described Hedonism in a previous article, as “Tropical summer camp for grown-ups”, and that description still holds true. There are other groups with names like Go Classy, and the Bubbly Bares, so if you are looking for a community who get it with that twisted sense of humor that appeals to positive people who smile at you with an occasional well meaning leer, than you might love the connections you can make at a place like Hedonism II.

 

Hedonism is the “grand dame” of nude and sensuously tolerant resorts, and had become tired in recent years. This visit however, we saw a number of changes happening that are worth reporting. The first is that Kevin Levee, the General Manager that looked after Hedo II during it’s heyday in the 90’s has returned. He brings along a new Executive Chef, Randie Anderson who trained in

Manhattan
, and was most recently at the Miami Sheraton. We noticed a change in the food from his first day on the job. Without an executive chef for awhile, Hedonism’s food had slipped, but we felt our tummies rumble at the upcoming food choices Randie had proposed in his new menus.  Kevin took the top three guest frustrations, lack of towels, lousy disco music, and too few chairs on the nude side, and fixed them immediately. We see his influence in empowering his staff to help guests where ever they can, and the atmosphere at Hedonism II is humming.  There is the feeling that hedonism II has been neglected and time, attention and resources are going to be thrown her way.  

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Couples Swept Away Resorts, Negril Jamaica – a great place to "Feel the Love"

 Couples6

Creative marriage proposals at Couples Swept Away Resort,

By Sue McGarvie, and Blaik Spratt, Relationship Therapists, Syndicated Talk Show Hosts, Authors of The Ethical Hedonist  radioshrink@rogers.com

When you picture the most romantic place on earth to propose where do you think of? The Eiffel Tower

? Moonlight in Venice? We had heard of some typically quaint but corny marriage proposals that include the videotron at hockey games, or the overdone, “ring-on-the-rose-stem” proposal. As die hard romantics who regularly speak at the bridal shows, we are always interested in smart proposal stories.  On a recent trip to Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaicawe saw a succinct, but elegant proposal that combined a warm, windswept Caribbeanevening, with a new way to ask for your sweetie’s hand in marriage. For guys, the goal is a memorable, yet idiot-proof proposal that allows her to be moved to tears in private. 

Imagine a perfect evening on vacation away from the stresses of life, where you surprise the object of your affection with a private dinner on the beach. Serenaded by saxophone leading two piece band, you have a five course meal served by an unobtrusive waiter. The smell of hibiscus is in the air. As the fruit and dessert plate gets presented, you lift up the cover and carved in the melon centerpiece are the words “Will you marry me?” Creative, unique, and you don’t have to do anything beyond a quick email and a credit card number in setting it up.

Couples Swept Away is a spectacular all-inclusive resort in the middle of Negril’s famous 7 mile beach, and one of the four Couples resorts in

Jamaica

. They are all adult only resorts, and are known for their emphasis on magical, romantic vacations. Couples is a mixture of wellness and decadence set on one of the best beaches in all the

Caribbean

. Complete with the requisite white sand, turquoise water, hot weather and starry nights.

There is a top notch athletic facility and spa, along with juice and veggy bars for couples wanting to take care of themselves on vacation. Tennis, swimming, squash, water sports, yoga, aerobics, a serious weight-training gym, and healthy snacks strategically placed in case you need to keep your blood sugar up, Couples Swept Away had the most complete fitness and wellness component of any high end adult resort we’ve ever been to.

The resort as a whole is safe, and open minded. The beach is well patrolled, and very clean. The three other Couples locations all have private nude beaches on property- or in the case of the Couples resorts in Ocho Rios – a completely nude island. Couples Swept Away doesn’t have a nude section, but the Negril beach has been known since the 60’s for tolerance to being topless, so smooching with your sweetie under a beach hut would only be looked at with an indulgent smile by the hotel.

Couples8 The facilities are truly elegant, beautifully maintained, and what is noticeable about this resort is the serious attention to detail. The ownership is local, and on site, and it shows. From the elegant staff clothing designs, to the unique lobby furnishing – it is evident that the staff and management are paying attention to the little things we often see missing in other resorts.  The turned down beds, along with Jamaican expressions printed on small cards on the pillow at bedtime we a lovely touch. A full size compliment of liquors in the in-room bar, flowers in the room, a wrap around porch, and special toiletries are a few examples of extras that are of course, all inclusive. A number of the rooms don’t have a television (in keeping with the romantic “get away from it all” theme), but will leave you a selection of reading material and music to help you connect. And with a strict no-tipping policy, you don’t have to worry about money anytime during your vacation.

Having been to a number of resorts in Jamaica, and being used to the happy, smiling people – Jamaicans are some of the most musical and lyrical people on the planet – we met a number at Couples Swept Away that stood out from anything we had seen anywhere. The employees we absolutely delightful to meet.  We conversed with a range of staff from the crossing guard to the receptionist to the general manager at Couples Swept Away. All of them genuinely seemed to feel that “they worked for the best  resort in all of

Jamaica

.” The staff were empowered to make guests happy, and were rewarded for solving a problem with a guest- even if it took them away from their regular duties.  The piano bar is famous, and interactive and becomes the place “where everyone quickly learns your name.”  

The Couples resort seems to have two major mandates. One is to emphasize romance in all forms, and they work hard to convince you to fall in love, propose, get married, honeymoon and spend your anniversaries there. They take romance seriously. Their goal is to make you feel all that schmushy, lovey, eye-gazing stuff that lovers rarely get a chance to experience between the kids, laundry, and work deadlines. Think rose petals on the beds, chocolate fountains, and spectacular sunsets. Couples is an outstanding place to have one of those simple, yet special beach weddings that save you the thousands of dollars in feeding extended relatives when you get married conventionally at home. So if you are planning on eloping down south to get hitched on the beach, give Couples Swept Away a serious look. Couples Swept Away is also appropriate for anyone else who might come down and share in the nuptials (we met grandparents and crazy brothers-in laws in the wedding party who all seemed happy with the resort). A good mix of decorum for extended family, but not too sleepy or staid if you are hoping for some hopping night life. It isn’t party central like a few of the Negril resorts, but it is five minutes from the infamous Rick’s Café (home of the legendary cliff divers) which is rated as one of the top 10 bars in the world, and always has colorful night life. With a full time department dedicated to weddings, and a large property, we witnessed a number of bridal parties at different times during our stay.

Couple6 The other goal at Couples is to turn every visitor into a repeat guest. They consistently rank second (behind Hedonism) for the highest recidivism (return) rates in

Jamaica

. We met people there on this visit who had been to Swept Away over 25 times. As a repeat guest, you get a special shirt, a package of extras at check-in, and an invitation to attend a repeaters dinner with all the staff and management, who make a fuss over you. A separate cocktail party invites the newcomers to a meet and greet, but it is with repeat vacationers, that Couples spends a huge amount of time and attention on.     

We had a few experiences that stood out at Couples Swept Away. Many of the other all -inclusives throughout the

Caribbean

have a sameness about them, but this one is truly five star. Two fabulous restaurants (one Continental, and the other Thai), had meals that rivaled the best a la carte restaurants in French St. Martin, and was the best meal we had on holiday this year. A martini bar, lots of different beach foods including a health hut, fabulous burgers and Jamaican jerk chicken, and a rum punch (that will have you singing in no time) fleshed out the other food and beverage highlights. However, like elsewhere in

Jamaica

the music blew us away.  The evening dinner band included a tight reggae quartet from

Kingston

that you would have happily paid for. Our favorite moment was at an early morning breakfast buffet at their main restaurant. A duo of acoustic guitarist and cello player strummed up popular songs while we ordered at the smoothie bar. Lincoln the guitar player, smiled and nodded while he played with his cello partner. In very  short order most of the restaurant had stopped eating to appreciate the music flowing through these two guys. They were that good. It brought a whole restaurant of people together as we all made eye contact to see if everyone else was as impressed as we were with the live, breakfast music.

Compared to some of the other adult-only resorts we’ve reviewed Couples Swept Away is tame, but they nail their demographic of couples 25-55 who are looking for a safe, upscale romantic vacation.  With an emphasis on health, the resort has almost a “clean cut” feel to it -the wholesome side of adult-only vacations. Try as we might (and we did look for faults), we really had no complaints with our stay. All the guests we spoke to raved about it, and we were sad to leave.  With a tremendous occupancy rate (Couples Negril, five minutes down the road couldn’t show us a sample room as they were at 100% occupied for the next five weeks) despite difficult economic times.  Couple’s  guests come primarily from the United States, Canada, Britain, Germanyand Italy

, and were mainly in their 30’s and 40’s. With a 40% return rate, this resort seems almost recession proof, and is a testament to their great service, food, location and facilities. Expect to pay USD $4000 a couple per week (although there are some deals to be had on off weeks online), but everything from catamaran trips and 10 minute beach massages were free. So other than golf (also included) or the full spa services, (the spa was in a beautiful building, and did a brisk business with brides and couples massages) you should have no need to go off property or pay for anything else on your romantic week. Couples Swept Away is the relaxing, romantic, effortless, wonderful

Caribbean

honeymoon vacation (no matter if you are newly-wed, renewing your vows, or just checking in with each other.) It  recharges anybody’s relationship.

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Temptations Los Cabos (previously Desire Resorts) the brand new review

Los cabo Update about the new Temptations Los Cabos by Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt, sex therapists, and authors of The Ethical Hedonist  www.sexwithsue.com

It rained in Los Cabos while we were there early in 2009. We mention this because while rain is not so unusual elsewhere, however in the desert of Los CabosMexico, on the end of the Baja peninsula (with a 1000 more miles of desert to the north) it only rains less than 10 days a year.  Everyone apologized for the one afternoon of bad weather, and even at 23 degrees Celsius, we saw local Mexicans bundled up in parkas as we walked down the beach in our bathing suits. The cacti bloomed, plants sprouted, hummingbirds flew, and the staff scurried to take the mattresses inside. Otherwise, you can expect bright, blue skies, along with amazing sunsets and sunrises guaranteed. You need to slather on the sunscreen – the UV rays aren’t to be taken lightly), and expect low to mid 20’s during the winter day (70’s Fahrenheit) and a few degrees cooler and windier at night. The spring, summer and fall temperatures, and brilliant sunny days only go up from there.  Los Cabos is an upscale “ Palm Springs type Mexico” destination (as opposed to Cancun, or “Disney Mexico” where the other Temptations resort is located). Los Cabos is where the wealthy and sexy go to play, and the lowest priced real estate advertised is only a mere million USD for a bachelor condo.  Temptations Los Cabos is in keeping with this elegant, fashionable holiday with both luxury and playtimes as part of their vision for this particular resort.

Having been huge fans of the Los Cabos Desire resort before it morphed into a Desire Lite” or the new Temptations Los Cabos, (which happened in February of 2009), we weren’t sure how the changes were going to effect this unique resort concept. Desire Resort is a couples-only, clothing-optional, public sexuality accepting, exclusive adult play vacation destination, and runs close to 100% occupancy in their expanding Cancun location. Desire has been Hedonism’s main competitor, only more up-market and without the single men hovering around. Desire, where you can be nude all day (nudity is accepted everywhere but in the restaurants) has changed to Temptations (at the Los Cabos location only) in response to a new behemoth of a hotel being built next door. We watched the construction workers take their breaks gawking at the naked women sunbathing or frolicking in the hot tub just before the Temptations take over. Most of the hot tub participants mooned and waived (we were afraid more than one of the workers might fall off the upper levels of the construction project when one 30 year old beauty did naked yoga). So in order to guarantee the privacy of their nude guests from leering patrons with telescopic cameras, Desire has become Temptations and has toned the nudity and sexuality way down.  Compared to Temptations Cancun (read our review), Los Cabos is expected to be a much more up-market saucy escape as opposed to the “anything goes” aspect of Desire. Maybe it should be re-branded as something other than Temptations (Indulge? Sinful?) as this resort will take on a life of its own – a little bit of the original Temptations, a little bit of the previous Desire and become something new entirely. The plan for Temptation Los Cabos is to keep as much of the sensuality of Desire- without the overt sexual play. In Temptations Cancun, (we were there late in the fall of 2008), guests were primarily singles and some couples, mainly under 30.  A little older than the typical Spring Break crowd, but singles in their 20’s ruled the pools in Cancun, and were bused out nightly to the hopping clubs on the Cancun strip. It felt like party central for the recently graduated college crowd.  Temptations Los Cabos is insisting that it will be almost exclusively couples (with maybe small groups of single women).  Desire had a minimum age of 25 posted on their website, and the age before the February 2009 change over to Temptations started from late 20’s, with the bulk of the guests between 30 and 50. Certainly a 60 year old plus couple wouldn’t have been out of place. Most of the bodies were better than average, and a large proportion had been surgically enhanced.  The crowd was affluent, well-preserved, and well-groomed. The new crowd at Temptations will probably settle as more of an early 30’s crowd, primarily from the west coast of Canada and the United States It will be interesting if the 30% Latin visitors increase with the new change over from Desire to Temptations.

 

The hotel bas made an effort to keep the couples only aspect by having only one king size bed available in all of their rooms. This means that you won’t get the hoards of single men that flock to Temptations Cancun as they fill up a quad room (four single beds to a room and all-night drinking parties). Single men certainly change the dynamic of a resort, and have kept many couples from trying Hedonism for the first time.  Single women may share a king size bed, but the single men in attendance would need to pay alone for the double occupancy.  According to Silvia MacNamara, the Guest Services Manager, the other aspect in Los Cabos that will be changing that doesn’t happen at Temptations Cancun is that they are covering the Jacuzzi lounge, (huge, swim up bar and hot tub) and keeping it clothing optional. Temptations Cancun

has a few whirlpools alongside their pools (and the same temperature as the swimming water).  Original resorts – the ownership group of Temptations and Desire are trying hard to keep their market share in the adult only resort destination. For guests lamenting the loss of the Desire concept in Los Cabos, management has made a deal with the neighboring hotel to clear out any potential gawkers for four weeks this year, and six weeks next year to have  Desire “let’s get nude again” take over weeks at the lowest occupancy times during the year. These weeks are your chance to re-kindle friendships and be naked in guaranteed great weather once more. 

So what’s changed now that it’s Temptations instead of Desire?  The Desire “voyeuristic beds are gone” (where you could watch all the sex going on, or indulge in al your exhibitionist fantasies), and will be replaced with more privately screened “cocoons” lounges beside the hot tub. The Jacuzzi is still open to 3 am with a private bartender, and is even more hidden. Expect it to get more than a little flirty later in the evening, with sexy noises coming from those covered lounges, but the relaxed open, sex that happened daily at Desire will be gone. This is very different from the Cancun Temptations, which has you sign a waiver at check in that will have you tossed out if there are any public displays of sexuality.  Even as Desire, the guests were respectful of your privacy and space, with less than 30% in the “swinging” or Lifestyle movement. Most of the couples were just hoping for re-connecting romance from their partner, and the opportunity to pick up the sexual charge from their surrounding environment.

However if even the possibility of hearing sex might offend you, then you don’t ever need to go up top to the hot tub.  Around the pool has changed to topless only, and while they still have sexy games the activity staff put on, just anticipate that the overall tone will be slightly subdued from the past. The flirty tequila water volleyball will still happen, dirty darts, and sexual trivia will still be engaged mid afternoons around the pool. The activity staff are fun, and good humored (a little too competitive on the volleyball court playing with out of shape tourists who had been drinking), but for the most part they offered lively and fun games as an alternative to those just wanting to bask in the rays and do nothing more strenuous than sit up to give their drink orders. The themed costume nights are dropped in the disco, (no more jungle or cowboy nights) and the playroom has been dismantled. They are also opening the disco up to locals and other resort guests in Los Cabos to come in for an evening of dance. It will be interesting to see if there are any takers in making the disco more vibrant due to outside influence and if there are any curiosity seekers willing to visit from outside the resort. Our big complaint about the resort is how late it is before the evening activities begin. With the hot tub opening at 3 pm, most of the guests make their way up for “happy hour” from 4 to 6 pm (we were pruny, overly heated, and had our fill of the strong drinks within an hour), the hot tub is a great place to socialize, but the pool bar shuts down and everyone doesn’t congregate again until 10 or 10:30 when the karaoke, live entertainment or outside fashion show gets started.  Dinner never took longer than an hour, so we ended up back in our rooms after dinner, and most of the time couldn’t re-motivate to go back out after 10 pm. The disco doesn’t get hopping until after midnight, and with such spectacular weather you want to be able to be up with the sun.

The drop in price point from Desire of the posted rate of $300 a night, (there are deals to be had online if you are flexible on your travel weeks) and Temptations is at half of that. This means the menu has been simplified and Temptations is only offering the less costly options of food. Our favorite smoked salmon has been taken off the breakfast menu, and the food went from being good to merely mediocre. The poolside lunch buffet (the only food option during the day) had a daily sameness about it that became very unappetizing after a week. They have also dropped their 24 hour room service menu (now only breakfast is available as room service) although there is food and drink always available somewhere on the premises if you are hungry at 4 am and want to wander the grounds and find it. The resort is incredibly safe not to worry for even late night wanderings- fenced in with a security presence, and they have added extra security given the new night passes available. The nice thing about the location is the easy access to taxis and the town of San Jose del

Cabos.

The facilities are beautiful – immaculately maintained and with loads of hot towels available everywhere. The beauty of the desert landscape and sand dunes leading out into the Pacific Ocean

is every bit as nice as any resort in Los Cabos. There are no water sports and no swimming in the ocean given the lethal undertow and rip tide present. The swimming condition sign always flies black and there is absolutely no swimming in the ocean in front of the resort. There are public beaches down the road however. A real disadvantage if you like to swim in the coolish ocean – but an advantage if you like to meet people as everyone congregates around the heated swimming pool. This central congregation meant it was easier to meet everyone staying in the resort on a first name basis.  The beach is great to walk, safe (provided you don’t venture more than ankle deep in the water), and we enjoyed watching the pelicans and other sea birds diving for fish right off the crashing waves. We watched whales breeching a little further offshore. Temptations is a small boutique hotel (150 rooms), and looks especially tiny compared to the mammoth Hilton’s and Riu hotels that grace the hotel strip in the twin cities of Cabos San Lucas and  San Jose del Cabos  where Temptations is located.

There is talk that Original Resorts (a small, four resort, family owned business, based in Mexico

) is on the prowl for the prefect location for another Desire location. We can hope that now with only one Desire resort, there is a huge market for choice in the sexually charged adult resort business. The occupancy in Los Cabos is expected to increase given the lower price point, and it is still one of the few adult-only vacation options, and one of the few marketing sensuality. The challenge for Los Cabos Temptations in getting their guests numbers up in comparison to Cancun’s location is that Los Cabos can be difficult to get to. With daily flights running only from Dallas/Forth Worth, Phoenix and Los Angeles, the entire mid-west, and northern US and Canadian markets are largely inconvenienced to get to this desert paradise. We took an Air Canada Vacations flight from Toronto that flew once a week, and was $500 more expensive (and three hours longer) than the daily flights direct to Cancun.  

Like any new change there were some bugs to be worked out. The resort will have a Desire feel for many months as they implement the complete change to Temptations. They had already geared the staff up for the handover with the new menus even during the Desire days in late 2008. By day four of our visit we were tired of the reduced choices on the menu.  The dining alone will keep the age of guests down, though the possibility exists of grabbing a cab and taking in one of the restaurants that are no more than 15 minutes away from Temptations downtown location. There is a shopping center right across the street, and although the area is small, it is worth an afternoon bus ride to see the beauty of the buildings and the starkness of the surrounding desert.  This also meant you had less of the “gilded cage” feel, as you could easily walk to new scenery (or to visit the local pub to watch a sports game) and leave the resort if you needed a change of scenery.

It will be interesting to watch how Temptations walks the line between flirty and sex and appeals to that huge middle group of 30 plus couples looking for a sensuous – but safe- adventure that spices up their relationship without leaving a bad taste in your mouth. We felt that the Desire concept was great if you had communicated as a couple about your limits, and were looking for a naked paradise with like-minded people for an escape. We thought Temptations Cancun was best suited for the under 30 single crowd.  There is much to be said about vacations that don’t have unsupervised children splashing and spoiling an afternoon at the poolside. Maybe Temptations Los Cabos will be the half way point and be a better choice in adult only vacation that a Sandals or Breezes resort because it offers a sensuality to an open-minded culture looking to be (if only ever-so slightly) naughty.

Desire5   www.sexwithsue.com, www.schoolofsquirting.com, www.solveprematureejaculation.net

,

Temptations Los Cabos… It's all new again

We are currently staying at Desire in Los Cabos before it changes into a new Temptations resort (the new review will be posted in a few days). Getting away from the mountain of snow expected this week in Eastern Ontario. In a great jaccuzi room overlooing the volleyball court, with a spectacular view of the sand dunes leading into the picture perfect Pacific Ocean. We were able to get a great view of the wedding taking place at sunset yesterday (congrats to C and J) who along with their parents, said their vows at "the most romantic beach location they could think of".

We asked them what thier parents thought of them geting married at nude, sex resort?  C told me that as a couple they wanted their wedding in a "clothing optional spot", and that her family would accept it with love and support. It's long been our motto to "stop apologizing for who we are", but it was heart warming to see unconditional love and a refreshing openness.  They are in love, largely monogamous and happy to just to let it all hang out in the most authentic way possible. Love finds a way. So as we write sitting here watching the palm trees blow, we find more and more people who just want to be themselves in a world that dictates what romace should be. Teach the world how to love- that's what Suburban Hedonists seem to be doing.

www.sexwithsue.com, www.solveprematureejaculation.net, www.schoolofsquirting.com



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Grand Lido Negril in Jamaica – the review of nude beaches continues

Lido1 Lido2 Nudist   

www.sexwithsue.com, www.schoolofsquirting.com, www.solveprematureejaculation.net, http://www.superclubs.com/brand_grandlido/resort_negril/ 

Grand

Lido

Negril – A review

By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt

Clinical Sex Therapists, Syndicated Talk Show Host, and Authors of The Ethical Hedonist

 

We’ve both had a few friends who decided to skip the big production and head down south to get married. No seating arrangements to organize, no huge expense of feeding extended relations, and no church ceremony for couples who have rarely darkened a church door. Getting married in a simple ceremony on a beach (whether you elope or drag immediate family down with you) has the advantages of having your honeymoon start immediately, and  enjoying the breathtaking view of turquoise water, lush vegetation, and a sunset of pinks and purples that beat any kind of man-made decorations.  

 

Most resorts in the

Caribbean

offer weddings – usually under a simple trellis overlooking the water. Sometimes they are set apart from the rest of the resort, but we’ve found many are wedged between the jet skis screaming in the background, and beach walkers tromping by. We know because we’ve accidently stumbled by a few beach weddings in the search for interesting seashells. Oops. This trip we saw four beautiful weddings far at a distance, in the wedding cabana at Grand Lido Negril over the time we were there, (and later having run into three of those brides who raved about their ceremonies).  Although sold as an upscale Superclub concept, it seemed that Grand Lido is also a perfect venue for elegant and romantic weddings.

 

Grand

Lido

is a majestic resort on one end of Negril’s famous seven mile beach of white sand.  The resort reminded us of one of those perfectly turned out southern ladies – well appointed, gracious, classic, and understated. Laid back with a traditional style, young couples (and parents, even grand-parents coming for a holiday or attending a wedding) will appreciate the quiet refinement of the grounds, sumptuousness of the food, and sophistication of the other guests.

 

Given all polish that is Grand Lido Negril, (and classic elegance really are the words we would use to describe it) what’s really interesting about

Lido

is its slightly flirty feel. Between the oversized drinks, the activity staff that greet you with a wink and a smile, and the fact that half the resort is clothing optional (yup, they have a nude beach),

Lido

feels decidedly grown up. We met a number of people who had been coming to Grand Lido for decades, loving its mix of relaxation and discernment. Many of them had started on the huge regular beach, and had migrated to taking off their wet, sandy and uncomfortable suits over the years. And as we said before, taking your bathing suit off is the second hardest thing you’ll do on vacation. The hardest thing is putting it back on. The resort didn’t have a sexual feel, just a relaxed openness about it that was nonchalant and accepting. Many had made great friends over the years as clothing optional bars, pools and hot tubs lend themselves well to starting conversations with strangers. Nudity really does lend itself to openness.

 

Terrific staff was mentioned again and again as the reason guests returned for an annual trek to western

Jamaica

. Without fail we experienced very friendly, relaxed hospitality, and the staff seemed kind and long serving. And the good service isn’t artificially enticed. Tipping at any of the Superclubs is simply not allowed, and so with the exception of paid catamaran “booze cruises” and European spa service, you don’t spend any money. The spa seemed busy (due to a plenary of weddings), and offered a variety of services at comparable prices.

 

We had a fantastic meal in the Japanese restaurant – which was fun and inclusive with eight to a table. They were sensitive to food allergies, and the food was varied and plentiful. The service at the French restaurant was great, although we found the food mediocre with some good dishes and some not-so-great ones. We did however enjoy the live piano dinner music that accompanied the food.  During the day, we ate jerk chicken at the poolside Jamaican restaurant and it was notably tasty.

 

Evenings (after dinner in one of the five restaurants), a band played up-tempo reggae dance music. One of things we really loved about

Jamaica

was the music everywhere. All the Jamaicans moved beautifully (wish we could dance half as well), and even the lowly house bands are head and shoulders above the mediocre music played at resorts anywhere else we’ve travelled. Grand Lido is not really known for it’s nightlife (the resort is usually quiet by 10:30), but it is literally across the road from the notorious Hedonism ll resort, where you can get a night pass to see the shows, piano bar, and dancing if you are looking for more action.

Lido

is about relaxation, romance and fine dining, and you may be disappointed if you expect a lot more in the way of serious night life. The nights we visited the piano bar there was only guest karaoke (we couldn’t take the Tammy Wyette “Stand by Your Man” cover and left after one song), but found sitting in the hot tub with the cognac and cookies they had left in the rooms a much more typical Lido late night experience.

 

The thing we need to note about Grand Lido Negil, (besides the nude pool- smile) was the physical location.

Lido

is set on a spectacular coastline. The turquoise water that stays shallow for a good distance offers world-class snorkeling right off the beach, which can be hard to find at a resort of

Lido

’s quality. We saw hundreds of multi-colored fish, rays, beautiful fan coral, and even an octopus within sight of the resort. Sailing, sea kayaking, separate reef snorkeling and scuba boat trips are offered daily. We had an easy walk up the beach for a good hour of soft sand and shoreline, which was as romantic a stroll as we’ve had anywhere. Security guards are stationed at the entrance to each resort along the way and we felt completely safe, and were able to walk drink in hand. 

 

There are a few interesting things about Grand Lido Negril that are worth mentioning. A plaque at the bar at the far end of the resort says it is home “far bar” to the band Little Feat (can you say “Be my Dixie Chicken?”) and their fans who are compared to deadheads (legions of the Grateful Dead band) for their dedication to attending hundreds of concerts. The Feats appear at Grand Lido every February and pay homage to the bartenders and hospitality of

Lido

as well. Grand

Lido

also used to have a 147-foot M/Y Zein, a luxury power yacht that was originally presented as a wedding gift to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier by Aristotle Onassis that took guests out on sunset cruises. A number of the guests we spoke to remembered it, and said it symbolized the kind of resort it was, and the honeymoon atmosphere of the place. Unfortunately it was sold as the yacht became a bit leaky and tired at the end of her life. But that majestic “Grand old Dame hotel” feel still lingers about the place.  And they probably have one of the coolest trees in the middle of the property that we’ve ever seen. It is a 100 plus year old cottonwood tree that is so statuesque, and so magnificent, that it looks like a Disney caricature of what a tree should look like. And it makes a one-of-a-kind place for wedding pictures.

 

The casual elegance of the place really lends itself to the dress code. A bathing suit, a wrap (that turns into what Blaik calls “his man skirt”), good sun hat, fitness clothes, and a couple of evening dinner outfits, (maybe even less if you don’t go off the nude side during the day) is really all you need. We didn’t see people getting all dolled up for breakfast, and since we travel in Tilley adventure clothes (the most amazing clothes that let you wash them wearing them in the shower), they took up from excursions, to dancing, and travel. We went to the French restaurant Le Piacere for dinner with another couple from

Ontario

and the guys needed dinner jackets. Blaik shook out his travel Tilley blazer from the bottom of his suitcase and was complimented on his dapper look. Check us out standing in near the cool

Lido

tree. (insert photo 1 from Grand Lido Negril)

 

They offer a decent gym (the one at Hedonism across the street however, is four times the size) and may be worth checking out if you are a serious fitness buff. Grand

Lido

has a tennis court and they claim they have a PGA rated course up the road that free to use for guests, but we never saw anyone playing tennis or golfing. Everyone was mesmerized by the ocean and there was lots of floating on the water sprawled on rafts.  So if you’ve got a sports lover and beach book worm combination in your house, Grand Lido would make a great combination so that everyone got the kind of vacation they really wanted.  

 

Our interactions with the water staff were pleasant. In speaking to divers, they had an outstanding experience diving on the far reefs, and the help and instruction – like all the service got great reviews. 

 

Grand Lido is a fabulous all round choice if you are looking for water sports with its ocean bay location and one of the best beaches in the

Caribbean

.  Or, if you are simply looking for an upscale vacation, nude or not, it is well worth putting on your itinerary.

 

 

 



,

Hedonism 2 and Hedo 3 – the reviews from Jamaica

Hedo Hedo2    Hedo1

www.sexwithsue.com, www.schoolofsquirting.com, www.solveprematureejaculation.net, www.hedonism.com

Hedonism ll and Hedonism lll A review

 

By Sue McGarvie, and Blaik Spratt

Clinical Relationship Therapists, Syndicated Talk Show Host, and Authors of The Ethical Hedonist

www.sexwithsue.com

 

When I was 16, I spent arguably the best summer of my young life as a counselor at a large family camp in

Ontario

. I was one of 60 co-ed staff.  It was an amazingly fun place, and I made lifelong friends. Camp was singing by the campfire, raiding the boy’s cabin, skinny dipping, dancing at costume parties, and summer romance.

 

Going to Hedonism was the closest thing I’ve experienced as an adult to re-creating that community feel of laugh-out-loud fun of camp. Only instead of mystery meat in the dining hall, and outhouses with flashlights, Hedonism offers spectacular sunsets, unlimited perfect banana daiquiri’s, hot tubs, cabaret shows, and sensuous spa massages. And it’s the scurrying crabs, not mosquitoes that abound.

 

Forget what you’ve read about Hedo in Playboy, or the myth of it being a sexually aggressive place.  The words we would use to describe the two Hedonism resorts are silly, zany, relaxing, casual, outrageous, sensual, saucy and friendly. Clearly, some of the legends are no more than wishful thinking. Nobody jumps you, and it isn’t a place to go trolling for sex. You would probably have more luck at a nightclub like Rick’s Cafe down the beach atop Negril’s cliffs (one of the 10 most famous bars in the world, and home to the fearless cliff divers). However if you want to make real friends who may want to play with you, then Hedonism does offer the best opportunity we’ve ever found to meet the group we call “Ethical Hedonists.” This is an open-minded and adventurous crowd.

 

People who “get” Hedo are almost cult-like in their love of the place. There are books written about it, Hedonism cocktail parties that organize themselves in large cities, and groups of travel friends that make an annual pilgrimage with names like “the Wild Bunch”, the Bubbly Bares”, and  the BareAss Buccaneers”. It’s really about community and the need for like and open-minded people to congregate. Hedonism is not about orgies on every flat surface of the place. We did see some relaxed, but loving, open sexual play going on a few times between partners. It wasn’t offensive, and was limited exclusively to the nude hot tub.  You had to look for it, and if you think it’s about getting all the sex you want there then you are likely mistaken.

 

We think the magic of Hedonism can best be defined by Serena, the nude pool bartender at Hedo lll, who said “It’s not craziness. Hedo is just about people being who they really are.”  And having grown-up fun (which includes, but isn’t limited to a flirty sexuality) and relaxing in a place where nobody judges you- provided you offer the same in return.  This means you can use your ball cap to comb your hair, dance naked, play the game that shows off the tattoo closest to your pubic region, pretend you are a Roman Emperor on toga night, or just honeymoon away from it all floating in the warm

Caribbean Sea

on a raft. It’s different from the elegant but over-dressed crowd at other resorts (fashonista’s at breakfast) Hedonism overall is much more down to earth and friendly.

 

There are two large resorts, the 27 year old Hedo ll in Negril (we were there during their anniversary week the end of October), and the newer, nine year old Hedo lll in Runaway Bay about three hours apart from each other on the coast of Jamaica.  They have almost the same amenities, and similar cliental. They both have a 40% return of guests (unheard of loyalty for a resort, so those who love it, love it again and again), but if you have guests returning for over 27 years, they tend to now be in the 45 to 65  age group on average. Don’t get the idea that it’s a place for the over 50 crowd, there were a range of ages (we met five large “girls gone wild” groups of girlfriends in their 20’s having an adventure week together a la Sex in the City), and newly-weds wouldn’t be out of place. A majority (80%) of the guests are couples, unless they are in organized travel of girl groups, and the wandering single guy syndrome was something we simply didn’t see.  And despite the perfect people shown in the brochure, (don’t go expecting to see nothing but gorgeous supermodels rubbing suntan lotion all over each other) the majority were ordinary looking people dressed in 45 sunblock and a smile. Hedo lll as a rule skews younger, but there was a couple in their 70’s who we met there as well. You can go online to www.hedonism.com and see what groups or activities are happening the week you’re thinking of attending, and register to start talking to other guests in advance of your arrival. We met people that greeted each other like long lost friends when they met after chatting a few times online. It allows you to recognize people, and gives you an opening to start conversations and have friends to have dinner with from the get go.

 

Kevin Levee, the General Manager of Hedonism lll calls Hedo a “facilitator”.  “The Hedonism resorts open a door to play if you want it. Or simply lets you have an outgoing and interesting all inclusive vacation, on one of Jamaica’s great beaches if you just want to hang” he says.

 

Don’t let the stories scare you off. Both Hedo ll, and lll (there never was a Hedo l) are clothing optional – not nude. There is a place for all stages of undress at Hedonism. There are two definite areas at Hedo ll, one for the clothed (which is far, far larger than the nude section), and there is an invisible line in front of the dive shack that will have the smiling security guard handing you a towel if you cross naked. The nude pool and hot tub are discreetly tucked away at the far back corner of the resort. At Hedo lll there is the clothed and naked side, and there has also evolved a “confused” (not nude or prude) area they call the quad with its own gorgeous swimming pool. It’s open to clothed, topless, or nude, (wear or don’t wear whatever you want), and the two groups mingle easily. It offers a safe alternative for nudists who don’t want to see any open sex.   The one thing I know about people who like to get naked in public is that they are a friendly bunch.  They tend to be a more tolerant and open minded, with a philosophy of “we are all the same under our clothes”.

 

Kevin goes onto say (in his sexy Jamaican accent), “when you lose your clothes you lose your “isms”, and it’s just about people talking together.”  

 

Jamaica

has stereotypical tropical weather. Cloudless sunshine all morning, and heavy showers for an hour during nap time mid afternoon. And you need your nap. Unlike most comparable resorts, Hedo offers terrific nighttime entertainment right on the property. A large entertainment staff and the available nightlife were two of the things that brought most of the first timers we met to try out Hedonism.  The music was well worth taking in. The Jamaican culture of music and dance was prevalent from the singing “eggman” at breakfast to a couple of the best dance bands we’ve ever heard play anywhere. We would have gladly paid separately to see the rockin’ Commitments-type band, or the exceptional reggae group whose style was tight, infectious and great to dance to.   Hedonism also provided a strong house band during dinner and before the 70’s style disco (complete with age-appropriate music) got going. Or guests had the option to make their way to the notorious Hedo piano bars.  The piano bar is half sing-a-long, half variety act, and all with mandatory audience participation, where the host changes the words of songs to be hysterically naughty.  Late night has everyone congregating in the hot tubs, or doing a kamikaze waterslide that shoots you like a bullet through the disco.  The hot tub bars stay open until the last patron stumbles their way to bed, often at 6 am. Each night is theme night where a good portion of the patrons dressed up in costumes that included a “pimp and ho night”, a pj’s and lingerie evening, a swashbuckling pirate themed night, and the infamous toga party where the staff leaves you a extra sheet on your bed so that the whole resort is wrapped up in billowing while cloth.   

 

Beyond a raucous nightlife, consistently hot weather, and an all-inclusive price (tipping is disallowed, so we spent less than $40 extra for airport gratuities only), Hedonism is set on a spectacular coastline. Turquoise water that stays shallow for a good distance, offers world-class snorkeling right off the beach. We saw hundreds of multi-colored fish, rays, beautiful fan coral, and even an octopus within sight of the resort. Sailing, sea kayaking, separate reef snorkeling and scuba boat trips are offered daily. We walked thigh-high through the water as the sun was going down, and had to watch out not to step on the fish floating above the sandy bottom.

 

It should be noted that Hedonism isn’t five star rooms and impeccable venue. As one house inspector from

Calgary

said, “they have 100% humidity, salt water, and off-the-scale UV rays. The only way they could keep up with the peeling paint would be to close the resort down and paint for a month every year.”  The resorts were clean, the rooms pleasant with the usual accessories, but abject luxury isn’t how we would describe it. This is a place you go to watch the picture perfect sunsets, hang on the beach, dance the night away, chat with exceptional people, and roar with laughter at the friendly stories. Most people just use their rooms to sleep in. The two complaints we heard expressed were about a shortage of beach towels, and the occasional presence of “working girls” (although we didn’t see any) who snuck in on a purchased night pass with other locals or guests at different resorts to see the nightly entertainment. They are escorted off property, and banned if caught “selling their wares”, but are a fact of life in a country with disparaging incomes.    

 

There are a few package-included on-site restaurants which take reservations in the morning, and three beach grills that offer typical beach fare (most notably amazing jerk chicken and pork, a Jamaican specialty). We ate everyday at the beach for lunch as it was that good, especially at Hedo lll, where the jerk festival was just finishing as we arrived, and their reggae restaurant had spectacular (but hot!) jerk meats. Otherwise, a large buffet was provided for guests that did offer a decent variety of food. Having made changes in the kitchen over the last year, guests commented that the food was much improved from the previous year.

 

One of the things we heard again and again when we asked why people returned to Hedonism (the place is littered with colored rocks with the names of couples and their dates visited) was the quality of the people – both staff and guests. We can’t say enough about the great staff, who went out of their way to say “ya mon” the Jamaican hello, every time you walked by. Everyone from Robert, the 25 year old maintenance guy to the General Managers were approachable and smiling. It was infectious to the guests, and without fail the people we spoke to stated the thing they liked best about Hedonism was the interesting and kind people that frequent the resort. Think of an amazingly friendly staff, with big hearts and a great spirit about them, and the kind of like-minded guests that morph into friends you stay in touch with long after the holiday is over.  It really is that kind of place and we loved it and can’t wait to add our own painted rock as soon as possible.

 

Hedonism offers “booze cruise” boat rides a few times a week that you pay separately for, and go out for a three hour cruise. Their Saturday trip is a nude excursion that takes you to the snorkeling spots, let’s you splash down the attached slide, and shows you the magnificent Jamaican coastline. We heard a story about a recent nude trip that set sail out of the Hedo ll dock’s on the afternoon before the swashbuckling theme party. The participants brought along their pirate hats and plastic cutlasses on board as part of the festive theme during the cruise, and pirate lingo flowed. When a boat from a neighboring resort anchored close by to gawk at the naked revelers, and as the rum punch took hold, a group of naked Hedo men got into the spirit of things. They swam over and boarded the other boat (fake sword clutched in their teeth and pirate hats askew), and demanded “their beer or their women”. Stealing a few cans of Miller beer, they swam triumphantly back to the nude boat with their bounty to roaring laughter and leaving behind a stunned plundered vessel. That in essence, is a classic Hedonism experience. Being outrageous but fun, hanging with other silly new friends, and playing the part of a naked pirate on the

Caribbean Sea

.  And where else can a group of middle aged people dress up and behave like pirates in the safest and most accepting of ways?



,

Temptations resort in Cancun – tough work lying on the beach, sipping on umbrella drinks

Temptations1 Temptations Resort By Sue “Sex with Sue” McGarvie, and Blaik Spratt, Clinical Sex and Relationship Therapists

Authors of The Ethical Hedonist

www.sexwithsue.com, www.schoolofsquirting.com, www.prematureejaculation.net

Cancun is sometimes called “Disney

Mexico

”. Cancun isn’t siesta, and tortillas, and shy dark-eyed Mexican children, this is a narrow strip of land thrust out into the Caribbean, on the side of the

Yucatan

peninsula that is home to hundreds of hotels, restaurants, night clubs and designer stores.  This is where the fish-belly white northerners and Europeans come for a week or two of sun, sand and debauchery in the all-inclusive resorts. Temptations Resort is at the far end of the zone hotelera through the downtown core that houses the infamous landmark bars such as Margaritaville, Coco Bongos and Senor Frog’s.

Temptations has been recently re-named from

Blue

Bay

over the last few months. Wedged between two marinas, on a narrow beach, Temptations doesn’t have the coastline of some other

Cancun

resorts, but is still well worth looking at as a resort destination for singles, groups of friends, and more outgoing honeymooners. Like its name, Temptations is the riskier, saucier version of the larger, more family resorts along the strip. It’s a flirty place, but it maintains a sense of decorum in a fun way. Temptations big appeal is that it is adult-only. This means, no babies crying at 7 am, no unsupervised kids splashing you in the pool, and no reason not to keep the games (both day and evening) ever-so-slightly naughty.

Temptations is known for it’s raucous activity staff, who are always looking to engage guests in fun and energetic beach and pool parties. Typical events such as beach volleyball, water polo, salsa dancing lessons were popular, along with water balloon fights, and sensuous fitness, where women learn the basics of pole, chair and lap dancing. They have a game of tequila pool volleyball – where whomever flubs the ball takes a swig right out of the bottle. The Friday game we saw had everyone hang their bathing suits on the net and left the entire pool filled with naked bodies. Finally, evening entertainment includes live bands, lingerie shows, sexy Latin dancing, and body shots before the bus takes guests still raring to go up the road to Coco Bongo’s for more late night revelry.  The activities are only slightly risqué but stop before that invisible comfort line is crossed, and could be easily avoided if that isn’t your thing. Everyone has a choice as to whether they participate.

Not to be confused with their sister resort 40 minutes away, (also owned by Original Resorts, the legendary Desire -see www.desireresorts.com) Temptations isn’t Hedonism

Mexico

. It has toned down since it has had the renovations and re-invention into Temptations from its previous identity as

Blue

Bay

, and is far more flirty than previously overtly sexual. There used to be much more late night beach sex and sexual games, and lifestylers looking for more will be quite disappointed. Temptations have watered down the sexual nature of the resort, and it has certainly changed from years gone by. Temptations is perfect for a first foray into “adult-only”, or a holiday where you want to gaze into each others eyes and know that kissing on the beach will be indulged, not frowned upon. Serious nudists or swingers will find Temptations much too tame sexually. The average age was about 21-30 but doesn’t have the “spring-break” feel of all night parties – it is more upscale than that. You can have that kind of “into each other” vacation, but the whole resort has an underlying party feel to it. Most of the guests go out clubbing at night, and if you want to avoid the loud noise upon their return ask for a room off the beaten path.

There is no full nudity allowed, and you are only allowed to be topless around the pool and on the beach.  Through the entire time we were there, we only saw a handful of women enjoying the freedom of removing their tops. They have you sign a waiver at check-in that underlines that overt sexual behavior in public is prohibited and the resort will have you kicked out if caught.  There may be lots of sex going on- many of the guests were down as groups of single men and women, so you saw lots of hooking up happening in the martini lounge every night but it all happens behind closed doors. This is the place to go if you want to feel gently sexy, or if the thought of Hedo

Jamaica

’s reputation scares you to death. Temptations is the much more modest, albeit friendly and outgoing, little sister. For single women, the pickings are great. There were lots of attractive people drinking by the “swimup bar”, in one of the four pools, especially the one known as the sexy pool, but the men definitely outnumbered the women. The sexy pool has swings, four whirlpools (not to be confused with hot tubs as they were the same temperature of the rest of the pool), and a little harder drinking crowd. The sports pool is where the bulk of the games takes place and is also the “cast headquarters” or home to the activity staff who will tease you into a game of something if you’re lounging too long. The quiet pool (again with a swim up bar) is for the newly-weds wanting one on one time and is the location older guests could be found. It had the stereo-typical beach resort vacation type feel to it. In fact, we found that daytime noise in this area is virtually non-existent.

With the renovations and ambient sensuous feel, the rooms were some of the nicest we have experienced in

Cancun

. More upscale than the one we had at Desire and they came with “sexy mood lighting” (labeled as such), and a balcony hot tub that was separated from poolside access by a blind. You could enjoy the feeling of having sex in the Jacuzzi outside while maintaining your privacy.  The rooms displayed on their website (www.temptationsresort.com) were exactly as advertised.

The food was acceptable and service was outstanding. There was a good variety of choices, decent buffets, and there was lots of it. Temptations emphasize their central buffet restaurants for feeding guests in the close to 400 rooms they had filled. They also had smaller theme restaurants but we had difficulty getting into these restaurants at night (they take reservations at 10 am and they were all full for the days we wanted- they had been booked before we arrived at the resort), and compared to the glowing recommendations we made about the food at other restaurants in Cancun, (and at Desire), the food at Temptations was mediocre. The Asian restaurant had great ambiance (located right along the shoreline), but the food quality was consistently middle of the road.  If you are looking for a variety of blender drinks (ask for them made strongly, and the bartenders are happy to oblige), with fresh and beach food available day and night, then Temptations is exactly what the doctor ordered. But it isn’t a fine dining kind of resort. 

The resort was filled with lots of visitors from the

UK

and other parts of

Europe

when we were there. Many guests had been there previously and found it modestly priced and loved the fact that it was adult only. As one couple from

England

explained, “we had our Greek vacation ruined by out-of-control kids, and this was a chance to lie in the

Caribbean

for a modestly priced vacation”. The guests we spoke to felt it was great value, and would recommend it highly. The couples we spoke to paid 900 pounds sterling for a two week all inclusive vacation including air fare. We’ve seen it posted online for $550 US a week, which is a very affordable vacation, and priced well for the young couples and singles in their 20’s they seem to attract.

Based on the reviews online, lots of guests loved Temptations, and had a great holiday. Anyone who didn’t recommend it tended to come from the over 40 crowd who “had been there, done that” when it came to lots of drinking, dancing, and outgoing games. Spend the extra money to visit Desire down the road if you are looking for a more upscale, or sensuous experience. Temptations is great for young couples, and is a well priced singles holiday if you want to meet lots of people, have a holiday romance, or just have great Cancun stories to bring home about toplessness and naked co-ed water volleyball.  

 

Temptations