Hedonism II: Wild and Wicked

Related pages: 30+ special section on Hedonism II

The resort that dares you to "Be Wicked for Week" tempts travelers with activities ranging from toga night to body painting.

Every Thursday afternoon, maids deliver white sheets to guest rooms at Hedonism II in Negril, Jamaica. But these sheets are not for the beds.

They're for the guests to wear to dinner that night.

"No sheet, no eat" is the motto of the weekly toga party at this resort known for its adults-only atmosphere. Hedonism II attracts fun-loving couples and singles over age 18 who come to this westernmost point of Jamaica for a vacation of sun, sand, and something more. These guests come to leave their inhibitions behind, seeking pleasure in the form of festivities like Toga Night, buffets to tempt the most devoted calorie counters, bars open until 5 a.m., and nonstop adult fun.

On Toga Night, some guests fashion traditional modest Roman wraps, but variations abound, most revealing plenty of sunburned skin. Don't be surprised to see women lining up at the buffet wearing topless micro-togas or men leaning against the bar sporting getups rarely seen outside a sumo wrestling ring. Hedonism's credo is that "a vacation should be whatever you want it to be," and for some that means a break from the cares and even the clothes of the everyday world.

Although some form of dress is required in the dining rooms (no need to worry about packing a dinner jacket for this resort), many guests wear only suntan oil and shades on the beach. The wide, white sand beach has room for everyone though, whether prude or nude. Half is "formal," with swimsuit required. The rest of the beach is reserved for those seeking the total tan. The nude beach also includes its own pool and hot tub, bar and grill cabanas and even volleyball and shuffleboard courts.

With its emphasis on unlimited pleasures, you might expect guests at Hedonism to be primarily college-aged. However, the average age here is 42. Over one-third of the guests are returnees, coming back year after year to partake of the food, fun and fantasy.

Located on twenty-two lush tropical acres, Hedonism II offers plenty of natural beauty. A few barefoot steps from the sea, coconut palms, flowering hibiscus, and banana trees create a mood of seclusion and privacy. The hotel faces the clear blue waters of Bloody Bay, named at a time when whalers cleaned their catch here.

The beach is the focal point of the resort, however, and it's part of seven miles of white sand for which Negril is best known. Once Negril was a fishing village most commonly regarded as a hangout for ganja smoking Rastafarians and hippies who came to camp out on the sand. Today, this town of 1,600 is still less crowded than its north shore cousins, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, but wildly popular with sunset lovers, scuba divers, and sunbathers.

All meals, drinks, water sports, gear, taxes, lessons and entertainment are included in the package price, and tipping is prohibited. That means there's no need to carry cash or credit cards (another plus for nude beach buffs).

"Here all the guests are equally rich because you can't spend money while you're here," says SuperClubs founder John Issa. Issa developed the first all-inclusive resort with Couples in Ocho Rios. It's a concept that has caught on and been duplicated world-wide.

That all-inclusive policy means that you're free to try anything you like without worrying about spending your vacation budget for the next five years. Ever been curious about windsurfing? Take a lesson. Want to know how to reggae dance? Throw off your shoes and jump in line. Wonder how those brightly colored drinks with the funny umbrellas taste? Belly up to the bar. You're free to try it all.

Most meals at Hedonism II are served buffet style on the roofed terrace featuring a cool peach and gray decor. From breakfast to dinner, the buffets tempt diners with an orgy of foods ranging from local specialties like curried goat or jerk pork to dishes such as Beef Wellington or ravioli. For a more elegant night out, guests reserve a table at the resort's specialty restaurant, Pastafari.

After dinner, there's a nightly show organized by the resort's entertainment crew. You'll see guests and staff strut their stuff during talent night (which might include an amateur strip-tease), fly through the air during the circus show, or bend over backwards for the limbo contest.

It's in these after-dark hours when the hedonists really get busy. Following the night's beach party, reggae dance, pajama party, or the ever-popular Toga Night, guests head to a disco that flashes with a $500,000 lighting system or to the nude hot tub for late night revelry. Others hang out at the bars, open until just before the Caribbean sun peaks over the horizon at 5 a.m.

Even members of the party-'til-you-drop crowd eventually head back to their rooms, which at Hedonism are comfortable but not luxurious. Twin and king size beds are available. Rooms do not have balconies or porches, although some rooms face the beach. In keeping with the adult atmosphere, there is one special feature in the rooms: mirrored ceilings above every bed.

For More Information: For information on Hedonism II and its new cousin, Hedonism III, see http:://www.superclubs.com

Disco photo by SuperClubs; all other images by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Copyright Paris Permenter & John Bigley

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