OBH 2016 - NEW LOCATION!!!

[PapiYames]

If anybody went to the 2014 or 2015 One Big Holiday shows, you know how rad it was ... and by now you probably got a survey from Cloud 9 Adventures or whoever. Given I picked War on Drugs and Dr. Dog as bands I'd like to see in 2015, I think they listen! 

BUT, the point of this post is that they give maybe 6 other options for possible OBH locations beyond the Hard Rock in Riviera Maya, plus an "Other" space that's blank.

I'm trying to get support here to petition MMJ to bring the OBH experience to a new location for 2016. I love Riviera Maya and Playa Del Carmen is pretty sweet too, but after 2 years in a row, I think it would really awesome to check out a new place with all the fans and the band ... it's so much fun, and I know MMJ folks are adventurous, so I really hope we can all meet up in a new awesome place for the next round!

So, if you haven't already filled out the survey, please think about picking somewhere other than Hard Rock for 2016! And pick cool bands, 'cause they really listen!

If you already filled out the survey but just realized that going to a cool island or another part of Mexico would make for an even better OBH '16, maybe email  info@cloud9reservations.com ??

Anybody else already fill out the survey and also request a new location?

Thanks, would love to hear thoughts!

[MACKEL]

While I'm all for some exotic beach diversity, I think it's going to be a tough sale to change from the Hard Rock Riviera Maya, at least for OBH3. I think anything could go for OBH4. I remember hearing or reading that either the band or Cloud 9 wanted to keep OBH at each destination for 3 years. That way people can catch their groove with a serious travelling adventure like this. This was my first year at OBH (I lacked the money American points) to make the first One, and it really took me about two days to get used to the whole resort layout/where things are/how to order drinks/how to tip properly/where and when to get food, etc etc etc.

I'm also an audio enthusiast... I'm lossless/flac/alac/wav all the way type of guy. Other than the initial issues on night 1, I thought the sound was absolutely killer in that concert courtyard. That was a huge concern of mine going into my first OBH: the overall sound quality. I was more than pleased. So to me this is another reason to go back to Riviera Maya.

From a somewhat selfish perspective, I would be really excited if OBH 3 is back at Riviera Maya just so that I know what to expect. For me, that will really help maximize my trip next time around. I'm not saying we shouldn't consider other venues/locales, but the Hard Rock Riviera Maya seems tough to beat.

I've also done a lot of reading about other resorts that have the actual beach stages, like the Hard Rock Punta Cana. A beach stage sounds amazing to my inexperienced mind, but I've read a lot of complaints from people who get sick of standing in the sand, especially once the shows go and there's trash everywhere (throw your damn trash away, people).

On a side note, thank you PapiYames for requesting Dr. Dog and The War on Drugs! I'm going to imagine that your request is what brought them to Mexico! Both of those shows were incredible...

Just my 2 American points... I'd love to hear other ideas, too.

[redpatoka]

why did we do obh 1&2 from england...cancun easy to fly to-assuming same for usa-and cost reasonable compared to other parts of carribean which would be too high for us....we go mainly for the shared experience of the music the sound in the courtyard is fine wouldnt the sound get lost if performed on a beach next to the sea if this is the case it would be pointless going.the food is fine the drinks are good the staff are brilliant . THE WAR ON DRUGS played a great show very impressed hope they play#3 and also BAND OF HORSES 2 great sets PRES HALL great as always,hadnt heard of DR DOG or DAWES-except for DYLAN basement tapes with jim-but they were ok.KEEP OBH AT RIVIERA MAYA FOR COST ,CONVENIENCE,SOUND AND ALLROUND PLEASENTNESS

[PapiYames]

As far as the sound issues go, I assume this is something that MMJ or Cloud 9 arranges, and not Hard Rock? Wouldn't they bring their own sound people to where ever then set up? Hard to imagine that they would go to another destination and just have to deal with a horrible sound crew/system. All the debate seems about Punta Canta, but that was one option among 6 or so. I guess I am just not that stressed about figuring out a resort either, seems like that's part of the fun, rather than going to the same restaurant 3 years in a row, but that's me.

Redpatoka - Do you know if there were a large number of fans coming from the UK?

[millerjustin]

As far as the sound issues go, I assume this is something that MMJ or Cloud 9 arranges, and not Hard Rock? Wouldn't they bring their own sound people to where ever then set up? Hard to imagine that they would go to another destination and just have to deal with a horrible sound crew/system. All the debate seems about Punta Canta, but that was one option among 6 or so. I guess I am just not that stressed about figuring out a resort either, seems like that's part of the fun, rather than going to the same restaurant 3 years in a row, but that's me.

Redpatoka - Do you know if there were a large number of fans coming from the UK?

I think the sound concerns relate to acoustics of concert courtyard vs. open beach, as opposed to sound system and board.  I've heard some grumblings about Panic shows on the beach where sound loss was a real issue for the audience (in addition to sore legs from standing in sand).  This being said, I am a proponent for changing venues - this year didn't have the same sense of adventure as OBH1 - same restaurants, food generally sucked, no real beach - same complaints as always.  Either way, I'll go back to Mexico in a heartbeat

[redpatoka]

As far as the sound issues go, I assume this is something that MMJ or Cloud 9 arranges, and not Hard Rock? Wouldn't they bring their own sound people to where ever then set up? Hard to imagine that they would go to another destination and just have to deal with a horrible sound crew/system. All the debate seems about Punta Canta, but that was one option among 6 or so. I guess I am just not that stressed about figuring out a resort either, seems like that's part of the fun, rather than going to the same restaurant 3 years in a row, but that's me.

Redpatoka - Do you know if there were a large number of fans coming from the UK?

.....3 OF US TRAVELLED AGAIN WE MET A COUPLE AT THE AIRPORT FROM UK AND SAW ANOTHER COUPLE WITH OBH TSHIRTS ON FLIGHT SO ASSUMING A HANDFUL THIS IS WHY OBH IS SO SPECIAL FOR US TRAVELLING SO FAR -WITH TRAIN ETC 24HOURS- AND FLIGHTS AT £500 EACH[APPOX $1500 EACH],THE SOUND ISSUE IS TO DO WITH THE ACOUSTICS AT LEAST IN A COURTYARD IT HELPS.

[gluvmiller]

As far as the sound issues go, I assume this is something that MMJ or Cloud 9 arranges, and not Hard Rock? Wouldn't they bring their own sound people to where ever then set up? Hard to imagine that they would go to another destination and just have to deal with a horrible sound crew/system. All the debate seems about Punta Canta, but that was one option among 6 or so. I guess I am just not that stressed about figuring out a resort either, seems like that's part of the fun, rather than going to the same restaurant 3 years in a row, but that's me.

Redpatoka - Do you know if there were a large number of fans coming from the UK?

I think the sound concerns relate to acoustics of concert courtyard vs. open beach, as opposed to sound system and board.  I've heard some grumblings about Panic shows on the beach where sound loss was a real issue for the audience (in addition to sore legs from standing in sand).  This being said, I am a proponent for changing venues - this year didn't have the same sense of adventure as OBH1 - same restaurants, food generally sucked, no real beach - same complaints as always.  Either way, I'll go back to Mexico in a heartbeat

Exactly Justin. I'm one of those that complained about the acoustics on the beach. You're on a slant facing the stage. If the water is to your right facing the stage then standing on that side you're well below the stage and then the opposite when on the other side of stage you're up higher. And then add in the wind blowing in from your right off the ocean moves the sound from right to left. So with the set up in the courtyard you at least have the wind blowing the sound towards you. It's definitely a cool novelty of dancing in the sand and/or slightly in the water. But when all is said and done I would rather have the better sound. The sand versus concrete argument varies in my mind. Oh, and one issue were the drunks who would just stand in the ocean and pee while you're dancing on the edge of the water. That's gross and tacky.

In the end, where ever OBH3 will be, I'll have my passport stamped from that location.

[ralph]

why did we do obh 1&2 from england...cancun easy to fly to-assuming same for usa-and cost reasonable compared to other parts of carribean which would be too high for us....we go mainly for the shared experience of the music the sound in the courtyard is fine wouldnt the sound get lost if performed on a beach next to the sea if this is the case it would be pointless going.the food is fine the drinks are good the staff are brilliant . THE WAR ON DRUGS played a great show very impressed hope they play#3 and also BAND OF HORSES 2 great sets PRES HALL great as always,hadnt heard of DR DOG or DAWES-except for DYLAN basement tapes with jim-but they were ok.KEEP OBH AT RIVIERA MAYA FOR COST ,CONVENIENCE,SOUND AND ALLROUND PLEASENTNESS

We're in the same boat.  Traveling from Australia, the other locations mentioned will just make it too far and too expensive because of the extra days for travel and the additional airfare cost. Keep it where it is...

[redpatoka]

why did we do obh 1&2 from england...cancun easy to fly to-assuming same for usa-and cost reasonable compared to other parts of carribean which would be too high for us....we go mainly for the shared experience of the music the sound in the courtyard is fine wouldnt the sound get lost if performed on a beach next to the sea if this is the case it would be pointless going.the food is fine the drinks are good the staff are brilliant . THE WAR ON DRUGS played a great show very impressed hope they play#3 and also BAND OF HORSES 2 great sets PRES HALL great as always,hadnt heard of DR DOG or DAWES-except for DYLAN basement tapes with jim-but they were ok.KEEP OBH AT RIVIERA MAYA FOR COST ,CONVENIENCE,SOUND AND ALLROUND PLEASENTNESS

We're in the same boat.  Traveling from Australia, the other locations mentioned will just make it too far and too expensive because of the extra days for travel and the additional airfare cost. Keep it where it is...

. thats a good way for you guys to travel the best of luck and hope you/we all make it to OBH3,its worth emailing cloud9 they do listen to opinions and suggestions and take it on board;info@cloud9reservations.com

[sillyboob]

why did we do obh 1&2 from england...cancun easy to fly to-assuming same for usa-and cost reasonable compared to other parts of carribean which would be too high for us....we go mainly for the shared experience of the music the sound in the courtyard is fine wouldnt the sound get lost if performed on a beach next to the sea if this is the case it would be pointless going.the food is fine the drinks are good the staff are brilliant . THE WAR ON DRUGS played a great show very impressed hope they play#3 and also BAND OF HORSES 2 great sets PRES HALL great as always,hadnt heard of DR DOG or DAWES-except for DYLAN basement tapes with jim-but they were ok.KEEP OBH AT RIVIERA MAYA FOR COST ,CONVENIENCE,SOUND AND ALLROUND PLEASENTNESS

I have to agree with this post 100%.  Keep OBH3 (assuming there is one) at the Hard Rock RM!!

[Angela D Vice]

So I have a questions for all the veterans of OBH...  Is it worth it? 

I've read that people had "complaints" (not sure what that entails) but most were remedied.  Sounds like the food is not very good and if you're paying out the nose for the resort, is that something that is a big let down?  I realize that's not WHY anyone is going but it seems like something you would expect to be decent.

How were the rooms?  Did you ever feel unsafe?

I've been DYING to go but my hubby doesn't share my (elevated level of) enthusiasm.

[sillyboob]

Angela - It is sooooo worth it.  My wife & I had a blast at OBH2 (we missed OBH1).  There's something so over the top cool about having four nights of rocking shows, being that close to the ocean the whole time, a stage just steps away from the water, free refills all night long, warm weather in winter, the whole thing was just killer.

There are some complaints, the biggest two being the food (try the other restaurants onsite, or venture into Playa Del Carmen during the day for other food options) and the lack of a true beach at the Hard Rock.  The lagoon is okay for me, but others did not like the lack of a real beach.  Remember you can do a day trip to PDC if you want to go to the beach.

Seriously, if you can afford to go, it is such a cool experience.  I can't wait for the OBH3 announcement.  And I'm doing my best to avoid all the OBH3 ain't happening posts!

[sillyboob]

One other thing - the rooms.  Ours was fine.  The in-room liquor selection (and the dispenser) weren't so great, but we rarely drank in the room, and champagne was available from room service (bring plenty of 1's & 5's to tip with).  And there are plenty of bars around the resort.  We had a room with an upstairs terrace and jacuzzi, with a great view of Cozumel.  We used the jacuzzi everyday to help recover. One strange thing about our room (and the others I'm pretty sure - in the bathroom area the door for the toilet area doesn't go all the way to the ceiling, so beware!

And I felt safe the whole time.  So did my wife, and she had to come down on her own a day late because of grad school.

[Bulldog]

Angela,

I agree 100 % with Silly B. I went into OBH I petrified that things were gonna be a shambles based on reviews from the Dead shows and such and was VERY pleasantly surprised.

The staff is simply amazing, the atmosphere  was incredible, the music better each year (in my opinion), the location was good and I felt secure at all times while on the premises.

My wife isnt as into it as I am, and we have both been thinking about and planning for OBH 3 from the second we got home. I'm not even a drinker and I had a blast the entire time, to many wonderful people, great location, great staff and great music not to have the time of your life.

Yes the food wasnt anything to write home about, but honestly I have tried all restaurants over the two years and they try and insure theres something for everyone. The rooms, were good, but keep in mind the location, if you want to pick it apart for "musty smells" and such, its easy to do, but one the ocean what would u expect?

If you are an MMJ fan and they have it again go, you wont regret it....

[millerjustin]

2017  :(

[sillyboob]

This 2017 talk is really harshing my mellow...   

[Woldie]

I think all previous OBHers should be lying through their teeth and telling everyone how horrible these experiences were.  I would also advise reading the comments on the OBH setlists from folks who weren't there.

[Angela D Vice]

Thanks for all the info Sillyboob & Bulldog!  Woldie, you're funny!  I talked to a girlfriend of mine who went to WP in Punta this year (and she is extremely picky) to get her point of view on their experience and overall organization. 

She did say that the sound was better on one side of the stage than the other, but it wasn't horrible.  They thought dancing in the sand was awesome and while their legs may have been a little tired the next morning, the experience was worth it.  She was good with their room, food and activities.  Overall, they had a great time and will most likely do it again.

So I guess at this point it's just a waiting game to see if this will happen for '16 or if we'll have to wait until '17.