Previous Travels: Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Spain, Thailand, Cambodia, Maldives, Greece, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica, Aruba, St. Martins and Grenada. Ages in our party: 44,33,19,19 You have a 2 hour transfer from the airport. This is well organized as is the arrival at the hotel. Our luggage was delivered to our room without any complications. Rooms: Simple. We were only given 3 regular size towels each day – no facecloths, no hand towels, no bathmat. Very unclean – sinks were never cleaned. Showers were ok. Toilets were very dirty and hardwater stained to a dark gray. Airconditioner was on the noise level of a lawnmower. The rooms really echoed and had no sound barriers so you constantly heard the people above and beside your room. We had an ocean front and our boys had ocean view rooms. I would not recommend paying extra for an ocean front. It is not really on the ocean front and the view from the ocean view rooms was as good if not better! We did not find the food appetizing, even the A La Carte restaurants were tasteless. Of course, it is not uncommon that resort food is bland to unappetizing. The evening shows were in Spanish only. We speak spanish, so this was not a problem for us, but we felt it was thoughtless. Majority of staff speak spanish only, but there are a few peppered throughout who speak english as well to help the english only tourists (when they have time). There were a few really good staff, but the majority were EXTREMELY unfriendly and not courteous. Be very careful and make sure you take US dollars with you. Do not assume you can change money. Their exchange rate was US$ 0.65 cents for one Canadian dollar. (the bank exchange at home was US$ 0.98 cents for one Canadian dollar.) Credit card advance costs 10% hotel service fee. The bank machines were always empty (probably they were just for show). Several times the front desk had no money neither. Loose your all inclusive band, it costs US$15.00 Loose your safe key it costs US$80.00 Loose your room key it costs US$35.00 A second key, you must leave a cash deposit of US$15.00 A safe key, you must leave a cash deposit of US$35.00 Loose your towel card – cost US$20.00 Internet US$15.00 for 24 hours (own computer – only one wi-fi device at a time) and so on….. The disco is really fabulous. Lots of people and energy. Weekends is a little too full and getting a drink at any point in time is a challenge. Generally he who screams the loudest wins. Non-motorized watersports are included in your stay. Excursions are extra and expensive.
Security staff is everywhere
Room Number:
1231 & 1606
Room Block:
12 & 16
Arrival:
You have a 2 hour transfer from the airport. This is well organized as is the arrival at the hotel. Our luggage was delivered to our room without any complications.
Rooms: Simple. No irons No kleenex No conditioner No cream Soap is not refilled many days. They seem to have a problem with towels – we were only given 3 regular size towels each day – no facecloths, no hand towels, no bathmat. The rooms were very unclean – sinks were never cleaned. After 2 days we put a dab of mascara on the sink to see if it would be cleaned – it was still there on our 7th day! Showers were ok. Toilets were very dirty and hardwater stained to a dark gray. Airconditioner was on the noise level of a lawnmower. Once you were used to it, it was ok. It helped drown out the loud noise level of neighboring rooms and outside. The rooms really echoed and had no sound barriers so you constantly heard the people above and beside your room. We had an ocean front and our boys had ocean view rooms. I would not recommend paying extra for an ocean front. It is not really on the ocean front and the view from the ocean view rooms was as good if not better!
Restaurants and Bars: This is an "All Inclusive" hotel boasting several restaurants and bars. We did not find the food appetizing. There were 3 buffets and the food was the same everywhere. They supposedly had different themes in the different restauraunts, but that would be 3 disshes different (and terrible) to create the theme. Of course, it is not uncommon that resort food is bland to unappetizing. The drink service at the buffets was fast and courteous.
Even the A La Carte restaurants were tasteless. Service was poor, unfriendly and extremely slow.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
We had a lot of fun at the beach. The pools and grounds were beautiful.