I'm curious though, and I'm seeking opinions on this: which of the following two pictures is better? I'm considering getting one framed for my man to place on his desk at work, and I can't decide which he'd appreciate more.
The Air and Space Museum (outside Washington) taken this summer:
Or the one taken in the gift shop at the resort last week:
A little game for you: I was actually quite tipsy in one of these pictures. Can you guess which one?
I'm feeling quite lazy and tired today from actually working all day, so I'll just "cut and paste" my review placed on trip advisor.com. This is the most sober I've been since last week. I think I'm going through rum withdrawl. Are the shakes normal? I bet a drink would solve that problem, wouldn't it?
*********
We stayed at the Sunset Beach Resort & Spa from Jan 15 - 22, arriving home last night. Once you find yourself in your room, you will most certainly have a great time. The food and drink are plentiful, the activities are endless, and the grounds and beaches are stunning. This review is in 3 parts: the not-so-good, the fabulous and a few tips that might make your stay just that little bit more enjoyable. So grab a cup of coffee (or a rum!) - this is a LONG review - and take a read:
The Not-So-Good:
1. Check-in
This resort proves that first impressions are everything. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and after being greeted with much needed cold fruit juice, we waited in line to check-in. We were in the middle of the pack, with people ahead of us and behind us. About 45 minutes later, it was finally our turn to check-in and were told that our room wasn't ready and to come back in an hour. Further, they had "run-out" of safe keys. Our wrist bands were placed on and upon suggestion, we sat in the lobby area and waited to be told when our room was available.
We helped ourselves to the free-flowing beer and waited. And waited. And waited. We watched those after us get their room keys and their luggage carried away time and time again. I really didn't understand but could only assume that perhaps they had made special arrangements or had paid extra for an upgraded room. My husband and I (together with my parents) bought the "Sunquest deal of the day" and paid an extraordinary low price ($750/person), so I began to wonder if it was because we didn't pay top dollar that we were left to wait for whatever rooms were available after this round of check-ins was complete. After nearly 3 hours of watching people check-in, I went up to politely inquire about our room. I talked to a lady who said she would look into it for us. She walked away....and never returned. LOL!! By this time I had at least half a dozen beers and was "irie". Whatever mon. We're in Jamaica! I laughed it off, waited about half an hour and inquired again. The gentleman I spoke with said he would look into it for us and DID return .... with room keys! Excellent!
He lead us to our room, located on the West side of the resort, to the 2-level cabana-style rooms and I became super excited. Our balcony would have been out to the garden and our front door faced onto the kid's pool. I slipped in the card, opened the door.....and immediatly saw clothes hanging in the closet to the right. I quickly closed the door and said to the bell-hop "there are people in this room!". We had actually received keys to an occupied room. I was mortified. What did we get ourselves into I wondered!
It was now nearly 4 hours into our arrival at the resort and we still didn't have a room. I had kept my patience and my cool up to this point. This was truly the last straw. We walked back to the lobby and I felt totally defeated. In all honesty, I just wanted to go home. The manager, Mr. Webb, walked by and saw how visably upset I was. He had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of my wrath. I yelled, swore, cried, and finally said: "either book my flight home or get me my own room. Now!". It was nearly 7 p.m., I was starving and exhausted and desperetely wanted to find a quiet place to myself.
Mr. Webb made it right. He apologized profusely and found us a room within 10 minutes, an upgraded ocean view on the 10th floor, Tower A. It was a gorgeous room, as it should have been. I don't think I would have accepted anything less at this point. Finally we could enjoy the resort and all it has to offer! Thank you Mr. Webb. :)
2. The bartenders
The bartenders throughout the resort are, in a word, grumpy, leaving one to wonder just exactly how the resort treats their staff. If the staff are not happy it will reflect in the quality of service their guests will receive. The bartenders are the pinnacle of an all-inclusive resort and interact the most with the guests. My husband and I tried our best to engage them in conversation and while we did eventually befriend of a few of them, it was a tough go at first. I do wish they would smile more.
(Note to resort management: give these guys a raise, cut them some slack, do *something* to show them some love. They work so hard and I bet if they felt just a little more appreciated, they may actually reflect a more positive attitude towards the guests.)
3. The beach grill
The beach grill is outdated and not very appealing to eat at unfortunately. We lunched there twice and both times left our food and walked up to the buffet. This may be more of a personal preference thing, however it is still something that I felt should be noted.
And finally,
4. The entertainment
The nightly entertainment wasn't up to par with other Jamaican resorts we have stayed at. We found the house band to be lacking in any energy whatsoever, and, in all honesty, sitting there listening to them made us feel sleepy. Quite often we found ourselves in the sports bar enjoying an after dinner drink and playing a game of pool or challanging one another in a mini-tournament of crib. Again, perhaps this is more of a personal preference thing (or an age thing, being in our late 30's, early 40's with no children, and looking for something with a little more energy.)
Now on to the Fabulous!
1. The rooms and the grounds. The resort simply gleams. It is so clean and it is very obvious how hard they work at keeping everything look just as one would expect it to look in the Carribbean. All in all, the entire resort is exceptionally visually appealing with many lounge chairs and tables offering shade from the hot sun. The beaches and pools offer an abundance of chairs and we never had any problems finding a good spot to relax and enjoy the heat. The maid staff also work exceptionally hard and we never had any problems with any little requests (for an extra towel, for example), and our room was always perfectly made up everyday, without fail.
2. All of the wait staff, but particulary "Teddy". Ted can be found serving in the Asian restaurant as well as in the main buffet. If you can, ask for him or sit at his table. He is extremely good at his job and will do everything in his power to make sure you are satisfied. All of the wait staff are very friendly, will inquire about your stay, and will take the time to talk to you for a few moments. We were very impressed with their quality of service. (Teddy, I miss your smile so much!)
3. As mentioned earlier, the food and drink are plentiful and there is something for everyone. I tend to stay away from meat when I travel (personal preference based on a bad Cuban experience), but from what I understand, the meat selections are wonderful. For travel vegetarians like me, I never had any problems filling up at any meal. Incredible variety and all very well prepared. When it comes to the 3 restaurants, we particularly enjoyed the Asian the most. The spring rolls and sushi bar are killer!! SOOOO good!!
4. Daily activities. If you are bored, it's your own fault. There is always something going on and the daytime entertainment staff are the best I've ever seen. They will engage you, make you laugh and they make it impossible NOT to have fun. Even if you are sitting out at the West beach, you will hear the music and you just may find yourself tapping your feet or shaking your butt to the music as you walk to the beach bar. I miss it all so much already!
4. Although my husband and I are not nudists, I have to give kudos to the security that guard the nudist beach. They are very respectful and will ensure privacy to those who are. My husband and I wanted to take pictures on the rocks that seperate the nude beach from the regular beach and were politely told, within seconds, that it wasn't allowed. No problem - there are many beautiful spots among the resort to get fabulous pictures. If you are a nudist looking for privacy, you will most certainly find it here.
On to some tips:
1. After reading reviews, we took our own beach towels. I'd suggest the same. It's just easier than trying to get a resort towel.
2. If you work out in the gym, do be sure to drink an exceptional amount of water. It's like working out in a sauna.
3. If you want to go parasailing, just make arrangements with the resort next door, Secrets. You will get a better and longer ride than if you go with the recommendation made at guest services.
4. If you reserve a spot under an umbrella either by the pools or the beach, please be willing to share. There are not enough to go around but there is enough room to share. Besides it's also a great way to make new friends!
*****************
A few things that could have made it just that much better:
1. A bar fridge in the room.
2. More ashtrays, as well as a "smoke-free" area.
3. An "adults only" pool and beach area.
4. Wine for purchase in the restaurants; and
5. Better nightly entertainment.
It is unfortunate that our check-in will leave such a lasting impression, but we did end up having the best of times!
I would absolutely recommend this resort to our friends with children but if you're a couple just looking to get away, I think there are better options out there for you.
The Not-So-Good:
1. Check-in
This resort proves that first impressions are everything. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and after being greeted with much needed cold fruit juice, we waited in line to check-in. We were in the middle of the pack, with people ahead of us and behind us. About 45 minutes later, it was finally our turn to check-in and were told that our room wasn't ready and to come back in an hour. Further, they had "run-out" of safe keys. Our wrist bands were placed on and upon suggestion, we sat in the lobby area and waited to be told when our room was available.
We helped ourselves to the free-flowing beer and waited. And waited. And waited. We watched those after us get their room keys and their luggage carried away time and time again. I really didn't understand but could only assume that perhaps they had made special arrangements or had paid extra for an upgraded room. My husband and I (together with my parents) bought the "Sunquest deal of the day" and paid an extraordinary low price ($750/person), so I began to wonder if it was because we didn't pay top dollar that we were left to wait for whatever rooms were available after this round of check-ins was complete. After nearly 3 hours of watching people check-in, I went up to politely inquire about our room. I talked to a lady who said she would look into it for us. She walked away....and never returned. LOL!! By this time I had at least half a dozen beers and was "irie". Whatever mon. We're in Jamaica! I laughed it off, waited about half an hour and inquired again. The gentleman I spoke with said he would look into it for us and DID return .... with room keys! Excellent!
He lead us to our room, located on the West side of the resort, to the 2-level cabana-style rooms and I became super excited. Our balcony would have been out to the garden and our front door faced onto the kid's pool. I slipped in the card, opened the door.....and immediatly saw clothes hanging in the closet to the right. I quickly closed the door and said to the bell-hop "there are people in this room!". We had actually received keys to an occupied room. I was mortified. What did we get ourselves into I wondered!
It was now nearly 4 hours into our arrival at the resort and we still didn't have a room. I had kept my patience and my cool up to this point. This was truly the last straw. We walked back to the lobby and I felt totally defeated. In all honesty, I just wanted to go home. The manager, Mr. Webb, walked by and saw how visably upset I was. He had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of my wrath. I yelled, swore, cried, and finally said: "either book my flight home or get me my own room. Now!". It was nearly 7 p.m., I was starving and exhausted and desperetely wanted to find a quiet place to myself.
Mr. Webb made it right. He apologized profusely and found us a room within 10 minutes, an upgraded ocean view on the 10th floor, Tower A. It was a gorgeous room, as it should have been. I don't think I would have accepted anything less at this point. Finally we could enjoy the resort and all it has to offer! Thank you Mr. Webb. :)
2. The bartenders
The bartenders throughout the resort are, in a word, grumpy, leaving one to wonder just exactly how the resort treats their staff. If the staff are not happy it will reflect in the quality of service their guests will receive. The bartenders are the pinnacle of an all-inclusive resort and interact the most with the guests. My husband and I tried our best to engage them in conversation and while we did eventually befriend of a few of them, it was a tough go at first. I do wish they would smile more.
(Note to resort management: give these guys a raise, cut them some slack, do *something* to show them some love. They work so hard and I bet if they felt just a little more appreciated, they may actually reflect a more positive attitude towards the guests.)
3. The beach grill
The beach grill is outdated and not very appealing to eat at unfortunately. We lunched there twice and both times left our food and walked up to the buffet. This may be more of a personal preference thing, however it is still something that I felt should be noted.
And finally,
4. The entertainment
The nightly entertainment wasn't up to par with other Jamaican resorts we have stayed at. We found the house band to be lacking in any energy whatsoever, and, in all honesty, sitting there listening to them made us feel sleepy. Quite often we found ourselves in the sports bar enjoying an after dinner drink and playing a game of pool or challanging one another in a mini-tournament of crib. Again, perhaps this is more of a personal preference thing (or an age thing, being in our late 30's, early 40's with no children, and looking for something with a little more energy.)
Now on to the Fabulous!
1. The rooms and the grounds. The resort simply gleams. It is so clean and it is very obvious how hard they work at keeping everything look just as one would expect it to look in the Carribbean. All in all, the entire resort is exceptionally visually appealing with many lounge chairs and tables offering shade from the hot sun. The beaches and pools offer an abundance of chairs and we never had any problems finding a good spot to relax and enjoy the heat. The maid staff also work exceptionally hard and we never had any problems with any little requests (for an extra towel, for example), and our room was always perfectly made up everyday, without fail.
2. All of the wait staff, but particulary "Teddy". Ted can be found serving in the Asian restaurant as well as in the main buffet. If you can, ask for him or sit at his table. He is extremely good at his job and will do everything in his power to make sure you are satisfied. All of the wait staff are very friendly, will inquire about your stay, and will take the time to talk to you for a few moments. We were very impressed with their quality of service. (Teddy, I miss your smile so much!)
3. As mentioned earlier, the food and drink are plentiful and there is something for everyone. I tend to stay away from meat when I travel (personal preference based on a bad Cuban experience), but from what I understand, the meat selections are wonderful. For travel vegetarians like me, I never had any problems filling up at any meal. Incredible variety and all very well prepared. When it comes to the 3 restaurants, we particularly enjoyed the Asian the most. The spring rolls and sushi bar are killer!! SOOOO good!!
4. Daily activities. If you are bored, it's your own fault. There is always something going on and the daytime entertainment staff are the best I've ever seen. They will engage you, make you laugh and they make it impossible NOT to have fun. Even if you are sitting out at the West beach, you will hear the music and you just may find yourself tapping your feet or shaking your butt to the music as you walk to the beach bar. I miss it all so much already!
4. Although my husband and I are not nudists, I have to give kudos to the security that guard the nudist beach. They are very respectful and will ensure privacy to those who are. My husband and I wanted to take pictures on the rocks that seperate the nude beach from the regular beach and were politely told, within seconds, that it wasn't allowed. No problem - there are many beautiful spots among the resort to get fabulous pictures. If you are a nudist looking for privacy, you will most certainly find it here.
On to some tips:
1. After reading reviews, we took our own beach towels. I'd suggest the same. It's just easier than trying to get a resort towel.
2. If you work out in the gym, do be sure to drink an exceptional amount of water. It's like working out in a sauna.
3. If you want to go parasailing, just make arrangements with the resort next door, Secrets. You will get a better and longer ride than if you go with the recommendation made at guest services.
4. If you reserve a spot under an umbrella either by the pools or the beach, please be willing to share. There are not enough to go around but there is enough room to share. Besides it's also a great way to make new friends!
*****************
A few things that could have made it just that much better:
1. A bar fridge in the room.
2. More ashtrays, as well as a "smoke-free" area.
3. An "adults only" pool and beach area.
4. Wine for purchase in the restaurants; and
5. Better nightly entertainment.
It is unfortunate that our check-in will leave such a lasting impression, but we did end up having the best of times!
I would absolutely recommend this resort to our friends with children but if you're a couple just looking to get away, I think there are better options out there for you.
*******
Back to work today and back to school tomorrow.
Reality Bites.
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