9 replies to this topic

[neen]

what room type did you stay in and was it up to par?

Hacienda/Deluxe Garden View (base room)
Hacienda/Deluxe Ocean View or Ocean Front
Hacienda/Jr Suite
Dreams Jr Suite Garden View/Ocean View

I ask because when I went for a site visit, I was appalled at the first room they put us in; it was a Deluxe Ocean View in the Hacienda Section 16 (furthest from everything). There was mold on the ceiling in the bathroom, stains on the curtains, and the AC was broken.

I obviously flipped out because I couldn't ask my guests to pay the crazy $$ they're paying for a room like that. Now, we did move to a Dreams Junior Suite and I also saw rooms in the Hacienda Section 10 that were lovely, so I'm hoping that bad room was a rarity. BUT, wanted to hear from you ladies to see what you all thought of your room type so I can recommend the right "type" to my guests.

Thanks so much!!!

[SunBride]

as mentioned in my review, my guests stayed in the hacienda section (3 different rooms, all in the area next to the lobby, not the ones near north side of the beach) and they all thought it was very basic (not luxurious like you'd expect at a 5 star resort) but totally fine (no mold or other problems. My parents' first patio door didn't lock so they got moved next door. no big deal. They even sent a bellboy to move the luggage although my parents could have easily done it themselves). They didn't bother upgrading even though it was only 20$ per night (half off the regular price because it was a wedding group) and could have easily afforded it (well the two sets of parents at least).

I think I'd just provide clear information to your guests and let them decide.

The truth is, even the dreams suites aren't that amazing in my opinion. I mean they are better but the furniture is a bit old, again just not something luxious like you'd expect (although for many of the resorts I've stayed at the rooms haven't been as nice as I expected)

[sgbrown]

My two cents:

All of my guests (47 and counting) have booked the basic hacienda gardenview room. Some of them would like to upgrade, but they are waiting to do so in person in order to secure a discounted upgrade. One of my guests (my FI's cousin) has gone as far as to negotiate under the table with the hotel for a cheap rate for an ocean view room once she arrives! The reason we are taking this approach is that we are going through Air Canada Vacations, and their prices for upgrades seem really expensive. I think we negotiate a better rate in person!

I think SunBride's advice is really good: Be honest with your guests about the basic nature of the hacienda rooms so that their expectations are realistic.

[MomentsThatMatter]

Thats to bad... I have had similar experiences staying in Mexico...but was always able to make it right.
I also try my best to spend as little time in my room as possible!

[trisha0612]

For our site visit we stayed in the delux ocean view room hacienda...umm i don't know what section...it was over on the side past El Patio

I wasn't stoked about the room, but it was decent. My beef was the lighting (i had a hard time putting on makeup) and the shower kind of felt like a trampoline. I was bouncing everytime I took a step. We spent like NO time in my rooms though.

I was told by Tammy the resort works really well with wedding guests and based on availability will upgrade your entire party once you arrive. I'm praying for that, but so far I know of like 4 brides that week... so I guess we'll see!

[neen]

thanks ladies. i know the resort gives free upgrades and discounted upgrades when available, but they are typically fully booked in January (based on 06 and 07 records) so folks likely won't be able to upgrade when they get there and aren't willing to pay for the upgrade when they book now.

Sooo...I'll just send a note to all of them to set expectations in terms of the rooms, i.e. very basic, and hope that if any problems do arise once we're all there that the resort will do everything they can to make people comfortable. I don't expect folks to be spending much time in their rooms, but still want them to be happy with it when they do!

thanks again

[Karen]

For our wedding last year, we stayed in the Dreams Jr Suite Garden View/Ocean View. I was very happy with our room. It was clean and nicely decorated. Our shower was huge with a whilpool tub. The only down side was that our room was over the night club so techno music was our lulabye each night. Jay stayed in a deluxe ocean view room the night before our wedding. He said it wasn't as nice.

[SunBride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trisha0612 I was told by Tammy the resort works really well with wedding guests and based on availability will upgrade your entire party once you arrive. I'm praying for that, but so far I know of like 4 brides that week... so I guess we'll see!

Just as a reminder (it's in my review but I know you can't remember everything) when I was there the resort was not full, and they knew we were a wedding group, I had communicated with Raul (or whatever his name is) and requested the upgrade, and none of my guests got it. I was at the front desk a bit longer waiting for the honeymoon suite upgrade and other guests after our family got free upgrades without even asking! I was annoyed that they would offer a free upgrade to people who didn't ask (I mean I guess I don't know for sure they didn'T request in advance but they sounded very surprised) but wouldn't do it for wedding group (only 4 rooms other than ours). It was not that big of a deal for my family, but it seems to me if anyone should be getting free room upgrades it should be wedding groups (especially mine with all the business I am getting them on this site! haha)

[lambert13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trisha0612 My beef was the lighting (i had a hard time putting on makeup) and the shower kind of felt like a trampoline. I was bouncing everytime I took a step.

I had the same problem in the room I stayed in the night before our wedding. Other problems were that the AC barely worked, the mini fridge was not cold, the lighting sucked and a few small other things. I think part of my problem was that Karen and I had been staying in one of the Dreams Jr Suites up until that night and I had gotten spoiled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen For our wedding last year, we stayed in the Dreams Jr Suite Garden View/Ocean View. I was very happy with our room. It was clean and nicely decorated. Our shower was huge with a whilpool tub. The only down side was that our room was over the night club so techno music was our lulabye each night. Jay stayed in a deluxe ocean view room the night before our wedding. He said it wasn't as nice.

Come on...you know you loved the techno every night. BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP then a long pause......think its over......BUMP BUMP. Fucking shit.

[SunBride]

I think a good recommendation is to stay away from the rooms in the main building (lobby & disco)!