Oh where do I start
My wife and I were going to be at a family wedding and so we looked for hotel or other lodging options in the area for the weekend
The same hotel was available directly using the hotel website for a certain price but when I checked Airbnb it appeared to be close to 30% less
I booked the unit using the Airbnb app but just before I booked I asked the agent if there was a way to get an early checkin as we were arriving at 1:00 pm and the wedding was set to start at 4:30 while the checkin time was 4:00 pm
The agent suggested that the unit I was interested in will not allow me to have the early checkin but there is another unit that will
And so I clicked on the link she sent me and booked it thinking this is the unit that will allow me to check in early
We’ll once I paid I realised that the unit I just booked was more expensive and then… the instructions I got was to download an app that I can use to request an early checkin and that it may or may not happen
I call this bait and switch
What’s more.. I then receive the info that the hotel will charge me a resort fee at checkin which made the whole stay more expensive than if I booked directly with the hotel
I will not use Airbnb in the area again if at all
As far as the hotel
At checkin using the “Owners desk” we were given a wrist band and was told to keep it on at all times otherwise we won’t be allowed in by security… and they were right! The security desk located just before the elevators had the guard check our wrists and room number to make sure we are not getting in where we are not allowed to… I have a suggestion for the hotel… have the room key operate the elevator instead of making your guests feel like they are prisoners!
This hotel has only 4 elevators and at the time we were there one of the elevators was out of commission so we were down to three working elevators which was a nightmare
On average the wait time to use the elevators was 15 minutes and at peak time I heard other people complain that the wait was over 20 minutes
At one time we waited for an elevator while elevators didn’t even stop at our floor and the feeling was that we are not important enough for the elevator to bother and stop for us
The whole elevator thing was a terrible experience
The unit was clean and had exactly the layout and furnishings as advertised
The kitchen was very functional
One of the bathrooms had a toilet tank that was half broken but we had a decent toilet in the master bedroom
When taking a shower the hot water arrived after about 10 minutes of running the water which at first made me believe that this hotel may not have hot water
The pool was ok but the staff was rude telling us in a stern faced look “you better bring the towel back here or you will be charged for the towels” and then we noticed that they are writing down in a log sheet that we took 2 towels and when we returned the towels it was entered in the log that we returned them which made us feel very uncomfortable and quite frankly we felt as if we are treated like thieves
The beach is another story… the hotel doesn’t have an agreement with the beach operator right at the hotel and in order to get the complimentary beach chair and umbrella you have to walk north about 10 minutes to a section of the beach that is operated by a company that the hotel has an agreement with
It was ok that we had to walk 10 minutes but for the price they charge for the stay and the impression they give as a luxury resort this made us feel put off
Lastly.. on the day we checked out I received an email with checkout instructions asking me to clean up and take the garbage out to the garbage shoot in order to help the cleaning crew prepare the unit for the next guest…. I was floored! I just paid Airbnb cleaning fee and they ask me to help with the cleaning! We always leave a hotel room only after cleaning somewhat and we don’t leave a mess but to hep the cleaning crew by taking the garbage out!!!
The valet service was excellent and super responsive which made things better
The spa service was great and the facilities very clean
What I’m writing is only based on my experience and I sure hope others didn’t feel like this