A frustrating "mini" trip to St Lucia
 

We were booked at Stonefield Estate for a week in Feb. 2009. On our first full day there, I went out to the outdoor shower and fractured my toe on a poorly designed step that had no painted marking to indicate caution. There was also no warning on the door leading out to the shower. We left the next day after seeing a doctor the hotel called in. In order to try to recover some of our original return flight I needed a fax from the doctor. I not only telephoned him and the hotel (including the manager and assistant manager) a total of 10 times - I also faxed the doctor, each time explaining what I needed. I finally got the fax a month later. My telephone bill for these calls came to $300. I emailed the hotel and requested that they refund us one night's stay to compensate for their house doctor's -- and their --failure to send the information promptly. I have heard nothing back from the hotel. Needless to say, if we return to St Lucia, which is a beautiful island from the little we saw, we will stay elsewhere.

St. Lucia is part of the British Commonwealth, and although independant, follows British Law. Unlike the States, if you fall, stub your tow, or to use a common American type lawsuit, slip on ice, British law won't dictate compensation for these types of things. Again, unlike the States, there doesn't have to be markings or signs, the law assumes you watch where you walk.

I'm sorry to sound harsh, I'm just thinking you shouldn't get your hopes up for any compensation. Especially the $300 worth of phone bills, as those are charges you chose to inccur. If the hotel gives you money back, then kudos to them, they did it on their own, with nothing to do with British laws. Information happens at a much slower pace in the Caribbean, and if you decided to phone 10 times, maybe the rest should have been emails to follow up?

I hope you had travel insurance, that may recompensate you.

I probably sound harsh, I don't mean too. Hopefully you'll have the result you seek--I just don't think you should get your hopes up for it.

Sorry, also forgot to mention, if you used a travel agent, let them work on your behave to get the information for you.

I"m confused and I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, but why would you go home from a weeks vacation for a broken toe? There is nothing they could do for it.

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about that. We stayed at Stonefield and absolutely loved it-one of our favorite places we've stayed. The management and staff were great and the views and villa were amazing. Funny (well maybe not) but our outdoor shower was one of our favorite parts of that place! That stinks that happened, especially at the start of your trip. I don't know that I would blame Stonefield specifically as that could really happen anywhere. Also I don't think I would ask for the phone call money from them as it's not their responsibility for the doctor to call you back. It is an unfortunate incident though. Hope your toe is feeling better now! I find sun, sand and a nice beach drink can cure most anything :)

Sounds like someone never hear of the phrase "roll with the punches"

Ouch!!

As a former ballerina, I've broken more toes than I care to think about and it is particularly painful!

I hope you at least got good drugs and were able to veg out on a chaise lounge with a festive cocktail.

Did you leave and fly back home? I'm not sure why you would.

Unfortunately, you can't really do anything for a broken toe.

I have to agree with most of the other replies. I can't believe you left the next day for a broken toe. You could have made the most of it on beautiful St Lucia and lounged by the pool with your loved one or done some light excursions. I happened to break my toe on St John. It was very painful, swollen and bruised. I could barely walk on that foot. The though of going home NEVER even occured to me.

I think your expectations of Stonefield are unrealistic. Sorry!

I'm headed to St Lucia with a pre-broken toe next week! ;)

this was a first time poster who has not returned w/further info. personally i would have extended my stay - not wanting to deal with broken toe stuck under airplane seat for as long as possible...

I think Worldtraveless was more frustrated by the lack of response to her request for a fax than anything else.
I've learned that other countries simply do not have the safety regulations that we have in the US and, therefore, alertness is required. In Costa Rica, a lovely beachfront resort had rooms whose doorways were a foot above the ground and the wonderful Tabacon Hot Springs had unlighted paths at night. I fell and got a nasty gash on my knee on an uneven step in the Virgin Islands. We tend to relax our usual caution when on vacation, a time when the unfamiliar can ,literally, trip us up.
Always get a note or invoice from the doctor who treats you BEFORE you leave and take out trip insurance before you go. Any airline change fees, unused hotel costs and medical treatment would be covered by it. In my experience as a travel agent, I've seen people recover all of their expenses when medical emergencies before or during their trip occured; and I've see people who refused to take insurance lose thousands. This would be a good forum topic.