The most over rated resort area you have been to? (It's a poll-everyone should contribute!)
Jun 8th, 2006, 07:22 AM
#181
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Agree with you about Disneyworld. If you try it again, try to go when crowds are predicted at lower capacity, if that's even possible.
I remember when I first went, I thought it was the most amazing, fascinating incredible place I'd ever seen, truly magical. With each succesive visit it's gone downhill until my last visit 3 years ago when it had completely lost it's luster. So crowded I was rubbing elbows with sweaty strangers, long lines, enormous waits, so focused on actually getting on the rides you were completely oblivious to the work involved in creating WDW...Ugh, it was a miserable experience for the whole family, and expensive? When I think where we might have gone instead I could cry.
I vowed never again, and I plan on keeping that vow.
I remember when I first went, I thought it was the most amazing, fascinating incredible place I'd ever seen, truly magical. With each succesive visit it's gone downhill until my last visit 3 years ago when it had completely lost it's luster. So crowded I was rubbing elbows with sweaty strangers, long lines, enormous waits, so focused on actually getting on the rides you were completely oblivious to the work involved in creating WDW...Ugh, it was a miserable experience for the whole family, and expensive? When I think where we might have gone instead I could cry.
I vowed never again, and I plan on keeping that vow.
Jun 8th, 2006, 07:59 AM
#182
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I never got into this old one myself, and enjoyed reading the entire thing.
We all like very different activities and the places that facilitate them. Part of the "trick" is learning and KNOWing what you, yourself and your group/family REALLY like- not what you have been marketed to WANT to like.
I just returned from Niagara Falls Canadian side stay. It's exactly like Wisconsin Dells now with the unique and beautiful Falls as its "pull". Enjoy the Falls, go on Maid of the Mist but don't stay right there at ANY of the resort hotels if you hate amusement parks or family type "hyped" venues. It was like being at a Chucky Cheese within 300 yards of one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Overall WDW was far more sedate. Really.
Know that I do not like beach vacations, do not beach or hot weather sit, don't like resorts or cruises, don't use or require the 5 star services (BUT on impulse and because of group activities pull have tried both every 5 to10 years LOL!)and most of all hate mob density crowds and long lines while traveling or on vacation. Also hate paying much $$$ for poor food or lodging overall when there are excellent unmarketed options "there" for both. I spend money, but I want fresh and quality when I do. I tolerate lines with politeness but tend to avoid them at all costs. And like one of the posters above can not understand what makes a lodge or resort worth $400 plus dollars a day. One of the most beautiful appointments I have ever seen or used was under $100 and found serendipity.
To me, these resort locations are over rated:
Dells, Wisconsin
Branson area
South Beach / Miami
Jamaica
Grand Cayman
Niagara Falls
Key West
Sante Fe, NM (sorry, I liked many other places in the SW but now too touristy and too crowded when I was there everywhere you went)
Animal Kingdom Lodge at WDW (Loved Yacht Club)
Actually, I have tried (most many moons ago I might add)several of the Bahamas Islands at different periods of my life and even St. John's and have decided that islands are not my thing.
That seems to cause offense to people who love island and beach vacations. I love to swim, but hate- hate the poverty and other aspects of service
and native/tourist relations in this Carib. part of the world. In my experience I did not feel this in Mexico a fraction as palatably, but then I did NOT do resorts in Mexico.
Jamaica was the most uncomfortable place I have ever stayed for an entire week. I was asked if I wanted to buy drugs twice before the first 3 days were out and was never as pestered for tips or straight out begging in my life. On a raft ride the poler told me the story of his poor brother's lack of education and begged money for the 12 year old during the entire process, not starting until we were more than 20 feet from shore until we docked. Then he proceeded to point out his brother pulling rafts back and brought up his health problems doing so. etc.etc.etc. I just can't enjoy any place that has so many people conflicted with a love/hate relationship with the tourists. I think the reaction of Jamaicans to older Americans may be different than to younger. But we were given snotty answers and actually insulted while in venues in Jamaica and I never was anything but extremely polite and considerate in return.
So now I absolutely vacation on my own leash, so to speak- and unless visiting friends or on the way to somewhere else rarely beach reside. One exception is St. Armand's Sarasota area which is really nice for single older female, IMHO.
We all like very different activities and the places that facilitate them. Part of the "trick" is learning and KNOWing what you, yourself and your group/family REALLY like- not what you have been marketed to WANT to like.
I just returned from Niagara Falls Canadian side stay. It's exactly like Wisconsin Dells now with the unique and beautiful Falls as its "pull". Enjoy the Falls, go on Maid of the Mist but don't stay right there at ANY of the resort hotels if you hate amusement parks or family type "hyped" venues. It was like being at a Chucky Cheese within 300 yards of one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Overall WDW was far more sedate. Really.
Know that I do not like beach vacations, do not beach or hot weather sit, don't like resorts or cruises, don't use or require the 5 star services (BUT on impulse and because of group activities pull have tried both every 5 to10 years LOL!)and most of all hate mob density crowds and long lines while traveling or on vacation. Also hate paying much $$$ for poor food or lodging overall when there are excellent unmarketed options "there" for both. I spend money, but I want fresh and quality when I do. I tolerate lines with politeness but tend to avoid them at all costs. And like one of the posters above can not understand what makes a lodge or resort worth $400 plus dollars a day. One of the most beautiful appointments I have ever seen or used was under $100 and found serendipity.
To me, these resort locations are over rated:
Dells, Wisconsin
Branson area
South Beach / Miami
Jamaica
Grand Cayman
Niagara Falls
Key West
Sante Fe, NM (sorry, I liked many other places in the SW but now too touristy and too crowded when I was there everywhere you went)
Animal Kingdom Lodge at WDW (Loved Yacht Club)
Actually, I have tried (most many moons ago I might add)several of the Bahamas Islands at different periods of my life and even St. John's and have decided that islands are not my thing.
That seems to cause offense to people who love island and beach vacations. I love to swim, but hate- hate the poverty and other aspects of service
and native/tourist relations in this Carib. part of the world. In my experience I did not feel this in Mexico a fraction as palatably, but then I did NOT do resorts in Mexico.
Jamaica was the most uncomfortable place I have ever stayed for an entire week. I was asked if I wanted to buy drugs twice before the first 3 days were out and was never as pestered for tips or straight out begging in my life. On a raft ride the poler told me the story of his poor brother's lack of education and begged money for the 12 year old during the entire process, not starting until we were more than 20 feet from shore until we docked. Then he proceeded to point out his brother pulling rafts back and brought up his health problems doing so. etc.etc.etc. I just can't enjoy any place that has so many people conflicted with a love/hate relationship with the tourists. I think the reaction of Jamaicans to older Americans may be different than to younger. But we were given snotty answers and actually insulted while in venues in Jamaica and I never was anything but extremely polite and considerate in return.
So now I absolutely vacation on my own leash, so to speak- and unless visiting friends or on the way to somewhere else rarely beach reside. One exception is St. Armand's Sarasota area which is really nice for single older female, IMHO.
Jun 8th, 2006, 10:16 AM
#185
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steviegene, I can answer for myself. DH and I went on our honeymoon. We were young (I was 21, he was 22) and we thought that the pictures of the "champagne class whirlpool tubs" looked cool in the brochures so we decided to go for it. Neither one of us were well-traveled at the time, and we wanted something different than we can get here in St. Louis. Obviously, as I mentioned above, we hated it and left after an hour. We travel a lot now, although its only been 6 years since our wedding, and it still rates as one of the worst!
Tracy
Tracy
Sep 18th, 2006, 09:27 AM
#189
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I thought Santa Fe was beautiful and not crowded at all. Perhaps it was because we went on 9/18/2001. Maybe others cancelled their trips. Oh well, our gain we had a lovely time.
Same for Disney - we've gone in October and November. The average wait for rides was maybe 20 minutes.
I don't know that I'd want to go with just the two of us now though. We took the kids. there are too many other places we want to see.
Same for Disney - we've gone in October and November. The average wait for rides was maybe 20 minutes.
I don't know that I'd want to go with just the two of us now though. We took the kids. there are too many other places we want to see.
Sep 18th, 2006, 11:14 AM
#190
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swalter-Could you elaborate about cockroaches at Marriott Desert Springs. I am working a convention there in Oct and in fact just made my reservation this morning. This is where I have to stay and am not paying for it but I want my room to at least be clean and no bugs. I am not afraid of many insects but the sight of one coackroach makes my skin crawl!!
Sep 18th, 2006, 11:56 AM
#191
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Paula,
My only caveat was that this was about 4 years ago. We were staying in the timeshare "condos", not in the main hotel. We were in one room where we literally had a parade of 8-10 cochroaches in the closet then coming across the bed. I went screaming out of the room and my husband was able to kill about 7 of them. We went to the front desk for the timeshares and complained and they basically pooh poohed us saying they were "waterbugs" I then brought one back and said, "tell me this is a waterbug", he then shrugged his shoulders and said he would send someone to spray our room. I insisted on moving to another, but my inlaws stayed in the big condo (we were in a small hotel like room off the "main" condo part") where they killed 5 cochroaches during they stay. The guy who sprayed the room as we were moving out pointed out an area of rotten wood in the corner of the closet and said, yep, that's where they are coming in and then walked outside to a service box for the sprinkler system in the lawn. He opened up this box where about 50 roaches scurried out-I almost had a heart attack and my heart is racing now just thinking about it. We did not see any roaches in the new 2nd floor room -- this is a ground floor room but you couldn't pay me to stay there again.
My only caveat was that this was about 4 years ago. We were staying in the timeshare "condos", not in the main hotel. We were in one room where we literally had a parade of 8-10 cochroaches in the closet then coming across the bed. I went screaming out of the room and my husband was able to kill about 7 of them. We went to the front desk for the timeshares and complained and they basically pooh poohed us saying they were "waterbugs" I then brought one back and said, "tell me this is a waterbug", he then shrugged his shoulders and said he would send someone to spray our room. I insisted on moving to another, but my inlaws stayed in the big condo (we were in a small hotel like room off the "main" condo part") where they killed 5 cochroaches during they stay. The guy who sprayed the room as we were moving out pointed out an area of rotten wood in the corner of the closet and said, yep, that's where they are coming in and then walked outside to a service box for the sprinkler system in the lawn. He opened up this box where about 50 roaches scurried out-I almost had a heart attack and my heart is racing now just thinking about it. We did not see any roaches in the new 2nd floor room -- this is a ground floor room but you couldn't pay me to stay there again.
Sep 18th, 2006, 01:04 PM
#192
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swalter-Thanks for getting back to me. When I went to the convention page for the group that is holding the meeting, there website said that the hotel was sold out and that you could get rooms in the condos for $119 a night. First of all, that price was a red flag and then I looked at tripadvisor. Not great reviews for the condos and no cleaning service. If I have to give up my weekend to work, I at least someone to make my bed and clean the bathroom!! So I went to the Marriott page and booked the room through them. I think the sold out just pertained to the convention price. Thank goodness I am not staying in those condos!! If I saw 50 cockroaches, you would probably hear me screaming all the way to LA!!
Sep 18th, 2006, 03:41 PM
#194
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Wow, just jumped on this thread for fun and this is a blast. Can't believe what I'm reading. Hey, you don't know Key West is just full of bars before you go there? Duh, that's what some people like and want. If you didn't do your research before hand it's your fault. Disneyworld, ouch, lots of people you say and lines. What a shocker! Who would have thought that! You guys all act so surprised about these places. All-inclusive beach resorts has its purpose and some peoplelove that. Sounds like people don't do any research before they go places.
Sep 18th, 2006, 05:11 PM
#196
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Wow, we went to Santa Fe in the winter and loved it but its been about 9 years now.
As a resort area, I totally hated the Poconos. We checked out of one hotel/cabin complex that was filthy. We drove around a lot and I thought the scenery was lacking and the little towns run down. Wouldnt go back.
As a resort area, I totally hated the Poconos. We checked out of one hotel/cabin complex that was filthy. We drove around a lot and I thought the scenery was lacking and the little towns run down. Wouldnt go back.
Sep 18th, 2006, 08:56 PM
#199
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Skiing in Jackson Hole. Well, not the skiing but the town. It was VERY overpriced and the service was ZERO. $6 for a tiny glass of wine (back in 2001) at the Cowboy Bar. I wanted to get my skis tuned up. So I asked the desk clerk at the hotel about having it done. I was told the nearest ski shop was 6 blocks away.
In Banff when I wanted my skies tuned up I left them at the front desk. The ski shop came and picked them up. The shop tuned them up over night & they were back at the hotel for me to ski the next morning. The people in Banff were wonderful. They really made you feel welcome!
In Banff when I wanted my skies tuned up I left them at the front desk. The ski shop came and picked them up. The shop tuned them up over night & they were back at the hotel for me to ski the next morning. The people in Banff were wonderful. They really made you feel welcome!
Sep 19th, 2006, 12:46 PM
#200
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Puerto Rico- The Hilton-owned Caribe-Hilton - what a nightmare! Scams, shams and "good luck you're on your own" attitudes.....Tired room furnishings - overpriced food & nothing much to do except swim in a pool-do it quick-it closes at dark. Major construction everywhere - nerve wracking. This one needs a major overhaul.
