Callaloo

To those who mentioned the Bahamas, have you been anywhere other than Nassau or Freeport? There are 698 other islands, which are a world away from the cruise ship ports and straw markets. To tar the entire island chain with the same brush is a little bit of a generalization. It's like saying the entire USA is over-rated, after a visit to Gary, Indiana... (On the other hand, perhaps I'll just keep those wonderful Bahamian Out Islands to myself -- all the better to keep the dolphin-torturing, jet-skiing, duty-free-shopping, chain-restaurant-eating masses away...)

Waldo

To Ted Turner-
The reason why you won't see ratings on the Hale Koa is because of its restrictions. It's mainly for military and military retirees. If you would look on posts such as Traveladvisor, and similar, you would find nothing but universal high praise for the hotel. Further, if you could ask someone who has been there, or visit the place just to look around, you would be overwhelmed with the cleanliness and ambience of the place.

TedTurner

I knew that Waldo.
In the pre-registration era here at Fodor's someone (maybe you) used to make these wild claims about the Hale Koa being the best hotel in this, that or the other thing.
I've never seen it.
But as a military property I'm just betting they don't have acres of pools with swans and waterfalls, 5 star restaurants on site, mahogany four poster beds with Italian linens and the other things that some better known public resorts have.
True, or not?

LT

My vote is for Hilton Head!

Unless you golf (which, IMO, is the sport of the dead) or like to go to the beach, there's absolutely nothing else to do. All of the restaurants I went to had cockroaches, as well as the $1 million home that I stayed in. The bars all have to pour drinks from those little miniature bottles (like you get on an airplane), so you can imagine what one Long Island Iced Tea costs, and the best meal I had there was when I went to where the crab boats came in & took home a bushel of live crabs & steamed them. Unless you like oppressive heat, humidity and storms, HH isn't for you.

LN

I have truly enjoyed reading these posts as so many of them are true, true, true.

But the last post was the greatest - being able to sit at a table outside - on your own deck - eating steamed crabs!! Add to that some steamed fresh corn, and cole slaw with lots of cold brews -

Sorry folks - vacation doesn't really get much better than that!

Waldo

To Ted Turner-
You've never seen the Hale Koa, so that's your misfortune. If you crave acres of waterfalls and swans, fourposter beds and Italian linens, the Hale Koa is not for you. However if you want immpeccable cleanliness, fantastic service and a great ambience, that's the place. I would guess that the Hale Koa employs more people per capita than any other hotel to keep the place clean, to keep the 68 acres of grounds (that's right, 68 acres),immaculate and well groomed, to keep the exotic plants all around the area in good order and to keep all the public areas looking spotless and CLEAN. If that's what you like, that's the place you should be attending. They have four pools, (no swans), all immaculate, the large pool being a real beauty, surrounded by lovely well groomed palm trees and adjoining a great bar in which they serve great libations at fantastic prices, (there is no tax on anything in the Hale Koa), the prices are extremely digestible. I blow my horn for the Hale Koa because this is a place in which I get a great value and immense pleasure for my hard earned buck. In these days of having to carefully monitor where you spend your money, it's nice to know that you can get value for the dollars you spend, also it's great to appreciate that you're getting something superior. Believe me, I'm not an elitist, but I know when I'm getting the most bang for my buck, and I've never seen a better place. Now I'm getting off my soap box.

raineday33

Cozumel is a mini Cancun.Very Americanized, tons of cruise ships.
I would not recommend this place to anyone.
I also thought Sanibel was a complete bore and way overrated.

RLA

Hilton Head and Pebble Beach including the infamous 7 (or is it 17?)-mile drive unless you are the golfer and on the course. In fairness, we were just passing through and drove around, but I didn't see anything to get over-excited about. Perhaps I could have justified the reputation had I stayed there. At Hilton Head, aside from strip centers of chain stores, there was one nice and interesting shopping area we combed through. Sorry, I don't recall the name but it was in a gated area on on a marina. It had good stores and the marina was a tranquil atmosphere with luxurious boats. The shops were a little more upscale and unique. Oddly,for a vacation spot, the people didn't seem like they were having much fun. Everyone looked bored and somewhat unhappy.

maui

I have to disagree with some of you. I found Maui to be one of the best places on the earth! Don't miss it!!!

ElkeVanS

Iriik (husb.) and I found the Las Vegas, NV. hotels to be quite not up European expectations.
A difficult time we had esp. at Venetian and the Paris. So sad not like the real thing.
-elke

LstFltOut

I'll try to stop snickering at this silly thread and the anti-HI dopes when I'm in Maui twice this year. Maybe I'll have a a weak moment and feel sorry for you nasties who are stuck wherever you're stuck, and most certainly aren't on the beach enjoying the breezes. Serious case of Maui envy, gt;.

ceylon77

I always wondered about the kind of people who go for those 'all inclusives'. It always struck me as odd to meet people who say they've 'been' to certain places, but when you hear more about their trip, all they did was stay at a hotel, eat at the same hotel, shop at the same hotel, and maybe go to one or two tours that said hotel prepared. That to me seems like a total waste of money, time and space. I read many of the previous posts, including some on places that I've been and had a wonderfully fantastic time, and can only think that maybe, just maybe, (and I'm sorry to sound so saracastic here) if people spent a little more time and effort into their vacations instead of expecting everything and everybody to be at their beck and call they'd enjoy themselves a little more.

kelbo

turks and caicos. totally ordinary, expensive, a hassle at immigration. i just didn't get the hype. No culture, boring, nothing special...not worth the money, go or stay in Florida instead.

Little_Man

the Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, Ca. For the price, ($485 per night),the rooms should've been much nicer, and service more professional.

afc

Resort area- Hampton Beach , NH very tacky and most of the hotels are very run down. Lot's of fights on the streets and teenages looking for trouble.

Hotel-Fairmont San Francisco- great public areas, but rooms are so small you can barely move and for $250 a night I got a view of a brick wall.

yogartlovers

re: Maui, it totally depends on where you stay. Waliea is very nice- we rented a small cottage in a residetnial area. Hana is magical- we went to a black sand, red sand and whote sand beach in 2 days and hiked in the most gorgeous bamboo forest imaginable. For work, I stayed near Lahaina and couldn't stand the big hotels! West Maui is better, and Hana is so special.

sceneisle

Aruba - Flat, ugly, arid, over-developed, over-priced, over-rated.....Las Vegas with a beach.

Jennni

Although not resorts - I must add some serious disappointments...

Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
At $380 per night I got a box of a room with thin enough walls to hear everyone talking in the other rooms, a view of a brick wall, and there was mold all over the caulk and grout in the bathroom. Oh - and this was an upgrade from the first room that I had.

Also - the Hyatt in Monterey/Pebble Beach. What a dump. It was so old and run down - the beds were pitted and it was all dark inside. This was a few years ago - so it may have been updated by now. I just remember going straight from the Park Hyatt in SF to that Hyatt in Monterey and wondering if I'd entered the Bermuda triangle!!

In closing - although I used to live in FL and love it still, the Keys were one big disappointment to me. Nothing particular - other than the serious lack of beaches!!

lenleigh

Surprised about all the Hawaii comments. Mine ultimate dissapointment would have to be a trip to Pappette, Tahiti at the Marriott hotel. While swimming in the no edge pool we had a great view of the trash floating in the ocean. Beautiful Islands but wouldn't ever stay on Tahiti itself again.

tuckerdc

Hilton Head, hands down. Gated community after gated community; no access to the beach unless you pay for it. IF we were given an all-expense paid trip, we wouldn't return. Ever.