We like many on this site received a flyer in the mail that promised a luxury vacation at a reduced rate. Unlike others on this site we knew that this was only possible because we agreed to go and see a time share property and listen to a sales pitch. We were willing to try the vacation because it was not promised for free but simply at a reduced rate of $698 per person. Vacations for free I don't believe but it seemed reasonable that they would offer a vacation at a reduced rate because we were willing to listen to a time share presentation.
This shows the levator buttons and one is missing the cover - incidentally only one elevator was working when we got there
The salesman was very nice and simply promised that the hotel accomodations were top rate rooms that normally would cost us $200 a night and that on the cruise we would not be put next to the boiler room but have a nice spacious suite. We understood that air fare was not included but we were to receive a rental car and all we would pay is the taxes and any insurance we needed. Sounds reasonable right? Wrong!
We didn't find this site until we had paid for the vacation in full and booked the flight. So we had nothing else to do but go and make the best of it. Thank the Lord we didn't take the kids!
This is a shot of the outside of the hotel - don't judge a book by it's cover!
The room at the hotel was not luxury but instead a normal budget hotel room in an aging building. I know that the room rates were $65 a night because I looked it up on the internet not the $200 a night quality we were promised. I was not too repelled because that is the type of room I can normally afford and like I said, the kids weren't with so I could handle dirt just fine. The pool area was not bad and probably the one saving grace of the hotel but it was not luxury either.
The cruise was not much better as far as quality either. The ship is one-fourth the size of the more modern cruise ships and has little to offer in the way of luxury. We had decided to upgrade even before we checked in at the port and it was a good thing that we did because the room they had booked us in had two single beds!
The hotel doors that had a huge gap in it
The best days of our vacation were the last two because we rented a room at the Holiday Inn on our own and were just accross the street from the beach. The rooms there were clean and well kept.
All in all it was not our "dream vacation" like we were promised and we could have done better with our money on our own.
I am not writing this, however, to bash Ramada. I have found that there is a way to get your money refunded and that is all I really need. I am writing this for those of you who may have, like us, already paid your money and booked your flights. My advice is go anyway. Make the best of it. Florida is beautiful and the beaches are fun. Don't spend your time at the hotel. Just consider it a place to keep the rain off your head if you need it. Naussau is fabulous also. Go on the vacation. Then when you get back... Get your money refunded! There are plenty of people who have logged all you need to get it back if you just check this site.
The dark hallway
I have included pictures so everyone can see what it is like. But I am almost afraid that my camera makes it look too good!!!
Regina
Rush City, Minnesota
U.S.A.
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