Stay Away from Riu Paradise HotelVisited: December 2008
Posted by princessjl
We were not happy with the room provided to us. The room (bathroom) was dirty. The pictures advertised on website are very deceiving & are a total misrepresentation. Definitely not a 5*.
A male staff member entered our lockedroom w/o knocking. I had gotten out of shower. Aside from being totally mortified, I quickly covered. The guy said there was leak coming from faucet.
Front desk called saying she had to move us. Her attitude toward us was unacceptable. The way that she handled the situation was totally unprofessional, since she told me to go over to the Atlantis Hotel. This is not how a 5 star resort should be run or how guests should be treated.
Staff told us its not their fault but it was our travel agents fault for not informing us about their poor conditions.
The 2nd room had brown stains on the sheets & dirty room. We called down numerous times for someone to come up to change our sheets. No one ever showed up.
I have never been so disgusted, not only with the unprofessional service and attitude, but with the unsatisfactory condition of the hotel and the dirty room(s) that were provided. For the expensive rate we paid for our trip, I was 100% dissatisfied and could not wait to return home after our 2nd night.
The hotel should not advertise the hotel as a 5 star when; in fact, it does not provide the services and accommodations of a 5 star.
This property definitely does not deserve a 5 star rating based upon my previous vacations and experiences while on holiday where the resorts were immaculately maintained and the staff went above and beyond to ensure that their guests thoroughly enjoyed their stay.
After speaking with numerous guests staying at our hotel, I found they shared the same concerns and were very unhappy/disgusted as we were. The Riu Paradise has a long way to go in terms of customer service.
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There's really no service to speak of.Visited: April 2008
Posted by noservice
We stayed at the Cove, as we were looking for a first class type of vacation and accommodation. The building was beautiful. However, the staff and management require about six months of training on how to run a hotel and deal with customers.
On our third night here, we were tired and wanted to order room service. There was no menu in the room, so we called and asked for one. One hour later when we called back, we were informed that the hotel could not locate a menu and was reluctant to go over the menu on the phone. Finally, they stated about five items.
Towel service was always hit and miss. Finally, on our last night all we had was bath towels - no face cloths or hand towels. At 4 pm I called to get some face cloths, at 5:30 I called again. After two more calls, we finaly received a couple of hand towels (as the staff could not find face cloths).
When checking out the next day, I informed the clerk of this and got no response other than a look like I was from another planet.
We will never stay at the Cove again, and will take every chance we get to warn others away from this place.
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
attractions, Bahamas traveler review
This was a unique island shopping experience - very Bahamian.
Posted by madeline_meade
My family and I really enjoyed our tour of the Androsia Batik Factory. We made our own pieces of batik fabric (which I used for a wall hanging), and I got to buy some really unique fabric for my quilting and craft projects.
They also had nice real Bahamian souvenirs in their outlet store.
I would definitely put this on your itinerary if you go to Andros. They also sell their fabric, home goods, and clothes on the Internet if (and when) you forget to pick up a souvenir for someone!
0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
We've stayed at P&P a number of times over the years. It is what it is: a great old traditional Bahamaian hotel.
It was built in the 1950s, but remodeled a number of times. Despite those efforts, it still is an older property. Along with that, though, goes character. There is no better, more authentic Bahamian out island hotel than the P&P. It's a little out of date, a little run down, a little slow, and a little quirky. However, the people are great.
Their beach on Stocking Island is fantastic, and the bar at night is colorful.
It is not for everyone. If you're looking for high end luxury, modern conveniences, glitz, and action, this isn't the place. But, if you can relax on your own, entertain yourself, and are able to create your own adventure, you can have a great time here.
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
A Cat Island travel review
Seabreeze Bennett's Harbour is the perfect vacation spot.
Posted by oregonmom
This was a beautiful house on a gorgeous beach. We were alone on the beach most of the time.
My husband spent his afternoons fishing, and the kids swam and played on the kayaks. We walked to Pompey Rock and Sammy T's every night for dinner. The walks home by starlight were the best part! It's a perfect vacation spot!
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
This was our fourth visit, and it keeps getting better!Visited: August 2008
Posted by waterbug589
My husband and I made our fourth pilgrimage to Small Hope Bay Lodge this August. We have gone before with our two kids (6 and 13) and they enjoy Small Hope as much as we do. But while they were visiting the grandparents, we decided to sneak off for five days this time!
Small Hope is a relaxing getaway from the nonsense of politics, traffic, cell phones, and general stress of the “real” world. The beaches are beautiful with hammocks between every palm tree on one beach, and a half mile of white sand and hot tub on the other.
The rooms are actually steps from the water - just like it says on the web site. The rooms are easily cooled by the ocean breezes, but you can get air-conditioning if you find the need (for an additional $15 per day).
My husband and I love to dive, and find the diving there safe, interesting, and fun.
We both also enjoy the meals at Small Hope. Being there with just my husband was wonderful and romantic. We went in the beachfront hot tub and stargazed from the hammock on the end of the dock (you have to look for it, as it is hiding behind the dive shop).
We flew from Boston to Nassau on Jet Blue, then took the 15 minute Western Air flight to Andros Town. It is actually pretty easy (at least from the east coast).
It is unique and a little rough around the edges, but that is what I like about it. Oh, and don’t let me forget to mention that they have the friendliest staff of anywhere I have ever traveled.
1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
I have been to other all inclusive resorts, but since I paid almost double for Sandals, I expected to get more than before.
When we arrived, our door didn't lock. It took 3 1/2 hours to get it resolved, so we were pretty much stuck in the room, right off the bat.
We didn't have any robes in the rooms, so we had to ask. The mini bar was never restocked, and we had to ask and continue to leave notes of what to restock.
Our breakfast room service never showed up on one of the days. Our spa service that was booked in advance ($446 for two 80-minute massages) was "on sale" when we arrived for only $298. We didn't receive any adjustments or further credit towards spa services.
The rooms were old. We stayed in the Windsor Grande Luxe Oceanview. The water was impossible to regulate. It would be warm one second, scalding the next, ice cold the next. Also, the bugs are horrible. We both have welts all over our bodies.
In addition, the beds were so uncomfortable. We woke every morning with a backache.
On a positive note, the food was out of this world. The drinks were also superb.
I would consider going to a Sandals again, but never back to the Royal Bahamian.
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
There seems to be a loss of focus here.Visited: August 2008
Posted by mcooper
This was our third visit. The first two were great! This last visit, we experienced a resort that was all about selling you condos and things. We were not pampered - but were just a number.
The lack of maintenance was everywhere - from rust and breaks in the outdoor lighting fixtures to broken mirrors in the casino itself. The bathroom doors had to be pried open.
The quality of the food has dropped - except at the WatersEdge. Also, they have created a village shops area that is strictly Disney-transparent cold.
It is beautiful and an eyeful with fish everywhere. However, you always feel the need to keep moving. Nothing is close anymore. Instead of relaxing, we found ourselves making excuses to not walk three blocks to a certain area or the ocean.
In addition, the noise level was frequently loud in the lobbies and fine dining areas. The dress code does not exist anymore. Our first two visits were the exact opposite.
The staff was attentive. We had no towels in our room, and the table's finish had blistered. We received the towels promptly, though. Another couple had a malfunction with their room key, and had to wait hours for the problem to be corrected and access their room.
The resort has evolved into a place to see or be seen. We wanted a resort to feel special and relax with fine dining. We hope it returns to its original mission so we can return. Now, it is the perfect destination for the "new money" crowd.
6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
I found the diving to be very poor. There were very few fish compared to diving near Nassau (Exuma Cays).
As a PADI resort, I felt that they didn't follow the guidelines that PADI has set for Rec Diving. Diving at 45 feet for 45 minutes is not like a 45-minute safety stop (which I was told by the dive staff) - especially after doing 90 feet+ dive with only a ten-minute (or less) surface interval.
This sort of diving can be dangerous to new divers who do not know their limits or the NDL (no decompression limits) calculations. There were many times that I saw new divers exceed their NDL - especially on the second morning dive. By the way, the dive staff never participated in the second morning dive. The first dive of the day, all dive staff participated (which meant that the boat was left anchored but unmanned).
I was informed that there was no air conditioning (unless you pay the $15/day), but what I wasn't informed of was the partial fresh water showers.
I must admit that the beach looked just like the pictures on the Small Hope web site (long beach, nice sand, etc.). What the pictures didn't show was that at high tide, the beach disappears. The water goes right up to the rock.
The food was hit and miss. Making your own sandwiches every lunch for $289 a day was not exactly what I had in mind.
To be honest, I thought that they had a fairly nice, rustic resort, and I would have been slightly more satisfied with the the actual resort stay (not including the diving) - if it hadn't been for the luxury price.
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
This was a nightmare in Paradise.Visited: August 2008
Posted by nightmareinparadise
The rooms need refurbishing. The pool and pool area were very run down. Some guests sang and shouted at the pool bar until about 5:00 am without security telling them that they were disturbing the guests in the hotel (as well as the guests in the hotel next door!).
The lifts were always breaking down. There was a limited choice of food - which was also poorly prepared. Every time I ate in any of the restaurants, I got food poisoning. The restaurant staff was very unhelpful, and only served us when they felt like it. It seemed as if they would rather chat amongst themselves.
All in all, this was a nightmare in paradise!
5 users found this review helpful. 4 found this review unhelpful.
South Palmetto Beach House offers simple elegance in paradise.Visited: December 2007
Posted by thoreau101
This apartment on the second floor is 60 feet from the water.
The accommodations are spacious and simple. The beach is called "bonefish flats" because of the bonefish habitat and fishing.
The beach is simply one of the finest in the world. It is 300 feet out until you reach your chest, and you are surrounded in crystal clear blue water with white sand underfoot.
2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
This place is great if traveling with small children.Visited: August 2008
Posted by objectmaster
I agree mostly with the exceptional review (A-list) from above, but disagree with the part on small children.
I was traveling with both a four-month-old and a three-year-old, and found that the Atlantis was extremely unsuitable for children of that age. Being exposed to tobacco smoke (due to the Cuban cigars available), and being forced to travel through the casino to get to some of the food outside was not pleasant. Simply stated, the Atlantis is far to loud for younger children.
The Best Western Bay View is far more pleasurable if you have a young family, and when best to enjoy your children than on vacation? This hotel offers the privacy and tranquility needed by small children.
I think singles, adults without young children, or college students on spring break may find this hotel too "quiet" for their taste, and should head over to the Atlantis for some gambling, booze, and dancing.
4 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
I couldn't wait to get back to the states!Visited: July 2008
Posted by wohdonkey
This was the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. It was not conveniently located to anything.
The International Bazaar was three miles away - which we walked to. However, hardly any of the shops were open on both days we went. Stores close to the hotel were where the locals shop, and they had bars on the windows.
Beer at hotel was very expensive. Also, the hotel staff was not friendly, and housekeeping did not clean the room. The room was not clean when we arrived, and the towels looked dirty. When we asked for more towels, they accused us of already having towels in our room - and they said we had to wait until laundry day. We tried to get pool towels, and they were all out.
We were left one pack of coffee, and had to ask three times for more - and only got one more packet. We asked for more toilet paper, and they had to leave a note for housekeeping because they were out at the front desk.
Other guests at hotel seemed scary, and were mostly families. There were no younger people staying at hotel to hang out with - and no entertainment.
Air conditioning units in the rooms were very loud, and the beds were very uncomfortable. I woke up one day, and could have sworn I had slept on a side walk all night. We also received gnat/fleas/bed bug bites from staying here.
In addition, if we wanted to take a taxi to go somewhere, it was a $12 ride to go there ($24 total round trip).
The area was not pretty, either. There were condemned houses and other hotels that were shut down. The restaurant next door was also shut down. This area and hotel were not what we expected at all - and we couldn't wait to go home.
4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
It was a nice island, but not a nice hotel.Visited: May 2008
Posted by poohbear
We changed rooms after reporting the leaking ceiling in the bathroom. Our "upgraded" oceanview was blocked by a palm tree. The hot tubs were only "motion pools."
Also, the hotel had a big patio party/banquet scheduled, and the front desk just really didn't have the time to accommodate a handicapped retiree.
The buffet and the bars get the stars, though, as they were excellent. It was a bit pricy for the value.
In addition, check your final bill closely.
6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
This was, without a doubt, the worst resort I have ever stayed at. For the past five years, I have taken a beach trip every year. While not all have been great, this one really stands out.
Upon our arrival, we were given a room which was a king bed. We had reserved two double beds, as I was traveling with a friend. We were then told it had been given away, and we would have to wait two-three hours before another was ready.
Finally, we got a room that was disgustingly dirty. The next morning, we were awakened by construction on our entire floor! Finally, we got a nice room, but still the inconvenience wasn't worth it.
The staff was not friendly - and down right rude if you have a problem. Make sure you look at the times the restaurants are open, because at many times all that you can eat is the pool grill, which is never open when they say.
The activity sheet is put out the day of, so anything that requires sign up is already full (then probably won't happen).
The food was bland and the same everywhere. Make sure you book reservations the day before. The four pools they mentioned were actually one large one divided - and it was always dirty.
Also, the beach was small and full of seaweed. Last, everyone here was on "island time" so expect to wait - for everything! My advice - spend the cash and stay at Atlantis!
2 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful.
Towne Hotel, New Providence Island traveler review
This hotel was awful.Visited: November 2007
Posted by professionalism
If it were up to me, there would be no stars at all. It was not very beautiful, and the rate was ridiculous for a hotel which was not very classy.
The island was also awful for cellular phone reception. I don't know if that is a plot to get everybody to purchase phone cards, but I could not use mine at all.
The manager of this hotel had poor customer service skills, as well. Hopefully, you won't have an issue because she will tell you in a subtle way it is your fault. I found that very upsetting and annoying. I couldn't believe the nerve of her.
Also, if you need a receipt of your bill, please ask for it when you check in. I have yet to see mine - even though I was supposed to get it long ago. I guess this was also a subtle way to show me that she could not be bothered (punishment I guess). It will prove to be less financially viable for her hotel and the island in general.
I shared my experience with all of my friends and family, and we will never visit the hotel again. They need to realize that you have the purchasing power, so they need you more than you need them.
As a result of my experience, a couple of my friends opted not to choose this island as their honeymoon destination. I don't know for others, but I will opt to go somewhere else because this experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth.
0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
It's great if you like to travel in fear.Visited: May 2008
Posted by niki245
I spent three days in absolute fear, and the hotel staff did nothing to take me seriously - besides move my room (only to get to the new room and have the same stuff happen again).
Someone from the hotel staff got a hold of my personal information, cell phone, etc., and continoulsy called my cell phone, my hotel room and banged on the door while I was in my room. Calling out crude remarks continued for three days. I informed the front desk to stop all calls in, and they did nothing.
I finally cut my trip short, and spent over $200 to rebook my airfare to leave. The response of the hotel manager on duty that night was "Yeah, we have had this happen before." However, my favorite response was from someone working behind the desk who said "This isnt Aruba honey, you won't disappear!"
The next day, the manager on duty, Vince, told me that they would do everything possible to make up for this. However, when I tried to get refunded, they would only issue me a credit for the nights that I didn't stay.
Mind you, I am a single female traveling alone. It's been over a month, and nothing has been done.
3 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful.
I had a very bad experience, and was very disappointed.
The lights went out completely the first night we were here. The hotel didn't even have generators. Also, the customer service was terrible. They were very unorganized.
I won't go back - ever.
1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful.
Viola's offers delicious and casual outdoor dining.
Posted by amyn
On our recent stay, we took the opportunity to enjoy a stop at Viola's a number of times. We enjoyed the casual outdoor atmosphere whether we were eating prior to sightseeing, or just taking a break from the pool.
The food was delicious and appealing - to both kids and adults. We truly enjoyed everything we ordered from appetizers and meals to beer and fun cocktails.
Viola's was clean and inviting, and the staff was very friendly. It was a treat to have such a great place so close!
1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful.
Stay Away from Riu Paradise Hotel 
This was a unique island shopping experience - very Bahamian. 
This is still a favorite. 
Luxury was not found here. 
It was not as advertised! 
