ORIGINAL MESSAGE / QUESTION / TRIP REPORT:

Bad Second Experience Posted By Jen on 07-17-2005 9:07:04am My family and another family we traveled with just returned from a week at the Paraiso Beach. Last summer we stayed at the Del Mar. We had a wonderful experience the first time around, this year our expectations fell short. My eleven year old son cut his foot on the rough pool steps and required stitches. The pool steps are dangerous and in serious need of repair. The staff did not seem concerned about his injury and were more interested in us returning four pool towels. The food is HORRIBLE. We knew we were NOT going for the food, but I guess we forgot how awful it truly was. I ended up buying a package of ritz crackers in the lobby shop and eating them all week. I couldn't tolerate the food or blended drinks. They tasted terrible and made me ill. The pool area was dirty. Straws, ice cream cups and cups all over the place. The staff can hardly communicate. Forget asking housekeeping for anything, they don't understand. This IS NOT a five star experience. Two years in a row was enough for us and we will not be returning. It's a shame because it is a beautiful resort, but the service and food are a big zero. Lastly, Hurricane Emily was approaching at the end of our stay. Luckily, we were scheduled to depart, but others we spoke with had no idea what do in terms of safety or evacuation. Noone at the resort gave any instructions or anything like that. Again, we knew what we were getting into with the horrid food, but the service and unsafe/dirty condition of the pool made our thoughts about this vacation and resort go way down.