July 6, 2005
07-31-2005 8:25 pm
July 6, 2005
color=#0000ff> Iberostar Message BoardI just got home.... I'm straight from the airport. I'm giving you my findings as to what I came across at the Iberostar Parasio Del Mar. The weeks before I went I read the reviews. I counted 4 to 5 ratio out of 9 reviews. Four which were poor reviews (very unhappy hotelers). So out of that many I knew there had to be a grain of truth to them. I decided to conduct a bit of experimenting and research to decided if this place could cut the muster. These were my findings:
1. Pool area. Nice layout: lots of loungers and activities. Nice bartendars polite and very busy. I carefully watched them to see if they were cleaning and careful about dropping stuff on floor and picking up and reusing with just a rinse. ( former complaint) and I did not see or witness this. They were extremely busy and did wash pitchers out between making next round of drinks. Also glasses were all over the pool area but not for very long cause there were several girls and guys going around picking up the glasses and placing them in 5 gallon buckets and hauling back to be cleaned.
DANGER! Reason for pool area being so slippery: Smooth marble surface + suntan lotion + water = a very dangerous combation. Even little kids were not running around pool area. I noticed several poeple slipping and sliding around. (former complaint) I took this warning very serious. Water shoes may help. But even when you are inside the pool you still have a hard time walking up the slope to the bar cause it's like greased. Swim to bar then stand up. Otherwise you'll end up slipping and going face down in water real quick. It's the suntan lotion everyone must have on to keep from burning. Bathroom at pool area always had a puddle of water on the floor. Please be extremely careful when entering there you will slip and depending on which way you slip you'll crack you head or smash your face. However... There was a fellow with a squeegy broom and was in there every few minutes pushing water out. I counted him there just about 10-15 minutes intervals pushing water out. But it's still extremely dangerous.
(former complaint) The steps going down into the pool...Rough edges and missing hunks of steps. My findings. Statement was true. The edges were very sharp.. sharp enough to give a good nick or cut. Hunks of steps missing also true statement. I found one piece of step missing in 10-12 inches long and perhaps about a 2 inch wide to3 inches on one end. Some smaller. 3 different stair steps into the pool.
(former complaint) Pool water too warm. This is true... bathwater. However that is cause the sun was beating down on a shallow area and would of course warm it up quickly. However... near the falls the water is several degrees cooler and that is cause of the falls. Look on the bright side no sun cooler pool water.
2. Our room. Standard room. 2 full sizes beds. Sheets not changed every day. I know cause I marked the sheet on one corner with a dot from a ball point pen. ( former complaint) so I had to research this. It was the only way I could think to check and see if it was true. I left the maid a 2-3 dollar tip each day. Beds were mades. Floors were not mopped. Left a pair of sunglass in the corner under the table. If the floor was swept or mopped it should have been moved. was not. However.. we need have some very nice towel animals and our curtains were put into different arrangements each day. I almost hate to put this finding down. I marked the toilet to see if it was being cleaned every day. Not cleaned. Maybe I just had a very busy maid with alot of work to do and a short time in which to get things cleaned.
Clogged Toilet (former complaints) There was 13 in our group. 4 which had clogged toilets. Myself included. I do think this may be a problem through the resort on the whole. Cause we saw 4-5 guys a day riding around with plungers in hand or attached to the back of there bikes. My husband called them the dookie patrol.
3. Resort Grounds/ Long walks: Yes you will walk alot. I was lucky cause I was in building 17. I wish I had thought to pack my pedometer cause then I would have been able to tell you in steps/ miles it was to this place or that. Perhaps someone will read this and if going can wear one: let the rest of us know exactly how many steps/miles to-from a given postion. But walking isn't bad it's just a good stretch of the legs for ya. Besides all that eating a good walk after dinner will make ya feel better. I see the trams rounding back and forth alot. Sorry I forgot to time them.
4. The staff ( major former complaints) mmmmm.... ok ....I don't think they are overly friendly but I didn't find them rude either as so many complainted about. I really think it's a language barrier for some of them. Some smiled some didn't. They may be told don't mingle with the paying guest. I tried to be friendly and polite and found that I was treated with the same attitude. I did witness a few events that made me feel for the staff. Some folks were rude and very bossy to them and treated them like servants. But I have to give them credit they did put up with alot of verbal rudeness and abuse. So if they arent' exactly smiling I can understand why.
5. The nightly shows. Sorry didn't research or watched any.
6. It rained while we were there. Hallways are as bad as pool. However they did have people wiping them down and attempting to keep them dry just wasn't enough folks to keep up with the job. Be careful!!!!!
Words of advice to you:
Take alot of dollars with you. Cause you will be given pesos back. I tried to get my dollars changes back and was told so sorry we are not allow.
Also know thier money system like the back of your hand Other wise you will be ripped off especially at the market at Playa Del Carmen.
My husband and daughter was with me along with a group of friends. On the whole was husband wants to go back and so does my daughter which surprised me. They thought the hotel and everything was top notched. Altough my daughter (17) only had one complaint. The words Ice Cream Bar was misleading. She was thinking she could make these wonderful sundae creations. (lol) All it was: 6 different ice creams to choose from and put into a cone. My husbands only complaint... the bed. He woke up with his back hurting and the muscles were cramping. For myself. Many ascpects of the place and hotel in general met my expectations but it did not exceed them.
O I almost forgot..... You want to get drunk... Get beer or wine. The mixed drinks vary from bar to bar through out the hotel and as many drinks as I had at the pool I should Have drowned intoxigated. One of the former complaints was the drinks were watered down. Here was something else I researched. I can drink 1 mixed drink and get a buzz if they are made correctly. However... I drank 6 in a row.... no buzz/nothing/zip/zero. mmmmmmmm I ask myself shouldn't I feel buzzed and acting goofy?Seem like I was drinking icy slushes. I got cooled off but not buzzed. So others must conduct this test and let us know thier results.
Food complaints: I had none. Good food at buffets and they did try to change the types of foods from night to night. If you want to eat in the other resturants. Be sure to make reservations before you leave home. Less hassle and you won't be wasting your time at guess services attempting to make a reservation.
Good luck on your trip and I'll be watching to see if anyone comes up with any new research thoughts or comments.
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