Soemone make me stop reading TA

[Tarris]

I can't stop reading the horrible reviews about the Sandos Gala on TA. Someone please tell me these people are impossible to please and that it really is a fine place to stay. Some of the reviews on TA make it sound like a prison on the beach...wire grates, exposed lightbulbs, raw sewage by the pool and huge bags of garbage in the hallways. Please, please, please tell me I didn't just spend $3900 for my husband and twin boys to do time!

I have stayed at the Paradisus Cozumel (sometimes called the Melia). Apple rated it a 4 apple. I thought it was "okay." I have also stayed at the Occidental Grand Cozumel. Apple rated it 5 gold apples. I thought it was fabulous. Someone who knows the Gala...please tell I haven't made some dreadful mistake.

[Jan&Chas]

Originally Posted by Tarris

I can't stop reading the horrible reviews about the Sandos Gala on TA. Someone please tell me these people are impossible to please and that it really is a fine place to stay. Some of the reviews on TA make it sound like a prison on the beach...wire grates, exposed lightbulbs, raw sewage by the pool and huge bags of garbage in the hallways. Please, please, please tell me I didn't just spend $3900 for my husband and twin boys to do time!

I have stayed at the Paradisus Cozumel (sometimes called the Melia). Apple rated it a 4 apple. I thought it was "okay." I have also stayed at the Occidental Grand Cozumel. Apple rated it 5 gold apples. I thought it was fabulous. Someone who knows the Gala...please tell I haven't made some dreadful mistake.

STOP READING THEM! I was exactly the same way with reading those reviews about the Grand Coco Bay before we went (2/27 - 3/6). I was so nervous. Believe me. It has got to be some kind of scam or something. We loved this place. I could not find anything wrong. It is not a 6 star but then I wasn't expecting it to be,,,but definately an all the way 4 star plus. I can't believe still, some of the things people say. Go and read the last review of Grand Coco Bay. That person left their email address and gave it a 1 star. But you have to read what she wrote. It is hilarious and ridiculous to say the least. I swear some other hotel paid her/him to write that. I laughed so hard. Don't believe a word of what you read. Just go have a good time and don't look for bad stuff.

[btodd]

Stop reading the reviews!! I know you won't........but at least take them with a very large grain of salt!!

We stayed at the Gala last year with our two girls...was it five star?? No........was it a family friendly, small, clean resort with a beautiful beach??.......Yes.

Was the food gourmet??.............No...........was it plentiful and safely prepared.........Yes!!

Did we enjoy ourselves...............you bet we did!!!

Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff........some peole are NEVER happy........

[debk]

If you must read the TA reviews, at least read them as entertainment - like the comics. Sometimes the comics hit a chord that resonates and is authentic, but mostly we read the comics to make us laugh!

I was freaked out about the Royal Porto Real from TA - until I read reviews here and locogringo.com and realized the above (Thanks Tommygurl!)

Have a fabulous trip and don't sweat the small stuff (and if I'm on the beach with a drink - it's all small stuff!!)

[maestranba]

I agree with all of the above posts! We've stayed there twice and we're still alive!!

You'll have a great time, I'm sure, and if you look at the average rating of the hotel on TA instead of each individual review, you'll see it's appropriately rated. I've been going through the same thing, but after doing it for a few years, I know not to believe everything I read.

On the other hand, we booked a hotel in Cancun one year based on very postitive reviews that I had read on TA and I didn't like the place much at all. But it wasn't for the reasons people loved it. I didn't like the fact that no one in the place would speak Spanish!! (And that's one of the main reasons I like vacationing in Mexico-to speak Spanish!) I could have just as well been in Florida. Hey, I probably would have heard more Spanish there!!

[flyingpig11]

Originally Posted by Tarris

I can't stop reading the horrible reviews about the Sandos Gala on TA. Someone please tell me these people are impossible to please and that it really is a fine place to stay. Some of the reviews on TA make it sound like a prison on the beach...wire grates, exposed lightbulbs, raw sewage by the pool and huge bags of garbage in the hallways. Please, please, please tell me I didn't just spend $3900 for my husband and twin boys to do time!

I have stayed at the Paradisus Cozumel (sometimes called the Melia). Apple rated it a 4 apple. I thought it was "okay." I have also stayed at the Occidental Grand Cozumel. Apple rated it 5 gold apples. I thought it was fabulous. Someone who knows the Gala...please tell I haven't made some dreadful mistake.

Dont fret.... The vacation will be what you make of it, and what your expectations are.

I have been to the Gala twice. Once in April 2005 (with wife and two boys)and once in December 2005, after the change in management (with seven adults and five kids from 3 to 16).

Let me put this in perspective. It is not a five star.. but....it is more than just adequate. It was downright enjoyable each time.

I expereinced no raw sewage, no live cockroaches, no barbed wire etc...

I did see ON OCCASION, room service trays which could have been picked up more quickly, some of the same food at the buffets at various meals, some longer waits for carving stations, or egg and pancakes stations, due to some short staffing, some furniture that was not in prime condition as the part of the resort I wwas in was just being opened after the urricane (terra cotta lamp shades cracked, or a tv not in place, or a room safe mising or mirror down). Each issue was addressed readily with a call or visit to the front desk.

Our rooms were cleaned daily, new towels were provided, the staff worked thier butts off to make us happy, because that is what they do. Breakfast and lunch were good to very good. Dinner gets old.

I know that good money was paid to go there and have everything inclusive, but I still recommend hitting Playa for dinner at least two nights, if not more. You can easily eat for very little. Go for shirmp tacos, or even pizza which is very good there. You cheat yourself by not doing so.

The biggest issue I have is the front desk. They are just a bit cavalier there, as opposed to being very welcoming, when they are your first expereince.
There may be some minor bumps, but just ignore them.

The beach is the best, the staff is very pleasant and hard working, the place is really a perfect size, kids have an awesome time, parents have a great time etc...

Private message me if you have any specific questions ..do's and don'ts etc.....

[joeabroad]

We need a support group - TAA.

My name is Joe, and I'm a TA addict. I'm flipping the d--- thing on several times a day. I can't believe it--I've spent a total of about two years of my life in Mexico, and I'm getting nervous over someone's complaint that there is CONSTRUCTION going on near their hotel room, and BOATS ON THE BEACH! Or that the maids didn't clean up their room UNTIL THE AFTERNOON! As my wife says, if I don't stop I'm going to ruin our trip for her, too.

I just counted--32 more days.

[Jan&Chas]

Originally Posted by joeabroad

We need a support group - TAA.

My name is Joe, and I'm a TA addict. I'm flipping the d--- thing on several times a day. I can't believe it--I've spent a total of about two years of my life in Mexico, and I'm getting nervous over someone's complaint that there is CONSTRUCTION going on near their hotel room, and BOATS ON THE BEACH! Or that the maids didn't clean up their room UNTIL THE AFTERNOON! As my wife says, if I don't stop I'm going to ruin our trip for her, too.

I just counted--32 more days.

Some people just make mountains out of mole hills! I even read on TA that there was a scorpion in someone's room...scorpion? I think not. LOL!! It was probably a small bug of some kind...After all, Mexico does have bugs just like every place else in the world for pete sakes!

[mackem_lass]

I'm not sure about some of the reports on TA.

I read one report on Sandos Caracol where the couple had complained 12 times to reception about their air con not working, and it still hadn't been fixed.

At the end of the report, it said they had only stayed at Sandos Caracol for 1 day before being moved.

I think if I was on reception and someone complained 12 times in 1 day about something, I wouldn't be very helpful towards them!

Maybe they were expecting instant electricians or something

They also said there was nothing at all to do on an evening as there was no entertainment and the resort is in the middle of nowhere. I've since read about the inhouse entertainment and seen another guests photos of it, and read the resort is a short taxi ride from PDC.

[DONO]

Originally Posted by mackem_lass

I'm not sure about some of the reports on TA.

I read one report on Sandos Caracol where the couple had complained 12 times to reception about their air con not working, and it still hadn't been fixed.

At the end of the report, it said they had only stayed at Sandos Caracol for 1 day before being moved.

I think if I was on reception and someone complained 12 times in 1 day about something, I wouldn't be very helpful towards them!

Maybe they were expecting instant electricians or something

They also said there was nothing at all to do on an evening as there was no entertainment and the resort is in the middle of nowhere. I've since read about the inhouse entertainment and seen another guests photos of it, and read the resort is a short taxi ride from PDC.

I read one where they had an iguana in their room. It was crawling across the ceiling right above their bed.

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Jan&Chas]

If you want a great laugh for the day, please read this latest trip review from TA on Grand Coco Bay. sorry, I can't stop laughing at it. It must be a joke or something!

*edit*

obviously it is against the rules to post content from another site on here like that.

Pretty unbelievable,,huh?

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by Jan&Chas

I even read on TA that there was a scorpion in someone's room...scorpion? I think not. LOL!! It was probably a small bug of some kind...After all, Mexico does have bugs just like every place else in the world for pete sakes!

Ummm, scorpions DO get into people's rooms, absolutely. I had clients who stayed at the Gala Playacar and to make a long story short.........

The night before they were to leave, they went to take their suitcases out of the closet to pack. When they put them on the bed and opened them up, a mommy scorpion had gotten into their luggage and had a WHOLE bunch of babies! With the opening of the suitcase, the mommy and the babies scurried out ALL over the bed and then all over the room. She said there were hundreds of them at least. There was no way to get all of the scorpions cleared out because it was late at night and most of the housekeeping staff had left for the day, plus they just couldn't be sure they actually did get them all anyway. Then the hotel did not want to move this family of 5 to a different room, and the father finally had to resort to making the biggest stink about why he couldn't put his three small kids to sleep in THAT room because there were still scorpions in the beds, did they move them to a different one. They also ended up having to throw most of their luggage away because there were still more scorpions in there, and because they had less luggage, they also left most of their clothing there.

The whole thing was a nightmare for these folks. While they did not go on TA to write a report about it, it just goes to show you that some stories that sound horribly far fetched maybe indeed be true!

[Jan&Chas]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Ummm, scorpions DO get into people's rooms, absolutely. I had clients who stayed at the Gala Playacar and to make a long story short.........

The night before they were to leave, they went to take their suitcases out of the closet to pack. When they put them on the bed and opened them up, a mommy scorpion had gotten into their luggage and had a WHOLE bunch of babies! With the opening of the suitcase, the mommy and the babies scurried out ALL over the bed and then all over the room. She said there were hundreds of them at least. There was no way to get all of the scorpions cleared out because it was late at night and most of the housekeeping staff had left for the day, plus they just couldn't be sure they actually did get them all anyway. Then the hotel did not want to move this family of 5 to a different room, and the father finally had to resort to making the biggest stink about why he couldn't put his three small kids to sleep in THAT room because there were still scorpions in the beds, did they move them to a different one. They also ended up having to throw most of their luggage away because there were still more scorpions in there, and because they had less luggage, they also left most of their clothing there.

The whole thing was a nightmare for these folks. While they did not go on TA to write a report about it, it just goes to show you that some stories that sound horribly far fetched maybe indeed be true!

I doubt it is true. sorry.

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by Jan&Chas

I doubt it is true. sorry.

No need to be sorry as far as I'm concerned, everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe.

But I have absolutely NO doubt whatsoever that this happened as these are good clients of mine (and definitely not whiners or complainers) who had never had any problems on previous trips so I have no reason at all to doubt what they say. I also spoke to the General Manager the next day who confirmed the "incident".

And these clients also did not want me to contact the tour operator or hotel for any reason, they were not looking for compensation of any kind and they didn't get any. They just wanted to tell me what happened - we even laughed about it a bit.

Bottom line, what reason would they have to make up such a story?
Not everyone who has bad/strange/unusual things happen to them when at a resort is fibbing.

[Ali]

I had clients with a scorpion incident while working in a nice, lush, green, mountainside part of Spain! We had to take the thing (it was dead, squashed, but obviously did it's stinging business before it kicked the bucket) in a box to the hospital as I knew no-one would believe us. It was funny to see all the hospital staff having a look at it as they passed....it would have been funny except the woman who got stung (and, it was a tiny sting from a tiny scorpion) was a total beatch and it was 4am when they called me out!

I dare say most people who would have heard about this incident would have dismissed it as untrue.....doesn't mean it didn't happen!

As for TA, I've read many a dumb report on there, but that aside, it all comes back to everyone is different and we all rate things differently! The report that Jan&Chas posted is a typical (and hilarious!) example of people who have a rough few days and then decide they are going to write down every minute thing that they dislike or that doesn't go their way so they can try for compensation when they get home. Some people just suck!