tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84319134749617084762024-02-06T23:47:21.310-05:00Sandals - The Luxury Excluded VacationThis blog is dedicated to the experience my husband and I had while we spent one week at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios resort in Jamaica on our Honeymoon. Our goal is to inform others of the conditions and treatment we experienced, including Sandals' response to our request for a refund.Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-30834289797729154172010-07-15T09:32:00.000-04:002010-07-15T09:32:42.329-04:00BBB Review of Unique Vacations in Miami, FL (aka, Sandals!)<a href="http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/hotel-reservations-service/unique-vacations-in-miami-fl-21000717">BBB Review of Unique Vacations in Miami, FL</a><br />
<br />
No surprise here, Sandals/their parent company received an "F" from the BBB with 48 complaints in 36 months, 1/2 of those complaints regarding sales practice issues!Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-26588267882839756762010-07-13T11:43:00.000-04:002010-07-13T11:43:31.975-04:00Trip Advisor Review of Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort<div class="quote" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i style="color: #c2c2c2; font-size: 40px; line-height: 2px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;">“</i>Sandals Ruined our Honeymoon with Sickening Food & Invasive Staff<i style="color: #c2c2c2; font-size: 40px; line-height: 2px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-right: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;">”</i></div><h2 class="name hotel" style="color: #217148; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147312-d151462-Reviews-Sandals_Grande_Ocho_Rios_Beach_Villa_Resort-Ocho_Rios_Jamaica.html" style="color: #202d95; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort</a></h2><div class="wrap forSave" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 81px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="profile" style="float: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 447px;"><div class="saveReview" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="ssd70766309" style="left: 37px; position: relative; top: 8px;"><img alt="Save Review" class="sprite-saveReviewGrn90x20" src="http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img2/x.gif" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img2/gen/sprites/global_pack_1-v89f53c8b53417366b1f5ffd89c8815ec.png); background-position: 0% -423px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; left: -38px; position: relative; top: -8px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 93px;" /></span></div><div class="avatar" style="float: left; height: 74px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 74px;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/LuxuryExcluded" rel="nofollow" style="color: #202d95; display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" id="lazyload_UNIQUE_1" src="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-f/01/8f/77/fa/luxuryexcluded.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; height: 74px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 74px;" /></a></div><div class="rating" style="height: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px;"><span class="rate s10" style="display: block; float: left; font-style: normal; height: 14px; margin-right: 4px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 69px;"><img alt="1 of 5 stars" class="sprite-ratings" src="http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img2/x.gif" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img2/gen/sprites/global_pack_1-v89f53c8b53417366b1f5ffd89c8815ec.png); background-position: 0% -2790px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; height: 260px; left: -220px; position: absolute; top: -112px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 510px;" /></span></div><div class="username mo" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: auto;"><span id="UID_D95A29F56C348B5E23BC38E505F073ED-SRC_70766309"><span class="scrname hvrIE6" style="color: #202d95; cursor: pointer;">LuxuryExcluded</span> <span class="sprite-arrowDnOverlay dn_arrow" style="background-image: url(http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img2/gen/sprites/global_pack_1-v89f53c8b53417366b1f5ffd89c8815ec.png); background-position: 0% -3336px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 11px; padding-right: 11px; width: 11px;"> </span> </span><span class="contribs" style="color: #565656; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"> </span></div><div class="location" style="color: #565656; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Smithfield, Rhode Island</div><div class="date " style="color: #656565; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div><div class="summary" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; left: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="entry" style="clear: both; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div id="review_70766309" style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Our room included a bed and dresser each featuring broken wood. A mattress that was so uncomfortable and filthy it looked like it was 25 years old. An air conditioner that sounded like an attack helicopter (loud enough to wake us up in the middle of the night). A balcony door that was nearly impossible to lock/unlock without my husband's help. Mildew on the shower curtains. Ugly greasy stains on the ceiling from mold/mildew/god knows what. And ants *inside* the sugar packets for our in-room coffee.<br />
<br />
Service? Well, there is no room service for a standard room. That was disappointing considering the rigid schedules for resort restaurants and eateries. The maids skipped cleaning our rooms at all for 2 out of the 7 days we were there. One day we did not receive any restocking of towels, called the front desk to request some be brought, none were brought (we had to swipe them from a nearby cleaning cart), and the following day we received FEWER towels, as if in retaliation. Same problem with toilet paper, which was at a premium since we were sick to our stomachs after *every* meal, no matter which restaurant we chose.<br />
<br />
Staff was invasive, ruining private romantic moments with idle chit chat... starting a gas powered leaf blower 10 feet away from us after just getting out of the Garden pool, covering us with dirt & dust... waiter at the Reef Terrace made a suggestive comment about my chest after never bringing the remainder of our meal... Spa staff corners you into talking every time you walk by them in an effort to sell you a package at the spa that is NOT included... We had the same Sandals employee approach us 4 days in a row on our way to the pool attempting to sell illegal drugs...<br />
<br />
I couldn't possibly begin to include all of the negative experiences we had while staying at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios in Jamaica. Perhaps the worst of it all was that food quality was unpredictable. Breakfast buffet at the Bayside included a large steamer full of GRAY eggs and another with Bacon that was only partly cooked. The most authentic Jamaican food that was available was the beef patties and even those were stale and flavorless. The Arizona restaurant had a 45-90 minute wait every night, just to find out that the appetizer buffet within consisted of stale tortilla chips & bowls of sour cream & guacamole that were obviously scraped clean long ago from the hard crust around the edge of the plates. Frozen beverages (daiquiris & pina coladas) were handed to you without the alcohol being mixed into the frozen drink mix.<br />
<br />
Glass bottom boat ride consisted of a 30 minute tour, of which 10 minutes was spent looking at the reef and another 20 minutes was spent showing us the other available resorts that Sandals has in the area.<br />
<br />
All attempts to relay our experiences with staff members were met with feigned surprise, no apologies, and some simply walking away as you spoke.<br />
<br />
I would note recommend a vacation at this resort to my worst enemy.</div></div></div><div class="note" style="color: #9f9f9f; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.</div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-51447691416694893532010-07-09T10:10:00.000-04:002010-07-09T10:10:46.950-04:00Follow Up to Sandals' Request for Information<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font: inherit;" valign="top"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Your request:</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">In order to properly route your concerns to our Customer Service department, we do need you to provide your comment/complaint in writing along with your date of arrival, booking number (if possible), the name of the resort where you stayed, the names of the guests in your party, and your complete mailing address. Please send this information via email to <a href="http://us.mc345.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=customerservice@grp.sandals.com" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278681371_0" style="color: #366388;">customerservice@grp.sandals.com</span></a></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://us.mc345.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=customerservice@grp.sandals.com" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"></a><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278681371_1" style="color: #366388;">Our Initial (UNRESOLVED) Complaint:</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">We have a complaint about Sandals. We booked our honeymoon and have a list of problems, from bugs in our room (in the sugar provided with our coffee, I have this on video), to a noisy air conditioner (also on video), to unprofessional and even vulgar behavior by your staff (also of course... on video). The food made us sick daily with diarrhea.</span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
The happiest day of our Sandals "all inclusive" (this is false advertising) vacation was the day we left.<br />
<br />
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. We would like to request a full or partial refund of the money we spent, there is no way this package was worth what we were charged. Credit or other Sandals offers for future trips is not desired, we would not consider visiting any Sandals resort after our experience in Jamaica.<br />
<br />
Failing that I can post the footage I have online and build a site about our Sandals experience for the review & consumption of the public. I would also provide this footage to local news stations who would be interested in the story (my cousin is a news reporter who has already expressed interest in an expose).<br />
<br />
You have my information. You have until Tuesday June 29th 5:00 P.M. EST to respond, after which I would turn my video evidence over to local TV news & will also post these videos on YouTube & begin construction of a site about our extremely disappointing honeymoon experience at Sandals.<br />
<br />
XXXXXX Smith</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Requested Information:</span></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></div>Sandals</span></span> Grande Ocho Rios</b><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;" />Room Category: Riviera Luxury<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;" />Arrival Date: 15/JUN/10<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;" />Departure Date: 22/JUN/10<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;" />Booking Number: 4771795 </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Guests: XXXXXXX Arenson, XXXXXX Smith</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Mailing Address: XX XXXXXX</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"> Street, Smithfield RI, 02917</span></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Please note that on your website, it shows this issue as "closed" and it is anything but. If we are not granted a significant refund for the egregious problems associated with our honeymoon we plan on making this as public as possible and would consider retaining legal counsel to assist in recovery of our expenditure for services not provided as described in your advertising.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Please respond at your earliest convenience.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="il" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">XXXXXX Smith & XXXXXXX Arenson</span></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-13890655472998996562010-07-09T10:06:00.002-04:002010-07-09T10:06:52.019-04:00Supposed "Answer" Posted from Sandals<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="c2c2c2" class="tablehead" colspan="2" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;">Message</td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="f3f3f3" class="tablebodyblue" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><div align="right">From:</div></td><td bgcolor="ffffff" class="tablebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><img align="absmiddle" src="http://ets.sandals.com/images/operator_icon.gif" /> - DBLAKE@UVI.SANDALS.COM</td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="f3f3f3" class="tablebodyblue" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;" width="14%"><div align="right">Date:</div></td><td bgcolor="ffffff" class="tablebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;" width="86%">06/28/2010</td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="f3f3f3" class="tablebodyblue" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;" valign="top"><div align="right">Subject:</div></td><td bgcolor="ffffff" class="tablebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;">HOW TO ROUTE YOUR COMPLAINT/COMMENT LETTER</td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="ffffff" class="tablebody" colspan="2" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;">Thank you for your e-mail.<br />
<br />
In order to properly route your concerns to our Customer Service department, we do need you to provide your comment/complaint in writing along with your date of arrival, booking number (if possible), the name of the resort where you stayed, the names of the guests in your party, and your complete mailing address. Please send this information via email to customerservice@grp.sandals.com.<br />
<br />
Thank you for choosing Sandals and Beaches Resorts.<br />
<br />
Best regards,<br />
<br />
E-Sales and Marketing Department<br />
Sandals & Beaches resorts<br />
http://www.SANDALS.com<br />
Toll Free 1-800-SANDALS<br />
http://www.BEACHES.com<br />
Toll Free 1-800-BEACHES<br />
<br />
For current promotions offered at our Beaches resorts please visit http://www.beaches.com/general/specials.cfm<br />
<br />
For current promotions offered at our Sandals resorts please visit http://www.Sandals.com/general/specials.cfm<br />
<br />
This communication contains information from Unique Vacations, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-71533219805597772972010-07-09T09:30:00.001-04:002010-07-09T09:31:11.221-04:00Second Response from Sandals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">From: info@sandals.com </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Subject: Sandals Operator Issue Response, issue_id:320391</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">To: GRAPHICDESIGN_RI@YAHOO.COM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Date: Monday, June 28, 2010, 4:11 PM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="plainMail" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
The issue you submitted has been answered!<br />
You may view the response history on the ETS Response Center<br />
at the following URL:<br />
<a href="http://ets.sandals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_0" style="color: #366388;">http://ets.sandals.com</span></a><br />
<br />
Please remember that your password is case sensitive.<br />
<br />
Copy of Response:<br />
Subject: How to route your complaint/comment letter<br />
Message:<br />
Thank you for your e-mail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In order to properly route your concerns to our Customer Service department, we do need you to provide your comment/complaint in writing along with your date of arrival, booking number (if possible), the name of the resort where you stayed, the names of the guests in your party, and your complete mailing address. Please send this information via email to<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8431913474961708476&postID=7153321980559777297" rel="nofollow">customerservice@grp.sandals.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you for choosing Sandals and Beaches Resorts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best regards,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
E-Sales and Marketing Department<br />
<br />
Sandals & Beaches resorts<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sandals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_1" style="color: #366388;">http://www.SANDALS.com</span></a><br />
<br />
Toll Free 1-800-SANDALS<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.beaches.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_2" style="color: #366388;">http://www.BEACHES.com</span></a><br />
<br />
Toll Free 1-800-BEACHES<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For current promotions offered at our Beaches resorts please visit<a href="http://www.beaches.com/general/specials.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_3" style="color: #366388;">http://www.beaches.com/general/specials.cfm</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For current promotions offered at our Sandals resorts please visit<a href="http://www.sandals.com/general/specials.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_4" style="color: #366388;">http://www.Sandals.com/general/specials.cfm</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This communication contains information from Unique Vacations, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.</div><div class="plainMail" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div class="plainMail" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>THE ABOVE CONFIDENTIALITY DISCLOSURE AT THE END OF SANDALS' EMAIL WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US PRIOR TO RECEIVING IT NOR DID WE AGREE TO ANY FORM OF CONFIDENTIALITY WITH THEM, LEAVING THE ABOVE STATEMENT VOID. THERE IS NO STATE OR FEDERAL LAW TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT PROHIBITS US FROM DISCLOSING, COPYING, DISTRIBUTING, AND/OR USING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SANDALS IN ANY OF THEIR EMAILS. THIS IS MERELY A SCARE TACTIC, A FORM OF TERRORISM ON THEIR BEHALF TO SCARE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS INTO THINKING THEY HAVE NO RECOURSE. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">WE KNOW BETTER.</span></b></span></div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-32402860954657161332010-07-09T09:22:00.000-04:002010-07-09T09:22:07.698-04:00First Response from Sandals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>PLEASE NOTE: AREAS MARKED WITH X'S HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT OUR PRIVACY.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">From: info@sandals.com <info@sandals.com></info@sandals.com></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Subject: Sandals Issue confirmation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">To: GRAPHICDESIGN_RI@YAHOO.COM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Date: Friday, June 25, 2010, 2:01 PM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="plainMail" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
<br />
Thank you for contacting Sandals and Beaches Resorts!<br />
<br />
A client profile and an issue has been opened for you with the following contact information:<br />
<br />
Name: XXXXXX Smith<br />
Email: <a href="" rel="nofollow">GRAPHICDESIGN_RI@YAHOO.COM</a><br />
Day Phone: 401-XXX-XX84<br />
Night Phone: 401-XXX-XX04<br />
Best hours to Call: Don't Call<br />
<br />
============================================================================================== <br />
You have been assigned the following ticket number and password. <br />
With this password and your email address you can now log in to the Sandals and Beaches<br />
Email Response Center to keep track of your issues and responses.<br />
<br />
Issue Ticket Number: 897320391<br />
Password: XXXXXXXX<br />
<br />
URL Sandals and Beaches Response Center ===><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ets.sandals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_0" style="color: #366388;">http://ets.sandals.com</span></a><br />
<br />
PLEASE ALLOW 24-48 BUSINESS HOURS FOR A RESPONSE TO BE POSTED.<br />
============================================================================================== <br />
<br />
The following is the Issue you created.<br />
<br />
Subject: Complaint and request for refund<br />
Message: We have a complaint about Sandals. We booked our honeymoon and have a list of problems, from bugs in our room (in the sugar provided with our coffee, I have this on video), to a noisy air conditioner (also on video), to unprofessional and even vulgar behavior by your staff (also of course... on video). The food made us sick daily with diarrhea.<br />
<br />
The happiest day of our Sandals "all inclusive" (this is false advertising) vacation was the day we left.<br />
<br />
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. We would like to request a full or partial refund of the money we spent, there is no way this package was worth what we were charged. Credit or other Sandals offers for future trips is not desired, we would not consider visiting any Sandals resort after our experience in Jamaica.<br />
<br />
Failing that I can post the footage I have online and build a site about our Sandals experience for the review & consumption of the public. I would also provide this footage to local news stations who would be interested in the story (my cousin is a news reporter who has already expressed interest in an expose).<br />
<br />
You have my information. You have until Tuesday June 29th 5:00 P.M. EST to respond, after which I would turn my video evidence over to local TV news & will also post these videos on YouTube & begin construction of a site about our extremely disappointing honeymoon experience at Sandals.<br />
<br />
XXXXXX Smith<br />
<br />
Thank you for contacting Sandals and Beaches Resorts.<br />
<a href="http://www.sandals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_1" style="color: #366388;">http://www.sandals.com</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.beaches.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1278680731_2" style="color: #366388;">http://www.beaches.com</span></a><br />
<br />
</div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-11026091138281789472010-07-09T09:15:00.000-04:002010-07-09T09:15:27.493-04:00Our Original Complaint to Sandals<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR ORIGINAL COMPLAINT TO SANDALS DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL DETAILS OF OUR DISSATISFACTION, AS WE BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE AND GIVE THEM ALL OF THE SPECIFICS. IT WAS OUR FEAR THAT THE INMATES WERE RUNNING THE ASYLUM (SO TO SPEAK) AND THAT A COMPLAINT WITH <i>TOO MUCH</i> DETAIL MAY HAVE BEEN "LOST".</span></b></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">"We have a complaint about Sandals. We booked our honeymoon and have a list of problems, from bugs in our room (in the sugar provided with our coffee, I have this on video), to a noisy air conditioner (also on video), to unprofessional and even vulgar behavior by your staff (also of course... on video). The food made us sick daily with diarrhea.</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">The happiest day of our Sandals "all inclusive" (this is false advertising) vacation was the day we left.</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Please contact me at your earliest convenience. We would like to request a full or partial refund of the money we spent, there is no way this package was worth what we were charged. Credit or other Sandals offers for future trips is not desired, we would not consider visiting any Sandals resort after our experience in Jamaica.</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">Failing that I can post the footage I have online and build a site about our Sandals experience for the review & consumption of the public. I would also provide this footage to local news stations who would be interested in the story (my cousin is a news reporter who has already expressed interest in an expose).</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">You have my information. You have until Tuesday June 29th 5:00 P.M. EST to respond, after which I would turn my video evidence over to local TV news & will also post these videos on YouTube & begin construction of a site about our extremely disappointing honeymoon experience at Sandals."</div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>AND SO YOU SEE OUR SITE DEDICATED TO EXPOSING THE TRUTH ABOUT SANDALS IS HERE AND BEING READ BY SOME, MORE WILL FOLLOW... ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ANTS IN THE SUGAR VIDEO IS POSTED!!! </b></span></div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-24870258947310306702010-07-08T11:43:00.001-04:002010-07-08T12:12:23.124-04:00Photo Blog - ARIZONA, "featured restaurant"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99ZyytuRNKHdIQ5wXxYZogYzhOl1H45rVE1_OjLy14A02IJnXGHC2wyFFKdR0OsPuobFQvQdw42x_ojy4iPhAhaSZi_jshhyBCdBjRqdd4yZi6MCE-0xwWJevTAd7C3xAEmjhFcGHko/s1600/sgo-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK99ZyytuRNKHdIQ5wXxYZogYzhOl1H45rVE1_OjLy14A02IJnXGHC2wyFFKdR0OsPuobFQvQdw42x_ojy4iPhAhaSZi_jshhyBCdBjRqdd4yZi6MCE-0xwWJevTAd7C3xAEmjhFcGHko/s400/sgo-200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ARIZONA Restaurant as pictured on the Sandals website</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyW0TbSksPnhnU5rBsvh9b2JWCaDfKMvTOWbuDDuOTAfnRWaN8NujK1wZN2c9eIFgzJf5Tvx1jvQNt949sm-xldj2uuu_zj7-bWc-OJlRWPFJKcyRxy1159WrKhTpgsx9vagyIETlZJc/s1600/28467_1483099723322_1408737396_1316347_138215_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyW0TbSksPnhnU5rBsvh9b2JWCaDfKMvTOWbuDDuOTAfnRWaN8NujK1wZN2c9eIFgzJf5Tvx1jvQNt949sm-xldj2uuu_zj7-bWc-OJlRWPFJKcyRxy1159WrKhTpgsx9vagyIETlZJc/s400/28467_1483099723322_1408737396_1316347_138215_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">Mr. Smith with a view of the <b>real</b> ARIZONA restaurant behind him.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a typical misrepresentation of the facilities located at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios. The first thing you'll notice is that the Sandals "stock photo" shows tables set up in the sand in front of the boardwalk. <b>THERE IS NO SUCH RESTAURANT LOCATED ON THE SANDY BEACH. </b>The gazebo located directly to the left of Mr. Smith's head and up to the one on his right is where the tables are set for the ARIZONA restaurant. And the boardwalk leading up to the ARIZONA is typically lined with people waiting for a table there. Typical wait time, as experienced by this couple, was 45-90 minutes... if they were willing to take your name at all. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you've waited 45-90 minutes for a table at an ocean-side restaurant, you would typically expect to receive an amazing meal, served by competent waiters and enjoy a serene view. This is not the case at the ARIZONA. Our waiter was glad to admit it was his first night, he had never waited a table before. And after he took our order from us 3 separate times (because he could not remember it) and brought me a completely liquid pina colada, we got up and went over to the appetizer BUFFET. Not exactly what you would have expected for appetizers at a restaurant with a 45-90 minute wait but we were hungry so we tried it. The appetizer buffet included such delicacies as stale corn chips, chili that obviously came from a can (reminiscent of Hormel products), plates of sour cream & guacamole that had been scraped clean without ever having been refilled (again, obvious by the crust around the edges), and a great number of pickled salads that seemed to have nothing at all to do with Tex Mex food.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was grateful that our waiter managed to bring us the correct food and gladly cut into my tequila lime chicken breast... then pressed harder, because the chicken was so hard and overcooked that it could have seriously hurt someone had I thrown it at the nearest Sandals employee, as I felt I should. My side dish of a "loaded baked potato" came to me as garlic mashed potato... well, maybe they ran out, at least it was a comparable substitute. And side dishes of corn on the cob were literally less than 2 inches tall and looked more like garnishes than a part of the meal. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this point I didn't dare order another pina colada to replace the milky consistency of the one I already had... it may have taken them another 20 minutes despite the bar being on the boardwalk. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe I may have cried that night after eating at the ARIZONA. It was either our 2nd night or 3rd night at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios (Riviera) and the first time I realized that I really wanted a home cooked meal, a comfortable bed, and to be able to get my own towels & toilet paper when needed.</span></div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431913474961708476.post-51054183425723091972010-07-08T11:11:00.001-04:002010-07-08T12:12:44.911-04:00Photo Blog - SANDTRAP, "featured restaurant"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7nRONW73aIJ6eca0zLnwypEQBI9dDqHWSm0mN3Mu4UmnZIijM_Bs4diXb4cI7OAuvh_RHxgFQNPCke0jMDRYrZDUFDheFjrFTObvvOE91NYqICpl7ERiX3dX-iqKcFtrtml04Rjj-nI/s1600/28467_1483100683346_1408737396_1316371_6029505_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div class="diningTitle" style="color: #43531b; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>SANDTRAP</b></div><div class="diningDesc" style="color: #a2835b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Casual beachfront snacks and grilled items.</div><div class="diningDesc" style="color: #a2835b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29;"><span class="strong" style="color: #43531b; font-weight: bold;">Dress code:</span> No Dress Code</span></div><div class="diningDesc" style="color: #a2835b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29;"><span class="strong" style="color: #43531b; font-weight: bold;">Reservation:</span> Not Required</span></div><div class="diningDesc" style="color: #a2835b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7nRONW73aIJ6eca0zLnwypEQBI9dDqHWSm0mN3Mu4UmnZIijM_Bs4diXb4cI7OAuvh_RHxgFQNPCke0jMDRYrZDUFDheFjrFTObvvOE91NYqICpl7ERiX3dX-iqKcFtrtml04Rjj-nI/s1600/28467_1483100683346_1408737396_1316371_6029505_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7nRONW73aIJ6eca0zLnwypEQBI9dDqHWSm0mN3Mu4UmnZIijM_Bs4diXb4cI7OAuvh_RHxgFQNPCke0jMDRYrZDUFDheFjrFTObvvOE91NYqICpl7ERiX3dX-iqKcFtrtml04Rjj-nI/s320/28467_1483100683346_1408737396_1316371_6029505_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The SANDTRAP "restaurant" is listed as one of the featured eating establishments on Sandal's website, without a photo of course. Here we have provided you with a photo of one of the many <b>broken</b> tables provided for this "restaurant". In fact, McDonalds provides a more clean & comfortable atmosphere including better food selections and quality. The SANDTRAP is nothing more than a walk-up cafeteria with bar stools and a bar overlooking the beach from a galley style kitchen. You are responsible for approaching the waiter/waitress and submitting your order with your name, then sitting down and waiting an unusually long amount of time for things such as french fries, burgers, and pulled pork sandwiches. And FYI: If you get there early (i.e. on time when they open), you can expect to wait for that pulled pork until the mix thaws and you can expect to not have ice for at least 20 minutes and you can view the food that has been left in the case overnight from the previous day. The SANDTRAP's selling point is that it is open when other restaurants are closed, leaving it as often your only choice for a meal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8c5b29; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"></span></div><div class="diningTitle" style="color: #43531b; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #43531b; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div>Mrs. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14018358744191878597noreply@blogger.com0