Sandals Sale: Are you really saving???

[FlatironGuy]

Any of us who have been on this board for awhile now, know that Sandals has been getting knocked left and right. So I''m just curious, with Sandals advertising these 40% - 50% savings deals, are you really getting that great of a deal, or does Sandals just want to hype up their whole experience? If you don''t know what I''m talking about, just go to Sandals website right now and you''ll see all the promotions their offering.

 

[FlatironGuy]

Anybody???

 

[sumbride]

the thing is, even if you book at regular rates, when they have the sales, you can call and get the new rate. I did it. Robbie did it. So whether or not you''re saving, you can get a lower price. Is it a good deal? well, it depends. Did you look at other resorts? is it what you want?

 

[Laurenj915]

It''s probably a good deal compared to normal Sandals prices but not a good deal compared to other all inclusive resorts. At least in my experience.

 

[FlatironGuy]

I''m just curious if they''re advertising the normal rates much higher compared to the sale rate, giving the illusion that you''re saying all kinds of money, and in the end making you think that you''re staying at a much nicer resort then it really it.

 

[sumbride]

Date: 3/17/2008 1:08:53 PM
Author: FlatironGuy
I''m just curious if they''re advertising the normal rates much higher compared to the sale rate, giving the illusion that you''re saying all kinds of money, and in the end making you think that you''re staying at a much nicer resort then it really it.

The "normal rates" really never apply though, so it doesn''t really matter because most people book those trips far enough in advance that the price will drop at some point prior to their trip and they can get the "sale" price. It''s kind of like airfare. If you buy a ticket this week at $500 but next week it drops to $200, you can actually call and get the lower price. If you don''t do the leg work, you don''t save the money, but the price is subjective and almost nobody pays the "list" price on the resort like almost nobody pays the list price on airfare. It is what it is. Some people really like Sandals. I did the first time I went. It was only my most recent experience that soured me on it.

 

[Courtneylub]

All I know is, I originally booked our Sandals honeymoon with that 40% discount and it still came out to $4500 for 5 or 6 days with flight and all.

We''ve now booked the same flight, nicer resorts (but not all inclusive) for around the same price. I''d rather stay in a nicer place and spend money on food and drinks. At least I know the food will be good quality and the drinks will not be watered down at these nice places.

 

[FlatironGuy]

Date: 3/17/2008 2:24:25 PM
Author: sumbride

Date: 3/17/2008 1:08:53 PM
Author: FlatironGuy
I''m just curious if they''re advertising the normal rates much higher compared to the sale rate, giving the illusion that you''re saying all kinds of money, and in the end making you think that you''re staying at a much nicer resort then it really it.

The ''normal rates'' really never apply though, so it doesn''t really matter because most people book those trips far enough in advance that the price will drop at some point prior to their trip and they can get the ''sale'' price. It''s kind of like airfare. If you buy a ticket this week at $500 but next week it drops to $200, you can actually call and get the lower price. If you don''t do the leg work, you don''t save the money, but the price is subjective and almost nobody pays the ''list'' price on the resort like almost nobody pays the list price on airfare. It is what it is. Some people really like Sandals. I did the first time I went. It was only my most recent experience that soured me on it.

What was your most recent experience if you don''t mind me asking?

 

[sumbride]

I stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian in October for my honeymoon. I''d actually been before about 5 years prior, when it had just opened, so I wasn''t worried at all because I''d really enjoyed it before. Well, the food had gone majorly down hill... we had only buffets for lunch, and hamburgers at that. Of the few restaurants open each night, they had buffets at at least 2 of them each night. UGH. The ones without buffets were difficult to get into and we didn''t discover that the best restaurants were over at the Regency until almost the end of our trip. We had room service as part of our package but it took hours and we only had a few options. And then they wanted the plates back almost immediately and actually knocked on our door to ask for them. Excuse me? I''m on my honeymoon... don''t bother me! I''ll put it out when we''re done with it.

Our room looked out over the staff building with children playing behind it most mornings, screaming, which we could hear because we had our balcony door open for the breeze. The pools were crowded during the day, at at night when we thought we could swim quietly and calmly, the water was so chlorinated that my husband actually sustained a chemical burn. Despite the fact that it says the pools are open 24 hours and there was no sign saying they had just treated the pool. All the lounge chairs were taken before we got to the pool or beach, they ran out of towels most days, we could never find a float to use, and we actually were asked by staff on the beach to go to the bar and get THEM drinks. SERIOUSLY. The sailing guy wanted our "free" drinks. WHILE he was working. My husband did it because we were sitting right near them and he didn''t want them to tease him for the rest of the day. They''d had to move because there was a fire near the building they were usually in, which also shut down one of the restaurants, giving us even fewer options.

The elevator in our building was also broken the whole time we were there, and of course we were on the 3rd floor, which isn''t that big a deal, but was kind of annoying. I mean, I''m on vacation! I have to take the stairs ALL the time??? in heels??? After a night of drinking??? It was irritating.

But all those things were petty annoyances... what really got me is what one of the staff said to me one day. It was so awful that I won''t repeat it, ever, but I spent the day upset and wanting to go home. When I talked to the manager, he said he''d "make it right" and we came back to our room to find a fruit plate and helium balloons tied to our bed. Seriously. BALLOONS. What am I? FIVE? A few hours later they brought a plate of chocolates. Yeah, not helping. At that point it was just getting worse. I got to speak to the manager again and he took $200 off the bill, which was just what we''d charged for excursions and he said that was "all he could do". When I got home I wrote to corporate and they gave me a voucher for 2 free nights at any Sandals within 2 years, but seriously? I don''t want to go back, and even if we did, 2 nights isn''t worth the trip... I''d have to pay for a 3rd night to even bother with the airfare, which I''d have to pay for of course.

So I''m a little bitter, but I just expected more from a $5000 honeymoon.

 

[Courtneylub]

Date: 3/17/2008 2:43:45 PM
Author: sumbride
I stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian in October for my honeymoon. I''d actually been before about 5 years prior, when it had just opened, so I wasn''t worried at all because I''d really enjoyed it before. Well, the food had gone majorly down hill... we had only buffets for lunch, and hamburgers at that. Of the few restaurants open each night, they had buffets at at least 2 of them each night. UGH. The ones without buffets were difficult to get into and we didn''t discover that the best restaurants were over at the Regency until almost the end of our trip. We had room service as part of our package but it took hours and we only had a few options. And then they wanted the plates back almost immediately and actually knocked on our door to ask for them. Excuse me? I''m on my honeymoon... don''t bother me! I''ll put it out when we''re done with it.

Our room looked out over the staff building with children playing behind it most mornings, screaming, which we could hear because we had our balcony door open for the breeze. The pools were crowded during the day, at at night when we thought we could swim quietly and calmly, the water was so chlorinated that my husband actually sustained a chemical burn. Despite the fact that it says the pools are open 24 hours and there was no sign saying they had just treated the pool. All the lounge chairs were taken before we got to the pool or beach, they ran out of towels most days, we could never find a float to use, and we actually were asked by staff on the beach to go to the bar and get THEM drinks. SERIOUSLY. The sailing guy wanted our ''free'' drinks. WHILE he was working. My husband did it because we were sitting right near them and he didn''t want them to tease him for the rest of the day. They''d had to move because there was a fire near the building they were usually in, which also shut down one of the restaurants, giving us even fewer options.

The elevator in our building was also broken the whole time we were there, and of course we were on the 3rd floor, which isn''t that big a deal, but was kind of annoying. I mean, I''m on vacation! I have to take the stairs ALL the time??? in heels??? After a night of drinking??? It was irritating.

But all those things were petty annoyances... what really got me is what one of the staff said to me one day. It was so awful that I won''t repeat it, ever, but I spent the day upset and wanting to go home. When I talked to the manager, he said he''d ''make it right'' and we came back to our room to find a fruit plate and helium balloons tied to our bed. Seriously. BALLOONS. What am I? FIVE? A few hours later they brought a plate of chocolates. Yeah, not helping. At that point it was just getting worse. I got to speak to the manager again and he took $200 off the bill, which was just what we''d charged for excursions and he said that was ''all he could do''. When I got home I wrote to corporate and they gave me a voucher for 2 free nights at any Sandals within 2 years, but seriously? I don''t want to go back, and even if we did, 2 nights isn''t worth the trip... I''d have to pay for a 3rd night to even bother with the airfare, which I''d have to pay for of course.

So I''m a little bitter, but I just expected more from a $5000 honeymoon.

Bummer, sumbride!

I''m so sorry that happened on your honeymoon. I can only imagine what the staff member said to you. Have you and DH had a trip to make up for it?

 

[sumbride]

Date: 3/17/2008 3:53:37 PM
Author: Courtneylub


Bummer, sumbride!

I''m so sorry that happened on your honeymoon. I can only imagine what the staff member said to you. Have you and DH had a trip to make up for it?

Not yet. It was just October ''07. we''re still paying off the honeymoon so not really planning for any big travel soon. We had been thinking of going to Paris this year, but not with the current state of the $. The way we look at it is that we''ve had many better trips before the honeymoon, and we have the rest of our lives to make up for the honeymoon. It definitely bit the big one at the time, but we held it together and enjoyed our time together, despite the problems with the resort. And at least we know that we can top it easily enough!

 

[FlatironGuy]

Date: 3/17/2008 2:43:45 PM
Author: sumbride
I stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian in October for my honeymoon. I''d actually been before about 5 years prior, when it had just opened, so I wasn''t worried at all because I''d really enjoyed it before. Well, the food had gone majorly down hill... we had only buffets for lunch, and hamburgers at that. Of the few restaurants open each night, they had buffets at at least 2 of them each night. UGH. The ones without buffets were difficult to get into and we didn''t discover that the best restaurants were over at the Regency until almost the end of our trip. We had room service as part of our package but it took hours and we only had a few options. And then they wanted the plates back almost immediately and actually knocked on our door to ask for them. Excuse me? I''m on my honeymoon... don''t bother me! I''ll put it out when we''re done with it.

Our room looked out over the staff building with children playing behind it most mornings, screaming, which we could hear because we had our balcony door open for the breeze. The pools were crowded during the day, at at night when we thought we could swim quietly and calmly, the water was so chlorinated that my husband actually sustained a chemical burn. Despite the fact that it says the pools are open 24 hours and there was no sign saying they had just treated the pool. All the lounge chairs were taken before we got to the pool or beach, they ran out of towels most days, we could never find a float to use, and we actually were asked by staff on the beach to go to the bar and get THEM drinks. SERIOUSLY. The sailing guy wanted our ''free'' drinks. WHILE he was working. My husband did it because we were sitting right near them and he didn''t want them to tease him for the rest of the day. They''d had to move because there was a fire near the building they were usually in, which also shut down one of the restaurants, giving us even fewer options.

The elevator in our building was also broken the whole time we were there, and of course we were on the 3rd floor, which isn''t that big a deal, but was kind of annoying. I mean, I''m on vacation! I have to take the stairs ALL the time??? in heels??? After a night of drinking??? It was irritating.

But all those things were petty annoyances... what really got me is what one of the staff said to me one day. It was so awful that I won''t repeat it, ever, but I spent the day upset and wanting to go home. When I talked to the manager, he said he''d ''make it right'' and we came back to our room to find a fruit plate and helium balloons tied to our bed. Seriously. BALLOONS. What am I? FIVE? A few hours later they brought a plate of chocolates. Yeah, not helping. At that point it was just getting worse. I got to speak to the manager again and he took $200 off the bill, which was just what we''d charged for excursions and he said that was ''all he could do''. When I got home I wrote to corporate and they gave me a voucher for 2 free nights at any Sandals within 2 years, but seriously? I don''t want to go back, and even if we did, 2 nights isn''t worth the trip... I''d have to pay for a 3rd night to even bother with the airfare, which I''d have to pay for of course.

So I''m a little bitter, but I just expected more from a $5000 honeymoon.

I''m really sorry to hear that of all your travel experiences, it was your honeymoon that was so horrible. Sounds like it was the trip from hell!!! I keep hearing about similar stories like yours, which is why at this point, somebody would have to drag me to Sandals kicking and screaming!