This was our first time going to a lifestyle resort. The wife was nervous (so was husband!). However, from the second we walked in to our last moments on the property, the staff was incredible and set our minds at ease.
The food was surprisingly delicious and so varied! Much of it was delicately prepared and did not have that *all inclusive* feel to it. We never had to wait in any lines for food, which was a huge plus. We never got bored with the food or had a bad dish. The restaurants switch over mid-week, so the variety keeps adding. We did have one boring-ish meal, but everything else was so good there just had to be one. No matter what we had, where we ate, the service was wonderful.
The drinks were decent. Of course, they are serving in volume, so you get what you get. We never felt cheaped on. The service, again, was great. Being spoiled Californians, we do have to say that the wine left a lot to be desired. Bring your own, if wine is at all important to you.
Our room was perfect for our first trip. We had an ocean view, which also gave us a view of the pool and the Jacuzzi. (Let's just say, what a view.) The bed was comfortable, but not luxurious. The bathroom is on the quaint side, even with the tropical feel. The doors didn't quite work right (and there are three doors to the bathroom - main, toilet, and shower). One complaint was the AC unit, which WORKED, but it was angled above the bed so that the air hit our faces in an uncomfortable way - which sounds like a weird complaint, but it kept husband sleeping light and SNORING. The room was on the fifth floor, and there are no elevators - so that's a lot of steps. We enjoyed it, but if you have mobility issues, ask for a first floor room. We absolutely loved the bracelets! They work as the room key, and they mean you never have to keep a room key on you. Of course, this is handy if you aren't wearing clothes - but it just spoils you not having to reach into a pocket or a purse to fish out a key (or forget it in the room (and don't lose your bracelet, because replacement was $100!)).
But enough about the room, because we were barely there.
The pool was beautiful, and the chairs were great. Again, service is key here, as the towel staff reserves your chairs for you. Get in early (though it was not as bad as were led to believe), because they do fill up. Once you are in your poolside chair, you can order drinks or food from the servers walking around and taking care of guests. Regardless of what you were wearing (or not), all staff were incredibly professional and gracious.
One of the best parts about the pool (and everywhere, really) was the music. We're in our forties, and we are not exactly party people, but the music was perfect no matter where we were. The lobby had chic covers of our favorite tunes, the pool and disco had great party music, and the restaurants each had their own vibes. There was even live music during the theme nights, and the performers had everyone dancing.
We had a great time at the theme parties. If we had one regret, it would be that we were not prepared enough. Dress up if you can!
Shout out to the lobby coffee servers! Having good - genuinely good - coffee available 24/7 was amazing.
We had a wonderful couples massage. The spa was magical. We also had the photo shoot, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us.
Grounds were constantly maintained, and it showed. They were beautiful.
Everywhere we went, staff were saying hello making us feel welcome - including the playmakers.
One big drawback was the beach. The beach at this resort has been eroded quite a bit. To make matters worse, there was a huge, stinky seaweed problem. It was seaweed season, and this year apparently is worse than any other year, but yikes that smell. Even so, it did not ruin our trip. If you are sensitive to smells, beware and plan accordingly.
We had a wonderful time, and we can't wait to go back.
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