Ocean Blue - HORRIBLE - Page 2

Rick Snyder · #11 11-01-2006, 12:28 AM

If you read the OP you will see that typical for some people in some circumstances whereas they get a foreigner into their country they will go to the extreme due to the mindset that all foreigners are rich and can afford to pay an outlandish price for things.

The price paid was AMERICAN 3,036.31 and due to their having a plane to catch the tour operator felt safe that the quoted price would be paid due to the fact that said operator had the Dominican police to back her up. Please note that this was the price charged and not necessarily the actual price for said door. If you have any experience in this country you will know that the usual price quoted is usually far above and beyond the actual price that the same item would cost a Dominican if in fact you are a foreigner.

Not only was that the actual price they charged but you will notice that the OP did in fact pay the bill so that they could leave to catch their plane and not have to go to jail.

I guess the Apple tour operator knew what she was doing.

Rick

?????? Do they only come out after midnite???????

Hannah · #12 11-01-2006, 08:54 AM

I did my research before we booked Ocean Blue. I found one really bad report on it, but from past experience, chalked it up as a rarity. My travel agent and I both thought with a five star resort, we would be fine. Guess not!

Yes, I am sure it was $3,036.31 USD. It was over $100,000 RD. No, I am not making this up. I don't know how anyone could even come up with a story like this if it didn't really happen. Thank you, Rick, for standing up for me. I was kind of offended when I read samans3's post.

My credit card company now responded to us and said that this charge will stick. They said they understand where we are coming from and feel really bad for us, but the hotel knew what they were doing. Apparently there are three things a company needs to make a charge stick - 1) the card has to be present, 2) cardholders signature, 3) permission to swipe the card. So, I believe this was a scam. My sister, who is fluent is spanish, is doing some research for me as to how much this door should really cost. So, I guess it's up to Apple Vacations to help us out now. Hopefully they do!

I do want to go to Puerto Rico, but I prefer to go AI. Puerto Rico is just a little too far out of my price range right now - hopefully in the future. We will be going back to Mexico for the next few years. We need to get over this experience before trying somewhere new again.

annier · #13 11-01-2006, 03:07 PM

I was at Ocean Blue between 9th and 23rd October and remember seeing the broken door to Reception. I have no idea how much such a door would cost. Its partner appeared to be thicker and heavier than, for example, the glass in my house windows and, possibly, tinted. It does seem a lot of money to be charged and I wish you luck in your efforts to get the price reduced.

When I read about your husband's problems with his foot/ankle I immediately assumed that he had kicked the door, thus breaking it. I've tried to ignore my instant reaction but am unable to shake it off. If not, how did it happen? I apologise if I missed that in your post.

I also wonder was this injury not apparent when he showed his leg to the hotel staff? Or did he show the other leg? Did you say that you had also taken photos of his legs? Did they not show the injury too?

I had a great time at Ocean Blue with a group of 20 adults in 20 separate rooms. A few of us had to get room keys re-programmed once or twice which was no real hardship. A few of us had mild upset tummies but blamed too much alcohol and rich food.

The staff were friendly and helpful although they were on Caribbean time so things took a while. Once or twice in your report you mentioned shouting at staff. In my experience this is not helpful in getting what you want. A tolerant smile and a "por favor" and "gracias" is so much more effective.

I am sorry that, despite being there at the same time as my thoroughly enjoyable stay, you had a miserable time. I hope you are successful in your efforts to get some money back.

annier · #14 11-01-2006, 03:18 PM

I have taken another look at your post and still can't quite understand how the door was broken. Please clarify.

Also, was Bucanero the seafood restaurant on the beach which usually carries a US$35 premium? If so, that together with a refund for one night seems quite generous. I really don't think that the hotel can be faulted for the presence of a rat outdoors. If it was a different, I apologise for my presumption.

My bed linen was changed daily even though it was never dirty. Equally towels and face cloths were changed daily and requests for more were speedily dealt with. The mini bar was well stocked and replaced every day.

Bars did seem to run out of certain drinks from time to time, especially as we were such a large group. We tended to move to another bar or the disco when this happened or stay put and choose something else to drink.

Food was available from about midnight in the Sports Bar. We ordered burgers and chips at 3 and 4am many times. Room service was available but only in the Elite rooms.

I have added these points in order to provide an unbiased view.

AZB · #15 11-01-2006, 04:53 PM

Don't you all get it? The 3k dollars price tag was posted by the tour agency and hotel was to punish the folks. I bet these folks were a pain in the ass for the whole week to the hotel folks. Everyone must be so relieved for them to have gone away. I bet they gave hell to everyone, from cleaning lady to bartenders to all the managers. Some people are nothing but a pain in the butt. The 3K was demanded to punish them. I am sure they broke the glass door on purpose.
Now let me ask you this:
What kind of a lady would admit to shi**ing in her pants on a public forum?

Who the hell would order food at 2am in the morning when they had all day to eat and drink? I know, they were so busy complaing all day that they had no time to eat before 11pm. Then they waited till 2am to order food. Nice move.
AZB

laurapasinifan · #16 11-01-2006, 05:55 PM

well good thing you came along to settle the matter once and for all AZB.......

remind me to commit suicide, if I see you in the jury box when i go to trial for the parking ticket.... ha ha ha ha

even if the patrons of a hotel are constantly complaining about something.....the people who work there, just have to suck it up.

It comes with the job....just like the people who check in and are never seen, and dont ever eat on site...are a godsend...NO EXTRA WORK.... they have to deal with both kinds. Its a SERVICE oriented buisness...

thats what the dominican mind set keeps forgetting......the people dont show up JUST to fork over money......the expect a level of treatment and that involves SERVICE...

Get me this

I need another towel

can you get me a drink

can I have an Iron

can you change the sheets

JUST do it...and stop looking for ways NOT to do anything......

look at places like Vegas ...they bend over backwards to kiss butttt....so the people come back..]
]
and they do it to complete jerks...because those people spend money tooooo

bad bob

perlanegra · #17 11-01-2006, 08:02 PM

I totally agree with Rick, azb and Annier!!

After working in the law field for more than 12 years, you get to notice many things other people can't see. As the guys said; when all you do in life is complain, complain you don't get good treatments anywhere. It's better to smile and ask kindly for what you expect. That works here, there and whereever.

One thing: When she was on the way to the bathroom she heard something shattered! She wasn't looking at what her husband was doing; and if the credit card didn't back her up, as they usually do; it's because they know what they are doing!!

I wonder if the hotel has one of those 24/7 cameras at the lobby and that's why they are so sure of charging what they are charging. There is damage to the roperty involved and punitive damages as well. He was not the only one who was going to have to deal with the door; but the rest of the people in the resort as Annier and the rest. They had to deal with looking at this broken door at the hotel they also paid to stay at.!!

Heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, nagers; complainers, even about an outside rat!!

Please, don't get me wrong here; it's just that as of Rick mentioned before; I'll hate to be your attorney and come across all of the fatcs you wrote, later on.

Please do go to Mexico or somewhere else then!! Let's see how it will go there!!

Why was Annier and the rest of the 19 guests so satisfied?? and they were there at the same time as the op.!!

My 2 cents!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZB

Don't you all get it? The 3k dollars price tag was posted by the tour agency and hotel was to punish the folks. I bet these folks were a pain in the ass for the whole week to the hotel folks. Everyone must be so relieved for them to have gone away. I bet they gave hell to everyone, from cleaning lady to bartenders to all the managers. Some people are nothing but a pain in the butt. The 3K was demanded to punish them. I am sure they broke the glass door on purpose.
Now let me ask you this:
What kind of a lady would admit to shi**ing in her pants on a public forum?

Who the hell would order food at 2am in the morning when they had all day to eat and drink? I know, they were so busy complaing all day that they had no time to eat before 11pm. Then they waited till 2am to order food. Nice move.
AZB

samana3 · #18 11-01-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Snyder

Samana3,

Being the new kid on the block, having only made 4 posts of which 2 were threads you started of which the owner of the board quickly shut you down in one of them and having used up so much space to quote the OP, of which we have already read, you have the audacity to come out on the attack.

I think it would be a good idea to fall back and regroup. Nice idea to engage brain before operating fingers.

Sorry everyone from diverting from the OP but I felt something had to be said.

Rick

RICK SNY****,

LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM AND I COULD POST WHATEVER I WANT. BY THE WAY I WASEN'T COMING OUT ON THE ATTACK I WAS JUST GIVING Y OPINION ...... IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT WELL I COULD GIVE A ****

HAVE A GREAT DAY

samana3,

1) Let me remind you that this is NOT a public forum but a private (DR1), moderated forum to which it is a privilige to belong - not a right.

2) You CANNOT post whatever you want; you must stay within the established rules and norms for this forum or be edited, deleted and/or banned.

3) Posting in all capital letters is the board equivalent of shouting and is just plain "rude". Except for small passages used for emphasis it will not be repeatedly tolerated.

4) Use of profanity and vulgarities, especially directed at another poster WILL NOT BE TOLERATED on my watch (which is pretty much always for the travel forums).

5) Have a great day

Gregg
Mod.

Rick Snyder · #19 11-01-2006, 11:17 PM

Samana69 you need to look out before your alligator mouth overtakes your bunny rabbit butt!!!!!!!

Your deleted thread, (say what???) should give you an inkling of the fact that because this is a public forum you doooooooo nottttttttttt have the leisure to post that which you think you want to.

Excuse me, you can in fact post it but because of the rules of this board, (You know what rules are correct????), there is the possibility that it will be edited or deleted..

Kind of like trying to make it upstream without a paddle.

Regardless of your disposition I would advise you against trying to fight with me. It has been tried by many much better then you to no avail.

Lambada · #20 11-01-2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perlanegra

Why was Annier and the rest of the 19 guests so satisfied?? and they were there at the same time as the op.!!

I know your question is rhetorical, perlanegra, but yes annier and friends were prepared to 'go with the flow' and as a result had no problems. Had they had a real problem I bet the staff would have fallen overbackwards to help. And annier + 19 would have been suitably gracious in their thanks for said help. But 'suitably gracious' is not something that strikes me about the OP's post.

Of course AZB is correct. Punishment is being meted out in the only way available to those meting it out. I do not have the audacity to come out on the attack, merely making a commentary from what I observe. But when you get the tour rep. AND the hotel ganging up in a sewn up deal that coincidentally has the police there as well...........well you need to ask yourself if there was a reason.

Dominicans are so good at this. Decades of oppression and exploitation have taught them the bullseye ways of 'getting even'. Bet even the manager allowed a bottle of Jack Daniels to be broken open after departure.........

Now as to whether this is the professional way of dealing with people with complaints, that's a whole other story. But I would be surprised if there weren't quite a few reading the original report who had a little smile on their faces.

Hopefully the OP will get some of the money back; it isn't right that they should be overcharged. And hopefully they can extend their range of responses in future hotels in other countries to incorporate some of the charms of annier and group.