Palm Beach Farce!!! Not to be CRUDE or anything

The thing that upsets me the MOST about this vacation is the fact that the resort was listed as a Gold Crown resort. In my humble opinion, I think it could pass as a two- to two and a half-star resort as best. I can only explain this, since I am also a Red Week Gold Crown resort owner, and I expect the higher quality of resorts that I visit. This resort was also pretty dirty (in general), and the pool was at best so-so.

Thankfully, there was a beach on-site, and the compared to other Florida beaches that I have been to, this was probably one of the cleaner ones. Things that were not appreciated included hourly fees for beach-umbrella and beach-chair rentals. Also, there was a daily parking fee just for parking your car. This obviously isn't fun considering the added charges at the end of the week.

Quick Tips:

If possible, bring your own beach umbrellas and lawn/beach chairs, which will probably save you over for the week! Also, for all you travellers who have been to timeshares before, just continue to buy your food and make your own meals, as this is definitely a huge cash-saver!!!

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is definitely needed, as most things are around town. The transit and bus systems are adequate if you are on the main strips, but on the coasts, it'll be a fair wait for the buses, and then you have to use the Tri-Rail. In any case, good luck!

Best Things Nearby:
Palm Beach on-site, Palm Beach Kennel - Dog Races, Morikami Museum and Gardens, West Palm Beach district, City Place.

Best Things About the Resort:
Not much. Most things were dirty, and the SPA was a joke. The Tiki bar was usually empty, and the on-site restaurant was pretty cheap looking.

Resort Experience:
The one bedroom unit that we received was at best adequate, but at a quick glance, the two bedroom suites were much, much larger and more spacious. I know, I basically stated the obvious, but the one bedroom that we were in was not as spacious as other resort one bedroom units. My suggestion, if you are planning on booking this resort, read closely and take a look at others in the area. I'm just sorry for the people who actually exchanged their "deposited week" or purchased an "Extra Vacation" for $842 for this unit. Man, that would have sucked! I purchased an "Extra Vacation" for C$179, and I'm still not too happy with it. You can call me ungrateful, but I guess I'm just used to high-quality locations and resorts.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Poor
• Amenities: Poor
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Fair
• Service: Good

This was a typical on-site restaurant that did not require reservations since most nights it was pretty empty. As you can imagine, the prices were pretty STEEP. It cost around $12 to $15 for a basic pizza--talk about a RIP-OFF!! Cook your own food. At least with the unit's kitchenettes and/or full kitchens it makes total sense. Go down the street and pickup some Popeye's Chicken. That'll be infinitely cheaper than eating on-site. Good luck!

The West Palm Beach district is pretty nice, with shops and restaurants. There are many bars and places to sit outside and enjoy a meal or a drink. This is why you'll need a car, since West Palm Beach is about 10 to 15 minutes away. Have fun!

This is a very interesting place with natural bonsai plants and a couple of museum buildings. Check out this site, and when in town, get a coupon for an admission discount or free gift.

See http://www.morikami.com/.

The price for admission is fair, and the gardens are pretty beautiful. The museum shows the history of Japanese culture in Florida and the initial growth of the culture there. It is pretty refreshing to see and learn that there was some Asian presence in the southeastern Florida region, and that, as it seems, they were pretty influential for their time. Check out the website, learn a bit about the gardens and museums, and make your decision then. Have fun!!!