After an early departure from Pittsburgh on a cold January morning we were looking forward to relaxing on the beach at Bahia Mar prior to our cruise. We had a great flight and arrived early. We should have known what to expect when the front desk person was arguing on the phone with a customer.
This was a crowded hotel due to a large number of cruise ships in port and the BCS Championship game. The hotel was not capable of handling the crowd. We were unpolitely told the room wasn't ready and the hotel has until have until 4:00 PM to get it ready. This was at noon. We were in our winter clothes and were told we could change in the bathroom. I am used to doing this during my travels but my friend was not. It made it more difficult when the bathroom she was told to change in had an overflowing toilet. The toilet wasn't repaired during our three our wait for the room. At 3:00 while I was being told the room wouldn't be available due to a problem with cleaning the carpet, I received a call from the manager asking if we got to our room yet. This call came while I was being told again, "the hotel has until 4:00 to permit us into the room." Fortunately the manager intervened and the room was instantly available.
The beach is across a crowded four lane highway. There is a walkway to the beach but the hotel is not on the beach.
The one thing the hotel has going for it is the proximity to shops, restaurants,the airport and the port. Some of the staff, particularly housekeeping and the concierge were helpful. The front desk was useless.
The desk in the room was filled with sheets of neatly folded aluminum foil. That was a nice amenity but we didn't use it. Obviously during the rush to clean the rooms (inadequate staffing) cleaning the desk was overlooked.
And to top it off, the marina side was locked out of their rooms 15 minutes before checkout. The front desk said they always do that and sent security to let us into our room.
There are some good restaurants in the area and a very nice deli across the courtyard.
The hotel promo pictures are very misleading. This is on a four lane highway,not a beach, and has a huge blacktop parking lot on the side of the building with no landscaping. Our marina view was overlooking and old roof , the highway and the marina.
For those of you used to the Doubletree cookie, we had to ask for the cookie. I wasn't about to let them get away with that!