I came to viva wyndham fortuna beach for my spring break with my dad and my brother. After reading the reviews, I was hesitant, but when I arrived I completely forgot all the bad things that I have read,
Firstly, coming from a
more +place filled with snow to a tropical island and a 25 degree temperature will definitely make you feel great! I found a sale for the trip a couple days before leaving which allowed me to save a couple hundred dollars, but even after the trip was done, I still thought that the trip was worth the money we had paid, even if it had been full price! I'd give a 4 out of 5 for the price paid, and a 3.5 about for a regular hotel. If you come here, you'll have tons of fun! just remember, this isn't a 5 star hotel.
The resort website explained that this was a popular spring break place, and this is true!You can still relax at this resort if that is what you want to do, just don't complain if you cant fall asleep before 11ish because of the noises (though they are still manageable).
The beach is really amazing, and I even found conch shells by the water, something that I thought was really cool. The activities provided, especially since they were free were great. I went snorkeling 2 or 3 times and to be able to see the multicolored fish swim around me and reefs were breathtaking. So was the catamaran and wind surfing! I also got a scuba course(which i had to pay for).
I went to the plays once and saw the lion king, Although it was for kids, it was really good! the acting and costumes were great, and I recognized one of the actors as one of the guys from the surf shop. The staff plays in the plays, what talented people!
People say that the staff wasn't nice, others say they were. I think that you really need to talk to them and become somewhat friends for them to talk to you and greet you, None of the staff though was mean or disrespectful. Keep in mind that they are also humans, and might have just had a bad day, because overall they were super nice!
Many of the reviews said that the rooms were cheap, food was bad, staff wasn't good and so on, Things like that was what I was worried about, but I think that it really just depends on the week that you come, or whatever. The rooms do look a little cheap, but even then it might just depend on which room you were giving. I, compared to others, had NO peeling paint or mold on the walls, I had a hairdryer and the vents worked well. The TV's aren't plasma's or anything, just the old box ones, but hey, they at least work! And catch most channels like mtv.
Now, the food. I only went to a reservation restaurant once. The other times that we tried to get a reservation, they said that it was fully booked. What I found weird though was that the night I went to the Asian restaurant, there were like 2 people! i don't know if they lied about the restaurants being booked or if those with reservations just didn't show. The food was really good at first, but after the 3rd or 4th day breakfast gets kind of old. Its tasty food, But its the same style of food every morning, When I was there there was a large display of fruits and sausages, and the 'american breakfast' but I just got kind of tired of constantly eating the same stuff. Lunch and supper was different though! Supper consisted of a different style every night, so that was never old. Desserts were really good too! This was my first time going to the islands, so i can't really compare it to anything else. But as a first experience it was great! and I am looking forward to going back next year.
I'm a 16 yr old girl. And thought that the place was great! the only thing that stunk though was that there were young kids, young adults, adults, and old people. Stuck there with my dad and brother was okay, but no teenagers were there, and no one really of my age! I guess it really just depends on the week that you go.
unless if your expectations are extreme, go to this hotel and you shouldn't be disappointed :D For wifi, you CANNOT acces it from your room. You need to go to the main lounge
Date of Stay: 03/01/2011
Children in Party: 1
Accommodations Dining Kids Play Area Money Value Pool & Water Fun Staff
I believe that a review should give people information, both good and bad, in order for them to make an informed decision.
"Big Names" should not immediately persuade you to book at that property because you have positive experiences
more +stateside. Such an Example is the Wyndham Viva Fortuna Resort in the Bahamas near Freeport. I love the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and book them when I travel, so for a quick 4 day family vacation over Memorial weekend, I didn't give this Resort a second thought. I still stay at Wyndham occasionally. I knew it would be a value resort, but it was all-inclusive and had a Children's program (supposedly) and a several dining options, and the website pictures and write-up looked great. The big mistake I made was not realizing that the price was too good to be true for a Wyndham Resort. Well, you get what you pay for. I think "Viva&"; stands for budget resort, but Wyndham would need to be asked that.
Positives were: The beach was beautiful, with lounges, umbrella's, palm trees, white sand, aqua water, steps away from a concrete Tiki bar (free) for drinks and good hamburgers, great fries, hot dogs and drinks. The pool was rectangular, no frills, but a good size, a jacuzzi, a small wading pool for kids. Since the kids liked the big pool, I soaked in the wading pool while I read my book! Note: Most are "No tips" allowed, but if you tip your main bartender, who will take it, he will then fill your OWN larger glass size with your drink, instead of the small glasses they hand out. I have found this to be true at most moderate & value all-inclusive. There is a night club. There were some ping-pong tables and a few games by the pool...."Learn to line dance" and exercise type activities. There is an entertainment show nightly, and I've heard they added a Circus/show.
Negatives were: Although they advertised a "Kid's Retreat" program, the program/building was closed May 29-June 2nd, which is family vacation time, so we took the 4 year old everywhere. CALL if this is important to you. Thank goodness we went to the extra trouble of bringing our stroller, because we now had a little one around with us touring the city, and even going back and forth across a large property can be taxing for a young child. This is a time-share too, so be prepared to be solicited with offers of buying into the resort, especially at check-in. The "Welcome Rum Punch" bowl is empty and unattended, but by then who cares, as the drive from the airport is not short. Plan on the buildings and rooms being warm. There is no air conditioning, just fans, in the main Junkanoo Buffet Restaurant, and the air was broken; in the 2 reservations restaurants, Asian and Italian, which were also no charge, except for bottled wine. We switched rooms 3 times right away trying to find a cool room, but the wall units are old, so be prepared. Bring slippers. I found the food in the main buffet to be fair to poor, even though they changed "themes" each night so we tried the Italian restaurant (couldn't get in Asian at all, but heard no air)and found the food to be just 1 step above the main buffet. The lobster was inedible. The steak, I think filet, was all fat and tough, and service was almost nonexistent. They finally opened the doors when the guests were dripping sweat. BEST food? The hamburgers and fries at the outside Tiki bar, which closes at 6:00 p.m. Oxymoron on the Nightclub; Nightly show positives: Club is in one of the restaurants, so it opens about 11:00 p.m., but it's hot and closes early. So plan to dance and drink-Quickly. The Nightly entertainment show is on par with your local high school show-at best.
Sorry...I had to tell the truth. Better prepared, and accepting of what you get, than disappointed.
If you have never traveled, and this is your first time, you may find this absolutely wonderful!!! If you are well-traveled, perhaps not, unless you just need to get away inexpensively.
So, the moral goes, if the price is cheap, expect a very value vacation, despite the NAME brand on the resort. There are plenty of reviews available to read on the Internet before you decide.
Good luck and happy travels!!
Date of Stay: 05/30/2008
Children in Party: 1
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Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach
