March 4-11, 2006: Having recently completed a major renovation, Sunset at the Palms is definitely a very nice property indeed as is evident by the many positive reviews listed. However, as with any property, it will definitely need some time to find its place amongst the other resorts as well as chart a course they wish to take to separate themselves from those other resorts. They’ll need some time to blossom and groom their staff as time goes on which I think is necessary for any good resort property to become successful. You can have a beautiful property but if you lack the staff that share in your vision and will help you in portraying that vision to guests, it’ll show.
The rooms are very well done, without being overdone, in a modern European style with a Caribbean twist. The balcony with accompanying daybed is great for catching a little afternoon nap while enjoying the sounds and cool Caribbean breeze. The food was better than most AI buffets however a bit of an extension on the buffet hours would have been well received as well as more variety. The Lotus Leaf restaurant (open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) featured excellent food and should be taken full advantage of to break up the monotony of the buffet selection. The beach grill food was good standard lunch fair (especially the jerk chicken) although the grilled cheese left a bit to be desired (cheese not melted) and on one occasion, they were out of tuna for a tuna melt. Neither of these were anything that would spoil a vacation but it is the attention to these small details that can many times take a mediocre resort and bring it to great resort status.
The beach itself is a wonderful stretch of white sand and the roped off swimming area is plenty of area to accommodate the guests and then some. The walk across the road is so short that anyone who would make the complaint about such ignores two facts. One, it’s likely the only exercise those reviewers will get during their stay so they should embrace it. And two, by not having accommodations directly on the beach, it keeps the cost of staying here way down. The beach bar would be better served with some bar stools to accommodate the many surrounding high top tables (thus providing additional eating areas) as well as the bar itself (again, attention to detail). The drinks at the beach bar were good and the tap beer was very cold. There were a couple of occasions when the beach bar was not sufficiently stocked and a drink request could not be accommodated which is never a good thing. Always the “go with the flow” travelers, we simply switched to drinking something else but there again it should be noted and if they’ve got the proper ingredients to make a mudslide at the pool bar, they ought to have those same ingredients at the beach and lobby bar as well. Some guests would certainly not be as easy going. Motivation appeared to be completely lacking by a couple of the workers (not to be mistaken for “Island pace”) but by forming a respectful bond with a few of the other workers, we were able to work around it and our requests were always granted. The lobby bar and pool bar were always comfortable and entertaining (with plenty of seating) and the service at both was very good.
The exercise facility is very nice and I would strongly suggest taking full advantage of it. A little exercise in the morning or afternoon will go along way in keeping you from feeling completely lethargic and the equipment is of very good quality. I did not indulge in any spa treatments but the prices were comparable to what you’d find in the states and I heard other quests mention that they were quite pleased with the services.
While the location of Sunset at the Palms is about 4 miles north of some of the nightlife spots located on 7 mile beach, its locale gives you the opportunity to be close to them without being drowned out by the crowds. If you need a ride, ask around for Lloyd. Otherwise, the hotel offers shuttles on various nights to some of the hotspots. Check the information board in the lobby.
Having traveled a bit throughout the Caribbean I would say that overall, Sunset at the Palms is a respectable accommodation for those seeking the All-Inclusive option without sacrificing the tranquility, and solitude that is so lacking at the larger all-inclusive hotels.
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