ER Traveler

I agree that this location is really for those who want peace and quiet or can bring their own party with them. The island is pretty dreadful outside of the resort. The beach is stunning and the water beautiful but the resort services, amenities and food leave very much to be desired. We have no desire to return.

Kagehitokiri

besides the fractionals, what else is upcoming at abaco?

i was just talking about upcoming RC resorts in my previous post.

LTTravel

Just the fractionals. I think that they should build a small boutique hotel there but they have decided not to. For me, Abaco is just too quiet with limited dining choices. The problem with many resorts is that people love the quiet and isolated beaches, but without other resorts and more people, the additional services of dining choices and activity choices do not come without more people. This may unfortunately and ultimately lead to an overdevelopment of an area. What is the ideal size? I don't know, but I would like at least a few reasonable dining and activity choices while on vacation. Those from ER who go to Abaco talk about cooking in, but even the grocery store at Abaco is very limited. The comments have been interesting. Some absolutely love it, and it is one of their favorite destinations, while there have been some comments from people saying they will never go back.

ER Traveler

Regarding Abaco - I agree with LTTravel. There's really nothing happening on this island and weather can be iffy during the Christmas/New Years timeframe. It can be almost too cool and then the summers are so hot with no tradewind breezes at all. It's true, many ER members love it and some like myself will never go back. It's too bad because the homes are really nice and the beach is pretty awesome. The service at the resort is also the worst I've ever experienced at a Ritz Carlton. The staff are very nice, but they just don't understand the meaning of the word service.

3DH

Since we were getting off-topic, the posts that were related to anonymous member reviews moved here

3DH

Since we were discussing fees imposed by the Abaco Club for beach activities, I thought I would post what I have found, thus far:

• Beach Chairs/Towels – Complimentary
• Offerings Umbrellas – Complimentary
• Sand Toys – Complimentary
• Floating Mat – Complimentary
• Hammocks – Complimentary
  
  
• Mask, Snorkels, Fins - Half Day $15, Full Day $25
• Paddle Board - One Hour $15, Half Day $45, Full Day $75
• Hobie Cat - One Hour $30, Four Hours $45, Full Day $150
• Kayaks - One Hour $15, Half Day $45, Full Day $75
• Skim Boards - One Hour $10, Half Day $30, Full Day $50
• Fishing Lines - Half Day $10, Full Day $20
• Bicycle - One Hour $10, Full Day $25

ER Traveler

The hobie cats, paddle boards, kayaks, snorkels, fins, skim boards were all complimentary before. Not sure about the bikes. That's the one thing that bugs me about RC compared to 4S - you really get nickled and dimed. Another reason not to go to Abaco!

vineyarder

Plus mandatory $20 per day parking to leave your rental in a lot at the entrance...

Plus $25 + 15% service fee for grocery stocking...

Sad, since these used to all be free...

And the worst... a $50 per person per night 'resort fee' for everyone over age 23 in your party (used to be just for non-family members)... So if three couples stay in a villa for a week, now they get hit for a $2100 resort fee for the week!

LTTravel

They've got some nerve. Since most of the homes there are owned by DC's, they should protest.

ER Traveler

Only the beach charges, parking and 15% activity and dining charges are passed on to ER members. There are no grocery service fees or nightly PP charges for ER members.

3DH

LUSSO only charges the 15% service charge for grocery shopping, don't know who gets that $25!

I have never heard of the $50 per head "resort fee"... definitely something I will ask about!

Kagehitokiri

and FS compared to amanresorts.

there are only 3 negative (master) threads in the luxury hotels forum on flyertalk - one is "Nickel & Diming."

DCTraveler

And the very rarely actually offer the daily resort activities that the advertise and promote with the morning Times.

3DH

received an email back this morning about my concerns regarding Abaco Club and the charges brought up here. Above is corrected pricing to my original post which was showing pricing as of May 2008.

Also, a bit of info on the bikes: mi-mountain and mi-city bikes, 3 women’s and 3 men’s bikes, currently none offered for children (information provided by The Abaco Club as of 5/22/08).

And, finally, with regard to the mentioned $50 per diam fee... apparently there has been discussion of this (through the grapevine), but LUSSO has no knowledge of it, firsthand. As a result, LUSSO members are not affected as of yet... but that could change, as the Abaco Club is obviously trying to nickel and dime everyone!

I don't know about any of the rest of you, but I truly enjoyed the Abaco Club the first time we traveled there -- pre-gouging. However, this is beginning to really upset me, and I now truly understand why these properties are quite underutilized!

WAKE UP, ABACO CLUB!!! We may be what you consider a wealthy group, but we are not completely ignorant and without other travel options!!! I won't willingly travel somewhere only to be charged $50 per person/per day to lay on a beach with construction of your new fractionals over my shoulder!

NorCal62

I agree 3DH. We haven't been to Abaco yet. It sounds like the kind of place my family would love, but the nickel and diming is a big turn off. I wouldn't mind if they swiped a credit card when checking out equipment to make sure things are returned undamaged, or a small fee for certain items. But these fees are over the top, and would be enough of a reason for us to choose a different destination.

willmyclubmakeit

These fees would make me unlikely to go to Abaco in spite of the several nice houses that UE has at this location. Also its not easy to get there with reductions in flights.

3DH

...and with the Abaco Club now charging for all of the activities (kayaks, snorkeling, hobie cat, paddle boards, etc) that WERE included on our previous trip, what the heck is the daily fee for, anyway???

Anyone up for a boycott? (although, I would venture to bet that it is probably not highly booked with any club!)

willmyclubmakeit

Abaco looks wide open with few reservations on UE's schedule for the next few months....and I don't think most people considering the location even know much about these extras beyond the $50/person fee discussed above. However, I do not know how much pain this brings to RC but I'm not planning to go there in the near term unless the situation improves.

vineyarder

UE's newsletter yesterday stated "There is a $50 per night fee charged to all adult guests staying at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas, not just Destination Club Members" and the UE member website states that the fee is paid directly to the Ritz upon check-out, so perhaps LUSSO members have just been paying it on check-out and no one has informed/complained to management?

OTOH, the Ritz website does not mention a $50 per adult per night fee, but instead mentions a 20% service charge on top of the room rates! Also of note, the Ritz website mentions a fee to use the fitness center!!

LTTravel

The place is already relatively empty. How do they expect people to go there?