Grafton Beach Resort
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2003 6:10 pm
Post Recreated: Originally posted - 22 November 2002
I have just come back from 2 weeks at the Grafton Beach Resort. The first week didn't seem too bad. The hotel was adequate, the food was mixed, some meals good and some bad. Lunches were particularly poor. There was a good selection of drinks at the bar, and as much as one could consume. As the week went on, things started to rankle. The entertainmet was repetitive, the bar was always busy and service was poor, and there was a serious shortage of seating in the one lounge/reception area. The staff were not unfriendly, but they appeared totally disinterested in the customers. They make no attempt to make conversation, seeming to be constantly fed up with their lot. Evenings started to drag. There is only one bar, inadequate seating and poor service. The hotel grounds are fairly small, so an evening stroll means walking along the main road. (The gate to the beach is locked at 6.00pm).
By the start of the second week things started to get interesting. A mystery illness struck the hotel. About half of the residents suffered from symptoms not unlike food poisoning (sickness, diarrhoea, stomach ache, flu-like symptoms). The hospital doctor was rushed off his feet, and health inspectors arrived from Trinidad to take samples. A one year old baby was taken to hospital. Most of the residents were either unable to eat (through illness) or were going out of the resort to eat. While this was happening, more quests (victims?) were still arriving and becoming ill. Half way through the second week a water main burst, leaving much of the hotel with no water. My room had no water for 26 hours. My wife and I both suffered the mystery ailment. I cannot understand why the hotel was not closed and all of the guests moved out.
Since returning home, we have been trying to find out if the cause of the illness has been identified, but no luck yet. (Our tour operator is on the case). The hotel appeared to be very badly run. The staff were not supervised enough, and consequently did not have to try too hard. No one ever had any explanations for anything. All they ever did was apologise, but could not do anything. Food hygiene appeared to be of a lower standard than would be acceptable in the UK.
Would I return to the Grafton? Definitely not!
I have just come back from 2 weeks at the Grafton Beach Resort. The first week didn't seem too bad. The hotel was adequate, the food was mixed, some meals good and some bad. Lunches were particularly poor. There was a good selection of drinks at the bar, and as much as one could consume. As the week went on, things started to rankle. The entertainmet was repetitive, the bar was always busy and service was poor, and there was a serious shortage of seating in the one lounge/reception area. The staff were not unfriendly, but they appeared totally disinterested in the customers. They make no attempt to make conversation, seeming to be constantly fed up with their lot. Evenings started to drag. There is only one bar, inadequate seating and poor service. The hotel grounds are fairly small, so an evening stroll means walking along the main road. (The gate to the beach is locked at 6.00pm).
By the start of the second week things started to get interesting. A mystery illness struck the hotel. About half of the residents suffered from symptoms not unlike food poisoning (sickness, diarrhoea, stomach ache, flu-like symptoms). The hospital doctor was rushed off his feet, and health inspectors arrived from Trinidad to take samples. A one year old baby was taken to hospital. Most of the residents were either unable to eat (through illness) or were going out of the resort to eat. While this was happening, more quests (victims?) were still arriving and becoming ill. Half way through the second week a water main burst, leaving much of the hotel with no water. My room had no water for 26 hours. My wife and I both suffered the mystery ailment. I cannot understand why the hotel was not closed and all of the guests moved out.
Since returning home, we have been trying to find out if the cause of the illness has been identified, but no luck yet. (Our tour operator is on the case). The hotel appeared to be very badly run. The staff were not supervised enough, and consequently did not have to try too hard. No one ever had any explanations for anything. All they ever did was apologise, but could not do anything. Food hygiene appeared to be of a lower standard than would be acceptable in the UK.
Would I return to the Grafton? Definitely not!