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| - I first visited this hotel/resort when it was the Hyatt Regency right after 9/11 and before the Great Recession and unfortunately today it's a shadow of its former self and appears to still be feeling the after affects of the recession. While the employees were nice, helpful and friendly, what used to be a pristine, lush and impeccably kept property now feels messy, in a bit of disrepair and a xeriscape wasteland.
The uniqueness of the interior design has now been watered down with corporate Weston standard details that struggle to emit any energy or vibe. There are various public areas in the massive and potentially beautiful lobby that have no warmth or interest. Plants, color and upbeat MUSIC would do wonders for giving this place a pulse again but instead much of it feels empty, lifeless and baron.
We ate breakfast at Rick's Cafe and dinner Marssa (see separate review), and while our dinner experience at Marssa started off a little rocky, it ended well and overall it was a good experience. While waiting to be seated for dinner we had some cocktails at the Arabesque Bar. There were a number of other people there, a basketball game was on the TVs (but no volume) and it was still so quiet I swear I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat. Breakfast at Rick's, on the other hand, was a disappointment. Again, nice dining room but no music and the breakfast, other than the custom omelet option, was what you would typically find at Holiday Inn Express. The pancakes were literally inedible and so hard they could not be cut with a knife. Buffet breakfast for two was about $50... Ugh.
While I know this review has not been favorable, I still like this hotel, primarily because of my memory of what it once was and its potential. The LLV views are amazingly and it has some nice amenities. I hope this property, the Village and community come back and begin to thrive. It really is a beautiful place to stay with a lot of potential.
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