With Old Floridian charm, the resort has elegantly appointed and spacious 2-bedroom that could accommodate up to 8 guests. The two-bedroom, two-bath villa features an oversized soaking tub, inspiring private balcony and spacious living and dining areas. Right in front of our balcony was the resort’s lake which featured boat rides and paddle boats. Just around the corner were the swimming pools and eateries. Just besides our unit was the open air broiler and bar-B-que pit. John did a magnificent steak at the broiler at one time and used it to cook the sausage and hot dogs too !
It was a great place to stay for a vacation. However, let me relate an incident which nearly led to our deprivation of the place due to some technical errors by the both Marriot and the international service providers for resort week members. Just before we left for the States, there had been regular phone calls by the resort providers, better known as Interval International or short formed "ii". Their officer had informed Ainul that a Marriot week was about to expire and the expiry date was the 1st of May and could not be further extended beyond the date taking into account we had previously extended the dead line. In the course of the conversation Ainul told them that we were already booked at Marriot with our current year’s entitlement and that we would be checking in at Marriot from May 5th till the 12th. Hence she told them to cancel the offer , meaning the offer for the near expired week. That was the last call and conversation between Ainul and "ii". What took place at Marriot Cypress Harbour when we checked in on the 5th May, became a traumatic incident for all concerned. It was John and I who brought over our initial luggage which could not accommodate passengers in the wagon that we had. Thus Ainul and the rest were left at the other resort. Both of us were told that we had not made any reservation. Upon insistence for details, we were told that that our previously confirmed reservation had been recalled and canceled by "ii" ! What followed then was arguments by the two of us on the faults of Marriot for canceling our reservation without due notice to us as the resort week owners. They were adamant on the subject and insisted that they could not check us in. At his point I told John to go ahead and fetch the rest while I would handle the matter to conclusion which ever it would come to. Of course in my mind, there was no way that I would relent to our deprivation of the place. When I saw that all my reasoning met with no positive response, I became very angry and said loudly, to the alarms of all those present then, that in no way would my family and I leave the place until we were checked in and that we were prepared to stay in that very lobby to sleep, bathe and eat until justice prevailed. At the same time, I insisted on meeting in person, the resort’s President ! This last action by me, took them by surprise and a moment later I was told to speak to senior person on the phone. I categorically told this person, it was the fault of "ii" to misinterpret and mixed up on the two weeks availability. A call must have been made to "ii" to verify the situation but "ii" still maintaining they were right. I could not care less, I told them. If this matter was not put right, I insisted that they pay for our family’s passage home pronto. Somebody saw through my reasoning and came back with an offer that we had to pay "ii"if we wanted to check in. For a want to a more prolonged argument, and although I fully disagreed to having to a pay to check in to our own week entitlement which had been free previously, I decided to let it stay for the time being and take up the matter again with Marriot and "ii" when I returned home. Thus I paid and we at last checked in at Marriot. What I went through was well rewarded by the excellent amenities at the place. Of course now that we are back home, I have already written to them, to cite that traumatic incident that almost ruined our vacation time in Orlando.
Chicago next was equally enjoyable, having quality time with our children’s family there. Their apartment was situated right by Lake Michigan’s beach - with the lake’s water and waves creating wonderful sounds right below where we stayed.
As Ainul goes to describe it all... (see above post - July 18th 2006)
written by Tunku Farid
edited by Aida Halim
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