These Truly Are Some of the Worst Resorts in the World
If you travel frequently, odds are you’ve experienced a nightmare of a hotel or two. And, it’s especially frustrating when you shell out good money for a high-end resort, expecting a luxury vacation only to find you’d have been much better off staying home.
Not doing diligent research and poring over reviews can be a very hard lesson learned. True, TripAdvisor is filled with reviews from unhappy guests – but if you know when to trust TripAdvisor reviews, these can be a good indicator for whether or not you should visit a location.
As well, sometimes it can be difficult to know when to make a complaint. But when it comes to these resorts, it’s clear that people were in the right to speak up and write a scathing review!
From resorts with drug-dealing staff to those filled with dirt, rats, mold and bed bugs to one that surprised a guest with broken glass in the bed, these are without a doubt the worst resorts in the world.
Club Aqua Gumbet, Gumbet, Turkey
Club Aqua Gumbet has a dismal one-and-a-half-star rating on TripAdvisor, with reviewers calling it “the worst hotel in the world,” “the worst experience of our lives” and a “serious hell hole.” One guest noted that when they walked in they were told the television series “Holidays from Hell” had just been there filming the week before — and by the time they made their way to their room, they learned why.
One guest witnessed a cat walking down the hall with a rat in its mouth, another had a rat jump out of her wardrobe, while another was sneaked into the kitchen by a member of the staff to be shown just how old the food they were eating was and how dirty the pans were.
Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
“Horrible,” “the dirtiest hotel ever,” “nasty,” “disgusting” and “bad for your health,” are just some of the phrases guests of the Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach have used to describe their accommodations.
“If I could give zero stars I would,” one reviewer wrote on TripAdvisor. “The room was nasty, the hotel was dirty. We found bed bugs in our beds and got bites all over us. Once we brought it to the staff’s attention all they offered was a roll of quarters, laundry detergent and a room change. Not a refund though!”
Another said they decided to drive home in the middle of the night rather than stay a second longer. “Literally sleep in a tent or your car” before you stay here, the review reads.
Grime, cockroaches, stained towels, broken internet, waiting forever for hot water if it arrives at all — camping does sound infinitely better. At least then, even without hot water and WiFi, you might be able to enjoy a nice view.
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Boulevard Hotel Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
From its ideal location right across from the beach at Lummus Park to its charming red-and-pink neon and art deco feel, it’s easy to see why many have made the mistake of booking this South Beach resort hotel. But rated among the worst in Miami Beach on TripAdvisor with one-and-a-half stars, the Boulevard Hotel Ocean Drive perhaps should be named the Boulevard Hotel Ocean Dive.
It was so bad for one guest that the police and an ambulance had to be called when the guest couldn’t stop the bleeding after she was punctured by glass that was beneath the sheet in the bed. Some of the other complaints include cockroaches, rust and mildew in the bathroom, broken A/C and bed bug infestations.
Allegro Cozumel Resort, Cozumel, Mexico
This resort in Cozumel has somehow managed to maintain a three-star rating on TripAdvisor, yet reviews are filled with disgust and disappointment.
One guest recently wrote that when they checked into their room it was filled with trash — and not just a little bit trash, five years’ worth, and the front desk staff member didn’t seem to care at all. Another wrote, “run away fast,” noting that there was hair on the bathroom floor. The room was also “sweltering inside” because the A/C didn’t work, which staff were aware of but refused to fix.
Another said their room was full of bugs, with mosquitoes everywhere. There was no ventilation in the bathroom other than a small window, so the mosquitoes were able to breed there and sit waiting for guests to jump into the shower.
As there was no weather stripping on the door, lizards, ants and all sorts of other creatures had the ability to come right in and make themselves at home.
And the bed? Hard as a rock, like what one might expect to sleep on in the Flintstones’ house, although theirs is likely much better as they’ve had the common sense to throw a mattress on top.
To make matters worse, reviewers also complained about the food. “I could have packed a microwave with Hot Pockets and Cup O’ Noodles I could have funded my trip by selling them at the pool. The largest part of the dining room is outside so you sweat to death eating things with little taste.”