Ramada Plaza Resorts Reviews

My 89-year-old mother "bought in" to the sales pitch, thinking that she was going to be giving my husband and I a vacation. The price was reasonable she thought at just under $400 for a week of free hotel accommodations and a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas. She saved the packet of information and Reservations Forms for us as a surprise gift. When I read through the fine print, after 30 days, I decided to call.

Calling several times and being put on hold for 15-20 minutes and then speaking with "Customer Care" representatives whose focus seemed to be a "hard sell" for this "One-time only, you have to make your reservation now" was an unbelievably unpleasant process. The representatives started off friendly until I began asking questions: Is it refundable? No. How much more will this vacation package cost? About $400, not including air fare (which ended up being around $800 round-trip for two adults). Can I explore some other dates and airfare costs and call you back? The representative hung up on me.

I finally sought out information about this company online. I found numerous consumer affairs and advocacy sites providing warnings about this "offer" and a plethora of posts from individuals who had been "scammed" as well. Many were writing of far more horrific stories than mine. The good news is that my husband and I decided to talk with my mother and share with her all the information we researched, so that she did not feel ashamed ("See, many other people were taken, too."). And we offered to reimburse her the money she had already paid to the company.

I do not know if this business is a scam; however, speaking as a daughter who tries to watch out for her 89-year-old mother who lives on a fixed income and just survived cancer this past year, I am angry at companies--and this one in particular--for acting in what I believe to be unethical. Could my mother have said no? Sure. Could she have read the fine print? With a high magnification eyeglass. Is it likely that an 89-year-old with barely one good eye would do so? Unlikely. Might she have researched the company online? No, she does not have internet access.

I suspect that companies like this will remain in business, and I am saddened and angered about that. I don't plan on attempting to seek a refund for my mother. This is a lesson hard learned. I do hope that enough people who are also angered and believe these practices to be wrong will speak out, file class action or individual small claims suits if possible, and that Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureaus, and the FTC will be able to shut them down.

The RPR "agents" are incredibly pushy, arrogant, and become extremely hostile if you try and refuse an "upgrade" or attempt to get a refund. RPR frequently laments that they are non-refundable (only after you ask for a refund), which should jump out in red letters in this economy. Be sure to document everything, the date of any conversation and all important dialogue exchanges.

I am military, and it took me working with Florida's Better Business Bureau to get my money back. Months after, I cancelled my $800 package (2/2009) and received a refund (6/2009). I had the opportunity to talk with yet another antagonistic agent (January 4, 2010). This man stated that I had only cancelled one package and had yet another that was "set to expire."

I had no idea what he was talking about. After 15 minutes of agonizingly high blood pressure, I told him that I would not be vacationing, and they could have whatever money they think I paid them. Again, he was calling on a bogus package. The agent became irate and said, "It's people like you that change your credit card accounts to avoid creditors. Well, we have a policy to ensure that we get our money back by force through merchant accounts. We will find you and take the money from your accounts." Oh, really?

I told the rude agent that the conversation was over. I hung up on him and called 1-800-203-9783 (RPR hotline) to speak with a different agent. She confirmed that I had only one cancelled account and said that the other agent was "probably mistaken." Beware! If you want to be happy, plan the vacation yourself or get a bonafide agent. Stay away from RPR!

On 10 April 2007, I extended a vacation package which I purchased for two individuals to use. I was told that the package was good for three years from 10 April 2007. Today, I called to discuss my options and was told by the representative that my package "had expired" in October 2008. I told her that the individual who called me in 2007 told me that it was good for three years, which would bring me to April 2010. She said, "I'm sure he may have told you that but your package is expired." However, I again had the option to purchase an extension. She also said that it was printed on the back of a form, which I did not receive.

I feel that this is a blatant misrepresentation by Ramada and by the sales person who called me to extend my package in 2007. Additionally, I was told that the package was paid in full but when you open the booklet, it states that I still owe $298 (if, in fact, the package was still good). So again, more misrepresentation. I do not know what I can do to get my money back because I am sure that this is something that is done to consumers on a regular basis. However, if there is anything that can be done, I would appreciate some guidance. Thank you.

They would never let me talk with anyone of any importance that could make a decision whatsoever. I am now stuck having to take this crappy vacation and pay the additional $298 fee or lose out on my $1,200.00 that my husband and I already paid ($600.00 the first time, and an additional $600.00 to extend the trip). We just booked this trip for October 9th through the 20th. And due to the fact that I read all the horror stories about this trip and this company, I wanted them to, at the very least, change my hotel accommodations to the Sheraton instead of the Ramada because of the (on average) 74% negative reports listed on the following travel sites, Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz. They told me that they would "try and accommodate me and Rafiel ** told me to call back on the 19th of August to confirm that that was taken care of.

I did call today and more of the same, a complete scam/runaround. I am terrified to take this trip now knowing that I am paying to be disappointed at every turn, not to mention all the "secret" fees that I will be charged once I arrive. At that point, we will be "held hostage" by these people and have no choice. What is a hard working person to do when they save up for over 3 years to take a vacation and they end up with this mess? I know you can't get something for nothing, but I know I deserve to be satisfied with what I am paying for and in the state of WI where I live, the state law is that they must provide me in writing exactly what I am getting and paying for. A receipt for services listing what was purchased, what is included and what is not. I never received any of this even when I asked for it in December 2008.

I am forced to pay for airfare to take this trip, incur additional secret resort fees, taxes, etc. that was not disclosed to me, and the stress of worrying about staying in a sub par environment knowing that I have no other choices available to me through this company. I have tried on three different occasions to get my money back or revise my lodging for this trip. Please, please help me resolve this issue to, or to at least be somewhat content that I will not be staying in some hell-hole hotel.

My wife and I had flipped the schedule so we could cruise on our anniversary. The original schedule has one going to a seminar first so one would miss the victims of the scheme that were before them. We were able to see the ship before the seminar, that did not make them very happy and we were not pleased either! The cruise was horrible, the food (what food?) was dished out to us, the pool was a jacuzzi (really!) and it was brown from the children playing in it. Finally, we made it to the Bahamas. We had five hours to shop and do whatever one could fit in five hours. When we left the ship, on either side was a Carnival and a Norwegian. We were so embarrassed. We went to go over to Paradise Island and ended up walking because we had to conserve our money (we were being hit with hidden cost for everything).

On the way back to the ship, we were approached by a cabbie and we told him we could not afford the ride. We had found earlier that if we told the islanders how we got there, they would leave us a lone. The cabbie said in his accent, "Aww, you came over in the little dingy?" We had to laugh. So when we got back to the main land, we declined on the Orlando experience and took a trip down the new river and stayed in the Inverary for the remainder of the time warning everyone of the atrocities awaiting them.

After reading some of the complaints, I was absolutely appalled that so many people were taken by this so-called company. I don't understand how they are getting away with ripping people off and the fraudulent way they conduct business. It is evident to me they are running a "scam" and I don't know why the principals haven't been arrested. The sales people are lying about everything in the package. There is no customer service, half the time, they don't answer the phone or if you get an answer, they put you on hold for hours. Then, they transfer you only to be cut off and then you have to start all over.

The C.S. reps will not give you any information other than there no one available right now in that department. Months and months with continued efforts where I was passed on from rep to rep then through two different supervisors, who lied to me about my refund being processed. I was also hung up on by several different employees. I am extremely frustrated by getting the runaround.

I discovered that they did send a refund but to the wrong bank, an account that was closed, in which they sent it back the next day. I had no written notice from anyone that this took place. So now I'm thinking that I should have no problem getting my refund; they just need to reissue it to the right account. Wrong! I spent more months trying to get through to the head of the credit department because I was told if I got my old bank on a three-way call to verify that they returned it to Ramada Resorts, they would issue a check that day.

So, I did that and the bank teller was my witness. It was the biggest lie that anyone has ever told me. When I got all three of us on the phone, she said that she still could not reissue a check to me. The assistant to Credit Manager then told me that she was gone for the day after all that, so I asked for her boss which was the president and the assistant told me he did not know his name.

Can you believe it? He's employed with a company and he doesn't know the president's name. I continue to push for answers only to get hung up on again. Through my perseverance, I finally spoke with the Credit Manager who is second from the top and we went round and round. She kept telling me she had to verify through Visa if they had my money. At this point, I keep calling back month after month - still no refund!

It is amazing that with their false promises of a wonderful vacation, they haven't shut this company down when you can't even get through to make a reservation or talk to anyone about anything. It is outrageous that this company has been allowed to stay alive only to suck everyone for their money and laugh all the way on a much better vacation spot at their customers expense. It is an insult to all of us as consumers that this company is still open and for this to continue. Not only do we all need to join together with a class action suit, we also need to change our federal and state laws to protect the consumer against this type of business.

There is not "one" good thing to say about this company. We need some restitution for our time, our stress, our anxiety, the humiliation, disrespect and, of course, the monies spent due the array of lies, the false, untold, misleading/fraudulent concept of the whole package, and the losses in vacation time wasted and the affect it had on your families and friends. They have no remorse about conducting a business that ruined the customers vacation and the financial burden they caused.

How can they take people's money knowing that this is not a vacation? It is an "assault," we have been victimized. What is the difference between this company and someone who embezzles money - or who takes your credit card number and makes fraudulent charges? Those people go to jail for such crimes. I want to fight for our rights and get money returned to every customer that has filed a complaint. This company is literally getting away with stealing from us.

Why aren't the "principals" under arrest for running a "scam" fraudulent business? The SEC should also investigate their business practices. I am sure they are conducting their accounting illegally as well. I would like to be included in the class action suit. I will testify in court or whatever it takes to get some restitution from this company. We need to take action now! We can't sit back and let them get away with this. People are getting taken advantage of everyday - thousands of our hard-earned money were taken for a service they did not deliver. Therefore, I think it's time to put a stop to this "scam" and they claim it's a vacation.

As the whole trip was dependent on this first leg, I called after two weeks and was told that they apparently had lost the paperwork. I faxed the paperwork in again on 5/28/09. I was told there was no problem and that the room was available and not to cancel the cruise. I called back to make sure they indeed received the paperwork. I was told that it takes about two weeks to process.

I called after three weeks and was told that they could not find the paperwork, so I re-faxed it to them. They again said that it takes two weeks to process, but they would send me my paperwork before the trip. We leave NY this Friday. I called again and am now getting the line that you cannot combine this with the cruise promotion, which is not what was told to me when I booked and paid for the cruise. They want to sell me two rooms.

I asked to speak to supervisor and was told that "You cannot combine these offers, and it clearly states it in the paperwork." I asked him to review the recorded calls to see if his staff is intentionally defrauding people and asked where in the paperwork it states it. He refused to say and told me to read it all over. I have, and it does not state it anywhere. I then wanted to know my options and inquired about a refund of the cruise, and I was told "No way." I am stuck in this trip to hell with a disreputable carrier. It is sad that even in a bad economy, a company like Ramada must resort to these games to fill their rooms.

He was extremely rude and sent us yet another place to get tickets to Universal Studio. But I was so sick, tired, and upset, so I could not go to Universal. I am disabled and have a hard time walking around.

At first, I was never told that customers could not get a refund. We were instructed to say that the vacation could be extended (for a huge and usually made-up fee or transferred to another person), but the customer had to buy it first. The sales script talks about the Ramada Plaza Resort in Ft. Lauderdale but neglects to mention that it is in a terrible neighborhood surrounded by heavy traffic. All they say is that it's about 15 minutes from the beach. Not with the traffic in that area! When a customer would get upset at buying the vacation, the managers would take over (T.O.) the call and sweet talk the customer into buying it or if you already have a package into keeping it, offering food included, $50 in gambling tokens (once you put $50 up first) and the option of extending the time limit to two years (which most the time is a lie and you're stuck with 18 months). Some people fell for it and bought the package.

I cannot say what the cruise is like because they just got a so-called new ship named the Bahamas Celebration which is just a ship that is old but has been 'renovated.' I also can't say what the resort in Orlando is like due to it being shut down (I'll let you figure out why). What I can say is that while the package is not a scam, in reality, it's not as great as the script describes. I no longer work for the company because they are running out of ammo and people aren't biting the bait anymore due to the bad publicity as well as the economy. The sales reps get paid on commission. The more money the customer puts down on the deposit, the higher the cut for the sales rep.

You can imagine that the reps including customer service and reservations will say just about anything they are legally allowed to say because they all want a bigger paycheck! If you receive one of these vouchers package deals, don't bother. You'll probably be disappointed because the description sounds amazing and the trip really isn't. Good luck on trying to cancel. You will be directed to a 'customer care specialist' (ext. **) who is nothing more than someone who is better trained to tell you no. All I can say is try mentioning the BBB and that you will dispute with your credit card company (they really hate that). And please don't ask for Dan Lambert (the so-called president) - I worked there pretty long and still never met him.

Florida is really a great place to travel, but don't do it on a vacation. A package might just come out cheaper if you do it on your own. No such thing as free. This is your warning. Hope this helps someone out. I am truly upset with myself for working there for as long as I did. I just hope they go out of business soon because that company is doing nothing but sinking on their own ship. What goes around always comes around.