4 Lessons I’ve Learned as an Expat. Abysmal Customer-No-Service Decameron Resort Experience
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
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To be honest with you after visiting 4 different areas of the country for the first time, I was shocked when I faced to reality comparing to whatever I have read and searched for more than a year about....thanks for all valid and true experiences that you shared.
A lot of businesses skip over some of the realities. I’ve heard of people who weren’t aware of all the burning and if you have allergies or lung issues, it’s intolerable.
You are absolutely right about all things you have mentioned in this video and I love all your videos. Thank you for sharing your experiences living abroad. My best wishes for you!
Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoy the videos 🌟
Leave them a poor review on Google and trip advisor. I would also write to corporate as well.
That’s the plan. I can only find a mailing address for corporate and I know how this plays out, ‘I can’t give you anyones name or company email’. The execs don’t want to be bothered
Wow you are 💯 per cent right everything you said we went through were having that problem with the pool guy since we're not there full time the pool is dirty cuz we see in the camera's and the workers we have working on projects 😢😢😢well when I'm there there going to hear about it the only good thing is the cleaning lady is great wish I could go now but need to wait until May well thanks again for your videos
Glad you are celebrating his life instead of mourning!! Must be tough on all of the family!
Yes - it’s an awful disease but he is handling it with such grace and so much of his personality is still intact 🧡
So sorry to hear about your stressful family vacation. I'm glad you got one perfect day.
I find your UA-cam content so helpful as I research whether Panama will be a good fit for my family. I really worry about whether the noise and the garbage will be a deal breaker for me. But seeing your gardens growing and your remodeling project has been a wonderful glimpse of the possibilities for creating something quiet and lovely. Thanks for sharing your experiences....both good and bad. 😊
Thank you 🙏
You can definitely find quiet areas, a bit more remote or gated communities with rules on noise, etc.
That’s why it’s a good idea to rent in different locations to get a feel for an area.
One more experience that I had during my visit, noticed that they charge expats higher comparing to locals when purchasing an items or having a service.
😕Thankfully I haven’t been aware if that’s happened to me.
Decameron I would have selected playa bonita... also this type reservation has to be done in spanish.
Thank you for the information ( I meant)😊❤
On the littering, things in the USA didn't really change until it started being reinforced with the little kids in school. This is true, I saw a documentary on it. Once school age kids bought into the no littering campaigns, they would enforce it with their parents and older relatives then things started changing. So, something for Panama to consider.
Thank you, for these tips. I plan on moving to Panama in two years. I am also from California and as you know everything is faced paced people here, including myself have high standards and expectations in services. I will have to replay this and create a patience mantra for myself 🧘🏻♀️🧘🏼♂️
Oh gosh yes, patience is necessary here. One day I got 3 things accomplished and felt like I was on top of the world 😆
Thank you Patty for sharing your experience. I just retired and I am planing to come to Panama very soon. Thanks to your story I will try to be more careful to minimize the possibility of bad experiences.
I also leave in California, so I would have to go through a similar cultural adjustment.
@@ryszardniscior2231 Glad you enjoyed. Hope you like Panama as much as I do.
Tks for sharing. I am trying to find a chance to stay at ur place.
Panama wins the award on Burocracia!!
😵💫🫠😆
Wow it's been 5 years? I remember when you were moving....
Yes! July of 2019. Crazy how time flies by. Of course we all lost a few years during the Pandemic 😕
Dear Patty - horrible family holiday issues to deal with and I will take your advice on Decameron and I am sorry for your experience - but remember there is always a silver lining - even from horrible experiences - your experience in Panama is well worth paying for - you should be a sound and honest consultant for everything from Insurance to hotel and recommended bird watching spots based on your experience and I believe we would trust you and your guidance and that good advice and trust is well worth paying for - your advice is great and thank you
@@sammatthews8571 Thank you ☺️ Always learning!
Thanks for your POV. Have been thinking of making this move and in very similar circumstance. New subscriber. Many videos seem to be from male or couples perspective so nice to get a sense of reality! Even with those hurdles you seem to be enjoying your time in Panama and is encouraging for me!
I should have separated the Decameron to it’s own video. I was caught up in my frustration.
And yes, I love Panama - and hope sharing how things can be different, is helpful 😊
Next time visit Hotel Riu in Playa Blanca. We visited with my family and had a good time. We did the reservations directly with the hotel.
Hi patty another great video that's where I'm going in May 26th have a great day
Wow so sorry 😢for your experience with them guess I'm not going there I'm so sorry I'll pray 🙏 for you and your family
You should be fine. It was our special circumstances that required actual customer service, but if you don’t require anything it should be fine.
Great job Patty
Thanks so much 🌟
Smaller family place like Golden Frog might be better option ?
@@sammatthews8571 Golden Frog is lovely. And great nachos at the restaurant.
Patty, great video. Not to poopoo your experience but you should have had everything in writing/ emails , etc. Not "verbal"....
Also, the more Spanish you can speak, the better (well.... sometimes...even if u speak it ; it may not make a difference....).
Nice video , with some good advice. Did you take a tour before you went there to live ?
I did not do an organized tour. I took one trip and made my decision to move and then a second trip to see if I still felt the same 😆
@@Pattybluehayes That's amazing. What prompted you to go there and what type of visa did you go for ?
@@kevinmorris6992 in 2017 I knew I’d be moving from CA due to finances. I did 3 international volunteer trips to see what it might be like for an extended stay in other countries.
Then, back in the US, I bought an RV and did an 8 month trip across the states to see if RV life or somewhere else in the states would be for me.
While in Florida I saw a house in Panama that I became obsessed with. Took a trip to Panama and it felt like home. Never did get to see that house 🤣 I think it was a bait and switch scheme.
@@Pattybluehayes that's a great story Patty. I love your adventurous spirit. Am I correct in saying that you built your own place there eventually ?
@@kevinmorris6992 I bought a fixer upper in 2022, took 8 months to renovate and I’ve been living in the house for 15 amazing months!! 😆
A little to long descriptive with info and emotions that dévers from the experiences, but very informative. Thank you😊
I know 😞Sorry. I was putting this together at night after family visiting. I probably should have just skipped a week but I’m trying to challenge myself to be consistent 😵💫
I talk slowly, and I was tired putting this video together at night after family visiting. You can skip ahead to the 4 lessons learned and put the audio on 1.5 x 🙂 I will say a few good things about Decameron, the restaurant staff were friendly, helpful and efficient. The grounds were clean, well manicured and has a nice layout. The pools were clean. The resort didn't feel overcrowded at all.
Dear Patty. I’ve seen all of your videos. I feel really sorry for you and your family. We were staying at Royal the Cameron 15 and 14 years ago for 2 weeks with a huge group of people from my husband work. I felt in love with Panama, the climate and of cause the nature. Every year after we were spending vacation in Panama, renting and finally bought a condo in Nueva Gorgona 8 years ago. Last year our daughter came with 2 children to visit us and all of them were too bored here, she decided to go to all inclusive. We recommended her Royal the Cameron. She checked on website, prices were much chipper, but she wanted to see that place. When we went there, they charged her 800 us for 2 days. She agreed. We left, and 2 hrs after she was sending me messages. Room was not ok, staff was very rude, was just junk food, nothing too eat ( she does not drink any alcohol and all are on healthy diet). They wanted to leave and were told she might not get her money back for a 2 months. They stayed for one night and we picked them after 24 hour. She paid 800 US.
@@janinajedrzejewski3433 Oh wow 😞 I’m so sorry she had that experience. So disappointing. It seems like there are many poor reviews on Google. It’s too bad they don’t bother to make improvements.
They don’t care. My daughter said she will never come back to Panama. The hustle to come from the airport to Nueva Gorgona took us 3 hour last year in January!
As a part time TA I'm so very sorry this happened to you. My mom has dementia and lives with me, she was also my number 1 travel buddy ALL of my life. I clearly remember our last cruise together, knowing it would be our last. It wasn't perfect, but we still had a memorable time that I think about often and look at the photos with a smile. I hope you were all able to curate some treasured moments as a family. I know it was money you weren't prepared to spend, especially being told you would be able to buy day passes, but I think I would have just purchased one or two nights for myself. I'm just throwing that out there in case someone else finds themself in a similar situation. NO, you should not have had to do that, and if you don't have the resources to do it you just can't. But if a person can, they should in that situation, regardless of it being unfair. Because those memories are priceless. Often, I have had to throw money at a situation just to make it easy for mom then try to recoup it later. Not fair but was the easiest route for me. When you are the main caregiver for a dementia patient you quickly learn do what you have to do to make a situation easy. But if you can't, you can't. Again, SO VERY SORRY this happened. I'm apologizing for those that didn't have the common decency to do so... and by the way... if that hotel wasn't full, the could have comp'd you one night as a courtesy... yes resorts can and will do this in certain situations... just FYI for others.
@@ourblazingworld Thank you. I’m glad you got to savor that last trip with your mom 🙏 Those times are such treasures.
The resort was overbooked - that’s why they didn’t even have their room ready, and apparently why the manager wouldn’t issue passes, so an overnight wouldn’t have been possible.
I’m thrilled my brother got to see my house and I have the memory of time with him here 🧡
Naw. Not a big fan of Panama. The trash alone. And OMG the potholes!
Oh!!! I thought you liked it here, but then again you didn't get to go fishing 😕
@@Pattybluehayes oh, I loved my visit. But I don't see myself residing in Panama. The only reason I would return is to reacquaint with friends I met on my relocation tour that have decided to live there. And I like to include you in that friend category having met you through Kelly. And I will likely return to do the fishing that I missed out on. I will also not drive much and if I do it it will be in a truck with plenty of road clearance. 😀
Oh wow, so much criticism. So sad. Why are you staying in a place-area-country that you feel so insatisfy...
About my 4 lessons? Usually lessons learned are from things that don’t go smoothly, so yes, it appears negative. But if you watched the rest, I clearly stated how I still find the pros outweigh the cons of life in Panama.
About the resort, yes, I stand by my criticism because the lack of communication had a negative impact on my family.
@Pattybluehayes What I notice is that people (not you) will look at the failings or faults of a private business and ascribe them to the country, something that is not done in the States. In the States, if a business sucks, you just say the business sucks. I'm happy you could spend time with your brother.
@@guillermogouldburn763 I’m savoring every moment we had together 🧡