Trip report from 01/23/15 to 01/28/2015

[ljmac1927]

The Desire Pearl is very pretty and the rooms were excellent.

The issues we had have convinced us we will never go back to any Desire Resort. The first night my wife was very excited to be there and was truly enjoying herself. she did have a little to much. The night GM decided she needed to get out of the hot tub and had security drag her out, she became very upset in the way they dragged her and fondled her ( She still has bruises on her arms) well she swung to get them off her and accidentely hit his glasses. His glasses hit the ground and broke, at that time I came back from the restroom and noticed what was going on. They then escorted us to his office and threaten to call the police once I explained that she has PTSD and takes Effexor. Anyone who has PTSD and is grabbed do react back especially when on effexor. They let us know but the next morning we were called to the manager office again and while we were in his office my wife had a seizure, they were very kind once i explained she has PTSD and once they started drilling her it causes stress which in turns causes this. They helped us back to our room and said everything was alright.

The rest of the trip we were constantly followed by security people. When we had to go to their presentation on becoming a member that cost $10,000.00 and i informed them during the presentation that we were not interested that stated they wanted their coupon book back ASAP and that we had to write papargraph explaining why we were not going to become members plus since they had upgraded us to a master suite which we never requested. On the day of check out they informed me I had to pay another $400,00 in cash for the incident with the night manager and we could not leave until we did this!!!!! I explained i did not have the $400.00 in cash and why was I being asked to pay this and all they would say it was because of the incident and they wanted cash and would not provide me a receipt, at the same time my wife is having another seizure due to this stress. Finally with me being a little forceful they would take a credit card and i paid as i wanted to get my wife out of that place ASAP>if you have a disability please plan on being treated like shit and if you do not buy a membership plan on being treated even worse.

[yoyo]

Wow, sorry for you both for what you experienced..... but I see your post and I can´t believe you are talking about the same resorts I have known since 2004.

[Trstrj]

What time did this take place, our first night was the 23rd as well and we were in the hot tub pretty late that night? Sorry to hear about your experience!!

[Gemini Rose]

Glad I'm not the only one believing this is a true report.

[TandD]

Well that sucks. Really sorry you had a bad time. There are several things about this report that puzzle me however.

I'm confused about the Master Suite upgrade and having to write a paragraph about why you didn't want to become members. Did they upgrade you to a Master Suite because you told them you would become members and then backed out? It's just so confusing because that membership pitch is so low pressure. I can't imagine them getting bent out of shape over it unless there was some other factor involved.

As for the hot tub incident, honestly, it sounds like your wife got too drunk and had to be removed for her own safety. If she fought back and assaulted the manager, i can't say I blame them for coming down hard on you. Did you offer to pay for the repair of the managers glasses or was that what the $400 charge was for?

I hesitate to even go here since I don't know anything about PTSD or Effexor but a quick Google seems to indicate that drinking alcohol while taking it may increase the side effects - including seizures, bruising, and agitation. I can only assume she is aware of these issues and has been cleared to drink anyway but, man, seems risky to me.

In the end, you had a bad time and I'm really sorry for that. I think your experience very far from the norm but it is what it is I guess. I hope your wife is okay now.

[funcpl27]

assuming this is even a true story......it sounds like everyone will be better off if you don't go back

[bbrz2]

This

if you have a disability please plan on being treated like shit

Contradicts this

they were very kind once i explained she has PTSD

Generally speaking, in the hospitality and service industry it is very important and also common for those with disabilities to inform the staff at arrival or in advance if appropriate. It seems you did not take this step until after the event in the office. Maybe this was the first time out of the house.

well she swung to get them off her and accidentely hit his glasses

By your own admission security was called because of your wife's behavior. I personally would feel fortunate the police where not contacted given the attempted assault ("well she swung" as you noted).

if you do not buy a membership plan on being treated even worse.

During our previous stay, we declined to purchase a membership. There was pressure to purchase, but I don't feel we were treated any less by the general staff afterwards.


Lesson Learned: Inform staff ahead of time of any disabilities including PTSD.

Quick tip: Being disabled does not grant one a pass to be an ass.

Conclusion: Based on all great reviews and comments, this isn't a Pearl issue. PTSD, Bad Temper, Effexor, Alcohol can be a disaster at any resort.

P.S. I would truly feel bad for anyone who has been wronged, however the way this review is presented does not invoke much, if any, sympathy at all.

[miranda2]

Quick tip: Being disabled does not grant one a pass to be an ass.

Conclusion: Based on all great reviews and comments, this isn't a Pearl issue. PTSD, Bad Temper, Effexor, Alcohol can be a disaster at any resort.

P.S. I would truly feel bad for anyone who has been wronged, however the way this review is presented does not invoke much, if any, sympathy at all.

[ljmac1927]

To everyone who responded to my post it seems you do not understand PTSD as if you have seizures it does look like you are intoxicated. I informed the staff when we arrived that she had PTSD and do make sure they understood. It does bother me as a miltary veteran who served my country for over 20 years we still do not understand or want to understand PTSD! It is an invissable disability that the majority of people do not understand unless they see some one in a wheel chair or missing a limp! all i can say is that it is very sad that a resort such as the Desire Pearl takes such drastic measures as they did. My wife has numerous bruises due to this incedident as they mistook a seizure as being drunk!!!

we both went to Caliente for the past two years and had no issues as they understood and very helpful!


Again it seems all vetrans who serve thier country are not thought of greatly and you just go on with your life's!!!

[miranda2]

This has nothing to do with respecting and/or being 'thought of greatly' as a veteran who served your country.

This has to do with appropriate behaviour by ALL the people involved.

The Desire Security Staff are there to ensure the safety of EVERYONE.
Clearly they felt your wife was not safe and therefore took action to help her and it escalated into something more.

I think there is more to this story.

[youme69]

I agree there's more to this story.... I would love to hear Desires side!

[bobsharon79]

Dear ljmac1927,
I am totally confused. On your initial post you said that " she did have a little too much" and then on another post you said that it was a seizure that could be confused with being drunk. Which story are you going with ? Are you sure that you aren't a politician ?

[Powderfinger]

Dear ljmac1927,
I am totally confused. On your initial post you said that " she did have a little too much" and then on another post you said that it was a seizure that could be confused with being drunk. Which story are you going with ? Are you sure that you aren't a politician ?

This. Can't get his story straight at all. Also, f we're at Desire and someone is acting such that security feels the need to get them out, I want them to get them out. We've seen it only once over a dozen trips, and that was a woman so drunk she couldn't stand. Wonder how the night GM felt about it being "his fault" that she struck him in the face and broke his glasses...and, "fondled her"?!?! Bullshit.

Too many contradictions, can't really buy much of this story.

[CokeMann]

In all honesty myself and I'm sure we all feel badly for what happened to you wife, however at the same time there has to be some balance and accountability in things that you mentioned:

- she did have a little to much(I assume you meant to drink - alcohol)
- I explained that she has PTSD and takes Effexor
- she became very upset in the way they dragged her out of the hot tub....she swung to get them off her and accidentely hit his glasses
- She still has bruises on her arms
- while we were in his office my wife had a seizure

Frankly, you as a concerned partner should be more focused on getting her to a doctor ASAP for a check up - all of the above appear to relate to a very bad reaction to her taking Effexor(see below) in combination with alcohol and elevated body temp due to the hot tub, rather than it being an issue of something caused by those at Desire, who in IMHO where only trying to protect her and others when they saw that she was obviously in a troubled state while in the hot tub.

http://www.drugs.com/effexor.html

What should I avoid while taking Effexor?
- Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Effexor.
- Effexor may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Effexor side effects

blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
easy bruising;
cough, chest tightness, trouble breathing;
seizure (convulsions);
high levels of serotonin in the body - agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;
low levels of sodium in the body - headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady; or
severe nervous system reaction - very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.
vision changes;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
changes in appetite or weight;
dry mouth, yawning;
dizziness, headache, anxiety, feeling nervous;
fast heartbeats, tremors or shaking;
sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams, tired feeling;
increased sweating; or decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

[Budlee]

How did this get twisted around to us not respecting those that served (or are serving) in the military just because the story has holes. As was stated by someone else, having a disability is not a free pass to being a jerk. I remember once at Disney, an older woman on a mobility stroller mowed her way through the crowd to get to the front for rope drop (when the park opens). We were ALL waiting, but she felt since she was on a scooter, she should be first.... I'm telling you, she literally drove into the back of my feet, repeatedly, to make me move out of her way..... She was a danger to those around her, much as the OP's wife was to those at the hot tub, at the time she assaulted the manager. While I appreciate the caring husband being concerned for his PTSD wife, she and he are not the only guests at the resort. So, the question is, how MUCH do other guests have to have their vacations disrupted to accommodate someone such as your wife? Yes, she should also be able to enjoy a fun time at a resort, but it's not okay for her to be a danger to others around her.