Aqua Blue Hotel

with Aqua Blue because of the other reviews, but the location was exactly what we were looking for. Initially things were going well. I was working with a woman named Catherine, had filled out all the contracts and sent them to her along with my deposit. After a while she took too long responding to my emails until she didn’t respond at all. There were renovations being done and was an event for a grand opening that we showed up to only to find out it had been cancelled without notice. Renovations were not finished. This was more than a year before my wedding date so I wasn’t too nervous. Not long after I received an email from someone else stating she was the new coordinator and wanted to touch base. I responded and we sent a few emails back and forth. The last email I sent had a question in it which was never answered. That was the last of working with her. A few months before the wedding I got an email from Miranda stating she had taken over. She explained to me that she did not have any copies of the contracts on file, but thankfully did have record of my deposit so my date was secure. I redid all the contracts and mailed them back. There was no longer a discount for number of rooms booked in our room block but at this point I felt like I had to pick and choose my battles and just let it go. We scheduled for us to come down to see the finished ballroom. The ballroom was beautiful and we were happy with the finished product. We also met with Acacia who would be there the day of our wedding. She told us we needed to rent chairs for the ceremony on the terrace unless we were having our guests stand (obviously not, and I was annoyed that this was just being brought up now). However, I felt confident things were going in the right direction. Miranda was responsive to emails and always got back to me except for one email I sent 2 weeks before the wedding. It was something minor and I figured I’d ask at the rehearsal. We show up to the rehearsal only to find out that no one knew we were scheduled to rehearse there that day but luckily there was no event scheduled and we were able to. I also found out that both Miranda and Acacia no longer worked there. After the rehearsal I went to the desk and refused to leave until I spoke to someone regarding my wedding, mainly to make sure they knew I was getting married there the next day. I spoke to the GM Mary Ellen who assured me that she would be there for the wedding and we reviewed my file together ensuring that everything was in place. I also found out that there were chairs on the terrace that would be there for our wedding. We discovered this after we rented, loaded and brought 100 chairs to the third floor. There was no offer of reimbursement even though I was told I needed to rent chairs myself. Mary Ellen was there for our wedding and our day was perfect. I’m thankful for our other vendors who coordinated for us because they are responsible for our wedding being a smooth, successful day. My card was also charged $1500 one month before the wedding for the room block which should not have been. I called and the problem was resolved that week. The final disappointment was no breakfast for overnight guests. As long as you have a good coordinator your wedding day should be fine but expect several bumps along the way

e were three management changes and with each change was a discussion about the contract – things like the room block and Bridal Suite discounts were questioned. We had to put down a $1000 deposit for the room block and after the block was filled, had to ask numerous times via phone, email and in person to get the deposit back. The management had to wait for permission from the owners to write the check. We finally got the deposit back during the reception. The band we hired asked to confirm some electrical requirements with the hotel. Despite numerous requests, the hotel never responded. During the entire time the staff rarely returned calls or emails. The management did not show for appointments – like the day before event when we had set up time to drop off things to be set up for the reception. Overall, we spent way too much time interacting with the unprofessional hotel staff. On the day of the wedding things went smoothly, thanks in large part to the caterer (Amalfi Catering). The major issue on the wedding day was the air conditioning. The ballroom was extremely hot and this was on a 68 degree cloudy day. I can’t imagine what it will be like on a hot summer day. The event coordinator told me that the air conditioning was at its maximum and there was cool air coming out of the units but the entire system was obviously undersized for the room with 170 people in it (Aqua Blue advertises the room capacity at 250). She found some small fans and opened the outside doors but this had little effect. Our guests were very uncomfortable. All this hotel provides are rooms to sleep in and a ballroom, neither off which are professionally run. It seems like the owners are trying to run this hotel with minimal investment and it shows. I would not recommend this hotel for a wedding reception or other large event.

the worst. The ball room was under renovations and no one contacted us to let us know. We found out when we went to have our menu tasting and when we inquired about it, no one was willing to speak with us about the changes. It wasn't until 2 months later we found out via Facebook that there was to be an open house to show off the new ball room. We went down there only to find out the event was cancelled without notice. We then figured we would set up our room block while we were there as to not waste the trip. There was only one individual who could help with that and we were told that she was "emotionally unavailable" to speak with us and set up the block. We then set up another meeting with the hotel only to have it cancelled upon arrival. We finally got to see the ball room and set up the room block a month later. The room is modernized now and I liked it better than the original. My now Wife, did not like some of the character aspects she loved in the beginning being taken away now but saw the potential. They agreed to honor the initial pricing information we were provided but when guests went to book, the front desk could not find our block or the pricing was incorrect. We finally thought everything was straightened out when, 6 weeks before the event, I received a call from the new individual in charge of events, stating they had no information on our event and that we needed to pay an additional $3,300 to hold the event. This is extremely frustrating and unprofessional to try and strong arm couples out of additional funds right before their event. That situation was straightened out as well and then 2 days before our wedding, there was another staffing change and someone new in charge who had no idea what was going on. This lead to another lengthy discussion about all we went through up until that point. Aqua Blue and their event staff dropped the ball on more than one occasion, and increased the stresses of an already stressful time. We pay these venues and vendors to help take part of that stress away and Aqua Blue only added to it. Catharina was now in charge and sympathized with our situation and apologized on behalf of everyone involved. She stayed late and accommodated everything we needed and helped to set up the Ball Room and ensured everything went off without issue. She was one of the only bright spots in an overall extremely frustrating and disheartening process. The rooms were beautiful and the staff was polite and helped with what they could. I would stay there again but would not hold an event of any kind at this venue in the future.

and unfinished. Guests and myself tripped multiple times. The railing was PVC piping. Rooms were dirty, guests had difficulty booking in our block, guests were unable to check into their rooms, and staff was incompetent and untrained due to poor management. The owner refused to acknowledge over a dozen requests to discuss the issues. The only saving grace was the wedding coordinator...she was wonderful and was the only reason the day was a success. She went above and beyond and and did her best with a horrible venue.