Wyndham Palm-Aire text review

[jp10558]

Here's my abridged text review - there's a LOT on TUG2 so check that out!

Wyndham Palm-aire... A value resort I think. So many good things about it, but not really a great location and I'm docking 1.5 points for some major issues. Could be a really good value, and might well be outside of a unusual Florida cold snap, but the response to this has been abysmal. It's lucky we're resourceful.

Yet the resort is large, with a lot to do, and lots of activities and amenities. So keep that in mind, if you get lucky, this could be a much better stay.

Pros:
Value for points is pretty high. At least in Late January.
Lots and lots to do if weather permits
Giant chess set. Free Mini Golf. Sauna. Multiple pools and hot tubs.
Activities all the time.

I wanted to give a huge shout out to the plusses. Unfortunately, I've been beset by problems.

CONs (may be transient, but OTOH, there were a LOT)
Beds are barely acceptable - we can sleep on them just.
Couch is hard and painful to sit on for extended periods.
Very little sound deadening - you can hear the shouting on the 6th floor from the lobby when they're doing Bingo.
Sauna was under construction and not usable.
Location is marginal - not "in the mix or center" of anything, it actually seems to be kinda sketchy from the outside. 30 minutes from much of anything - beach, fancy restaurants, the casino it is across the street from still requires driving cause the roads and it seems to be currently under construction also so IDK if you could actually go there.
Hot Tubs are mixed. One is barely lukewarm and it's the bigger one.

Now for the BIG ISSUES:

Internet was out when we got here and didn't work till 2.5 days later.

Worse was the randomness of asking for paper products - Texting for tissues and toilet paper can get you a full bag with all paper products, but it can also get you 4 rolls of toilet paper and a blank look when asking for tissues ("aren't those tissues?" they asked... I had to say facial tissues.)

With the thermostat eventually set to 85 and it just blowing cold air on us we were using some space heaters we bring with us for colder bathrooms and realized the heat just didn't seem to work. We texted about this on Friday night. Said Maintenance would come "turn on the heat" for us. It's now Monday. No one came. I texted again 5 hours ago, still nothing. I've ended up using the oven with the door open to heat the living room area.

NEVER - I mean NEVER have I had such bad responses to texting or asking for assistance at any other resort. Someone at least shows up and comes up with a substitute if they can't fix something. This is the other reason we didn't bother to complain about a light - it would be a waste of effort.

So - given those issues - would I come back? Probably not. It's not Villa Roma level, or even Nashville level because we WERE able to work around the issues. But I can't recommend burning Wyndham Points for here - the location isn't good. There are better located Wyndham resorts within 30 minutes.

As I said, I wanted to give Palm-Aire a 7.5 because of the value for the units, the amenities an activities and the bonus of parking access to the beach at other resorts. But I took off 1.5 points for things like heat NOT WORKING and days and days of silence on major outages like heat and internet. And it lost 1.5 point for the lack of sound deadening and the bed / chair / couch comfort levels... being marginal also. I'm giving it back .5 points because Palm-Aire as a city and the area has a lot to do that's more fun for more people than Nashville had.

This one is a real throw of the dice as to how good it may be for you. I unfortunately came up snake eyes.

5/10 TUG score.

 

[Floridaman76]

Which section were you in? That matters a lot.

Last time I was there, I was in Royal Palm and got a relatively recently renovated 1BR Deluxe that was pretty nice all things considered, and very spacious. Bed was fine too.

I had to pay $20/night to park because I used Wyndham Rewards points vs Club Wyndham points. It's complete horse *bleep* and the resort GM who took my complaint could not have cared less. Awful customer service.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Different locations, Palm Aire and Royal Palms.

 

[andre10056]

Here's my abridged text review - there's a LOT on TUG2 so check that out!

Wyndham Palm-aire... A value resort I think. So many good things about it, but not really a great location and I'm docking 1.5 points for some major issues. Could be a really good value, and might well be outside of a unusual Florida cold snap, but the response to this has been abysmal. It's lucky we're resourceful.

Yet the resort is large, with a lot to do, and lots of activities and amenities. So keep that in mind, if you get lucky, this could be a much better stay.

Pros:
Value for points is pretty high. At least in Late January.
Lots and lots to do if weather permits
Giant chess set. Free Mini Golf. Sauna. Multiple pools and hot tubs.
Activities all the time.

I wanted to give a huge shout out to the plusses. Unfortunately, I've been beset by problems.

CONs (may be transient, but OTOH, there were a LOT)
Beds are barely acceptable - we can sleep on them just.
Couch is hard and painful to sit on for extended periods.
Very little sound deadening - you can hear the shouting on the 6th floor from the lobby when they're doing Bingo.
Sauna was under construction and not usable.
Location is marginal - not "in the mix or center" of anything, it actually seems to be kinda sketchy from the outside. 30 minutes from much of anything - beach, fancy restaurants, the casino it is across the street from still requires driving cause the roads and it seems to be currently under construction also so IDK if you could actually go there.
Hot Tubs are mixed. One is barely lukewarm and it's the bigger one.

Now for the BIG ISSUES:

Internet was out when we got here and didn't work till 2.5 days later.

Worse was the randomness of asking for paper products - Texting for tissues and toilet paper can get you a full bag with all paper products, but it can also get you 4 rolls of toilet paper and a blank look when asking for tissues ("aren't those tissues?" they asked... I had to say facial tissues.)

With the thermostat eventually set to 85 and it just blowing cold air on us we were using some space heaters we bring with us for colder bathrooms and realized the heat just didn't seem to work. We texted about this on Friday night. Said Maintenance would come "turn on the heat" for us. It's now Monday. No one came. I texted again 5 hours ago, still nothing. I've ended up using the oven with the door open to heat the living room area.

NEVER - I mean NEVER have I had such bad responses to texting or asking for assistance at any other resort. Someone at least shows up and comes up with a substitute if they can't fix something. This is the other reason we didn't bother to complain about a light - it would be a waste of effort.

So - given those issues - would I come back? Probably not. It's not Villa Roma level, or even Nashville level because we WERE able to work around the issues. But I can't recommend burning Wyndham Points for here - the location isn't good. There are better located Wyndham resorts within 30 minutes.

As I said, I wanted to give Palm-Aire a 7.5 because of the value for the units, the amenities an activities and the bonus of parking access to the beach at other resorts. But I took off 1.5 points for things like heat NOT WORKING and days and days of silence on major outages like heat and internet. And it lost 1.5 point for the lack of sound deadening and the bed / chair / couch comfort levels... being marginal also. I'm giving it back .5 points because Palm-Aire as a city and the area has a lot to do that's more fun for more people than Nashville had.

This one is a real throw of the dice as to how good it may be for you. I unfortunately came up snake eyes.

5/10 TUG score.

And they should be giving you a 10 out of 10 guest rating. No heat and you endured it and didn't call the local health department. Had you gotten a $3 room thermometer from Walmart you may have seen an indoor temperature of perhaps 55 to 65 degrees. Had you reported them, they would likely be going to court, pay a fine, and perhaps have to resize their entire heating system. Not to mention having their entire HVAC system under intense scrutiny.

A commercial lodging facility has to have a heating system characterized by "overkill", a capacity far beyond what the coldest historical days might have been. It should also have "redundancy" so a failure of one part may be bypassed by some other feature of the system. Or, at least, they should have spare parts on hand so they'll never have to order a necessary part and have to wait for delivery.

 

[Floridaman76]

Different locations, Palm Aire and Royal Palms.

Royal Palm (I incorrectly called it PalmS, plural, sorry) is a section of Palm Aire. It's the building where the activity center, spa and sales center are.

Sabal Palm
Fountain Palm
Areca Palm
Royal Palm
Queen Palm

 

[jp10558]

Well, a maintenance guy finally showed up today just now. Only took 4.5 days or so. This was in Sabol Palm.

 

[andre10056]

Well, a maintenance guy finally showed up today just now. Only took 4.5 days or so. This was in Sabol Palm.

I suspect, but I don't know, that he couldn't do much of anything within the unit. If any repairs had to be made (and it wasn't instead a heating system with inadequate BTU capacity being unable to deal with slightly colder weather), it would have had to be made at the heating source in the mechanics room. Hence, his showing up might just have been "eye candy".

If there actually was something wrong within the unit, like a thermostat not working or a vent louver having to be opened, his not showing up until 4 1/2 days later is off the charts outrageous.

 

[jp10558]

I suspect, but I don't know, that he couldn't do much of anything within the unit. If any repairs had to be made (and it wasn't instead a heating system with inadequate BTU capacity being unable to deal with slightly colder weather), it would have had to be made at the heating source in the mechanics room. Hence, his showing up might just have been "eye candy".

If there actually was something wrong within the unit, like a thermostat not working or a vent louver having to be opened, his not showing up until 4 1/2 days later is off the charts outrageous.

Yea, and he didn't fix anything. We went down to the front desk and complained and they're supposedly going to bring us a space heater and have a manager call me. They claim no one else has any problems with heat. It was warmer next to the pool than in the unit, and IDK if anyone will actually show up with a space heater or not. If they wait another 5 days we'll have left. I really want to like this place - we were there when the little cafe was open and they made a decent late and chicken fingers. The bar by the pool is open. There's a lot to do, but freezing in the unit has gotten a little old - just glad I figured out the Oven trick lol. But only when we're in the unit and kitchen.

To add insult to injury, the HVAC system is fine at constantly blowing room temp air, which is often cold air unless the Oven's been on for hours. There's no "fan off" setting I can find for instance.

I feel like I should get something - some of my Wyndham points back or the like. I would have been more comfortable inside back in Upstate NY as at least our heat works.

 

[andre10056]

Yea, and he didn't fix anything. We went down to the front desk and complained and they're supposedly going to bring us a space heater and have a manager call me. They claim no one else has any problems with heat. It was warmer next to the pool than in the unit, and IDK if anyone will actually show up with a space heater or not. If they wait another 5 days we'll have left. I really want to like this place - we were there when the little cafe was open and they made a decent late and chicken fingers. The bar by the pool is open. There's a lot to do, but freezing in the unit has gotten a little old - just glad I figured out the Oven trick lol. But only when we're in the unit and kitchen.

To add insult to injury, the HVAC system is fine at constantly blowing room temp air, which is often cold air unless the Oven's been on for hours. There's no "fan off" setting I can find for instance.

I feel like I should get something - some of my Wyndham points back or the like. I would have been more comfortable inside back in Upstate NY as at least our heat works.

First, I think with their 4 1/2 days before they showed up, that they already knew that there was nothing to be done with your unit. That there's some problem that prevents that unit (or perhaps multiple units) from being properly heated. How insulting to say something like, "No one else has a problem with the heat". As if it's YOUR psychological problem.

I urge you to get a room thermometer from Walmart to monitor your heat. I suspect that taking cell phone pictures of that thermometer along with today's newspaper from an obvious part of the unit will be enough evidence you need to get multiple weeks free from Wyndham.

This might be difficult to see with your cell phone photo although it only costs $4:

Something like this might be better:

 

[rickandcindy23]

I was thinking of Royal Vista.

Wyndham units are mostly just 3 star and less. Marriott's Royal Palms in Orlando is 4-5*, especially when you can use the pool at the hotel for free.

 

[Floridaman76]

Palm Aire, in my opinion is a distant 4th place as far as Pompano goes. But if you have kids and are the type of person who wants activities, its the best resort in Pompano for that,

If I want a view of the beach, I will do Royal Vista 1BR Deluxe

Anything else i'm going Sea Gardens.

The only time I do Palm Aire is if I need a specific date for a quick stay and can't get Sea Gardens.

 

[chapjim]

Palm Aire, in my opinion is a distant 4th place as far as Pompano goes. But if you have kids and are the type of person who wants activities, its the best resort in Pompano for that,

If I want a view of the beach, I will do Royal Vista 1BR Deluxe

Anything else i'm going Sea Gardens.

The only time I do Palm Aire is if I need a specific date for a quick stay and can't get Sea Gardens.

We've never stayed at Palm-Aire. We stayed once at Sea Gardens in an unremarkable unit in the Key West section. Someday, maybe we'll try Palm-Aire and Sea Gardens (again).

Our situation is different than yours. I make South Florida reservations (Royal Vista) at eleven months since I have reciprocity with Bonnet Creek or thirteen months (Santa Barbara, since we own there).

We are 1,015 miles from Royal Vista. "Quick stays" aren't a thing for us. Most likely, if we stay at either Palm-Aire or Sea Gardens it will be as a gap-filler.

 

[Floridaman76]

We've never stayed at Palm-Aire. We stayed once at Sea Gardens in an unremarkable unit in the Key West section. Someday, maybe we'll try Palm-Aire and Sea Gardens (again).

Our situation is different than yours. I make South Florida reservations (Royal Vista) at eleven months since I have reciprocity with Bonnet Creek or thirteen months (Santa Barbara, since we own there).

We are 1,015 miles from Royal Vista. "Quick stays" aren't a thing for us. Most likely, if we stay at either Palm-Aire or Sea Gardens it will be as a gap-filler.

Key West is, in my opinion the worst section of Sea Gardens, because it's across the street from the rest of the resort property on a side road. I hear those units got recently renovated, but I have not stayed in them since they have.

If you go again, book Ocean Palms or Waterfalls. I just love the jungle feel of the garden between the front Cabanna Pool and the Ocean Palms building in the back. It's fairly unique and there's a nice hot secluded hot tub by the South Waterfalls building that is great.

I comletely understand your use case though, if I was driving that far, I would want a "sure thing" and Royal Vista is that. I'm a few hours away, so it's a different thing for me.

 

[jp10558]

We've never stayed at Palm-Aire. We stayed once at Sea Gardens in an unremarkable unit in the Key West section. Someday, maybe we'll try Palm-Aire and Sea Gardens (again).

Our situation is different than yours. I make South Florida reservations (Royal Vista) at eleven months since I have reciprocity with Bonnet Creek or thirteen months (Santa Barbara, since we own there).

We are 1,015 miles from Royal Vista. "Quick stays" aren't a thing for us. Most likely, if we stay at either Palm-Aire or Sea Gardens it will be as a gap-filler.

Yea, I didn't plan far enough ahead - just 6.5 months and Palm-Aire was the only one with week availability. Next time I will probably try Sea Gardens as it seemed to be on the beach. I'll also consider Royal Vista sometime.

 

[Roger830]

Our situation is different than yours. I make South Florida reservations (Royal Vista) at eleven months since I have reciprocity with Bonnet Creek or thirteen months (Santa Barbara, since we own there).

As I recall, last year you had a problem booking Santa Barbara.

Can you now book 2027? This year I can't book at Sea Gardens. Last year I was able to book using the app.

 

[chapjim]

As I recall, last year you had a problem booking Santa Barbara.

Can you now book 2027? This year I can't book at Sea Gardens. Last year I was able to book using the app.

You are right. I did have a problem booking at Santa Barbara within my window. Never did find out why.

I have a reservation there starting January 2, 2027, booked on December 21, 2025. Also, Royal Vista starting January 9, 2027, booked on December 27, 2025. We own at both places.

 

[Roger830]

You are right. I did have a problem booking at Santa Barbara within my window. Never did find out why.

I have a reservation there starting January 2, 2027, booked on December 21, 2025. Also, Royal Vista starting January 9, 2027, booked on December 27, 2025. We own at both places.

So apparently it's not universal, just member specific. This year it's my turn.

 

[Jan M.]

Before we moved to Florida we liked to stay at Sea Gardens in the Ocean Palms building. Like @Floridaman76 we really liked having to walk through the gardens and waterfall areas to get to the other pools and beach. At the time we lived a little northeast of Pittsburgh so seeing the tropical plants, green foliage, and flowers in the winter months was a highlight of our stays. Back then the outdoor hot tub in the waterfall area was in a bower of bamboo trees and felt very zen.

Before moving to Florida we'd never stayed at Palm-Aire because it wasn't on the beach. Being on the beach is a big deal when you live a full day's drive from the ocean. Since then we've discovered that Palm-Aire is much more convenient to I-95 to do things. Also that Palm-Aire offers more than the other three Pompano Beach resorts in the way of amenities and activities.

 

[WManning]

I like Santa Barbara. The one bedroom Deluxe units have 2 full bathrooms and are located on corner of building with wrap around balconies. With views of ocean and intercoastal. Very quiet and not as busy as Sea Gardens or Royal Vista. Royal Vista is great if you are booking 2 bedroom request Building one located on beach with spectacular ocean sunsets and sunrise view.

 

[chapjim]

I like Santa Barbara. The one bedroom Deluxe units have 2 full bathrooms and are located on corner of building with wrap around balconies. With views of ocean and intercoastal. Very quiet and not as busy as Sea Gardens or Royal Vista. Royal Vista is great if you are booking 2 bedroom request Building one located on beach with spectacular ocean sunsets and sunrise view.

I agree. We have Wk 1 in Unit #801, southwest corner, sun all day. View of the ICW isn't great -- what we see is an arm, not the main channel.

We haven't stayed there in a while. I don't know what effect the recently constructed building just south of SB has on the pool. I would expect that this time of year, with the sun very low, that the pool would be in shadows. But I don't know.

Building 1 at Royal Vista is a tough one. Gotta be quick. Even then, openings are kind of scarce. People don't leave. We've been there a couple of times in the last few years.

Edit: Other points about the 1BR units at Santa Barbara. One, they are the same size as the 2BR units. Two, both sleep six, although maybe not the way one would like. (There are two sleeper-sofas, one in the living area, one in the bedroom.) Three, there's another balcony off the bedroom. It all goes back to Santa Barbara's history as a hotel.

We used to own Week 30 (end of July) in Unit 803 and used that week many times. It was hot but not nearly as insufferable as Orlando that time of year.

 

[ausman]

I would expect that this time of year, with the sun very low, that the pool would be in shadows. But I don't know.

I'm at Santa Barbara now and you're right, the pool is in shadow all day.

 

[chapjim]

I'm at Santa Barbara now and you're right, the pool is in shadow all day.

We were at Royal Vista for the first two weeks in January. Sun is a little better there. Gotta chase it around the pools.

 

[Floridaman76]

We were at Royal Vista for the first two weeks in January. Sun is a little better there. Gotta chase it around the pools.

It's been a few years since I have stayed there, but I seem to remember only one of the 2 pools at RV were heated, is that still the case? It never made sense to me that they never had hot tubs at RV. They could have put one where the kiddy spash pool is