Just so everyone else understands that you and I have NO disagreement, and that I am not telling guests not to stay at Xtabi! I know that you have stayed there for many years, and in fact it is one of the reasons we considered it. I believe that the staff (mostly) is top notch, and I think we could have been happy there. If I had a "regular" place that I was happy with, I too would defend the property. Point: If anyone says anything bad about Deb L, I'll defend her, her business, and her yard practices to the death. However, I won't be silenced about our experience at any other place, and were it a place you didn't consider home you would want other boardies to share their personal experience. I know it stings,only because you have been treated as family there, and it hurts if it's unkind words about a place you love. I'd have ruffled feathers, too xoxoxoxo
I think what bobo and I learned was, when dealing with a new place, if one person offers a deal involving cash, RUN! It wasn't a "too good to be true deal", btw. We actually often pay cash to avoid foreign transaction fees, so our feelers didn't go up. At this point, we would NEVER stay at Xtabi, but if our friends choose to (It is a lovely property)I advise paying with credit card so you can take it up with your CC company if the terms change.
I have the utmost respect for you, and know you believe what happened to us, and also know that it is your home away from home. You are lucky to have that!! Next reach, do extend my best wishes to Michael, Sharon, and Omar - the great staff I met while visiting friends