Just returned from a nine-day stay at Allegro Resort and am elated to say that previous postings giving the place the thumbs down were way off base in my book.
Check in was a breeze. We were promptly escorted to our room We stayed in room 2212, a standard room which over looked the pool. It had two double beds in it and we found the room to be very comfortable, especially the balcony. It was kept very clean and we had no problem getting towels. The air conditioning worked well and we saw no bugs.
Food: We found the food to be good to very good. The daily buffets did have some of the same offerings day after day, but there were always different meats and fresh fish as well as ample fruits, salads and vegetables. The eggs at breakfast were very fresh and Betty, the Smoothie/Sandwich lady, was a pleasure. She is a very sweet person.Anyone visiting Allegro should make it a point to meet her. We found the help to be friendly. If you greet them with a smile and a hello, you will get the same in return. Our favorite waitress was Carmen and our favorite bartenders were Sandy and Patrick.
The drinks were luscious, especially the Green Iguanas and Bahama Mamas. We were quite impressed with the top shelf liqours that were available. Our only complaint in this department was that there was no Bacardi rum. They use Haitian rum for the drinks. We were very happy to find water coolers near our rooms. We kept water bottles and filled them from the water coolers with clear, icy cold water.
The pool was beautiful although chilly at times. The beach was a dream come true. On our first day, I swam in Grace Bay and it was wonderful. The water was calm and crystal clear. However, the wind kicked up later that day and for the next seven days of our stay, the water was very rough, cloudy and not good for snorkeling. In fact, several tours were canceled due to rough seas. We did take a snorkel trip with J&B Tours and were taken to another part of the island where the water was not as rough, but it was still tough going. But we did manage to snorkel for around a half hour and saw many beautiful tropical fish. We also visited Iguana Island and did some shelling. The sand on the beach is different from any sand I have encountered in the Caribbean. It is the texture of baby powder and doesn't get hot, even during the peak of the day's heat.
We found the entertainment and the entertainment staff at Allegro to be beyond expectations. The nightly shows were very entertaining and often, very funny. The entertainment staff does a superb job and dance their hearts out each night. During the day, they offer pool aerobics, volley ball, water polo and some very amusing games. All the people who work at Allegro including the entertainment staff work long days. Amauri, Mauricio, Alberto, Leonardo, Ana and the other members of the entertainment staff made our trip very memorable. Mauricio, their choreographer, is a very talented individual and if you want to learn to dance, he's the man.
There is little shopping on Provo and most things are very expensive. We found the best bargains in the Dive Provo shop on the resort and in the Dive Provo shop across from Allegro in the small shopping center that is within walking distance of the resort. Also, there are vendors on the beach and some who set up shop in the resort lobby from time to time. There are also vendors available when the resort has its weekly barbeque.
The American Casino in the resort is small, but nice. We didn't get rich there by any means, but it was a pleasant diversion.
We did not encounter any problems with mosquitoes or other biting insects. The nights were very pleasant with warm tropical breezes. It did rain a few times, but the rain only lasts for five minutes and then the wonderful warm sun returns.
While we were there, we heard Allegro will soon have new owners. The resort could use some sprucing up in some areas, but we found it to be just a wonderful place to visit and felt we got our money's worth.
If you go to Allegro expecting Ritz Carlton trimmings and service, you will be disappointed. But if you are going to Allegro for a beautiful tropical beach, tasty food, fantastic drinks and to unwind, you will not be disappointed. Overall, we would definitely return to Allegro.
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ccriter@hotmail.com 
