The Diplomat Beach Resort is an interesting location providing the nostalgia of the 1960’s when this facility was built. The units open right to the beach much like the one and two story motels of years past. The beach and pool areas are very clean and well maintained by a pleasant management staff.
However, this location is very different from more modern vacation facilities. Many of the design elements are still from the 1960’s such as no bathroom fans, old noisy motel style PTAC wall air conditioners, no ADA handicap accessible features (read their website disclosure), etc. Realize also that the Diplomat Resort is not really open to the public, and that your visit is considered to be a guest of the individually owned unit.
Therein lies the real problem with the Diplomat Beach Resort. We saw a number of very well appointed and maintained units from other guests. Unfortunately, our unit 226, was very poorly done with cheap furniture, thoughtless arrangement and showed signs of neglect. The main window, right beside the bed, in this first floor unit has large gaping openings in the blinds and no curtains. Many nights we observed people walking by the sidewalk stopping to look in at us sleeping or relaxing; zero privacy in this unit due to the owner’s inexpensive choice of window treatment. Some of the other units have very tasteful and private window treatments, but not 226. The layout of unit 226 puts the only eating table right next to the wall air conditioner, which has to be shut off to eat due to the excessive noise and freezing discharge temperatures. The should be located closer to the kitchen and away from the window issues. The clothes dresser is hidden in the small utility closet, very difficult to accessed with the bottom drawer full of the owner’s personal material. Other issues summary: a.) cheap bed frame squeaks loudly with the smallest motion all night; b.) exterior doors need repair and locks barely work; c.) most of the lamps don’t work; d.) the DVD player is broken and the TV one of the smallest seen in years; e.) the stove is grossly rusted and others issues.
The Diplomat Beach Resort apparently does not hold the owners to a minimum standard for rental properties as does most condo resorts. The Diplomat website allows renters to leave a review about the individual unit, but does not allow anyone to view these reviews. Had we been able to see the reviews of each individual unit during our original selection, we never would have selected unit 226. The Diplomat should allow the public to see the individual unit reviews since each unit has a very different maintenance experience. After all, by their own admission, you are not renting the “Resort”, you are renting an individual unit held to whatever standard the unit owner decides. Our experience shows a tremendous variation in unit quality. If you stay at the Diplomat Beach Resort I would recommend only picking a unit based on a personal recommendation from a known friend. If you pick a good one, you will probably have a pleasant stay. For us, after staying in unit 226 for a week, we will never be back to the Diplomat. There are far many better choices for the price than the obsolete and partially run down Diplomat Beach Resort.
