Marriott Aruba Surf Club exchange

My wife and I ( and our two kids),

were thinking about trying to exchange into Marriott Aruba Surf Club and or Aruba Ocean club ( with surf club being preferred if possible), she is a school teacher and can only travel in summer our school breaks.

how hard would it be for us to get a 2 bedroom, there?
and would the best stategy be to put in a request, or just watch the site and see what comes up.

before i get everyone's hopes up, i thought i would ask if this is a realistic exchange. i would be flying in from detroit michigan.
would i realisticaly be able to pull a two bedroom using a worldmark.

thanks

I don't have Worldmark but heard it's a good trader. Marriott Owners get first dibs but summer is low season so you might have a shot. You don't mention age of kids but any way a one bedroom will work? It would be easier match since a lot of people lock off their units. You need to put in a request otherwise you will just see leftovers on the II site and will lose your mind checking the site all the time. On my last trip to Aruba we flew from Flint on Delta. Use to have a charter flight from DTW that i wish would return. We go during winter months and pay in the $550 to $600 range. You will love it!

craig5571 said:

My wife and I ( and our two kids),

were thinking about trying to exchange into Marriott Aruba Surf Club and or Aruba Ocean club ( with surf club being preferred if possible), she is a school teacher and can only travel in summer our school breaks.

how hard would it be for us to get a 2 bedroom, there?
and would the best stategy be to put in a request, or just watch the site and see what comes up.

before i get everyone's hopes up, i thought i would ask if this is a realistic exchange. i would be flying in from detroit michigan.
would i realisticaly be able to pull a two bedroom using a worldmark.

thanks

Click to expand...

are you talking about this summer or next? Generally it should be an easy trade, i would place an ongoing search and also check the site to be thorough. If you are talking about this summer, you may have to be willing to travel closer to check-in, you are a little late in the game, but I bet you'd still get something.

I was hoping for something this summer, (june, early to mid july)
actually if i got lucky was hoping to catch something in the 59 day flex change window.

if i dont get anything, i wont be upset, i just thought it would be cool to go there.
and if not this year, then maybe next for sure. no worries.

thanks for the help.

craig5571 said:

I was hoping for something this summer, (june, early to mid july)
actually if i got lucky was hoping to catch something in the 59 day flex change window.

if i dont get anything, i wont be upset, i just thought it would be cool to go there.
and if not this year, then maybe next for sure. no worries.

thanks for the help.

Click to expand...

Put in a request, I'm confident you'll have a good chance to snag something. Be sure to let us know if you do

I put in a request for 6/7/14 - 07/05/14, minimum 1 bedroom or greater

if it comes through, great, if not thats ok as well.

if nothing is matched, do i get my exchange fee back? or at least an exchange credit?

thanks for all the help.

Yes you get your exchange fee back. Fingers crossed for you!

Marriott units tend to popup at the last minute. So you may be successful even given that you are late to the game. A 2BR might be a challenge given you have no preference, but it is possible.

craig5571 said:

I put in a request for 6/7/14 - 07/05/14, minimum 1 bedroom or greater

if it comes through, great, if not thats ok as well.

if nothing is matched, do i get my exchange fee back? or at least an exchange credit?

thanks for all the help.

Click to expand...

There are two 1br units available at
Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel late June. Its a nice place with a private island you have access too. Not sure if you had your heart set on Marriott, but I'm sure your kids would enjoy thisplace (coincidentally its owned by Marriott =P)

Thanks I will check it out, much appreciated for the tip

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Keep in mind that the Renaissance is only managed by Marriott International (Not Marriott Vacation Club). They manage the reservation system for the hotel and also rent out timeshare units. It is not an official MVCI resort.

That may or may not matter. Definitely read reviews on TUG, some people have had issues with the units. Though I do recall reading that the units are or have recently gone through renovations.

Ok,
i got a match for a 1 bedroom at the Marriott Aruba surf club,
it was a day earlier than i requested. i wanted to get there on the 7th of june , but the match was for a 1 bedroom starting on the 6th.

so i wont be there till the 7th, is it possible to call the marriott and tell them i wont be there , till the next day? i don't want them to give my room away.

do the 1 bedrooms , have laundry in the rooms? and does anyone know what size a one bedroom is , square footage wise?

also,

i was able to book airfare from detroit to aruba for $300 a person, american airlines is running a sale. so for $1214 total. only thing is i have to leave on thursday afternoon , instead of friday.

i fly detroit to philadelphia. stay the night in philly, the next morning i fly to aruba.
at 9 am and get to aruba around 3:30pm

is there a hotel at the philly airport, we need a place to spend the night.

Thanks everyone for the help.

oh, i booked the flight on aa.com, with my citi aadvantage platinum mastercard, and i was supposed to get one free checked bag per person and priority boarding . but...
since it is something called a codeshare, with us airways. they said i dont get it..

I don't know the square footage, but it is the more standard Marriott 1BR unit. They do have in room laundry. Do call the resort and let them know you will be arriving a day later than the reservation. This will also help save you one nights worth of occupancy tax as Aruba does have a daily occupancy tax. Even though your reservation is for 7 nights, you will only pay the tax based on your actual occupancy.

Also, if you can, I would suggest adding EPlus to your exchange confirmation for $49. This will allow you to retrade up to three times. So if a 2BR pops up or your preferred checkin date does, you can retrade in to the better unit. This of course does require that you check II instant online inventory often, especially at the last minute in order to snap one up if it appears. Also keep an eye on the Sightings forum as people sometimes post last minute inventory availability.

You got a pretty good deal on airfare, but looking at the routing, I can see why. Never big on an overnight layover but we have done it before. It seems that you are actually booked on a US Airways flight, so that is why you wont't get the benefits of free checked bags with the AAdvantage credit card. Does US Airways offer a credit card that provides the same benefit that you can sign up for. Though not sure that you would get the free checked bags anyway since the flight wasn't paid for using that card.

Ok,

I have added eplus, to the exchange, how does it work? if i find a better unit , i simply swap??

also,
i have not been to Aruba for 20 years, and even then it was only for one day ( i was on a carnival cruise)

Will i need a rental car for the week? or is it better to not get one?

and when i call the marriott to tell them i will be a day late checking in. will they give me any sort of confirmation code?

thanks!!!

craig5571 said:

Ok,

I have added eplus, to the exchange, how does it work? if i find a better unit , i simply swap??

Click to expand...

On the My History page of you II account, there will be a "Start Retrade" link associated with your Surf Club confirmation. You can click on that and do a new search for available units. You don't lose your original confirmation unless you actually confirm something new. You can also possibly do a search using another week in your account or see something in the Sightings forum then if something appears, go in and try the Start Retrade. There are restrictions if you retrade inside of 60 days, but since you have airfare booked already, those restrictions shouldn't mean much unless you are willing to cancel your airline flights too.

Just continue to keep an eye out for a different unit, if one pops up, the $49 will be well spent. If one doesn't, oh well, it was worth the shot and $49 isn't much to pay for the chance to retrade for something better that works better.

also,
i have not been to Aruba for 20 years, and even then it was only for one day ( i was on a carnival cruise)

Will i need a rental car for the week? or is it better to not get one?

Click to expand...

Many people rent a car, many also take a cab to the Surf Club. Many restaurants within walking distance or a short cab ride. Though if you haven't been in 20 years, i would really recommend a car so you can get out and see the island and check out some other beaches. Though many people are happy staying at the resort for the week and hitting the high rise restaurants and taking a cab to those few that are further away that they want to visit.

and when i call the marriott to tell them i will be a day late checking in. will they give me any sort of confirmation code?

thanks!!!

Click to expand...

They won't give you a confirmation code for your special request. Your II exchange certificate (PDF attachment to confirmation e-mail) will have the Marriott confirmation number on it. It is the 8 digit number that will start with an 8 or a 9 and is right under the dates and accommodation information on the exchange certificate. It is labeled "Reservation Number". You can use this same number to verify your reservation on Marriott.com and see what view you were confirmed in to. You can also find this same information by looking on the My History page and finding the four or five digit unit code and comparing it to the list in this thread. Though keep in mind that you are never guaranteed to get the view you are confirmed to, but chances are usually pretty good that you will.

Will be at the Surf Club the same time as you, Craig

Congrats on getting the trade for the week starting Sat. June 7th. Me and my family are arriving there the same day. There will be 10 of us including our daughters, their husbands, our 2 granddaughters and one of my son-in-law's parents who also own at the Surf Club. So we will have 2-2 bedroom units for our trip. We have been there many times and go every year. I have never rented a car in Aruba, but we are happy to stay at the pool, lazy river and beach at the Surf Club. We do take cabs out for dinner, but also walk to the restaurants and shops nearby, where there are several very good restaurants.
If you want any specific recommendations, feel free to ask or PM me here....there is tons of great advice here on Tug for Aruba.
I just got my confirm email about our upcoming trip from Marriott...we can't wait to get there, 6 weeks from today! Yeah!
Regards,
Brian :whoopie:

Do you know if they have free Wi-Fi? Also do they drive in the same side of the road as in the states? And is the steering wheel on the left hand side of the car?

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Free WiFi! Yes

Driving is the same side as USA. Left side steering wheel.

Thanks, appreciate it, wife was wondering.

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craig5571 said:

Do you know if they have free Wi-Fi? Also do they drive in the same side of the road as in the states? And is the steering wheel on the left hand side of the car?

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Click to expand...

I am having a similar discussion over at Cruise Critic about driving in the Caribbean. I think the whole left vs right goes back to the old British Empire. The former British colonies (except Canada) seem to drive on the left. Everywhere else drives on the right. St Thomas and the rest of the USVI drive on the left. Though they have left had steering cars since they import from the USA.

Aruba and the other ABC Islands are or were under mainland European rule, so they tend to drive on the right with left hand steering. Australia and India, both British Commonwealth Nations drive on the left with right hand steering.

As someone who loves renting cars, this is not a destination I rent one. Def. not needed, and at most maybe 1 day or so while you're there, if that.

i don't think we will get the rental car, i also think we will get the discount card from visitaruba.com . i have heard food prices are high there, is there a preferred place to go and do grocery shopping? we will have a full kitchen and wanted to save where i could if possible.
should we pack some cereal and muffins for the kids?

just found my unit number. I think this is a garden view unit, which is perfectly fine.
Unit: DGVOM (1 bedroom)

should i convert money before going? do they give you a fair conversion rate?

i have been reading that superfood is the store to goto.

if i did get a rental car for a day or two, does it cost extra for parking at the surf club?

craig5571 said:

just found my unit number. I think this is a garden view unit, which is perfectly fine.
Unit: DGVOM (1 bedroom)

should i convert money before going? do they give you a fair conversion rate? No. US money widely accepted. They will give change back jn their currency at grocery if you pay in dollars.

i have been reading that superfood is the store to goto. i liked Superfood on our last visit. Ling & Sons is always good too.

if i did get a rental car for a day or two, does it cost extra for parking at the surf club?

Click to expand...

free parking. My answers in red.

Thanks for the info
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