Frenchman's Cove or Ocean Club?

[ScubaKat]

We were excited to have traded into Frenchman's Cove next Memorial day week.. now we were just notified that we got a match for Ocean Club during 4th of July week next year... Don't want to do both trips so are trying to decide which one to release.. Dd will be 3 at that time.. any suggestions on which one to keep? Thanks so much!!

 

[jimf41]

It really depends on what type of Island you like. Aruba is flat and pretty easy to get around. Cabs aren't terribly expensive and you can do it without renting a car or just renting one for a few days. St Thomas is hilly with winding roads but cabs are expensive and I consider a rental car a necessity. The beaches are quite different in both Islands. Aruba has long stretches of beach especially where the resort is located. St Thomas is a series of small secluded beaches most of which have pretty good snorkeling and a fair amount of natural shade.

St Thomas has a lot of cruise ships visiting daily and the cruise ship folks are a force to be reckoned with. In St Thomas I would stay away from Coki or Megans when there are more than four cruise ships in port. There can be as many as eight at one time. It is beautiful watching them sail in in the morning and out in the evening while you're relaxing on your balcony. All the rooms in MFC face the water. There are no pool or garden views. Aruba has better pools with lazy rivers and that sort of thing but the pools are crowded. At MFC you can wander down to the pool at 1000 and still find a good spot.

Both have good restaurants. St Thomas is the best in shopping but that's not my thing. Traveling to other Islands is easy in St Thomas, $45 to St John by car ferry and $75 to St Croix by seaplane. The crime rate is always an issue that comes up when talking about St Thomas but I've been going there since 1995 and haven't had a problem. The locals tend to inflict there hostility on each other not the tourists.

If you haven't been to either Island then flip a coin and pick the winner. If you've been to one but not the other then go where you haven't been and try something new.

If you read TripAdvisor to get advice be careful of what is being reviewed. A lot of reviewers stay in the Reef hotel and put their review in the Cove's box. The Aruba Marriott is better by far than the Marriott Reef hotel. However they just shut it down for about six months for a major renovation. I'm expecting a pretty nice facility when we go back in February but we'll see.

 

[Numismatist]

If you read TripAdvisor to get advice be careful of what is being reviewed. A lot of reviewers stay in the Reef hotel and put their review in the Cove's box.

Yes, this annoyes me to no end

 

[josh1231]

We were excited to have traded into Frenchman's Cove next Memorial day week.. now we were just notified that we got a match for Ocean Club during 4th of July week next year... Don't want to do both trips so are trying to decide which one to release.. Dd will be 3 at that time.. any suggestions on which one to keep? Thanks so much!!

For me it would all depend on what you wanted to do on your vacation. I have been both places and they are very different islands. Aruba is a desert and rather flat, St. Thomas is much more green and mountainous providing for a much better scenery. While the water in both places is very clear, St. Thomas water is just a tad clearer. Aruba's beaches are unmatched anywhere I have been, and better than St. Thomas. The sand there is so fine and powdery. The beaches in St. Thomas are great, but not like Aruba. St. Thomas provides a real breadth of places that can be explored with easy transportation options, like St. John, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, whereas Aruba I don't believe does (You may be able to get to Bonaire and Curacou easy, I have never looked).

On a more subjective note, and these are just my opinion based upon a very limited sample of one visit per island. I found Aruba's locals to be much more friendly. They all seemed to be happy you were there whereas on St Thomas, you got the feeling they wish you would leave. Aruba has much less crime than St. Thomas.

In summary, if you like great scenery and exploring many locations I would suggest St. Thomas. If you like to hang out on a beach all day and relax, I would pick Aruba.

The two islands are different enough where the choice should be simple for you, but you'll have to decide what you want to do on vacation.

 

[Numismatist]

This is brought up quite a bit, I like to sum it up this way:

If you want an active/adventurous/exploration vacation: St. Thomas
If you want to lay on a beach and totally relax/veg/chill: Aruba

Not that both can't be had at either, just each is best at what they are.

 

[ScubaKat]

Thanks so much for the replies! We haven't been to either island... It is totally going to be a coin toss.. I guess it's tough to have choices! There is always next time... A relaxing beach vacation sounds great but I am also thinking about how busy it is going to be 4th. of July week! We prefer quieter times at the beach and pools.. maybe I can try and get to Aruba sometime in November instead..

 

[jimf41]

One other point. St Thomas can have fickle weather in November. It could rain a lot. Aruba is pretty consistent year round. If you are going to one on July 4th and one in November I would definitely take St Thomas in July and Aruba in November.

 

[KathyPet]

If you want to save money go to Aruba. The jewelry shopping is just too good to resist in St. Thomas.

 

[ilene13]

If you want to save money go to Aruba. The jewelry shopping is just too good to resist in St. Thomas.

There are some wonderful jewelry shops in Aruba. We have been going for 27 years and I have purchased some wonderful pieces there. I think that the shopping in Aruba is better than the shopping in St. Thomas!!

 

[jimf41]

No matter where you go, Aruba, St Thomas, Hong Kong or New York City shopping is bad. Very, very bad. Husbands should not be subjected to shopping while on vacation. Shopping is evil. Children should not learn of shopping until they are at least 21 years old.

When I am forced to go shopping I carry Rosary Beads, garlic and a wooden stake. Shopping is the workshop of the devil.

 

[californiagirl]

I think OP got their trade into FC in May. The weather should be good then. We leave in a couple of days for Aruba. We will have units at both Surf and Ocean club. We own at FC. We love St. Thomas but are excited to go to Aruba. We were there on a cruise 18 months ago and liked it alot, even though it is a desert compared with St. Thomas. I will report back my thoughts when we return.

 

[sjnoble]

How to get 2 matches?

Just wondering if OP got 2 matches for one request? Or it was 2 exchange requests?
If for 2 requests, unless they came in at the same time, are you going to have to pay or forego the exchange fee on one?

I'm asking because I recently had an exchange confirmed by II but the email went to spam mail so I didn't find it until a few days later. There is a high likelihood that we can't make the exchange, and I was wondering if there is any way to cancel without losing the exchange fee?
And if I do pay another exchange fee, do I lose trading power from the original week deposited?

Thanks for your advice -

 

[Numismatist]

No matter where you go, Aruba, St Thomas, Hong Kong or New York City shopping is bad. Very, very bad. Husbands should not be subjected to shopping while on vacation. Shopping is evil. Children should not learn of shopping until they are at least 21 years old.

When I am forced to go shopping I carry Rosary Beads, garlic and a wooden stake. Shopping is the workshop of the devil.

:rofl: :hysterical:

 

[ScubaKat]

:rofl: Better not let the hubby read this thread.. He USED to like shopping before we got married..

I kept St. Thomas and released the Aruba week. Lisa - would love to hear your thoughts when you get back!

They did come from two different requests.. I got the Aruba week refunded as it was within 24 hours of confirmation.. If I was releasing the St. Thomas week I would forfeit my exchange fee.

Am loving II and timesharing... Have DVC Animal Kingdom next March.. St. Thomas next May and MOW end of August confirmed. We are going to be in Asia for close to 4 weeks this Dec/Jan.. Would love to sneak in Phukett during that time but don't think dh would go for it..

 

[m61376]

There are some wonderful jewelry shops in Aruba. We have been going for 27 years and I have purchased some wonderful pieces there. I think that the shopping in Aruba is better than the shopping in St. Thomas!!

I agree. I think there is a better selection of non-jewelry items (crystal, Lladro and other collectibles) in St. Thomas, but the jewelry prices are much better in Aruba. Having a close friend who is a jeweler has spoiled me, and I am a good judge of quality and pricing. That said, I have bought a few different, high quality and great value pieces in Aruba that I constantly get compliments on. St. Thomas is one of the few islands I haven't found any jewelry bargains in- and, trust me, I've tried :rofl: .

Jim- just think of the joy the shopping gives to your loved ones. And if you get a good enough buy, then it increases your net worth :hysterical: - take that from an inveterate shopper who always manages to find bargains. Of course, my darling hubbie doesn't quite share the same sentiments

 

[Numismatist]

St. Thomas is also fantastic for watches.:whoopie:

 

[mkahanek]

The wife and I have been to both. To me they are totally different. If you could merge the two islands then you would have a perfect spot.

Aruba:
Restaraunts - tables right in the water if you wish and to me food better.
Pools
Long beaches

St. Thomas
Views from room
quality of beach water (clear)
No constant sometimes very brisk wind.

 

[Sunbum]

My biggest beef with the Cove is the 10 min and the 3 elevators it takes to get to the beach or pool, as it is built on the side of a hill. That get's real old, real fast. I prefer the O.C.

 

[LisaH]

I think you will enjoy FC. I have been there twice ( staying in the hotel portion) and loved every min of our stays. On the other hand, if you have a 3 yr old, Aruba might be a bit easier to handle with nicer beaches and pools.

 

[flyboy0681]

Excellent replies here and each are accurate.

I've been to both destinations many times and I'd give the edge to St Thomas. The beaches are great and set in some really eye-popping scenery whereas the Aruba beaches aren't very wide and just seem to always be overcrowded.

Island hopping from St Thomas is easy and commonplace whereas getting to Curacao or Bonaire from Aruba is very expensive because it has to be flown because to the best of my knowledge there isn't any ferry service.

The scenery on St Thomas is so much nicer than Aruba, thick forest and mountains. Aruba has nothing on St Thomas topographically speaking - nothing.

Food is great on both islands but is slightly cheaper on St Thomas IMO.

It's cheaper to get to St Thomas than Aruba from the U.S., mainly because it's served by some discount airlines in addition to the majors.

If you have AT&T cellular then all calls to the US are included on your calling plan from St Thomas.

No customs or immigration to pass through on St Thomas. American citizens pass through customs and immigration in Aruba on the way home, but one should start the process three hours before departure time to make sure you make the flight.

The currency on St Thomas is the 'ol mighty buck. In Aruba you will be given change in Florin.

Just my two cents.