A little unknown secret, hurricane rarely hit the ABC Islands.
I just booked 2 weeks at the Marriott Surf Club with ACs - just could not resist the price - 2 bedroom units one week was $209, the other was $299. DH and I will be there 10/10-23. Now the challenge will be to find somewhere local that will do the rapid PCR test at all much less at a reasonable price. I'm thinking they will not bill insurance (and should not) for testing needed for travel.Arrive at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club on Friday Sept. 25th for a 9 week stay (may extend ). PCR Covid test completed in Houston at 3PM Tuesday and received results (Negative!) 8AM Wednesday. All documentation updated on the Aruba website and have an Aruba "Qualified to Board" pass to board the plane in Miami plus paid the Aruba Covid insurance fee. We will need to file for a visa extension of tourist stay in Aruba in person at the DIMAS prior to completion of 30 days. Will post updates in the Marriott Forum tread
What is the Best US Based Resort to Quarantine for 6+ weeks?
once we are there as a continuation of my Marriott timeshare adventure (174 nights at Marriott Ko Olina 2020) while waiting for approval to get back overseas. Not likely to tour much (we have already done most things on the island) and just looking to relax. Looking forward to One Happy Island!
To the moderators any chance to move this post to the tread above?
Try Walgreens or test at the airport for 75 bucksI just booked 2 weeks at the Marriott Surf Club with ACs - just could not resist the price - 2 bedroom units one week was $209, the other was $299. DH and I will be there 10/10-23. Now the challenge will be to find somewhere local that will do the rapid PCR test at all much less at a reasonable price. I'm thinking they will not bill insurance (and should not) for testing needed for travel.
2 of my 9 weeks are on $299 II AC's. Checked in Surf Club today. 3 Points weeks, 2 II AC's and 4 II Getaways. 12th floor Ocean Side Lighthouse building. Awesome View. They will keep us in the same room. No room service for 9 weeks but all we have to do is call for clean sheets and any other supplies to be delivered at anytime to our door. PCR Covid test in Houston received results back in less than 24 hours. We needed to show printed Aruba approval, insurance paid and Covid test results when checking in Houston. In Miami we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and boarding pass. In Aruba we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and passport. Process was fairly quick in Aruba until I had to circle back and pay $88 tax on 4 liters of excess alcohol. Customs agent was good and said it was still cheaper than buying locally. Couldn't resist the Miami Duty free Johnny Walker Black 1 liter 3 for $99 special. Well worth the time and tax!I just booked 2 weeks at the Marriott Surf Club with ACs - just could not resist the price - 2 bedroom units one week was $209, the other was $299. DH and I will be there 10/10-23. Now the challenge will be to find somewhere local that will do the rapid PCR test at all much less at a reasonable price. I'm thinking they will not bill insurance (and should not) for testing needed for travel.
Thanks this is helpful. I think I have found someplace local to test, hopefully they will be able to get it done in the required 72 hours! About that 72 hours, I am trying to decide if it runs from the first leg of your flight or from the boarding time of your connecting flight to Aruba. We are flying out of Nashville at 6:10 am but connect in Charlotte and that flight does not leave for Aruba until 9:40 am. I would hate to miss my 72 hour window by misinterpreting the start time. Anyone know how this is handled?2 of my 9 weeks are on $299 II AC's. Checked in Surf Club today. 3 Points weeks, 2 II AC's and 4 II Getaways. 12th floor Ocean Side Lighthouse building. Awesome View. They will keep us in the same room. No room service for 9 weeks but all we have to do is call for clean sheets and any other supplies to be delivered at anytime to our door. PCR Covid test in Houston received results back in less than 24 hours. We needed to show printed Aruba approval, insurance paid and Covid test results when checking in Houston. In Miami we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and boarding pass. In Aruba we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and passport. Process was fairly quick in Aruba until I had to circle back and pay $88 tax on 4 liters of excess alcohol. Customs agent was good and said it was still cheaper than buying locally. Couldn't resist the Miami Duty free Johnny Walker Black 1 liter 3 for $99 special. Well worth the time and tax!
Per the Aruba website it is 72 hours prior to departure. I believe they are looking when you start your trip 1st leg. Worst case scenario you get tested upon arrival. We tested 3PM on a Tuesday for a 6:05AM flight out of Houston with a 10:40AM connecting flight in Miami for a 1:27PM arrival so we were within the 72 hours.Thanks this is helpful. I think I have found someplace local to test, hopefully they will be able to get it done in the required 72 hours! About that 72 hours, I am trying to decide if it runs from the first leg of your flight or from the boarding time of your connecting flight to Aruba. We are flying out of Nashville at 6:10 am but connect in Charlotte and that flight does not leave for Aruba until 9:40 am. I would hate to miss my 72 hour window by misinterpreting the start time. Anyone know how this is handled?
Good tip on the duty free. how much were you able to bring in without triggering the excess tax?
Were you carrying the duty free bags through customs or did you have them packed in a suitecase?2 of my 9 weeks are on $299 II AC's. Checked in Surf Club today. 3 Points weeks, 2 II AC's and 4 II Getaways. 12th floor Ocean Side Lighthouse building. Awesome View. They will keep us in the same room. No room service for 9 weeks but all we have to do is call for clean sheets and any other supplies to be delivered at anytime to our door. PCR Covid test in Houston received results back in less than 24 hours. We needed to show printed Aruba approval, insurance paid and Covid test results when checking in Houston. In Miami we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and boarding pass. In Aruba we needed to show printed Aruba approval, Covid test results and passport. Process was fairly quick in Aruba until I had to circle back and pay $88 tax on 4 liters of excess alcohol. Customs agent was good and said it was still cheaper than buying locally. Couldn't resist the Miami Duty free Johnny Walker Black 1 liter 3 for $99 special. Well worth the time and tax!
One bottle in suitcase, 3 bottles in backpack (Miami duty free) and 2 bottles purchased at Aruba duty free. They are scanning all bags from all passengers including the Aruba duty free purchases. They have time as you clear Aruba medical after collecting and scanning your baggage. They had 3 lines for medical and only a quick review of required documentation (took about 2 minutes) before you exit and catch a cab.Were you carrying the duty free bags through customs or did you have them packed in a suitecase?
Per the Aruba website it is 72 hours prior to departure. I believe they are looking when you start your trip 1st leg.
When your bags are scanned when you arrive in Aruba, what are they looking for? Because of dietary restrictions, we always bring meats packed in a small cooler in checked luggage. Wondering if this will be a problem this year. Would hate to have it confiscated.We are here in Aruba. when we arrived 10/10 it was clear tourism was rebounding . Ours was one of 6 flights on the board that had arrived in about an hour. The line was fairly long at the airport, it took us about an hour to get baggage and clear customs and exit the building. Tip: Make sure and print a paper copy of your Covid test results, even if you did the online thing and uploaded the results. You will be asked for the paper copy repeatedly. The online version or the email you received stating that you your results are approved will never be referenced. I neglected to print out the covid test result and then was scrambling at my layover location to find a place I could print out my results...
Because there were so many planes arriving at the same time and such a long line through customs, they were only randomly scanning bags - ours was not picked. I did overhear someone at the resort talking about having a cooler full of meat confiscated though so it seems that it would likely be a problem if they found it in a bag.When your bags are scanned when you arrive in Aruba, what are they looking for? Because of dietary restrictions, we always bring meats packed in a small cooler in checked luggage. Wondering if this will be a problem this year. Would hate to have it confiscated.
Enjoy your trip! We are coming in a month also using one AC. What is your view? And will they keep you in the same room for the two weeks? Thanks for all the info!
Mostly likely they are looking for duty free items in order to charge you duty on them.When your bags are scanned when you arrive in Aruba, what are they looking for? Because of dietary restrictions, we always bring meats packed in a small cooler in checked luggage. Wondering if this will be a problem this year. Would hate to have it confiscated.
Enjoy your trip! We are coming in a month also using one AC. What is your view? And will they keep you in the same room for the two weeks? Thanks for all the info!
Are you still in Aruba? How was the experience?I'm in Aruba currently and I'm staying at Marriott's Aruba Surf club. For anyone who has questions about the Covid testing etc, I might be able to help. I traveled from a higher risk state in which I had to get a rapid (nasal) test done and uploaded 72 hours before arrival. I was able to get the test in my home state, which was no easy task, and uploaded it to the Aruba website. The only problem I ran into was that I had an antigen test done, and they only want a PCR test. However, the health authorities sent me an email clearing me to come with the understanding that I would be required to take another rapid nasal PCR test once I arrived. I am currently quarantined at the hotel waiting the results, which they said would take 6-8 hours, but up to 24.
Fantastic trip. I only stayed a week. Since then I went to Grand Solmar which was also great. Here's a pic of the wife and I from Cabo.Are you still in Aruba? How was the experience?
Hey James, we've got a couple friends arriving tomorrow and it looks like their test results will not be back in time.I'm in Aruba currently and I'm staying at Marriott's Aruba Surf club. For anyone who has questions about the Covid testing etc, I might be able to help. I traveled from a higher risk state in which I had to get a rapid (nasal) test done and uploaded 72 hours before arrival. I was able to get the test in my home state, which was no easy task, and uploaded it to the Aruba website. The only problem I ran into was that I had an antigen test done, and they only want a PCR test. However, the health authorities sent me an email clearing me to come with the understanding that I would be required to take another rapid nasal PCR test once I arrived. I am currently quarantined at the hotel waiting the results, which they said would take 6-8 hours, but up to 24.
They do have a "cleared to board" from Aruba to make sure they can get on the plane at the airport right? If they do, I'm assuming they will be required to take another test at the airport, and then will be required to quarantine until they get their results back from the test at the airport which was within 6 hours for me. As far as the taxi and checkin, there was no issues.Hey James, we've got a couple friends arriving tomorrow and it looks like their test results will not be back in time.
Can you shed some light on how the process worked for you? Were you able to get a taxi to the resort? What happened at check in? I confirmed with Marriott that they will be able to quarantine in our lock off room as long as we lock it off, but curious about how they will get to the resort and get into the room following the quarantine restrictions. Thanks! Tracy
I have a picture with one of those starfish! My husband picked it up in his hands thinking he was stepping on coral! It was a foot across! We have the best picture in the world of Pop, our granddaughter Maggie and wish Upon a starfish!!!!Yes it is. Can't wait to get back there! Thank you for sharing your pictures! Living vicariously through all those brave enough to get out into the world!