Should we accept 1BR Aruba Surf Club exchange?

[heathpack]

Hello all,

We are unable to use our Memorial Day Barony Garden View gold week this year. We had it booked for Memorial Day week, which is assigned the highest TDI for HH, same as the primest summer weeks. We deposited in II back in December 2024. Our first choice is any HH oceanfront resort (we dont expect an oceanfront unit, but are not interested in the Marriott properties that are not on the beach).

We put in an exchange request for only 2BR Marriotts for summer/spring 2026 at the following locations: oceanfront Hilton Head, Myrtle beach, St Thomas, Aruba Surf Club, Aruba Ocean Club, and also Harborside. Our first choice would be Hilton Head, and we did include late summer in our exchange request, which I think is a realistic request. I've traded into to Marriott HH resorts late summer with non Marriotts several times.

Today I got an email for an inexact match- 1BR Surf Club, check in June 1, 2026.

I was googling it and reading on TUG- it sounds like this resort is huge with long lines at the pool bar, screaming kids and chair hogs. The 1BR isn't a huge dealbreaker for us- we'd prefer 2BR but don't need it if it is just the 2 of us, which it probably would be. However, we highly value quiet and peace in a beach trip. And we highly dislike out of control children, exasperating waits for routine things like a drink from the bar (however we don't drink all day), and the inability to get a chair under a palapa at the beach. Are we low season enough to miss the masses, or will we be catching the beginning of summer season since many kids will be out of school by June 1?

Should we consider Surf Club and accept the 1BR? Or should we hold out for HH? Or a 2BR as per our request?

Thanks if you can provide advice.

 

[Fasttr]

Aruba Ocean Club would certainly be more quiet with easier access to a beach Palapa. That said, I wouldn’t say the Surf Club is crazy wild with unbearable lines, but it certainly would have a busier vibe than any of the HHI beach front resorts.

 

[jwalk03]

Surf Club is a great resort. If you only need a 1BR and not a 2BR I see no reason to avoid going to the Surf Club because of reviews online. The Ocean Club is much quieter and sleepier than the Surf Club but also doesn't have the very popular lazy river. Palapa's are reserved online at both Aruba resorts so finding one is not difficult since you pre-book.

 

[bnoble]

I also vaguely recall that Surf Club/Ocean Club are a popular destination for a somewhat unruly spring break cohort which is probably where a good chunk of the "out of control children" reputation comes from. That's not going to be an issue in June.

 

[Steve A]

I’m an Ocean Club owner. Last June we spent two nights at the Surf Club. We didn’t care for it. Too many people; too few chairs; more children then we cared for; long wait at check in.

 

[ocdb8r]

I will start by saying we LOVE the Surf Club and really enjoy access to the lazy river. We have stayed at both Surf Club and Ocean Club. Based on your post, I have the following thoughts:

1) I wouldn't say the Surf Club is overrun with out of control children, but it does tend to be a much more kid heavy resort compared to the Ocean Club and the size/capacity of the towers is much higher than the Ocean Club, with a similar amount of common space (meaning the Surf Club is much busier and it can be more difficult to get pool loungers, particularly in the shade or right by the lazy river). The Surf Club is NOT a "quiet" resort and there is always a certain "buzz" whereas the Ocean Club does have a quieter more laid back feel.

2) Getting palapas on the beach is much more difficult at the Surf Club compared to the Ocean Club, even with the pre-reserve system. Ocean Club has the same number of beach Palapas for a resort with half the capacity.

3) I have never had a real problem getting drinks at the Surf Club. A line does often form at the very beginning of the happy hour special (but usually dissipates rather quickly), and poolside service can sometimes be spotty.

4) Going the first week of June will avoid the highest crowds as most elementary/middle/high schools are not yet out for summer break.

Again, we love the Surf Club (and have no kids) and have never had a problem making the best of it, but you should go in with some expectation that it will likely be busier than you would prefer.

 

[PaulaC]

We are Surf Club owners and travel there frequently. We enjoy the adult pool and the beach (you reserve your palapa in advance). We have also never had a problem getting drinks ... the flip flop bar is located on the beach and the servers will come to your palapa. Bring pool floats from home and enjoy an early float or in the evening for a quiet float with a cocktail. The restaurants are fabulous in Aruba, so do some research and make advanced reservations.

 

[Dean]

We enjoy SC and prefer it to OC. If the week and unit size works for you, I see no reason not to accept it. It is a different vibe than OC but the only time I've had a concern was when our stay overlapped with hell week. Early June should be a great time to visit, we traveled this week with the kids for 15 years. Not as busy, cheaper if doing cash, etc.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I also vaguely recall that Surf Club/Ocean Club are a popular destination for a somewhat unruly spring break cohort which is probably where a good chunk of the "out of control children" reputation comes from. That's not going to be an issue in June.

This. I have a friend, a TUG member, who told me how crazy it is in Aruba during NY spring break week. She said it's awful. It's a go-to vacation destination for practically the entire state during spring break week, whenever that is. Disney World is crazy too. Stay away from April, and you should be okay.

 

[Pamplemousse]

You still have a year + to get your exchange.
Decline and remove surf club from your request.

If you don’t get something you are happy with by the time you are less than a year away consider modifying your request to accept 1br.

 

[heathpack]

Thanks for the input everyone. After I posted, I realized this week is a Monday check in, which is really a plus for us because of how my on call schedule works. So I took it.

Plus it seemed wrong to exclude a resort that I hadn’t tried in a location I actually want to visit. And I like a lazy River.

Now to strategize using FF points for the flights. It appears there’s only one direct flight from ATL, and it’s on Delta. Now to figure out how to get on that flight without a cash outlay. A plus of accepting an early exchange, I guess. More time to work the FF system.

 

[GrayFal]

What you see online about unruliness in children ( and adults) is during a 2 week period in January.
The rest of the year, it’s just a typical busy family resort.

Edit as you have decided.
Enjoy your trip.
I know there are many threads about the great restaurants .

 

[heathpack]

@GrayFal, I took it.

We got villa room category TOGA. I don’t see this as a listed category in the Marriott sticky on the subject, but looking at other resorts, it seems to be a garden view designation.

What are the garden view villas like at Surf Club?

 

[dioxide45]

@GrayFal, I took it.

We got villa room category TOGA. I don’t see this as a listed category in the Marriott sticky on the subject, but looking at other resorts, it seems to be a garden view designation.

What are the garden view villas like at Surf Club?

I don't see TOGA listed as a room type on Marriott.com either. When you are able to look up the confirmation under your name on Marriott.com it should show you the room type and view. Let us know what it shows.

 

[GrayFal]

@GrayFal, I took it.

We got villa room category TOGA. I don’t see this as a listed category in the Marriott sticky on the subject, but looking at other resorts, it seems to be a garden view designation.

What are the garden view villas like at Surf Club?

Surf Club has a very convoluted 7/8 categories of room assignment. They do not honor view codes from II If you do a search here you should find the assignment order.

There are Garden View categories that are on the 9, 10, 11 & 12, & 14th floor of the back building that have great sideward ocean views. And some that are on the second floor that are not so great.

Your best bet is to request a high floor and cross your fingers.

 

[jwalk03]

@GrayFal, I took it.

We got villa room category TOGA. I don’t see this as a listed category in the Marriott sticky on the subject, but looking at other resorts, it seems to be a garden view designation.

What are the garden view villas like at Surf Club?

Here is the view map.

 

[heathpack]

Whoops TOGA was for my deposit.

 

[jwalk03]

Whoops TOGA was for my deposit.

That makes more sense! lol what code did you get for your exchange?

 

[heathpack]

That makes more sense! lol what code did you get for your exchange?

It doesn’t say.

 

[dioxide45]

Here is the view map.

View attachment 108866

There seems to be two versions of this and I don't think this one is 100% correct as I understand the OF units go all the way down the stack that faces the ocean. Here is the other one I have.

 

[dioxide45]

It doesn’t say.

Are you looking at the My History screen in the II website?

 

[jwalk03]

There seems to be two versions of this and I don't think this one is 100% correct as I understand the OF units go all the way down the stack that faces the ocean. Here is the other one I have.
View attachment 108867

O yes- you are correct. The one I posted was the original version not the correct one.

 

[heathpack]

Are you looking at the My History screen in the II website?

I was looking at my email.

In My History it shows TOMV: Oceanside.

But apparently it doesn’t matter at this resort anyway.

 

[jwalk03]

I was looking at my email.

In My History it shows TOMV: Oceanside.

But apparently it doesn’t matter at this resort anyway.

In my experience they do tend to give you the code on your exchange, just not guaranteed. We had an oceanview most recently and that exactly what we were given at check-in.

 

[heathpack]

In my experience they do tend to give you the code on your exchange, just not guaranteed. We had an oceanview most recently and that exactly what we were given at check-in.

So Oceanside looks nice because you’re relatively close to the beach?