Aruba Ocean Club question.

[SpikeMauler]

Just got a trade into the Aruba Ocean Club for March 25th. Put in the request a couple days ago after depositing my MFC Plat week. They sent a confirmation this morning for a 2br villa with the code ZZAA. Does anyone know what type view and villa is designated to ZZAA? Also, what building or floor should I request for best ocean views? I traded into the Surf Club a couple years ago and was assigned an ocean view unit but the unit faced the ocean club and had a very minimal view of the water. I didn't request a building/floor/view that time. I know I'll be lower priority(for view requests) than the owners there but figure it doesn't hurt to ask.
Thanks,
Pete

 

[dioxide45]

I believe ZZAA is a 2BR lock off Ocean View unit.

 

[Smooth Air]

Is this for March 25, 2012 or 2013?

 

[SpikeMauler]

Is this for March 25, 2012 or 2013?

It's for 2012.

 

[m61376]

I'd request high floor and poolside. Best views are in the interior of the horseshoe (facing the pool); rooms on the N side face the hotel and the S side the Surf Club. Since the OC is only six floors and both ends are surrounded by taller buildings, I'd request poolside, high floor, since poolside is more important there. At the SC on a high floor on either side you can get some awesome views., so there I prioritize high floor, but I think for the OC you'd be better off listing poolside first.

Have a great trip!! Looking over restaurants to reserve for our Feb. trip now ; just put together a list for friends who are joining us who have never been to Aruba.

 

[SpikeMauler]

I'd request high floor and poolside. Best views are in the interior of the horseshoe (facing the pool); rooms on the N side face the hotel and the S side the Surf Club. Since the OC is only six floors and both ends are surrounded by taller buildings, I'd request poolside, high floor, since poolside is more important there. At the SC on a high floor on either side you can get some awesome views., so there I prioritize high floor, but I think for the OC you'd be better off listing poolside first.

Have a great trip!! Looking over restaurants to reserve for our Feb. trip now ; just put together a list for friends who are joining us who have never been to Aruba.

Thanks m61376. We stayed at the Surf Club a couple years ago and loved it. I put in a request for either SC or OC and OC came up first. I'm gonna request poolside high floor. We're also traveling with freinds who have never been to Aruba. Are there any "can't miss" restaurants you would recommend? Also, maybe a good night club/bar.

 

[Smooth Air]

Spike, Wow! That is amazing that you managed to get March, 2012!! Congratulations! Last year I had a "Request First" in with II using a prime trader ( Marriott Ocean Pointe, 2BR Platinum, Southest Florida, near Palm Beach ) and after 9 months still no match. So, I cancelled & ended up renting form an Ocean Club owner.

Agree with m61376 about location.
Enjoy Ocean Club. We love it there!

Try Simply Fish on the beach. Ruth's Chris is very good too.

Smooth Air

 

[dioxide45]

Spike, Wow! That is amazing that you managed to get March, 2012!! Congratulations! Last year I had a "Request First" in with II using a prime trader ( Marriott Ocean Pointe, 2BR Platinum, Southest Florida, near Palm Beach ) and after 9 months still no match. So, I cancelled & ended up renting form an Ocean Club owner.

Agree with m61376 about location.
Enjoy Ocean Club. We love it there!

Try Simply Fish on the beach. Ruth's Chris is very good too.

Smooth Air

Perhaps it was a flexchange trade?

 

[SpikeMauler]

Spike, Wow! That is amazing that you managed to get March, 2012!! Congratulations! Last year I had a "Request First" in with II using a prime trader ( Marriott Ocean Pointe, 2BR Platinum, Southest Florida, near Palm Beach ) and after 9 months still no match. So, I cancelled & ended up renting form an Ocean Club owner.

Agree with m61376 about location.
Enjoy Ocean Club. We love it there!

Try Simply Fish on the beach. Ruth's Chris is very good too.

Smooth Air

Thanks Smooth Air. I didn't think I would be able to use my MFC week this winter(2012)so I deposited it last April(2011). Circumstances changed recently, and now I can vacation this winter after all. I called II Thursday night with a request for Surf Club or Ocean Club, any check in day, any week this March or April. I asked the customer rep at the Marriott Desk of II what the chances were of me getting a week on short notice. He said the chances were good because my MFC Plat week was a very strong trader and that those (MFC) weeks were hard to come by. Well, he was right. A little more than a day later I had a confimation for a 2br Ocean Club week in March. I don't know if I was lucky or not but I'm glad we got it.

 

[ilene13]

Thanks m61376. We stayed at the Surf Club a couple years ago and loved it. I put in a request for either SC or OC and OC came up first. I'm gonna request poolside high floor. We're also traveling with freinds who have never been to Aruba. Are there any "can't miss" restaurants you would recommend? Also, maybe a good night club/bar.

Here is a list of wonderful restaurants:
Madame Jeanette
Screaming Eagle
Chalet Suisse
El Gaucho
Yemanja Grill
Wacky Wahoo
Blossoms
Carte Blanche--- an amazing experience if you can get in
Smokey Joe's for good ribs
Have a great trip. We just got back from our 27th annual trip

 

[SpikeMauler]

Here is a list of wonderful restaurants:
Madame Jeanette
Screaming Eagle
Chalet Suisse
El Gaucho
Yemanja Grill
Wacky Wahoo
Blossoms
Carte Blanche--- an amazing experience if you can get in
Smokey Joe's for good ribs
Have a great trip. We just got back from our 27th annual trip

Wow, 27 trips! Definitely will check out your recommendations.
Thanks

 

[GrayFal]

Thanks Smooth Air. I didn't think I would be able to use my MFC week this winter(2012)so I deposited it last April(2011). Circumstances changed recently, and now I can vacation this winter after all. I called II Thursday night with a request for Surf Club or Ocean Club, any check in day, any week this March or April. I asked the customer rep at the Marriott Desk of II what the chances were of me getting a week on short notice. He said the chances were good because my MFC Plat week was a very strong trader and that those (MFC) weeks were hard to come by. Well, he was right. A little more than a day later I had a confimation for a 2br Ocean Club week in March. I don't know if I was lucky or not but I'm glad we got it.

I am curious as to whether u r a destination Club owner using your Marriott II account or just a 'regular' owner.

Here now - try Papillon, Fabulous! Outdoor dinning http://papillonaruba.com/
For casual, fun people watching - Tapas Menu, outside dinning Salt and Pepper http://www.saltandpepperaruba.com/
Le Bistro - outdoor people watching, French Mediterranean http://www.lebistro-aruba.com/
And of course Madame Janettes http://www.madamejanette.info/joomla/ we always go twice ...

 

[m61376]

Here are some of our faves:
-Madamne Janette (a must every visit)
-Flying Fishbone (if you are renting a car; kinda a drive, but WELL worth it! Great food and gorgeous!))
-Wacky Wahoo (local cuisine, inexpensive and great food)
-Yemanja Grill
-Chef's Tables
-Azurro (v. good, although not fab. Italian, but very convenient to walk to [at the Playa Linda] and on a deck overlooking the beach; oftentimes good for a first night. Try their pasta wheel either as a table appetizer or entree- very different and really, really good!)

Mirandi's is also good and I've heard great things about Passions, but never been there. A friend was just there and they highly recommended 3 newer places- a Mediterranean place called Casa Tua at the Palm Beach Plaza, Cuban Cooking (which looks like a fun place) and Barefoot, which is another restaurant on the beach.

There are lots of really good choices for restaurants, and we all tend to have our favorites (although as you can see some of Ilene's and ours overlap). I know for Feb. I like to make reservations in advance, either directly with the restaurants online or through the concierge at the Marriott.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[SpikeMauler]

I am curious as to whether u r a destination Club owner using your Marriott II account or just a 'regular' owner.

I'm a deeded week owner who's not part of the DC program.

 

[SpikeMauler]

Here are some of our faves:
-Madamne Janette (a must every visit)
-Flying Fishbone (if you are renting a car; kinda a drive, but WELL worth it! Great food and gorgeous!))
-Wacky Wahoo (local cuisine, inexpensive and great food)
-Yemanja Grill
-Chef's Tables
-Azurro (v. good, although not fab. Italian, but very convenient to walk to [at the Playa Linda] and on a deck overlooking the beach; oftentimes good for a first night. Try their pasta wheel either as a table appetizer or entree- very different and really, really good!)

Mirandi's is also good and I've heard great things about Passions, but never been there. A friend was just there and they highly recommended 3 newer places- a Mediterranean place called Casa Tua at the Palm Beach Plaza, Cuban Cooking (which looks like a fun place) and Barefoot, which is another restaurant on the beach.

There are lots of really good choices for restaurants, and we all tend to have our favorites (although as you can see some of Ilene's and ours overlap). I know for Feb. I like to make reservations in advance, either directly with the restaurants online or through the concierge at the Marriott.

Enjoy your trip!!

Thanks m61376. Seems a lot of the restaurant suggestions are overlapping. That makes it easier.

 

[GrayFal]

I'm a deeded week owner who's not part of the DC program.

Thanks........

 

[infamazz]

Also...

Dinner:

Gianni's (Italian)
Ventanas del Mar - at the golf course clubhouse
Old Man and the Sea - Simply Fish has better food, but OMS has better setting
Ruinas del Mar - in the Hyatt

Breakfast:

The Dutch Pancakehaus

Have a great trip!

 

[nanceetom]

Curious. We'll be staying one week at SC and one ac OC were we own. We usually just put the request into our reservation. Is there an e-mail that you can send for room location requests for SC and OC?

 

[Lee55]

I would add Linda's Pancakes to the list.

 

[SpikeMauler]

Has any one used the BBQ grills at the Ocean Club recently? We like to BBQ a couple nights and was wondering about the condition of the grills. Some of the grills at MFC last year weren't working and looked beat up. Was curious if this was the case at Ocean Club as well.