Aruba...some thoughts

[californiagirl]

We leave tomorrow after spending 10 days in Aruba. We had units at the Surf Club and the Ocean Club that overlapped for 5 days. This allowed us to stay at the Ocean Club, but use the lazy river at the Surf Club. Loved the Ocean Club. Didn't care so much for the Surf club. Way too crowded and closed in feeling. We have really enjoyed the island. We've had a car for the entire time and have driven all over. My husband and I had been going at 90mph and needed a rest and to reconnect. (This trip was to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.) We leave tomorrow rested and reconnected.

The weather has been unusual according to islanders. The first thing we noticed upon arrival was how green the island looked. We came here 18 mo ago as a day stop on a cruise, it was brown except for the resort areas. The locals said that the weather has not been normal for the last 10 months or so. Lots more rain than usual. We had one day of rain all day and the rest of the time we have had puffy clouds and occasional showers, but mostly sunshine. It has reminded us of Hawaii...we love Hawaii. Half of the week very little wind and high humidity.

The staff and employees, (with the exception of the towel hut people) have gone out of their way to be friendly and helpful. Everytime we pass an employee, no matter their job, they offer a pleasant hello.

We have had a 1 bdrm on the 5th floor overlooking the new pool area and the ocean beyond. Our villa is near the end of the hallway, closer to the ocean. The noise has been loud this week as they appear to working overtime to complete the pool area, scheduled to open next Sunday. It looks like they will make it. It really adds to the view. Speaking of the view. This is considered an oceanview unit. Our Maui Ocean Club unit has the same view almost exactly, but is classified as gardenview. Our unit at the Surfclub was also listed as oceanview, but there was now water anywhere in sight! In fact it faced entirely the houses to the east of the resort.

The ocean is such a beautiful blue/green. There is an unusual occurence in the water. (Again according to the locals and returning guests.) Lots of seaweed on the ocean floor washing up onshore. In the shallow area as you enter the water it is thick. Feels like walking through seagrass. Earlier in the week there was so much that a tractor was brought to the beach to get rid of it. It has diminished throughout the week.

At the Ocean Club we never once had trouble finding two chairs together by the pool, in the shade...any time of day! Plenty of chairs and shade. Plenty of palapas by the beach as well. The Surf Club was another story! Way too many people competing for chairs. If we had kids with us we would have preferred the Surf Club. More to do and the average age seemed younger.

I would be happy to answer any questions. We will be in transit tomorrow, so it may be Tues before I get back to Tug.

 

[EKniager]

Glad you had fun. Congrats on your anniversary! :whoopie:

 

[Steve A]

Where did you eat?

Can OC owners use the new pool?

 

[mcm21078]

the Surf Club is definitely for a younger crowd IMO. My wife and I are early 30's and love it there. Haven't stayed at the OC but have stayed at the Stellaris twice. I've been to the OC for the presentation though and have been to the spa and Champions.

our daughter LOVES the lazy river and just the pool there in general. Plus they have activities for kids like you mentioned.

I've been twice in April and twice in August and never seen much seaweed at all. Don't know about other seasons but I think thats the first time I've seen that as a complaint.

 

[stmartinfan]

There has been seaweed problem in parts of the Caribbean recently. I've forgotten the whole scientific explanation but large amounts of seaweed from somewhere (the Sargasso Sea?) have been moving on the currents and washing up on beaches. St. Maarten dealt with the same problem a short time ago, although I think it has abated there now.

 

[Quilter]

Good for you to take the time to reconnect. Congratulations on your anniversary!

We use to own at Ocean Club but sold at the beginning of all the roof litigation talk. Did you hear any buzz around the pool on that topic? I'm pleased to hear that the resort has continued to not only survive but progress ahead with a refurbished pool area.

Just curious, since you had 2 rooms, did you bring friends/family with you that stayed in Surf Club while you stayed at the Ocean Club?

Thanks for the report.

 

[rosepointe]

Thanks for the perfect review... We own at the Surf Club and stayed at the Ocean Club last year for the 1st time. Like them both for different reasons. The Ocean is much nicer for us without family but we enjoy both properties.

Glad you enjoyed our island!

Sue

 

[flyboy0681]

It has reminded us of Hawaii...

I agree with most of what you said but to me Aruba hardly has anything in common with Hawaii, especially the topography. To me Aruba is nothing more than a desert by the sea.

 

[californiagirl]

At JFK waiting for our connection to LAX. To answer some questions:

Yes, OC guests will have use of the new pool.

We only ate out 2 times and ordered in 2 times. We did a cruise the week prior and gorged ourselves. We bought food at Ling and Sons and cooked in or ate left-overs. We eat out several times a week at home, so for us it is part of vacation to cook together (simple) meals in the villa. Our meals were very good. The grills worked great and the fresh meat was very good quality. We have done this so many times that I bring small amounts of basic cooking ingredients. That way we don't have to buy containers of spices etc and leave them behind. I also bring lrg and small ziplock bags for leftovers. Our timesharing travel is second nature now. We have a timeshare box that we use when traveling by car that is self-contained. (Got that idea here on TUG many years ago. ) When we go to Maui we own in the older section. I bought a very small, lightweight hotplate that travels with us. I know some will shake their heads thinking too much trouble, but there is nothing like making your own omelet and sitting on the balcony in your pajamas watching the sunrise.

No, it was just us in both units. The SC unit was just the efficiency. Actually the 3rd bedroom of a 3 bdrm unit, so it was larger than the average lock-out. We had an extra week that we didn't have plans for that we traded last minute. We originally were going to stay at the Renaissance for two nights before checking into the OC. However with joining the destination club, it didn't cost extra out of pocket for the trade. Some would say a waste of a week, but we felt it was a week well spent. (We had weeks stored up this year because of extra busy schedules and non-timeshare trips.)

The weather was the reason it felt like Hawaii...humid with intermittent clouds and showers. The island also was very green with tall grass growing by the roadside in some areas. We have been to Maui in Sept/Oct when the hills between Kahului and Lahaina are brown.

 

[ilene13]

At JFK waiting for our connection to LAX. To answer some questions:

Yes, OC guests will have use of the new pool.

We only ate out 2 times and ordered in 2 times. We did a cruise the week prior and gorged ourselves. We bought food at Ling and Sons and cooked in or ate left-overs. We eat out several times a week at home, so for us it is part of vacation to cook together (simple) meals in the villa. Our meals were very good. The grills worked great and the fresh meat was very good quality. We have done this so many times that I bring small amounts of basic cooking ingredients. That way we don't have to buy containers of spices etc and leave them behind. I also bring lrg and small ziplock bags for leftovers. Our timesharing travel is second nature now. We have a timeshare box that we use when traveling by car that is self-contained. (Got that idea here on TUG many years ago. ) When we go to Maui we own in the older section. I bought a very small, lightweight hotplate that travels with us. I know some will shake their heads thinking too much trouble, but there is nothing like making your own omelet and sitting on the balcony in your pajamas watching the sunrise.

No, it was just us in both units. The SC unit was just the efficiency. Actually the 3rd bedroom of a 3 bdrm unit, so it was larger than the average lock-out. We had an extra week that we didn't have plans for that we traded last minute. We originally were going to stay at the Renaissance for two nights before checking into the OC. However with joining the destination club, it didn't cost extra out of pocket for the trade. Some would say a waste of a week, but we felt it was a week well spent. (We had weeks stored up this year because of extra busy schedules and non-timeshare trips.)

The weather was the reason it felt like Hawaii...humid with intermittent clouds and showers. The island also was very green with tall grass growing by the roadside in some areas. We have been to Maui in Sept/Oct when the hills between Kahului and Lahaina are brown.

The answer about the new pool is wonderful. We will be at the OC for 2 weeks starting Dec. 19th. I can't wait!!!

 

[classiclincoln]

Congrats on the anniversary and I'm glad you had a good time. We fell in love with Aruba after our fist visit there in 2007 when we traded into the Ren never being to the island before. We bought there last year and are so happy we did.

Next time you go, try the Ren; it's a totally different experience. Our 2012 week is available (going away at least 6 weeks next year, and can't fit it in).

Stu

 

[m61376]

No, it was just us in both units. The SC unit was just the efficiency. Actually the 3rd bedroom of a 3 bdrm unit, so it was larger than the average lock-out. We had an extra week that we didn't have plans for that we traded last minute. We originally were going to stay at the Renaissance for two nights before checking into the OC. However with joining the destination club, it didn't cost extra out of pocket for the trade. Some would say a waste of a week, but we felt it was a week well spent. (We had weeks stored up this year because of extra busy schedules and non-timeshare trips.)

Now your earlier comment about your view makes sense. I was actually wondering if that was what you had, but you said it was an oceanview. Actually, you had one of the very few rooms that is an island view designation, not an oceanview. The 3BRs at the SC are all categorized as partial OV's, since the 2BR part is OV but the studio portion is island view. The lock-outs of the 3 BR's are the only rooms that face East across the island. While the rooms are much bigger than normal lock-outs, the balcony faces across the island and the only ocean you will see is if you are on the upper floors, in which case there is quite a lovely view across the island and you will see the ocean in the distance.

Glad you had a great trip. Having villas at both properties certainly gave you the best options of both resorts! Both the OC and the SC have their pros and cons, and many have strong preferences for one or the other resort; at any extent, they are both great resorts and, as far as I'm concerned, in a perfect location- Aruba . Can't wait for our next trip...as I realize I better book my airfare.

 

[JeffW]

My wife & I were just in Aruba 3 weeks ago. It was the first trip for both of us. We stayed the first night at a B&B, then the remaining 6 nights at the Costa Linda timeshare. We did an ATV tour of the southeast part of the island, and also did a fair amount of driving from north to south. It was definitely green. Very surprising to see so many cacti throughout lots of the island.

I hadn't researched the weather prior to the trip (it was a last minute booking thru RCI about 2 weeks before departure), but was surprised at how humid it was. People had told me prior to leaving about wearing sunscreen (because it's so much closer to the equator). However it was really the humidity that sort of did us in during the day. If it was lower, I think we could have been more active during the day.

I went out for walks and scoped out many of the 'hi-rise' area resorts. While the Marriott timeshares were impressive, it looked just way too big. Attached is a picture from our balcony (balcony in the picture because I was setting up for a timer shot of myself and my wife). Costa Linda has I think 175 units (I think all 2 & 3 br), all having external balconys. Our unit was furthest from the water, but I'm not sure you could beat the view.

I had read the TUG Reviews prior to the trip, and saw that the Marriotts were #1 & #2 ranked resorts. I didn't want to use an II week for the exchange, so instead used an RCI one. Costa Linda was the ranked 3rd (but in a sense, #1 for RCI resorts). We had a recently refurbished unit (they were still working on other units), so the inside couldn't have been better.

I agree that all the people we met were exceptionally friendly. I think the strangest thing was knowing you are so close to the equator, and have all these fair-skin Dutch-speaking people around.

I'd definitely consider going back there.

Jeff

 

[mcm21078]

oh man that photo makes me want to go back, gotta wait till next August...

 

[EKniager]

This may sound stupid but I am not a beach person and still love going to Aruba. It is the only week all year when I get to sit around all day and essentially do nothing but read, relax, and wing it (every day). Looking forward to our February visit and my spot under the palapa!:whoopie:

 

[m61376]

This may sound stupid but I am not a beach person and still love going to Aruba. It is the only week all year when I get to sit around all day and essentially do nothing but read, relax, and wing it (every day). Looking forward to our February visit and my spot under the palapa!:whoopie:

Doesn't sound stupid at all. Except for when he goes snorkeling, sounds just like my hubbie. He loves the beach but only for long walks; he too loves to read and listen to his radio or music under the palapa and the best part- relax!

I've heard the weather has been very unusual recently. One of the things I love about Aruba is the cooling breeze and, despite the proximity to the equator, the lack of that hot humid weather that I have experienced in Hawaii and other locales. Sounds like it has been atypically humid and rainy this year.

Glad the OP had a great trip!

 

[IngridN]

This may sound stupid but I am not a beach person and still love going to Aruba. It is the only week all year when I get to sit around all day and essentially do nothing but read, relax, and wing it (every day). Looking forward to our February visit and my spot under the palapa!:whoopie:

Sounds exactly like us! DH and I spend 2 weeks at the Surf Club every May and look forward to 2 weeks of total relaxation and regeneration . DH is not a sun bunny as he burns to a crisp, but loves Aruba because of the plentiful shade under the palapas and the trade winds.

As soon as we get back from our visit, I book for next year's.

Ingrid

 

[GregT]

This thread has me really really excited for next February -- we'll be at Aruba Ocean Club Feb 10-17 (if work cooperates) and this will my first trip to Aruba.

I'm very curious to see how we like Aruba versus our favorite Hawaii spots and our wonderful trips to St. Thomas. We believe we overlap with Marilyn, and hope we can get together for whatever the local drink special is!

Thanks for starting this thread!

Best,

Greg

 

[flyboy0681]

While I've always enjoyed my trips to Aruba, I can say emphatically that it's no Hawaii.

As I've mentioned on this board before (and got an earful), food prices on Aruba can be outrageous while in Hawaii they seem just a bit more than the mainland. Aruba is desert brush while just about every island in Hawaii is mountainous with lush greenery.

I will say that the beach sand in Aruba is of a much finer quality than Hawaii. In most places it's like talcum powder.

 

[mcm21078]

I would love to get to Hawaii someday but its tough being on the east coast. The Jetblue direct flight to Aruba from Boston is fantastic.

 

[m61376]

While I've always enjoyed my trips to Aruba, I can say emphatically that it's no Hawaii.

As I've mentioned on this board before (and got an earful), food prices on Aruba can be outrageous while in Hawaii they seem just a bit more than the mainland. Aruba is desert brush while just about every island in Hawaii is mountainous with lush greenery.

I will say that the beach sand in Aruba is of a much finer quality than Hawaii. In most places it's like talcum powder.

It's funny how different people look at things differently. Not saying I'm right and you're wrong, but just that our perspective on food prices is totally different. We found the variety and quality of food much better in Aruba and the price for a nice dinner far more reasonable. But, of curse, everyone has different tastes, and I am sure it depends upon what you like to eat.

And, yes, Greg, we'll overlap most of the week and hopefully we can meet as we enjoy relaxing on the beach!

 

[JeffW]

Being our first time to Aruba, I'm in general agreement with flyboy0681.

The beaches (well, definitely the beach in front of our resort) was immaculate. The water color was even more vidid than what shows in pictures (and was probably about 84 degrees).

Food prices (not sure if we are talking grocery store or restaurant), I didn't consider to the that excessive. Many restaurants had early birds or other other priced fixed offers. A few places around us had breakfast buffets for around $10 (not Vegas quality, mind you). One restaurant you could get one egg for $3. I think my wife ended up getting 3 eggs, bacon, toast, drink for $7 (I got French Toast for $5). We were to a few nice restaurants (on the beach), total for 2 was about $70 each. Given the location, I wouldn't consider that outrageous.

Ice cream (grocery store) was about $7/half gallon, and fresh (cold) milk (fron Miami) was maybe $5 for a half/gallon. We bought snacks & cereal in the markets (dinner we ate out; lunch was leftovers). Unlike Hawaii, no Costco in Aruba, so you're not going to get the savings that offers.

Foreign-country wise, Aruba was amazingly simple:
- I think everything (at least important) was in English
- there was no one we met who couldn't speak English
- you drive on the right sight of the road
- they take US currency (in fact, I think all but once place we used credit cards at processed it in dollars, since I didn't see any foreign currency fees)
- my AT&T RAZR V3 (ie. not new, not smart) automatically roamed to the Aruba national carrier (SETAR)

Other than metric speeds and measurements, really a pretty easy to get around in.

Jeff

 

[californiagirl]

We are home and unpacked. Loved your picture Jeff. Flyboy we are going to have to agree to disagree about the comparison to Hawaii. I agree with the lush mountains of Hawaii etc, but there were parts of Aruba where the grass was tall and the humidity was high that reminded me of Maui near the sugar cane fields. We go to Hawaii at least once, sometimes twice a year. I was expecting it to feel more like Cabo San Lucas, but it didn't. We found the food in Ling and Sons about the same as grocery stores in St. Thomas and slightly higher than Hawaii. (Not including Costco in Hawaii of course.) I really liked the dutch food choices in the stores. At first the produce and meat prices seemed astronomically high until we realized it was per kg not per lb.

Everyone took dollars, but it was about 50% whether or not we got dollars in return change. We didn't mind getting florins as we used them up while we were there.

I forgot to mention. It was fun being in Aruba when Queen Beatrix and her son and daughter-in-law were visiting. We were relaxing on Eagle beach when the Dutch 747 carrying the queen was coming in for landing. (Who knew a 747 could land at that airport!) I got a picture of it. Also, there were banners on posts on some of the round-abouts and streets downtown. The papers gave a detailed account of the visit.

 

[JeffW]

I'd like to see that picture. We were on the way to the airport when we were leaving, traffic stopped for a while, as a whole bunch of police vehicles with lights passed the other way. Then at the airport we heard a marching band play. I asked the car rental agent while I was settling up about the queen coming, she said it was just practice for her real arrival the following week!

I forgot to add in my previous post: regarding the comparison to Hawaii, for me, no way. When I'm in Hawaii, I really feel like I'm someplace different. I don't know if it's the scenery, maybe it's the Hawaiian music you hear, or people dressed in Hawaiian clothes. In Aruba, do they have a natiional identity? Is it Carribbean? Dutch? I don't know. Pretty much all the media (radio, tv, newspapers) was basically American oriented.

All of these impressions is from someone who didn't just come in on cruise ship, wasn't stuck in the high rise section, and wasn't in an all-inclusive. We were all over the island. Heck our first night was at the street fair in San Nicholas (which I learned later was the area they have legalized prostitution).

Was the island nice, definitely. Did I sense it had a particular feel or identity to it? I don't think so. If I wanted to 'getaway', I'd still pick Hawaii first, probably Key West second.

Jeff

 

[flyboy0681]

I forgot to add in my previous post: regarding the comparison to Hawaii, for me, no way. When I'm in Hawaii, I really feel like I'm someplace different. I don't know if it's the scenery, maybe it's the Hawaiian music you hear, or people dressed in Hawaiian clothes. In Aruba, do they have a natiional identity? Is it Carribbean? Dutch? I don't know. Pretty much all the media (radio, tv, newspapers) was basically American oriented.

I've been vindicated!