Exchanged into Aruba Surf Club

[hotcoffee]

This is primarily directed toward Aruba Surf Club owners. I had a pending exchange of my 2BR KBC unit for 2009 in for several Caribbean locations including Aruba. Not too surprisingly, I apparently am getting confirmed into the Surf Club. I say "apparently" because I still do not have an e-mail confirmation, but the II rep told me verbally. Aruba was not my preferred location, but I suspect it is fairly easy to exchange into it during the summer months given its size. (Note: we'll be going there the 4th of July weekend.) Resort reviews written by guests are useful, but sometimes can be misleading. After reading some of the Surf Club reviews on TUG and other places on the Internet, I am prompted to ask some actual owners who have stayed there their opinion on a few of the complaints I've read.

1. The Surf Club facilities are supposedly very overcrowded, and some guests have apparently assumed that they could walk next door to use Ocean Club facilities (given that they are both Marriott resorts). However, they complained about being turned away by Ocean Club security even though the Ocean Club facilities looked to be underutilized. Along this same line, some have noted that the resort does not enforce its own 2-hour rule on reserving the lounges around the pool and those little beach huts, and if you don't throw your towels on one by 9:00 AM, you are not going to get one for the remainder of the day.
2. I've seen a few complaints about the beach and water adjacent to the Surf Club not being as nice as the rest of Palm Beach. Supposedly, the sand is not as soft, the water cloudier, and the bottom "slippery" rather than sandy in the area where the Surf Club is located.
3. There were also a few people who complained about the wind in the pool area due a so-called "wind tunnel" effect of the buildings.

Regardless of whether the exchange was a good one for me or not, I've never been to Aruba, so, it was an acceptable one. Anyone have any comments on the issues above? Are you happy with your timeshare there? Thanks.

 

[jackie]

I love Aruba. We were there last summer at the Ocean Club. I will
be going to the Surf Club in four weeks. I will let you know. In June my
husband and I went to Marriott St. Kitts. I loved Aruba more. In April
My family went to Kauai, we loved it, I loved Aruba more. I will email you
about the Surf Club. I alot of times read the reviews and can't understand
the bad review. The Surf Club is large and should be fine.

 

[m61376]

Let me preface this by saying I am partial to Aruba. In fact, my family prefers it over Hawaii, although I am a bit torn on that one.

Lots have been posted here and elsewhere, with both positive and negative comments. Marriott bashing seems to be a fun sport amongst a lot of Aruba lovers in fact. That said, let me try to address some of your concerns:

The SC is a large resort. The pool facilities are, IMHO, much nicer than the OC's (although others prefer the quieter atmosphere). It is bigger, so there are more people. Unfortunately, like every other resort I've been to, chair hogging prevails. We go during peak season and I've gotten a palapa every day, some by advance reservation and some by going down early in the morning. If you prefer to sit by the pool you'll also need to go down early but if you are at the beach in the morning until early afternoon, by mid-afternoon there are plenty of free lounges by the pool. They've also added a lot of bimini chaises for shade both at the pool and the beach, and I found those avialble until mid-morning (10:30-11).

The two resorts are supposedly enforcing the no-crossover rule. Sharing became a real problem because more OC owners wanted to use the SC Lazy River than vice-versa, although there are SC owners who prefer the OC pool.

The earlier posts about the beach condition were largely due to the movement of the fishing piers and has been resolving with time. The OC and the SC basically share adjacent waterfront. There are more palapas per keyed room at the OC than at the SC, largely due to limitations imposed by the government precluding the SC from erecting any palapas that would impede villa views (which was done at the OC property).

The wind tunnel does exist in a small area of the pool and I know they have been trying to resolve it. Their first landscaping attempt didn't work, but the likelihood is they will figure it out over the next year (hopefully). At any extent, it is not a big deal. The wind on the island is why my family prefers Aruba because the heat doesn't feel as intensive as in Hawaii. You can lie out all day and not be dying to shower.

Restaurants are fantastic and I am sure you will love the trip.

 

[mlfrancis]

we love the ASC too!

We've been to the Surf Club every year since 2004 and always hate to leave. We purchased at the Surf Club sight-unseen, having never been to Aruba but figured it would be a good trade if we didn't like it.

Well ... we've never traded, altho we are next year - did a direct exchange with another TUGger for a second week at Waiohai for my husband's "big" birthday. Now we're trying to figure out how to trade for a week so we can go to Aruba later in the year.

We've seen many changes at the ASC, with all of the building and the moving of the fishing pier. The beach is lovely and there are enough palapas and biminis for everyone - you should be able to get a palapa if you go early enough in the morning. Or ... if you want to sleep late, you can reserve one for 3 days at a time for $15/day (first 2 rows) or $10/day (remainder of the beach). We tend to sit at the end of the beach next to the Ocean Club - it's not as crowded, particuarly as the AOC guests don't take their palapas on that end. Plus, it's a shorter walk to the restrooms at the AOC than those at the ASC. You used to be able to use the pools at the AOC but they've changed that ... primarily because we ASC owners weren't happy that the AOC guests were using the lazy river and not leaving enough room for us.

We spend time at the pool later in the day and you can usually find a chair at that time. The lazy river does tend to get crowded with kids, but they're trying to restrict the size of the floats being used - not supposed to be over 3 feet (they weren't enforcing it when we were there in early June, probably because it wasn't very crowded).

The restaurants on Aruba are phenomenal - all varieties, all prices. Don't miss Madame Janette - the best on the island; also Papiemento, Flying Fishbone, Fishes and More, Iguana Joe's, Promenade, Texas de Brazil, El Gaucho, etc - depending on what type of food you like, you can't go wrong. Go to www.restaurantsaruba.com for reviews of all the restaurants.

I agree with the previous responder about the wind - it's a nice breeze and you don't really feel the heat. The ocean floor in front of the ASC has settled down since the move of the pier - it used to be very mucky but we found it to be solid and not rocky.

And the rooms ... one of the largest we've stayed at with nearly every room having some sort of ocean view - we usually stay in building B with a pool view, but our balcony looks right out to the ocean.

Don't worry about the negative comments ... I find that some people will complain about anything. Go and have a great time ... believe me, you will!

 

[m61376]

Oh- one more thing- during busier weeks the restaurants tend to book up, so for Madame Janette and a few others you might want to make reservations in advance, either online or through the concierge at the SC. I don't know if it is necessary during the summer months, but I know over the winter months you need to make reservations a few weeks ahead of time.

 

[rosepointe]

I concur with the previous 2 posts. My husband and I travel alot for pleasure. We like most places we go for different reasons. I said I would never own a TS. We have gone to Aruba for the past 9 years at stayed at the Hyatt or the Raddison the 2 premier properties (until recently). We ended up buying resale at the Surf Club several years ago thinking it would be a great place for our adult children and their children (which were not born at the time). We also said we would then stay in the hotel for another week which we did last year. This year we booked 2 weeks at the Surf Club. We leave Sunday.

Many people are used to Aruba being a very spacious Beach Island which has changed with alot of the development. I was very concerned when we left last year about the chairs, the palapas and the beach. We were there in June got chairs in the morning about 9-10 by the pool and paid to rent a Palapa in the afternoon. I too am concerned about what I am reading again this year and hope it is not a problem. If chairs are empty for hours I might contact managment about enforcing the rule.

The OC is a smaller more intimate and a quieter resort. They have great shops and a good feeling but it does not have as nice of a room as the Surf does and it does not have the LR. Each has its own charm and they are hard to compare.

The Boards decided to make a change in the pool situation and they are monitoring things. The Surf is still a new place and is working out the details.

I laugh sometimes when others complain about the beach being too crowded. If you spend time on the French Rivera or on an Israeli beach one would see how much actual space there is on an Aruban beach even at the Surf Club which has a very wide beach now.

The ocean still needs to settle. There was a great deal of movement the past 2 years and in time I think the ocean bottom will be as good as everywhere else. I bring water shoes but walk into the Surf side and towards the Marriott property.

Hope this has been useful. I think we all need to step back sometimes and not be so critical.

Sue

 

[hotcoffee]

Thanks for all of the replies. We will be leaving for our trip to the KBC in a little over a week, and my two teenage girls are pretty excited by that huge pool there. They are away at summer camp now and don't yet know about our 2009 exchange into Aruba, but I think they will probably get excited when they see the Lazy River at the Surf Club.

I'm glad to hear that the issues with the sand in front of the Surf Club are improving. I've heard many good things about Palm Beach, and it would have been a little disappointing to have to walk a-ways down the beach to get to better sand. Does the sand there get extremely hot about midday? I know that the coral sand (like Poipu Beach) stays cool all day long. I've heard some of the Caribbean beaches have the coral sand, but I cannot remember ever reading anything in particular about the sand on the beaches in Aruba.

 

[IngridN]

I laugh sometimes when others complain about the beach being too crowded. If you spend time on the French Rivera or on an Israeli beach one would see how much actual space there is on an Aruban beach even at the Surf Club which has a very wide beach now.


Sue

Sue, I agree with you 100%. The same thought comes to mind...these folks have NOT seen a crowded beach !

Ingrid

 

[judys19058]

Yes, the sand is coral and stays comfortable to your feet.
We have been to both the Ocean Club and the Surf Club, and agree that each has pros and cons. Because of my work schedule, we visit Aruba in the summer months or the fall. We have never had trouble getting palapas without reservations because there seem to always be some available in the 3rd and 4th rows back. As for restaurants, there are too many excellent once to start listing them here. We have never had reservations more that two days in advance. Flying Fishbone is the one you must plan for if you want to sit on the sand for sunset. Your family will enjoy the trip.

 

[McFail]

Quieter is the best way to describe the difference between the OC to the SC. There is more elbow room at the pool and at the beach.

Having the SC more crowded (to some) or lively (to others) is where the balance lays. I would say kids probably would like the action at the SC more than appreciating the more relaxed OC experience.