Living thru Hell Week Aruba right now

[Beaglemom3]

NEVER! My Yankees hat is a 'have to bring' item on any vacation!

Then I can no longer protect you. You'll be on your own in Bean Town. Nice knowing you. I am glad for the years we had together.

 

[Pat H]

I'm trying to get my house cleaned and my packing done; we're off to Barony tomorrow! It's going to feel like springtime there after these frigid temps in the Boston area. Can't wait.

I hope it gets warmer for you. Yesterday it didn't even get out of the 30's and they are calling for the possibility of that 4 letter word snow on Tuesday or Wednesday though I doubt you would get any on the island. This is my 4th winter here and it has been by far the coldest.

I would love to meet you. I have an extremely crazy week but Wed or Thurs might work.

 

[SpikeMauler]

NEVER! My Yankees hat is a 'have to bring' item on any vacation!

Then I can no longer protect you. You'll be on your own in Bean Town. Nice knowing you. I am glad for the years we had together.

I've only been to Boston once. Went there to catch a Yankee game at Fenway and stay the weekend. It was the first time the Yankees were in Boston after 9/11. It was also Patriots Day weekend so the City was very busy. There were about 10 of us, most of us were NYPD or FDNY. Some wore Yankees hats, some wore FDNY or NYPD hats. The locals treated us awesome. Every bar we were in people were buying us drinks(including the bartenders)and shaking our hands. We had a lot of conversations about 9/11 and the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Now being 2014 I'm not so sure how I'd be treated walking around Boston in a Yankees hat(especially after a Yankee win)....lol. That said, I'll never forget how well the people of Boston treated us that weekend.

 

[Beaglemom3]

I've only been to Boston once. Went there to catch a Yankee game at Fenway and stay the weekend. It was the first time the Yankees were in Boston after 9/11. It was also Patriots Day weekend so the City was very busy. There were about 10 of us, most of us were NYPD or FDNY. Some wore Yankees hats, some wore FDNY or NYPD hats. The locals treated us awesome. Every bar we were in people were buying us drinks(including the bartenders)and shaking our hands. We had a lot of conversations about 9/11 and the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Now being 2014 I'm not so sure how I'd be treated walking around Boston in a Yankees hat(especially after a Yankee win)....lol. That said, I'll never forget how well the people of Boston treated us that weekend.

Friend, you deserve to be treated well no matter where you go and I hope it will be the same when you return here.

 

[m61376]

It would be interesting to put together a list of the offending behavior so we can go through it and see what is religious tradition or kids being kids vs what is actually dangerous and wrong.

The only things, which some have taken umbrage about, that Marriott has agreed to in order to accommodate the group's religious observances are providing an elevator attendant (or having what is referred to as a "Sabbath elevator," which is an elevator that stops at every floor from Friday sunset to Saturday night in lieu of having an attendant), having pre-ripped sheets of toilet paper or bathroom tissues, and providing kosher catering facilities.

While many of the other things can be categorized as "kids being kids," many things reported are, at the very least rude and inconsiderate, and others, such as jumping from the rocks into the Lazy River, potentially dangerous to both themselves and to others.

While I certainly appreciate the oftentimes daunting task of moderating these forums, as others have pointed out these threads have been fraught with both pointed and insinuated anti-Semitic commentary over the years. While discussing the offensive behavior is germane, sarcastic references to garb, dietary tastes, etc., which have pervaded these threads can be very offensive to members of the larger religious community who would never consider participating in any of the other offensive behaviors. While I appreciate that this year such references have been minimized, there was at least one such offensive comment referring to religious garb and I appreciate the moderator's efforts at quickly removing it (so quickly that I'm assuming Brian didn't even notice it).

 

[SpikeMauler]

Friend, you deserve to be treated well no matter where you go and I hope it will be the same when you return here.

Thanks Beaglemom3. I'll get back there someday.

 

[Ridewithme38]

You know, there are soo many Long Island members here....We've got to have a meet or something one day, maybe at gurney's or the Montauk Manor. I wonder what the other Vacationers would think if WE showed up a few hundred strong?

 

[EducatedConsumer]

Hey... I live in two of those area codes. I've very offended by your comments :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

All kidding aside, I'm just very grateful that I now know about hell week. I'm wondering if there are any other areas/resorts to avoid during "special" weeks?

I was in Anaheim last summer for a conference at the same time as VidCon http://vidcon.com/ and it was not a good experience. About 10,000 kids from the ages of 10 - 18 in the same hotel. I ended up getting 1/2 my stay comped and the manager let me use the service elevators for the week. It was a crazy week.

Thanks for picking up on my oversight. I meant to say 516 instead of 561, but you and I both know that 3/4 of the 561 area code comes from 718-516-212-914 and 201. Related, on landing of a jetBlue flight from JFK to Fort Lauderdale, the flight attendant welcomed us to "New York City's sixth borough."

 

[billymach4]

Thanks for picking up on my oversight. I meant to say 516 instead of 561, but you and I both know that 3/4 of the 561 area code comes from 718-516-212-914 and 201. Related, on landing of a jetBlue flight from JFK to Fort Lauderdale, the flight attendant welcomed us to "New York City's sixth borough."

And when you fly into JFK you are welcomed to JAMAICA......

Jamaica, NY...

Van Wyck and JFK Expressway
Jamaica, NY 11430

 

[billymach4]

Great sleuthing, Billy.

First, I wouldn't tell anyone I was "representing TUG" unless Brian gave his consent - not for any discussion including this one.

Second, I've been interested in this topic since the very first time I read about it here - even knowing that with human nature being what it is, probably some of what's been reported over the years has been embellished. But I've never had any doubt that enough owners/guests onsite in Aruba have had their vacations negatively affected by what happens there, and that Marriott owes something (at the very least, an acknowledgement that there's a problem) to those owners/guests.

My opinion is that speaking with the group leaders shouldn't be done by anyone except whichever Marriott officials are responsible for contracting with them, and maybe anybody who is personally connected with the group and concerned enough to approach them. Anyone who hasn't been an eyewitness isn't credible enough, I don't think, to put her/himself in the type of position you're talking about.

So I guess what I'm saying is, TUG doesn't have the right or the responsibility to act as a liaison, not unless Brian wants to take up that umbrella himself. What TUG can do, and I think has done very well, is educate anyone who comes looking for info. If anyone from the group wants to use TUG contact info to ask my opinion further I'll be happy to share it, but the chance of that happening is zero - they don't owe me the time of day. Same thing for any Marriott eyes watching this - I'd be very happy to put together a history of links from over the years but pretty sure they're not going to ask. Besides, I'd bet the farm that they've already collected them.

It is with reasonable certainty to conclude that a large group affiliated with a Synagogue located in Brooklyn, NY is rude, and disruptive during the 3rd, and 4th week of January at the Marriott Complex located in Palm Beach. For all of the details refer to post 199 in this thread. There is a URL that lists activities, along with a phone number and name that is directly tied to the Rabbi, and the Synagogue. I am not painting a broad brush here due to the Religious beliefs, or the the entire Religion. Over the years so much has been speculated about this group, and I too have interested in this topic since I am an owner and it affects my wallet if the property I pay to maintain is repeated abused year after year!

With regards to the other owners and guests that have to endure the emotional distress of a lousy time while on vacation I would finally say ....

Share the information on

1) Trip Advisor, The other Aruba forums, Flyertalk , FB, twitter, or whatever social media you prefer. Just stick to the facts, and emphasize that you have nothing against their personal beliefs. It is just the abusive behavior that is offensive.

When this group realizes that they are being noticed by the Social Media community they may begin to modify there actions while in Aruba.

2) Write / Call / Complain to Marriott as well!

3 Sue you may want to include the findings in post 199 in your sticky.

 

[EducatedConsumer]

It is with reasonable certainty to conclude that a large group affiliated with a Synagogue located in Brooklyn, NY is rude, and disruptive during the 3rd, and 4th week of January at the Marriott Complex located in Palm Beach. For all of the details refer to post 199 in this thread. There is a URL that lists activities, along with a phone number and name that is directly tied to the Rabbi, and the Synagogue. I am not painting a broad brush here due to the Religious beliefs, or the the entire Religion. Over the years so much has been speculated about this group, and I too have interested in this topic since I am an owner and it affects my wallet if the property I pay to maintain is repeated abused year after year!

With regards to the other owners and guests that have to endure the emotional distress of a lousy time while on vacation I would finally say ....

Share the information on

1) Trip Advisor, The other Aruba forums, Flyertalk , FB, twitter, or whatever social media you prefer. Just stick to the facts, and emphasize that you have nothing against their personal beliefs. It is just the abusive behavior that is offensive.

When this group realizes that they are being noticed by the Social Media community they may begin to modify there actions while in Aruba.

2) Write / Call / Complain to Marriott as well!

3 Sue you may want to include the findings in post 199 in your sticky.

As evidenced by the annual behavior of this group, I don't think they give a dam what anyone else thinks. So, say what you want on social media, but I'm afraid that they really don't give a dam. And I think that Marriott is so frightened of this group, and the Anti Defamation League, that Marriott does not have the guts to pull the reigns in and stop these people from destroying other people's vacations and the resort. The one thing that social media would do, is put some pressure on Marriott and the HOA, but I really do believe that Marriott is of the mindset that like Spring Break in Cancun, or like herpes, this group is going to appear and disappear annually, and the evil that they cause is simply the cost of doing business. I'd like to see J.W. Marriott, Jr. and his family, including children and great grand children take up residence at Ocean Club or Surf Club during the Week from Hell, and I'd like to see what he does about it.

 

[EducatedConsumer]

One of my favorite consumer advocacy moves of all times was when the passenger stranded on a Northwest Airlines aircraft in a snowstorm at MSP, called the CEO of Northwest Airlines at his home to tell him that he was being held hostage on one of his jets. Similarly, I'd be checking public records for the home addresses and phone numbers (in the Orlando area) of Steve Weisz, R. Lee Cunningham, Clifford Delorey, Marylynn Clark, and Brian Miller, and I'd contact them at their homes to ask for their assistance controlling the chaos at the Aruba resorts for which they have responsibility. Maybe this will change their "cost of doing business" attitudes about the Week from Hell in Aruba.

 

[billymach4]

One of my favorite consumer advocacy moves of all times was when the passenger stranded on a Northwest Airlines aircraft in a snowstorm called the CEO of Northwest Airlines at his home to tell him that he was being held hostage on one of his jets. Similarly, I'd be checking public records for the home addresses and phone numbers (in the Orlando area) of Steve Weisz, Lee Cunningham, Marylynn Clark, and Brian Miller, and I'd contact them at their homes to ask for their assistance controlling the chaos at the Aruba resorts for which they have responsibility. Maybe this will change their "cost of doing business" attitudes about the Week from Hell in Aruba.

Oh absolutely. All you need to do is perform a quick search. You would be surprised at what you will find in the public records.

Not sure if any of the above individuals you mention above are on the HOA board. But a few calls to the back office will easily get you the phone numbers to the HOA board members.

 

[HatTrick]

the Anti Deformation League

They promote good prenatal care, do they?

 

[Ridewithme38]

Here's another way to think about it. What ever is damaged or broken by this group is replaced by a bond they put up front. This means that some of the items that would have hit 'end of life' and need to be replaced by your maintenance fees are now being replaced by their bond.

Their bad behavior is actually helping you keep MF's low and/or avoid a special assessment.

 

[sea&ski]

Repairs

I have been pondering an aspect of this thread for the last few days. I did find out early on, via an external website, that the group responsible for ruining peoples' vacations was also required to put up a bond. That's good, but also really sad that it must be this way. In no way can this bond replace a good vacation gone bad.

What I can't figure is how all the repairs are accomplished in the short turnover between occupants? The money may be there, but are the resources? I sure wouldn't book at the resort in the month following this abhorrent behavior.

Once we visited Mazatlan the week after easter festivities and endured trashed hotel lobbies, inoperative pools/spas and broken glass everywhere. I am sure it was weeks before everything was back to order.

 

[WFP]

We have read several times that this group has put up a Bond to cover the damage they may cause. To us, that is irrelevant. If we are in Aruba that week, and Excessive damage is done to something we wish to use, is that "Fair" to us? No. While damage can happen at any other time of year, and does, knowing that this group coming in has to have a Bond to cover the damage they casue does not mean all is OK.

As the saying goes, an ouncee of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case, it appears Marriott and this group are choosing the cure in the form a a Bond rather than preventing the damage in the first place with more responsible behavior.

/WFP

 

[EducatedConsumer]

They promote good prenatal care, do they?

Not from what I've seen.

 

[SueDonJ]

Here's another way to think about it. What ever is damaged or broken by this group is replaced by a bond they put up front. This means that some of the items that would have hit 'end of life' and need to be replaced by your maintenance fees are now being replaced by their bond.

Their bad behavior is actually helping you keep MF's low and/or avoid a special assessment.

It didn't help the Aruba Ocean Club owners a few years ago.

 

[m61376]

I have been pondering an aspect of this thread for the last few days. I did find out early on, via an external website, that the group responsible for ruining peoples' vacations was also required to put up a bond. That's good, but also really sad that it must be this way. In no way can this bond replace a good vacation gone bad.

What I can't figure is how all the repairs are accomplished in the short turnover between occupants? The money may be there, but are the resources? I sure wouldn't book at the resort in the month following this abhorrent behavior.

Once we visited Mazatlan the week after easter festivities and endured trashed hotel lobbies, inoperative pools/spas and broken glass everywhere. I am sure it was weeks before everything was back to order.

I don't know, but somehow they do. I've oftentimes been there a week or two after, and while the beach personnel are still reeling from the extra work, everything is in working order. The only thing I've noticed is that they're more appreciative of what I consider routine consideration- thinks like "thank you," etc. If you bring up the subject they'll tell you the prior week was difficult, busy, or hectic, or words to that effect.

 

[ilene13]

It didn't help the Aruba Ocean Club owners a few years ago.

We did not have a special assessment because of this group.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

We did not have a special assessment because of this group.

But you did have a special assessment. The group causing an assessment wasn't the discussion. That is why they are required to have a bond. It was speculated that repairs from the bond would pay for things that would need replacing anyway and decrease the chance of a special assessment. I wonder how much has really been paid from the bond though. I would bet not very much.

 

[SueDonJ]

We did not have a special assessment because of this group.

Of course not. But I was responding to the comment that this group's bond would prevent Special Assessments - that obviously didn't happen at the Ocean Club.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Of course not. But I was responding to the comment that this group's bond would prevent Special Assessments - that obviously didn't happen at the Ocean Club.

It may very well have been a contributing factor in reducing the special assessment. Obviously needed repairs like AC systems, Roofs, Boilers wouldn't be covered under the bond, but, having that bond could have helped with other items, TV's, Carpets, Couches.

My car is a 2001, it's not in the best shape right now, very soon i'm going to have to do some major repairs on it....If some idiot steals it(I don't lock the car doors, please steal it!) and it is recovered with burned out tires, that's one less repair i will have to do, it'll still need Brakes, Tune up, Wiper blades, etc., But i'll save money on the tires.

 

[Wally3433]

Until someone posts a video or photos I still think this is all a hoax.

I got into an argument over a parking space yesterday - there were three people video taping me and two others taking pictures of my license plate - one with a professional camera - and it was like 10 degrees outside.

This board and the Aruba-bb board scream bloody murder every year about Hell week, yet not a video exists. Not even a random picture. Just a bunch of embellished third hand BS.

I should just quit being frustrated and go down there next year and find out for myself.