Living thru Hell Week Aruba right now

[ilene13]

Laura, I agree with you. That being said instead of everyone always talking about one specific time and group we should look at it as an inherent problem with the management at the SC and OC. As I said in post 125 there was a group from the Tri-state area that were horrible on the beach. Many owners complained to the management. Nothing was done. For the first time since we bought our villas 14 years ago, our afternoons were not peaceful and relaxing. The response we got from the management was that they were owners too. The people who have been discussed in this thread are also owners that is why Marriott still allows them to come.


Many years ago when we were staying at the Hyatt (pre OC), a guest threw his drink on a waitress at the pool because it was not made correctly. She did not make it. The Hyatt management gave her paid time off until that guest went home. The guest was told he and his family could not return to that Hyatt. But remember he is not an owner.


One note on Cancun. We own timeshares there also, and I have spent spring break there the last 25 years. Spring breakers are not allowed on our property unless they are with their parents and the management and security guards make sure there is no nonsense and inappropriate behaviors.


Finally the special assessment that was paid by OC owners was because of structural issues, not caused by guests. It was not for furniture etc. Marriott did not do their due diligence when they purchased the partially built structure and it came back to bite us all.

 

[bazzap]

Having tracked the posts in this thread, and as someone who has not stayed at the Aruba resorts but would like to do so, I would offer a few comments:
I am pleased the thread is being kept open, as I believe it is both important for people planning to visit to be aware of the problems and also for pressure to continue to be put on Marriott Vacation Club to take effective action to stop all unruly and anti social behaviour that spoils the enjoyment for all those seeking to enjoy a "normal" relaxing vacation.
It is disappointing that the extreme views expressed by some (at both ends of the spectrum) risk damaging what should be a very important discussion.
I do thank the Moderators for trying very hard to keep this under some sort of control.

 

[chris5]

[Partially deleted - don't want to encourage a banned topic in this already-difficult thread.]

… Just close the darn thread and stop letting folks open a thread that draws hateful speech toward a minority group already. Or, should we start a thread about traveling to SF DURING GAY PRIDE WEEK???

Well, in case you don't realize it we already include Black Biker Week in Myrtle Beach as a place to avoid during Memorial Day weekend in the Event Sticky, along with some other weeks. I guess Black Bikers aren't at OceanWatch exhibiting rude and offensive behavior or damaging property. I can assure you, as history as my witness, that if that occurred we'd have threads here about that too. Same thing would likely occur if a LBGT group hi-jacked a resort and had their children running amok, exhibited bad behavior, or damaged property, or received special considerations from Marriott.

Enough already, you say. I agree. This thread had little legs left a few posts ago. I thought it was dying on its own accord until some folks, who appear to have a common religious bond with the patently offensive and rude timeshare owners at Marriott -- kept it alive. It's understandable that those who might have a common religious bond with this group might find it necessary to set the record straight about religious practices that might explain some of the behavior.

But I think the overly defensive position that many in this thread have taken, including your own rants, has increased the longevity of this thread which you wish to shut down. I kept coming back to this thread because of posts like yours! If you stop posting so will I. Stop posting.

 

[topmom101]

Laura, I am one of the earlier posters in this thread and have read every single post since page 1 and, honestly, I haven't read one single post from anyone that was "Jew" bashing. In fact, yours is the only one where that word appears (well, maybe 2). Additionally, I have not seen any references of hatred aimed at the Jewish community at large, on the contrary, everyone here has gone above and beyond in making sure our comments and opinions applied specifically and singularly to this group of people responsible for ruining people's
vacations.

I have been a TUG member for roughly 1 year and this is NEWS to me. I own Time shares in Aruba and, in fact, stay at the Surf Club, although not in January, therefore this information was invaluable to me.

One thing I don't understand from you post and the few others that echo your sentiments, is why do you feel this group should be protected which is exactly what would be happening if we weren't allowed to openly discuss it?

Clearly, they are not a secret group..... they have a website where they advertise their yearly trip to the Surf Club. They don't care who they offend. They think they are above the law and that rules do not apply to them. That's plain wrong and should not be tolerated. Just because you don't want to talk about it doesn't mean it's not happening.

You know the phrase "you reap what you sow"? Laura, this group is giving [themselves] a bad rep and THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT it's causing. So, I'd say, talk about it... everywhere, expose them, and apply enough pressure so they will be banned from the Surf Club.

 

[Ridewithme38]

So far the offenses in this thread are playing catch in the the pool, jumping in the lazy river, horseplay around the hottubs, how dare children act that way!! For shame! Children should know not to have fun on vacation! We should report all of this to Marriott immediately!

When looking at that, you don't think we are being a bit over critical of this group? I mostly stay at kidcentric resorts during school breaks(Hershey, massanutten, SBP, smuggs, etc.)but, I don't think I've stayed at a resort where those things haven't happen.

 

[topmom101]

Ride, are we reading the same thread????? I think it's a tiny bit more than that.

 

[SueDonJ]

So far the offenses in this thread are playing catch in the the pool, jumping in the lazy river, horseplay around the hottubs, how dare children act that way!! For shame! Children should know not to have fun on vacation! We should report all of this to Marriott immediately!

When looking at that, you don't think we are being a bit over critical of this group? I mostly stay at kidcentric resorts(Hershey, massanutten, SBP, smuggs, etc.)but, I don't think I've stayed at a resort where those things haven't happen.

You seem to be conveniently glossing over TUGger jimf's eyewitness reports of false fire alarms, etc. This thread, all these threads, paint a picture of much more than poor behavior by children. I understand why it serves your purpose to severely minimize the overall problem to just the children's poor behavior, but that's not the entire picture. I'm pretty sure that we have NEVER stayed at a resort which is as negatively affected by preventable entitlement issues, and like you we've seen children act like children everywhere.

 

[WFP]

We have not been to SC or OC so have no first hand knowledge. However, this thread has provided valuable information should we plan to go. In all likelihood, we would have just booked our vacation w/o researching the club for dates to avoid because we have an expectation that marriott sells a certain product with specific attributes. for some specific things should we be there when this type pof thing happens:

IF, a group has found a way to reserve every chair/cabana/towel/pool by working within/near the rules then we really have no recourse, they are owners. It would be up to Marriott to decide if we should be comped because of our inability to use the resource but I would not expect them to do that.

IF a group has children running all over the place unsupervised loudly screaming then we really have no recourse, they are owners. We have to put up with the irritation. We would NEVER drag a child to their parent for douing this.

If a public bathroom or facility is left a mess by this group, we will mention it to Marriott and they will clean up the issue but we will still have been impacted. However, they are owners and there really is no recourse.

All of the above would truly make the vacation unpleasant but that does not mean the group is not within their own ownership / occupancy priveledges.

On the other hand,
If a member of the group verbally (i.e. Telling us to leave a facility) or physically (i.e. Splashing water or hitting with a football or frisbee etc.) abuses us in some way, then they have crossed a line and we would expect Marriott to do something about it.

If a member of a group moves our property from a beach/pool chair, again that would be unacceptable and we would expect Marriott to do something about it.

We do feel it is OUR responsibility to go to the groups organizer's to stop any of the above behavior. We feel it is Marriott's responsibility and that is where we will go.

/WFP

 

[Ridewithme38]

I'm starting to think this is the problem. I'm going to use an example to help clarify what i am starting to believe. I'm also going to be careful with how i say it.

I have always avoided or used pepper sparingly in my dishes. Because of this pepper has become 'strange' to my tastebuds, while a normal amount may seem fine to others, they may not even notice it, to me any little bit of pepper is under a microscope and jumps out immediately to me.

I think that is what we are doing here, taking normal kid behavior and putting it under a microscope. I'm not going to pass judgement on WHY we are doing this, but it is starting to appear to me, this IS what we are doing.

 

[DeniseM]

Remember that you are debating with Ride, who automatically takes the least popular position in any thread to stir folks up. He doesn't really care - he just likes to play the Troll...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[m61376]

A bit off topic perhaps- but I think Sue, Denise and any of the other moderators who have actively watched this thread and promptly removed any anti-Semitic comments or innuendoes deserve a big thank-you.

Just because Topmom101 and others have posted that there haven't seen any such comments doesn't mean there haven't been; I know I read at least one flip remark. While previous years I have oftentimes found this thread to be offensive, either the moderators are doing a better job this year and/or posters have become more enlightened.

The behaviors described have exceeded "kids being kids" norms and I find it shocking that Marriott has not done anything definitive about it. Whether or not it is true I don't know, but I was told by someone who supposedly knew the situation well that Marriott officials did try to intervene a few years back, meeting with the group's representatives prior to their vacation, and that for the past few years things were busy but not out of control (as related by multiple week owners who have been there year after year during the timeframe in question).

If what I've heard in the past is true, and if things have deteriorated, it might be that memories are short and that, with enough pressure, Marriott will again intervene and meet with the parties in question.

As evidenced by even posters on this thread, we all have our own perceptions of proper parenting. While I never would allow my own children growing up to run around a resort without a watchful eye when they were little, evidently others feel it is alright. Unfortunately, human nature is such that when you have a group of unsupervised friends they tend to push the bar, so to speak, and their behavior is likely to be annoying at best to others, and at worst have disastrous consequences.

Perhaps an email with a link to this thread to the powers that be at Marriott might be of some benefit. It might be an eye-opener as to the negative publicity that this generates. I actually just checked, and only 4 of the arrival dates for January have been booked for Plat. season at the SC, at least for OS rooms which I can check on-line. I can say I haven't seen this type of availability weeks after reservations were open in the past; I have no idea if this is at all related to a decreased demand for January related to the issues discussed herein, but I do find it interesting.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Reading Post #60 on the "Marriott's Refinery New York City" thread and that particular post should leave no doubt that Marriott closely follows all these threads on the TUG Marriott Board.

With that said, I am confident that Marriott is very much aware of the Aruba situation and chooses to deal with it as they have been (i.e. not doing much).

Why they elect that route and not permanently solve this problem may be the real debatable issue…...





.

 

[skyequeen]

After reading posts for days, as an owner at Surf Club I've decided to add my comments. First, at check in you get tags for your chairs. If someone removed my tags, I would get Security. Second, we line up for beach palapas. You can't get more than one per person and the line starts early. Someone tried paying others to do it. No one bit. Third, when we were at SC last time, half way through was a school holiday. All of a sudden adolescents and teenagers, not just small children were in the lazy river. And they were jumping on and diving off each other and scaring me. Also saw young children bullying others during play. And, a young woman in a thong suit with naked buttocks I hated children seeing. No particular groups. I have skeletal injuries and can't afford being knocked about. I stayed away from rougher kids and occasionally got out of the pool. I will avoid school breaks until such time I'm a grandmother. Then I'll have to cope. I avoid NY Regents exam week thanks to TUG. Fourth, I've found Marriott management very anxious to make amends for any problems we ever have. But you have to give them good information to work with.

 

[amanda14]

While I would not return to Aruba (been 2x- just not a fan) I do find this thread incredibly helpful, inciteful and at times humorous. As an owner, I feel that this discussion and those like it are important for a milieu of reasons. I have no skin in this and could care less what group it is being referenced, but I like knowing that behaviors at an entity where I own (Marriott Owner) are being discussed good, bad or otherwise. It could make positive changes because of intelligent discussions, because we all want the same thing. Great vacations for our families in a safe and clean environment. Because of the education I have gained from this thread, I know to not to come to Aruba during January, should I choose to return there.

Thanks.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The thong comment has me chuckling. While I do not disagree I have seen at least one thong with visibly naked cheeks every time I have been to Aquatica in Orlando and I have been there alot since I live here. The bare cheeks can be male or female but it is a common occurrence.

 

[LDT]

I have not posted for a few days because I was trying to find notes that I had written down three years ago. Marriott was advertising the Encore package at the SC for a good price so the wife and I decided to check it out as we wanted to bring more people the following year. After experiencing this group a few years before, I decided to ask the young lady helping us if she knew when they would be back so we could avoid them in the future. She told us it would either be week three or four, which we all knew. She then went in to what happens. She had first hand knowledge of the following:

The vast majority of the group is from Boro Park in Brooklyn.

The kids are told by the parents to be pest. Besides acting up at the pool and beach area they constantly run up and down the hallways at night knocking on peoples doors and running off.

There are days that they will not use the bathroom in their unit. They use the public ones but don't flush.

When it is time to check out of their room they don't. They won't answer the phone or the door. So they are charged an extra days rent. No big deal to them as when they get home they dispute it and show the CC company a copy of the plane ticket. Charge is taken off every time. And this leads to the people checking in not being able to get in their rooms until well after 4:00.

She did say one lady from the group was banned from the property the year before. She slapped an employee.

Numerous room charges are disputed and never paid. (I would love to know how much is lost)

These are just the things that I wrote down when purchasing the Encore package. This information came from a Marriott employee.

 

[topmom101]

So the question remains, why in the world would Marriott allow such blatant abuse? The concensus here is because these people throw so much money around. But, do you really think that a corporation like Marriott needs their money so much so that they would risk tarnishing their reputation?

 

[EducatedConsumer]

I have not posted for a few days because I was trying to find notes that I had written down three years ago. Marriott was advertising the Encore package at the SC for a good price so the wife and I decided to check it out as we wanted to bring more people the following year. After experiencing this group a few years before, I decided to ask the young lady helping us if she knew when they would be back so we could avoid them in the future. She told us it would either be week three or four, which we all knew. She then went in to what happens. She had first hand knowledge of the following:

The vast majority of the group is from Boro Park in Brooklyn.

The kids are told by the parents to be pest. Besides acting up at the pool and beach area they constantly run up and down the hallways at night knocking on peoples doors and running off.

There are days that they will not use the bathroom in their unit. They use the public ones but don't flush.

When it is time to check out of their room they don't. They won't answer the phone or the door. So they are charged an extra days rent. No big deal to them as when they get home they dispute it and show the CC company a copy of the plane ticket. Charge is taken off every time. And this leads to the people checking in not being able to get in their rooms until well after 4:00.

She did say one lady from the group was banned from the property the year before. She slapped an employee.

Numerous room charges are disputed and never paid. (I would love to know how much is lost)

These are just the things that I wrote down when purchasing the Encore package. This information came from a Marriott employee.

Having witnessed this asylum, first hand, I can attest to the fact that what you were told is true and accurate.

The animals at the Bronx Zoo are on much better behavior than may members of the Hell Week in Aruba faction.

I maintain that Marriott dismisses all of this as the cost of doing business, and is fearful of the Anti Defamation League.

 

[laurac260]

[Deleted.]

Moderator Note: Laura, as previously posted, please take your concerns directly to TUGBrian. I don't believe that he, and we moderators, are allowing any of the type of behavior ("hate speech" or otherwise prejudicial) that you're repeatedly alleging, to stand.

 

[laurac260]

[Post under review.]

 

[Saintsfanfl]

[Deleted - this is not helpful.]

 

[ilene13]

So the question remains, why in the world would Marriott allow such blatant abuse? The concensus here is because these people throw so much money around. But, do you really think that a corporation like Marriott needs their money so much so that they would risk tarnishing their reputation?

When Corey Guest, ex GM of the OC, was asked about that he said it was because they are owners.

 

[laurac260]

[Post under review.]

 

[Chrispee]

Absolutely, i wouldn't hesitate!!! I would grab the kid by the arm and if he fought with me, he'd be dragged around by his neck instead of just by the arm. I'd expect ANYONE to do the same with my child(you touch my kid ANY other way then that and we will have issues)! There are many reasons to do this, you shame the kid and bring his actions out in the open for everyone around. You also are shaming his parents if they don't respond to it.

You would have (tried) to have me arrested? Are you kidding? This is a major problem with modern parenting. Sue(I don't think that post was by Don) what would YOUR parents have done if you acted that way? My parents weren't 'spankers' but if i was brought to them in this situation.....I wouldn't have done it again....Do you REALLY believe attempting to have an adult arrested is the BETTER response?

If it were brought to my attention that my child were disrespectful and behaving poorly, I would reprimand him and ensure that he would not continue the inappropriate behavior. I would also be fine with it if you would verbally tell my child that he/she was doing something unacceptable, although everybody has a different idea of what's acceptable.

However, it shocks me that you would condone any physical contact with another person's child. I have taught my child to resist and call for help if anybody grabs/touches him, and I would expect that he would do so in your hypothetical situation.

If I were to witness you doing what you suggest in your scenario to any child, and there were calling for help because a stranger was grabbing them, I would step in. If you were to put your hand around any child's neck, I think you would have many bystanders at the pool who would step in.

 

[pedro47]

Hell week in Aruba sound like Bike Week in MB. Just kidding Bike Week is all about money and big money and dollars for the state.