Living thru Hell Week Aruba right now

[benyu2010]

The title indicates the behaviors of some owners or guests during specific timeframe at OC or SC dubbed 'HELL WEEK', not the group or person per se... It is not difficult to comprehend the whole thread with third language. Many participants in this thread are minority, particularly some of them are from same ethnicity. They may share same ethical or religious background, but apparently many dislike the discussed behaviors exhibited by any person anywhere.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Ahh, I'd make the intent Very clear! "Where are your parents, we need to talk to them RIGHT NOW!" as I grab the child's arm and bring them TOWARDS any crowd. If a child is going to demean me in public damn right there is going to be a scene and I hope everyone notices! If people step in after seeing the child acting that way towards an adult I'd expect applause. Grabbing by the back of the neck to better lead the child, your right, isn't ideal more a last resort, usually, you can get a good enough grip on an arm to lead someone. I'm not talking about hiting the kid, just firmly walking them over to their parents. Why is there anything wrong with that

What would you do? Stand with your mouth hanging open hoping someone else takes action? What does that teach this kid? It just reinforces the "what can he do" beliefs he has.

 

[NboroGirl]

I've read through every one of the almost 300 posts in this thread with interest. Although I do not have a dog in this fight, I do not understand where laurac260 is coming from. Are all the supposed hate posts being deleted? The only ones I see that have been removed are laurac260's.

 

[laurac260]

I've read through every one of the almost 300 posts in this thread with interest. Although I do not have a dog in this fight, I do not understand where laurac260 is coming from. Are all the supposed hate posts being deleted? The only ones I see that have been removed are laurac260's.

Everything has been deleted, including my comments that referring to a week where a large number of "religious, ethnic folks" congregate as "hell week", is in and of itself, hateful. This thread happens annually, sadly.

Google "hell week Aruba" and you will see that this term is used SPECIFICALLY about this particular ethnic, religious group" during this particular week in Aruba.

 

[Beaglemom3]

Ahh, I'd make the intent Very clear! "Where are your parents, we need to talk to them RIGHT NOW!" as I grab the child's arm and bring them TOWARDS any crowd. If a child is going to demean me in public damn right there is going to be a scene and I hope everyone notices! If people step in after seeing the child acting that way towards an adult I'd expect applause. Grabbing by the back of the neck to better lead the child, your right, isn't ideal more a last resort, usually, you can get a good enough grip on an arm to lead someone. I'm not talking about hiting the kid, just firmly walking them over to their parents. Why is there anything wrong with that

What would you do? Stand with your mouth hanging open hoping someone else takes action? What does that teach this kid? It just reinforces the "what can he do" beliefs he has.

This is what's wrong: Ride, I am hoping that this is just a fantasy of "what I would do if......" as we've all had them. If not, please brush up on assault, battery, minor, detention, State Dept., laws of the Netherlands & Aruba, criminal & civil charges. etc. Not to mention other adults coming at you regardless of what you're vocalizing. The fantasy of "righting a wrong" should remain just that.

Do not touch anyone, especially a child in that manner, ever, unless you are ready to suffer the consequences. Do not act on impulse as nothing will justify it. You're the adult and no matter how justified you think you are, you are not.


What you want to do and what you should do should never merge on this issue.

Late edit: I'm not bailing you out either. :




-

 

[Theousaf]

I don't have a dog in this fight either as I own Divi properties. I do however enjoy Moomba Beach, which is adjacent to the Marriott properties and I suspect impacted by this group. I just joined TUG today and was not aware of this issue. I don't care about the ethnicity of the group. Suffice to know that this area is to be avoided during this time frame.

 

[NboroGirl]

Everything has been deleted, including my comments that referring to a week where a large number of "religious, ethnic folks" congregate as "hell week", is in and of itself, hateful. This thread happens annually, sadly.

Google "hell week Aruba" and you will see that this term is used SPECIFICALLY about this particular ethnic, religious group" during this particular week in Aruba.

I've seen many of the threads that were deleted, and I HAVE googled "Hell Week" when this thread first started. You are wrong in saying that Hell Week is about a particular ethnic religious group. Hell Week is about bad behaviors exhibited by a group of people who visit the Marriott resorts in Aruba about the same time every year.

 

[Fasttr]

Everything has been deleted, including my comments that referring to a week where a large number of "religious, ethnic folks" congregate as "hell week", is in and of itself, hateful. This thread happens annually, sadly.

This is meant to be insightful, not inciteful (if that is even a word), but my interpretation of the OP's use of the term Hell Week in the thread title is not intended as a poke at the alleged abusers religous beliefs, but instead is intended to discribe the atmosphere at the resort, from the perspective of the other guests (the OP in the case of this posting title), who were living through it.

As an example, if I had a bad week at work, I could describe it as Hell Week, which in that use, at least for me, would have absolutely no religious significance.

 

[Fern Modena]

I have been trying to stay away from posting here, holding my nose, etc. BUT, some things...

This "young lady who was helping you," how did she have first hand knowledge (your words, not mine) of so many areas of the hotel/timeshare's workings? What was her job? How does she know the the kids were told by their parents to be pests? I'm sure you know how she knew this, since you bolded it. Since I, personally cannot imagine that, I'd like to know how she knew this, and how you did. Third hand information just isn't good enough for me.

I don't see how she would know if people who overstayed checkout time could successfully dispute the extra day charge and win by showing their airline ticket. In fact, I believe this to be either a myth or out and out lie. Just because they show a ticket for later the same day does not mean the hotel/timeshare was wrong in charging the extra day, and I am believe that the hotel/timeshare would not "let it slide." The airline ticket means nothing. The timeshare had to pay extra help or overtime to clean rooms for checkin if people were not out on time.

Fern

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.

 

[laurac260]

This is meant to be insightful, not inciteful (if that is even a word), but my interpretation of the OP's use of the term Hell Week in the thread title is not intended as a poke at the alleged abusers religous beliefs, but instead is intended to discribe the atmosphere at the resort, from the perspective of the other guests (the OP in the case of this posting title), who were living through it.

As an example, if I had a bad week at work, I could describe it as Hell Week, which in that use, at least for me, would have absolutely no religious significance.

No intention to hang the OP out to dry. But the term "hell week" IS regents week, when the ny Jewish schools are off and they come down to Aruba for vacation. So yes, it is referring to this group, because every other non homeschooled kid is IN SCHOOL that week. If the behavior is as folks say it is, that is sad. It is also sad that we still call it hell week, knowing full well (as tug history shows) what this week is referring to. Can't it just be called "regents week Aruba"? Or Aruba week 3 (or 4 this yr). Or better yet, stop creating the thread year after year, so we can stop having posts about "them" and "those people". . Enough already .

 

[MommaBear]

I would not go to Hell week in Aruba, Bike week in Daytona, college break weeks in Ft. Lauderdale, Cancun, Panama City, Christmas week at Disney or Times Square at New Years or even the Super Bowl.

All of these have large groups of people, some behaving badly, some drunk, and some having too many people crying. My prejudice is against loud, annoying people. Don't care where they are from or what religion they practice, what language they speak.

If you know something bothers you and would diminish your enjoyment of a vacation, avoid it! I agree that Marriott could and should exercise more control, but that is their problem, not mine. They chose where their money comes from and they obviously do not want mine that week.

 

[NboroGirl]

I would not go to Hell week in Aruba, Bike week in Daytona, college break weeks in Ft. Lauderdale, Cancun, Panama City, Christmas week at Disney or Times Square at New Years or even the Super Bowl.

All of these have large groups of people, some behaving badly, some drunk, and some having too many people crying. My prejudice is against loud, annoying people. Don't care where they are from or what religion they practice, what language they speak.

If you know something bothers you and would diminish your enjoyment of a vacation, avoid it! I agree that Marriott could and should exercise more control, but that is their problem, not mine. They chose where their money comes from and they obviously do not want mine that week.

Ditto

 

[laurac260]

i would not go to hell week in aruba, bike week in daytona, college break weeks in ft. Lauderdale, cancun, panama city, christmas week at disney or times square at new years or even the super bowl.

All of these have large groups of people, some behaving badly, some drunk, and some having too many people crying. My prejudice is against loud, annoying people. Don't care where they are from or what religion they practice, what language they speak.

If you know something bothers you and would diminish your enjoyment of a vacation, avoid it! I agree that marriott could and should exercise more control, but that is their problem, not mine. They chose where their money comes from and they obviously do not want mine that week.

+1. +1. +1

 

[TUGBrian]

perhaps I missed it, but is someone really offended at the term "hell week" as some actual religious connotation?

cmon folks...Im all about drawing lines in the sand and such, but that is about 5 stops past where the politically correct bus travels.

I would also like to see some video or proof of some of the accusations.

It certainly is under no dispute that this group of folks is most certainly up to what any reasonable person on vacation would consider a nuisance to anyone around them.

However some of the other claims read like anecdotes and exaggerations.

 

[laurac260]

perhaps I missed it, but is someone really offended at the term "hell week" as some actual religious connotation?

cmon folks...Im all about drawing lines in the sand and such, but that is about 5 stops past where the politically correct bus travels.

Brian. I sent you a pm. No, I don't recall anyone thinking hell week had a religious connotation.

 

[Bob B]

Laurac260, I'd like to suggest that you vacation during this week in Aruba and then you can give a first hand account and opinion of the actions of the people that are staying at the OP/SC during that week. You would then have some credibility and some skin in the game.

 

[Chrispee]

What would you do? Stand with your mouth hanging open hoping someone else takes action? What does that teach this kid? It just reinforces the "what can he do" beliefs he has.

I would assertively tell the child to stop what he/she was doing and explain why. If I judged the behavior to be bad enough, I would then go to tell the parent what I had observed and I would also tell the hotel staff immediately.

I think that putting your hands on someones child is unacceptable for any reason other than if they or someone around them faces imminent physical danger.

 

[bazzap]

I would assertively tell the child to stop what he/she was doing and explain why. If I judged the behavior to be bad enough, I would then go to tell the parent what I had observed and I would also tell the hotel staff immediately.

I think that putting your hands on someones child is unacceptable for any reason other than if they or someone around them faces imminent physical danger.

Just from a practical perspective, if I understand correctly from these posts about the incidents that take place, the parents will not necessarily be around so I am not sure how one would find the parent to go and tell about the bad behaviour and the only option in many cases would be to report it to MVC representatives.

 

[Chrispee]

Just from a practical perspective, if I understand correctly from these posts about the incidents that take place, the parents will not necessarily be around so I am not sure how one would find the parent to go and tell about the bad behaviour and the only option in many cases would be to report it to MVC representatives.

I agree, from a practical perspective the only effective course of action would likely be to report to an MVC Rep (and even then it probably would not solve the problem). From a strictly practical perspective, I wouldn't put my hands on another person's child because it is against the law.

 

[DeniseM]

A gentle suggestion: if you are responding to a specific post - use the "quote" button, and it will appear in your post, for continuity.

 

[skyequeen]

The hearsay comments by a staff member ring true. We first learned of the problem week from another SC couple we met who were friendly with a board member. The lists of offenses jive on some points. If indeed owners are held captive in the lobby waiting for units to be freed due to occupants who don't vacate the premises, Marriott has a management issue. They need better tools to manage it or just need to enforce. For instance, if they successfully dispute the charges, add them to the maintenance fees. If unpaid, they can't book the following year. If the units are rentals, charge the owners. I'm sure this requires reviewing what is legal to do. Citing the number of offenders, Marriott can stop making restaurants, etc. available for exclusive events. Ownership does not entitle you to these other services being available. Reading here I am becoming worried that the value of my ownership during Platinum season is being diminished. But remember, the fewer people who want the week these folks do, the easier for them to get their reservations. Marriott cannot let that continue while everyone else struggles to reserve.

 

[amanda14]

This is meant to be insightful, not inciteful (if that is even a word), but my interpretation of the OP's use of the term Hell Week in the thread title is not intended as a poke at the alleged abusers religous beliefs, but instead is intended to discribe the atmosphere at the resort, from the perspective of the other guests (the OP in the case of this posting title), who were living through it.

As an example, if I had a bad week at work, I could describe it as Hell Week, which in that use, at least for me, would have absolutely no religious significance.

Guilty as charged, I spelled it incorrectly. I of course meant insightful. I could blame my phone but I would be fibbing

 

[Wally3433]

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.

I have never witnessed any asylum, but when I do, I will certainly take a picture of it. I mean, I take pictures of food when it's served to me, certainly I can make room on my camera for some asylum pictures.

EC, certainly you took some pictures at the Bronx Zoo when you visited - why wouldn't you take pictures of something you have decided to give it's own title to: "Hell Week in Aruba"?

EC - Did you really witness something? Or did you just overhear a second hand, uncorroborated conversation in the Lazy River about child misbehavior?

We are at 11 pages now, and we still have no real evidence that something has actually happened in Aruba that's worthy of an 11 page discussion.

Still waiting for somebody to post a clickable link.....and when you do, please CAPITALIZE IT!

Oops....looks like we are now on page 13

 

[indyhorizons]

i've read through every one of the almost 300 posts in this thread with interest. Although i do not have a dog in this fight, i do not understand where laurac260 is coming from. Are all the supposed hate posts being deleted? The only ones i see that have been removed are laurac260's.

+1 +1 +1

 

[m61376]

Just wondering how we have so many pages here, yet on the Aruba-bb bulletin board, where usually this is discussed to death, there is on very short thread on the second page with 3 or 4 posts as to whether anything has been going on.

I am not doubting the OP's first hand account of encountering some unruly, rude and unsupervised children, which we have all encountered at one place or another. I am not sure if the situation has been blown out of proportion based on historical anecdotal evidence. I do know that I was told two years ago that Marriott had seemingly largely rectified the situation by meeting/talking with the parties involved, and that last year the only issues related by several guests who had been there were related to it being a very busy week with a lot of kids, large families with full occupancy villas, etc.

The OP's report was from last week, btw, and it is this week that is the NYS Regent's week which is typically the week at issue(as pointed out by Ilene in one of the early on posts)- which lends support to the disruptive experience reported by the OP perhaps being from just a miserable little bunch of twits.

I am surprised that with all the rhetoric, in this day and age of utube videos and cell phones, as pointed out we haven't seen anything tangible.