Marriott Aruba Ocean Club Owners Being Ripped Off By Marriott - READ IF AN OWNER

[lovearuba]

Thread is still active

I really wish this thread would die. By the posts, lines have clearly been drawn and there will never be agreement. So, why continue this banter? Pertinent info is not being posted here and it should not be posted since there is an ongoing lawsuit. Mark has the means to contact the owners on TUG via email and anyone stumbling upon this thread can contact him via TUG. There's alot of baiting for the heck of it going on here. Ignore it.

There will be updates when its the appropriate time and the news is worthy of posting. I endorse continuing in keeping this thread open. If you dont want to look at it, just ignore it.

 

[Dean]

I personally would be happier if there was a private venue for this for owners at the Ocean Club only.
The only reason I have continued to post is because I cannot stand by and abide by the downright nasty , sarcastic, and insulting comments made by you and a couple of others towards Mark and his groups efforts when they have taken the action they have taken in order to help the rest of the owners. Agree or disagree with the action imho he has been subjected to a ridiculous amount of abuse from you and your cronies. It has offended me greatly and I dont even know the man.
If you wish to trade credentials feel free to contact me through private messages and I'll be happy to show you mine if you show me yours. You have completely reinforced exactly why I have the opinion I do. Your sarcasm imho is why I would prefer that Mark and the others share absolutely nothing with you. Quite frankly your hypocrisy is unbearable. You have the nerve to comment to Mark that he is making this personal and you make comments like this one then later hide behind " just kidding" But again ...just my opinion !

I like the mine's bigger than yours approach, LOL. I have pointed out at least twice that there are venus to do this privately on groups such as Yahoo and you could even direct people from here to there. Otherwise this is a somewhat public forum and I'm sorry if you feel put upon because some of us have chosen to participate that are not owners at your resort.

 

[lovearuba]

not deliberate

Was the "f" used in my name put there deliberatly because the Sox lost?
Are you attacking me after we were to be nice?(Just kidding,obviously).
That's how crazy this whole thing is getting.
Let's go for the powwow.

I know you know I have more class than that. I appreciate your comments. I think you have a generally balanced view.

As a sox fan, it gives me great pleasure to know we no longer have that criticism of not winning the world series in 86 years and having that Babe Ruth curse. I have seen two world series and that is enough for me. I would love to see them win again but if they don't, I still have fond memories of drinking champagne at midnight on a work night and getting up to go to work so I could boast with the rest of the sox fans. I work across the street from Fenway park so I know how truly exciting it is to be in first place. I will continue to wear my sox t-shirt proudly even if the yankees win. They are rivals because they are both great teams.

 

[SueDonJ]

I know you know I have more class than that. I appreciate your comments. I think you have a generally balanced view.

As a sox fan, it gives me great pleasure to know we no longer have that criticism of not winning the world series in 86 years and having that Babe Ruth curse. I have seen two world series and that is enough for me. I would love to see them win again but if they don't, I still have fond memories of drinking champagne at midnight on a work night and getting up to go to work so I could boast with the rest of the sox fans. I work across the street from Fenway park so I know how truly exciting it is to be in first place. I will continue to wear my sox t-shirt proudly even if the yankees win. They are rivals because they are both great teams.

Knock on wood, I'd never wish for a return to the old days when we hoped against hope and watched our team turn dreams into nightmares. But the one good thing about those days was knowing that you could walk up to the gate and get into Fenway Park 15 minutes before any game ...

Lovearuba, do your different shirts remind you of different seasons, and are some more "loved" (worn?) than others? Some of my shirts are old friends. Last weekend in Baltimore one woman had an old "REMY 2" shirt on, and boy did I have shirt envy.

 

[m61376]

On another note, the design boards in the lobby are very nice and, when all is done, the rooms should be lovely. The fixtures in the lobby were interesting (for lack of a better description); personally, I wouldn't have spent that kind of money either on them or on what I assume was the glass artwork on the wall in the reception area, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. But the room furnishings look like they will be impressive when done- modern with a Caribbean flair.

 

[Luckybee]

I like the mine's bigger than yours approach, LOL. I have pointed out at least twice that there are venus to do this privately on groups such as Yahoo and you could even direct people from here to there. Otherwise this is a somewhat public forum and I'm sorry if you feel put upon because some of us have chosen to participate that are not owners at your resort.

Perhaps you should have read the question I was responding to . Ecwhich and I have put this behind us and you wont bait me back in

 

[Dean]

Perhaps you should have read the question I was responding to . Ecwhich and I have put this behind us and you wont bait me back in

Not trying to bait you, just acknowledging that I found it funny. Now if you'd take the same approach and not worry if those of us who are not owners at your resort participate in this thread, all the better.

 

[ecwinch]

Was I just not nice?
Yankees won again. Of course I am nice.

I notice that Fake-Rod has "back-spasms" and has not played the last two nights in Seattle. I think it is more likely "ego-spasms", and his frail psyche cannot handle the boo's from the Seattle fans.

Yes, we still hate him up here. And not because he left, it was the disingenuous way he handled the situation. Griffey left, and we still loved him.

Apologies for those who expected an AOC update. I return you to your normally scheduled crusade.

 

[modoaruba]

I notice that Fake-Rod has "back-spasms" and has not played the last two nights in Seattle. I think it is more likely "ego-spasms", and his frail psyche cannot handle the boo's from the Seattle fans.

Yes, we still hate him up here. And not because he left, it was the disingenuous way he handled the situation. Griffey left, and we still loved him.

Apologies for those who expected an AOC update. I return you to your normally scheduled crusade.

By the way,how's your mom? Hopefully everything went well.

Even though I am an avid Yankee fan,I myself have no love for A-Rod either.
But I still love those Yankees.

NO apologies here for not updating on the AOC.

 

[qlaval]

I don't want to be rude but why don't you PM each other instead?....

 

[modoaruba]

I don't want to be rude but why don't you PM each other instead?....

Pardon moi!

 

[ecwinch]

Pardon moi!

Just ignore it. There is nothing wrong with a short friendly exchange in a thread. I see it all the time on TUG, and I am sure that there are others in this thread that are interested in an update. Part of TUG is about community building, and you cannot have that without some personal exchanges in threads. It would be a different different story if we have 5-10 back and forth's that are off-topic.

My mom is doing ok, she is having some post-op respiratory issues. Hopefully that gets resolved this week.

Thanks for asking.

 

[Broadwaydanny]

New here - some OC thoughts

Greetings to all on this board and particularly this thread.

I took the time to read through most of it's contents, and as an OC owner, I am concerned to say the least.

I will not comment specifically on the OC issues as they have been addressed and debated ad nauseum. I would just like to add soem thoughts and observations from our recent trip to the oc:

Just returned from two weeks at the Ocean Club this past Thursday and I offer some thoughts.

The new lobby reminded us of the decorations at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It was mentioned somewhere here that the fixtures alone cost over $100,000.

Did the owners pay for it, or did Marriott? If it was the owners, considering all of the issues at the OC, did we need to spend so much?

The renovations in the rooms look great, but they are retaining the hot tubs in the rooms which, IMHO, is a waste of space. Better use would have been a washer and dryer in the room. Supposedly, in a survey of the owners, over 50% voted to retain the hot tubs. I never received such a survey.

Once we asked the Concierge to call for a restaurant reservation. We did it in the AM on our way out to the beach, and she stated she would leave a message during the day to confirm. At 5 PM that evening no message.
I called the restaurant and they had no reservation for us. The Concierge never called, and I made my own reservation. Not typical Marriott service.

I found it hard to believe as owners we are charged $1.00 for local calls.

Despite a HUGE yearly maintenance fee and 3 assessments, we still have to pay government taxes of around $6.00 - $6.50 per day. I thought taxes were included in the maintenance fees.

We observed numerous cases where Surf Club owners or renters were on the OC beach. Security was no where to be found on the OC beach and SC people ignored the OC beach attendants when asked to leave. OC owners are not allowed on or near the SC pool, and it is enforced vigorously.

The SC beach beach looked like Jones Beach on a hot Sunday. Many bathers in the OC part of the ocean told me they walked over to avoid the crowds and the BOATS! I feel sorry for SC owners with the overcrowding. IMHO, out of greed, Marriott OVERBUILT the SC. I hope the OC club policies at the beach remain and are enforced.

Finally, TOO MANY boats going WAY TOO FAST around the swimming areas.

What should be a calm, placid ocean often becomes like jumping waves at the Jersey shore. Eventually, some one is going to get hurt.

We LOVE Aruba, and overall our accomadations at the OC, but are concerned about costs, the SC overbuilding, and further commercialization of the north end of the island.


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[Dean]

We observed numerous cases where Surf Club owners or renters were on the OC beach. Security was no where to be found on the OC beach and SC people ignored the OC beach attendants when asked to leave. OC owners are not allowed on or near the SC pool, and it is enforced vigorously.

While some of the fixtures are owned, the beach itself in Aruba is public.

 

[ecwinch]

Despite a HUGE yearly maintenance fee and 3 assessments, we still have to pay government taxes of around $6.00 - $6.50 per day. I thought taxes were included in the maintenance fees.

Taxes are included in maintenance fees. However increasingly governments are looking for extra tax revenue by implementing a bed tax, or Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). I do not recall one during my stay in Dec, but I have seen these are numerous other resorts - both MVCI and other resorts. As a timeshare owner, I would rather the party using the unit pay the tax, rather than having it lumped into the m/f.

And I agree, MVCI did overbuild the SC.

 

[m61376]

Broadwaydanny-
This isn't meant as a "which resort is better" reply, but just to note that people perceive things differently. I returned a week ago, so unless things were dramatically different over the last few days of your stay, neither water area was at all overcrowded, with plenty of room. The boats were well outside of the roped off swimming areas and there certainly weren't ocean type breaking waves in the area.

Generally speaking, people with the striped OC towels were under the OC palapas and surrounds and the blue SC towels at the SC. There was plenty of space and lots of unused chaises throughout the day at the SC beach as well as the OC's beach. I've been to Jones Beach and the beach at the SC looked nothing like it. As I said, there were stacks of dozens of unoccupied chaises throughout the day, and one could grab a bimini chaise as well (although these are restricted and can no longer be placed at or in front of the fourth row of palapas). Just about every day there were empty palapas at both the OC and the SC.

The concierges at the SC were helpful and efficient. I actually received a call the night before leaving home to see if I needed them to make any reservations, etc..

BTW- I do agree with the glass chandeliers and glass wall murals in the OC lobby. Maybe because they are just not my taste (and I love blown glass), I was surprised at the expenditure. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I imagine others will love it. They certainly are different.

 

[Broadwaydanny]

The second week of our stay of was more crowded then the first. I agree, the OC and SC had plenty of room the first week, and a little less the second. Obviously the OC will always have more room because the beach front is wider vs. the amount of rooms. At the SC, (and correct me if I am wrong but are there now FOUR towers?) The beach is much smaller, and as a result, much more crowded. The Jones beach comparisons were from the mouths of SC owners who came to the OC side to swim, not mine.

Yes, the beaches are public. Does that make the the beach use rules for SC and OC owners unenforceable? If so, why have any rules at all? I truly believe at some point, especially in high season the dam walls will break, and the SC owners will be at the OC beach en mass whether under Palapas or not.

With regard to the boats, yes, (thankfully) they stay outside of the ropes. But I maintain that there are too many. They go too fast, especially while approaching the shore inside the roped off swim boundaries. This is not safe, and anyone familiar with public safety as I am would agree. Just a matter of time friends. Actually, during my stay I was informed that someone was injured at a resort on Palm Beach in a wave runner vs. some other watercraft accident. By refusing to follow "no wake" rules, and come into shore very fast, they create waves and ocean disruptions quite annoying to many bathers and folks who are paying big bucks for a "placid" Caribean Ocean. Many of us "beach bums" agreed about this during my stay.

There has been consensus here and elsewhere that the service at the OC has deteriorated a bit lately, and my Concierge story was just one illustration.
If the SC service is better, enjoy it while it lasts!

 

[Dean]

Yes, the beaches are public. Does that make the the beach use rules for SC and OC owners unenforceable? If so, why have any rules at all? I truly believe at some point, especially in high season the dam walls will break, and the SC owners will be at the OC beach en mass whether under Palapas or not.

It does for the public beach and makes any rules covering that area inappropriate. The question I can't answer is technically where does the beach begin.

 

[modoaruba]

It does for the public beach and makes any rules covering that area inappropriate. The question I can't answer is technically where does the beach begin.

Anybody can put there personal towel and /or their private chair(not the resort's) and plop it on any piece of sand from the water to the physical steps of any resort or any structure unless otherwise posted.

I have seen people from the inland and some who are from cruise ships utilize the beaches in front of the AOC and the SC.

 

[lovearuba]

beach and pool integration

I am also concerned with the integration policy related to the two resorts. They were bought separately for different preferences. I would not have purchased at OC if I knew SC folks would be using it. I have more of a concern over sharing the beach than the pools. Dont get me wrong, I have no desire to use the SC pool but I dont mind if they use the OCs. The beach is a much different story. SC has much less landscape and although the OC board continues to say the policy is enforced, I lost trust in them and I'm very worried that they will change the policy.

I also dont agree with people who have relatives in both resorts and think they have a right to share and should be accommodated. This makes it difficult for the staff because when they try to enforce it they get a lot of push back and they basically let it go.

Public Beach: Its also important to know that if that condo next to the surf is ever opened we can all look for another place to stay because there will be no space on either beach areas. There is nothing preventing the condo owners from using the beach.

 

[Zac495]

Just ignore it. There is nothing wrong with a short friendly exchange in a thread. I see it all the time on TUG, and I am sure that there are others in this thread that are interested in an update. Part of TUG is about community building, and you cannot have that without some personal exchanges in threads. It would be a different different story if we have 5-10 back and forth's that are off-topic.

My mom is doing ok, she is having some post-op respiratory issues. Hopefully that gets resolved this week.

Thanks for asking.

Glad your mom is doing well. Yes, I think this thread is on and off topic - and that's okay.

 

[SueDonJ]

Crowded beaches can sure be a bother on vacation, especially when you look around and know that you're not surrounded by resort guests. I understand that the beach use can't be controlled past a certain point, but do both Marriott resorts use a wristband system for their pools? Non-guest use at the pools changes from being a bother to total aggravation, doesn't it?

Eric, good to hear your mom is doing okay and continuing to improve. Good thoughts for her ....

Does Modo get double credit for using a foreign language in the Upping My Post Count Game?

 

[m61376]

Susan- I know the SC uses a wrist band system for its pools. It appears to be the more popular pool, with many more OC owners wanting to use the SC pool than vice versa, so I don't think the OC uses a wrist band system.

Lovearuba-I agree- I think it is a problem when families or friends trade in or own at both resorts. It is very hard to control though, since at the very least guests at either resort can requests wristbands, etc.for the maximum capacity of their respective rooms at least. I venture to guess that guests traveling with others use the pool at the SC and the beach space at the OC with some frequency.

I actually found both the beach and the pool to be much less crowded last week versus the first week in February, which is considered peak season. I think the chair tag system at the SC is working the way it was designed to do- preventing people from reserving chairs at both locations and flitting back and forth. It was the first time I was there that, despite the resort being at 97% capacity, there were empty palapas all day long in front of both the OC and the SC. I know everyone has their own perception of what crowded means, but it was nothing like Jones Beach or the Hamptons and certainly nothing like Waikiki Beach or the French Riviera- now those latter two are crowded beaches!

I, too, am a bit concerned about Aquacondos. I did hear a rumor that they had made a deal with the Holiday Inn and I am hoping that rumor is correct. I know over the winter Moombas was quite busy renting out their cabanas and chairs, but they were all stacked up last week, so I am assuming they were catering to the cruise crowd over the winter. I am guessing that they will be accommodating some of the condo owners, but I agree when sold out it could be a huge issue. I am assuming that neither HOA would make any concessions to the condo complex and I am hoping that they have negotiated something with the Holiday Inn, which would be their most convenient access to the beach anyway.

 

[modoaruba]

True or not true I do not know for sure first handedly, someone told me at the AOC that they went downtown and a store was selling the same wristbands given out at the SC for the pool in various colors to coordinate with the weeks.
Anyone else hear this?

 

[SueDonJ]

True or not true I do not know for sure first handedly, someone told me at the AOC that they went downtown and a store was selling the same wristbands given out at the SC for the pool in various colors to coordinate with the weeks.
Anyone else hear this?

I've heard it about the towels ... a friend of my sister's owns a house in Aruba which she has rented several times. In the house she found piles of towels with a note about which ones were used at which resorts on the island. She asked the owner how/why he got them, and he said he simply sent one of his workers to the properties to get them but didn't ask any questions. She told me about it when she and her family came to SurfWatch with us and the towels there looked familiar but were a different color than in Aruba - I think the Aruba properties must use striped towels, too?