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Marriott Aruba Surf Club

bastroum

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Just finished our 2nd day at Aruba Surf Club. This place is wonderful. We have now been here twice and this place could steal me away from the Maui Ocean Club. I should know when the trip is over 17 days from now. To be continued...
 

silentg

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Did you trade into here? If so what weeks did you use? Have a great time.
 

GregT

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Marriott: Maui Ocean Club Lahaina Villas (3BRx5), Ko Olina, Shadow Ridge II, Willow Ridge, Aruba Ocean Club, DC Points HGVC: Flamingo, Sea World, I-Drive, Starwood Bella (x4), SDO, TradeWinds, Worldmark
We have now been here twice and this place could steal me away from the Maui Ocean Club.

WOW! You must be having a great time!!

Aruba does rock, we loved our one and only trip there in 2012 -- we were supposed to return in two weeks, but it got complicated with parenting...

Enjoy your time there -- but don't be hasty in casting MOC aside! ;)

Best,

Greg
 

bastroum

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I'm here on Destination Points. My wife and I love Hawaii and have been going there for almost 30 years. Our travel plans have changed this year because our first grandchild was born in 2014. Our daughter and son-in-law live in Orlando and we have been there 3 times this year. It just seemed to us that Aruba would be an easy trip from Orlando. We could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. The airfare to Hawaii has risen to $800 to $900 round trip from Las Vegas. The airfare to Orlando then Aruba and back to Las Vegas is about the same. Also the Aruba Surf Club is a bargain using DC points. Dinner tonight at Daniel's Steak and Chop House. Food was good and reasonable. Look's like our trips to Maui will be fewer than in the past. Aruba is a great alternative to Maui.
 
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Weimaraner

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We discovered Aruba about 11 years ago after talking to friends about how difficult and expensive it is to get to Hawaii from Michigan. They were longtime Aruba lovers and suggested we check it out. Needless to say we were hooked. I like how you think about the Orlando/Caribbean airfare. We went to Atlantis in the summer and I figured out airfare was the same if we made a stop in Orlando. Now I'm planning a trip to St. John and it looks like we may just have to make a stop for a couple days to visit one of our favorite places (Disney). Enjoy your adventure in Aruba!
 

topdog

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We have an exchange into Aruba next February for our first visit. Looking forward to your reports.
 

m61376

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Funny thread- our first timeshare experience was at Ko'Olina- loved Ko'Olina, loved Hawaii, but the 12 hour trip from NY wasn't a thriller. We bought in Aruba as an alternative to Hawaii and haven't regretted the decision. Hawaii has the ambiance, but Aruba has more consistent weather, and hot days are way more comfortable with the cooling breezes.

For some reason, Marriott severely undervalued the point allocation of the Caribbean weeks, with less points allocated (and less points charged for) than properties which Marriott.com rents for 1/2 to 2/3's the rental rates. Never made sense to me. It also commands some of the highest rental rates in the system. So while it's not a great value for legacy week owners to exchange their weeks for DC points, booking with DC points is a relative bargain.

Enjoy your vacation- lots of really good restaurants to try. out. Make sure to book a few sitting on the beach a wonderful experience, and typically only available elsewhere for $$$$.
 

JoeInMD

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Just finished our 2nd day at Aruba Surf Club. This place is wonderful. We have now been here twice and this place could steal me away from the Maui Ocean Club. I should know when the trip is over 17 days from now. To be continued...

Is your rave review due to the Surf Club or Aruba itself? The wife and I are going to Aruba for the first time Nov. 6th, but are staying next door at the Ocean Club. Funny how on this thread Hawaiian comparisons have been made, out trip was supposed to be there but we got impatient in Interval and booked Aruba instead.
Joe
 

GregT

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Marriott: Maui Ocean Club Lahaina Villas (3BRx5), Ko Olina, Shadow Ridge II, Willow Ridge, Aruba Ocean Club, DC Points HGVC: Flamingo, Sea World, I-Drive, Starwood Bella (x4), SDO, TradeWinds, Worldmark
Is your rave review due to the Surf Club or Aruba itself? The wife and I are going to Aruba for the first time Nov. 6th, but are staying next door at the Ocean Club. Funny how on this thread Hawaiian comparisons have been made, out trip was supposed to be there but we got impatient in Interval and booked Aruba instead.
Joe

We stayed at the Aruba Ocean Club when we were there in 2012 and we loved it. It didn't have the lazy river, but was much quieter. We would return in a heartbeat to either property.

We liked Aruba alot too -- fantastic restaurants and we loved each dinner on the beach. But I'm sticking with Maui Ocean Club.....

Best,

Greg
 

bastroum

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Is your rave review due to the Surf Club or Aruba itself? The wife and I are going to Aruba for the first time Nov. 6th, but are staying next door at the Ocean Club. Funny how on this thread Hawaiian comparisons have been made, out trip was supposed to be there but we got impatient in Interval and booked Aruba instead.
Joe

Both the Surf Club and Ocean Club are great places to stay. Hawaii is a lot more beautiful than Aruba. Restaurants are equal. Weather is great in both places. You will not be disappointed.
 

Kathy3

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We will be there in three weeks and staying in Ocean Front. What is going on with the the updates ( cleaning etc. of balconies )?
Thanks Kathy
 

bastroum

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We will be there in three weeks and staying in Ocean Front. What is going on with the the updates ( cleaning etc. of balconies )?
Thanks Kathy

Saw 1 group redoing 1 balcony today at the Surf Club. Construction does not seem to be an issue from what I see.
 

myhrse11

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We went to Aruba for the first time in August. Because hubby only gets about 2 weeks vacation right now he feels like he uses all his vacation with one trip to Hawaii from the NYC area. Aruba this year allowed us to take a week there and a week in Grand Chateau in LV with plenty of points to spare. We turned Ko Olina and Waiohai into points. The left overs paid the business class airfare from Phl to Aruba.

Loved Aruba and thinking about buy either Surf Club or Ocean Club resale.
 

bastroum

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Just took a grueling 19 hour trip home. I now know how people feel when traveling from the east coast to Hawaii. Next year when we return home, I'm going to stop in Orlando for a few days and visit my daughter. Much easier trip when doing it that way. We had a great time in Aruba. Some of the best restaurants available for any of our timeshare locations. Our favorites (in no particular order) Chalet Suise, Smokey Joe's, Barney's, Daniel's Steak and Chop House, Madame Janettes, Azzurro, Salt & Pepper and Amore Mio. Places we didn't go (our friends did) and will get to next year Pure Ocean, Wacky Wahoo's. Probably many more we didn't have a chance to get to. There's always next year!
 

Luvtoride

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Glad you had a great time and enjoyed some of the great restaurants of Aruba. It's true what you say and experienced about traveling across country to visit these Carribean resort areas. For us, our annual trip to Aruba is relatively easy, even with our family and young grandkids, about a 4 1/2 hour non-stop flight from NY and then a short 15 min cab ride to the Surf Club. We have been to Hawaii and haven't been back (and certainly not with our family and the young ones) due to the daunting trip that is from the east coast. I guess we like to call Aruba our East Coast Hawaii. I know it's not the same, but it's a pretty good alternative.

Hope you make your trip easier with the stop in Orlando next time.

Brian
 

MOXJO7282

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We stayed at the Aruba Ocean Club when we were there in 2012 and we loved it. It didn't have the lazy river, but was much quieter. We would return in a heartbeat to either property.

We liked Aruba alot too -- fantastic restaurants and we loved each dinner on the beach. But I'm sticking with Maui Ocean Club.....

Best,

Greg

Huge difference between Maui and Aruba are the beaches. Really no comparison. Maui is a 10 and Aruba a 6.
 

Larry

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Huge difference between Maui and Aruba are the beaches. Really no comparison. Maui is a 10 and Aruba a 6.

Really??? I totally disagree. Although Hawaii is gorgeous and is fantastic for sightseeing, unless your a surfer the beaches in Hawaii are are not as good as Aruba. First time I went to Maui I stayed at Kanapali beach and couldn't even walk on the sand since it was so hot after two or 3 steps I gave up on going into water. Aruba beaches have cool, soft white sand that is easy to get into the crystal clear waters. Eagle beach in Aruba is consistently rated among the top ten in the world and usually in the top five. Palm beach (although Marriott is technically on Palm beach is the poorest stretch and gets worse as you go up to Ritz) is also rated several times in the top 20 in the world.

Weather in Aruba is far superior to Hawaii and is a ten while I would rate Hawaii a 7.5. On my last trip to Hawaii in December I was there for 4 weeks and 4 different Islands. Weather was nice most days for touring at around 70-75 and only got to 80 one day on the big Island which was the only day I was able to go swimming during our 4 week stay. At night we needed a Jacket as temps dropped to 60's and even mid 50's when we got to Honalulu. My wife actually wore her winter coat one night in Honalulu.

Aruba is swimming and sailing every day and 80-85 with almost no rain which is perfect for us to get away during cold winter weeks in NY. Not much to see in Aruba and for scenery it does not compare to Hawaii, but it is the perfect place for water sports (just not for surfing) like sailing, swimming and snorkling ( Hawaii is actually better for snorkling), and just relaxing on the beach. In addition if you like to gamble Aruba has about a dozen casinos at almost every hotel and a couple of timeshares so things to do at night as well.

Finally, we live in NY and direct flights from JFK of about five hours beats Hawaii every time for me. My fourth and last trip to Hawaii was a disaster. I was scheduled for a 3 hour layover in SF which lasted a grueling nine Hours. I didn't get into Maui until 1 AM then was glad to see car rental stayed open due to flight delay but I didn't check in to timeshare until 2:30AM after waiting in line for car and drive to resort. In addition one of my inter island flights was delayed 3 hours due to weather conditions and I was at commuter terminal waiting outside with no AC until we finally left.

For me it's Aruba and St. Lucia plus most any other Caribbean island over Hawaii.:crash::shrug::banana:
 
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Larry

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Just took a grueling 19 hour trip home. I now know how people feel when traveling from the east coast to Hawaii. Next year when we return home, I'm going to stop in Orlando for a few days and visit my daughter. Much easier trip when doing it that way. We had a great time in Aruba. Some of the best restaurants available for any of our timeshare locations. Our favorites (in no particular order) Chalet Suise, Smokey Joe's, Barney's, Daniel's Steak and Chop House, Madame Janettes, Azzurro, Salt & Pepper and Amore Mio. Places we didn't go (our friends did) and will get to next year Pure Ocean, Wacky Wahoo's. Probably many more we didn't have a chance to get to. There's always next year!

I feel your pain as my last trip to Hawaii from NY took over 24 hours door to door with a nine hour delay in SF.
 

bastroum

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I love both places, however, I feel the Aruba beaches are more to my liking. Just like to sit, relax and float. Hard to do that in Hawaii (with the exception of the beach in front of the HHV). As far as the weather, I like Aruba better (when the wind in blowing). Last summer in Maui was unbearable without the tradewinds. With all that said the 6 hour trip vs. at least 12 hour trip (with layover) will cause me to continue to travel to Hawaii more often than Aruba. Probably why most people we met in Aruba were from the east coast.
 

Larry

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I love both places, however, I feel the Aruba beaches are more to my liking. Just like to sit, relax and float. Hard to do that in Hawaii (with the exception of the beach in front of the HHV). As far as the weather, I like Aruba better (when the wind in blowing). Last summer in Maui was unbearable without the tradewinds. With all that said the 6 hour trip vs. at least 12 hour trip (with layover) will cause me to continue to travel to Hawaii more often than Aruba. Probably why most people we met in Aruba were from the east coast.

Yes, mostly east coast USA as well as Canada for winter months and during summer through September lots of people from South America especially Venezuala.
 
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