Aruba help ****Update

---

Posted by anneandchris

---

Posted by skinny237

There's a Marriot by the high rise hotels---I think it's the Beach Club and the Surf Club. They r gorgeous. We wished we had stayed there instead of the way-overpriced Hyatt. The Marriot has a really cool lazy river and lots of restaurants. Food in Aruba is very expensive. Try to do AI or cook! If we ever go back there, we'd def stay at the Marriott (or Playa Linda---that place looked really cool too!).

---

The Surf Club and Beach Club are their Timeshares. That is were we almost bought. Next to that is their hotel.

---

So the hotel over there must be the Marriott Stellaris Casino??? and then the Renaissance is on the other side of the island?

---

Posted by RisiLeigh

I definitely recommend Aruba! I had friends who stayed at the Rennaissance for their HM in 2006. It is in the 'town' part of Aruba - so there is tons of shopping and stuff there, but you're not really near the other hotels and stuff. They loved it, though!

---

Thanks, I heard that the other hotels arent too far from there anyway, just about a 5 min cab ride so it will give us something to do at night which is good.

---

Posted by skinny237

There's a Marriot by the high rise hotels---I think it's the Beach Club and the Surf Club. They r gorgeous. We wished we had stayed there instead of the way-overpriced Hyatt. The Marriot has a really cool lazy river and lots of restaurants. Food in Aruba is very expensive. Try to do AI or cook! If we ever go back there, we'd def stay at the Marriott (or Playa Linda---that place looked really cool too!).

---

we stayed in the surf club - its the newest marriot hotel - thats where the lazy river is its a really nice pool area the ocean club is next door and then next to that is the regular marriot hotel which also had a nice pool area and nice lobby....we ate there twice at ruth cris and we hung out at the stellaris casino to play black jack - the casino is small, nothing crazy, just some table games and some slots.....

food is expensive, but it depends on how much you eat....we def spent a few thousand on food but thats including alcohol by the pool and beach all day, plus lunch and dinner, and drinks again....we didnt spare any expense when it came to eating and drinking but the food and drinks are overpriced - or not overpriced but its like going out to eat in the city every night i guess - some places weren't too bad - but one morning we spent like $40 just on breakfast....so it depends, but there are lots of places that are good to eat, we ate outside on the beach during sunset the majority of the time

---

Posted by Future Mulligan

---

Posted by skinny237

There's a Marriot by the high rise hotels---I think it's the Beach Club and the Surf Club. They r gorgeous. We wished we had stayed there instead of the way-overpriced Hyatt. The Marriot has a really cool lazy river and lots of restaurants. Food in Aruba is very expensive. Try to do AI or cook! If we ever go back there, we'd def stay at the Marriott (or Playa Linda---that place looked really cool too!).

---

we stayed in the surf club - its the newest marriot hotel - thats where the lazy river is its a really nice pool area the ocean club is next door and then next to that is the regular marriot hotel which also had a nice pool area and nice lobby....we ate there twice at ruth cris and we hung out at the stellaris casino to play black jack - the casino is small, nothing crazy, just some table games and some slots.....

food is expensive, but it depends on how much you eat....we def spent a few thousand on food but thats including alcohol by the pool and beach all day, plus lunch and dinner, and drinks again....we didnt spare any expense when it came to eating and drinking but the food and drinks are overpriced - or not overpriced but its like going out to eat in the city every night i guess - some places weren't too bad - but one morning we spent like $40 just on breakfast....so it depends, but there are lots of places that are good to eat, we ate outside on the beach during sunset the majority of the time

---

That sounds great, we just want a laid back relaxing trip Of course we arent going to splurge as much as we did on our honeymoon but I think we can have a lot of fun there.

we luved Aruba & can't wait to go back. the weather was perfect in April. we stayed at the Hyatt & loved it. everybody was so friendly & helpful. the restaurants at the hotel were so good, i think we only went to a few places outside the hotel. El Gaucho, Madame Janette, Flying Fishbone are all good restaurants. the food is expensive but worth it. we usually had a late breakfast that would hold us over until dinner. we did the ATV jeep tours to the natural pool & did some snorkeling.

i don't think i know one person that went their that had anything bad to say...

shoegal - what did you think of the ATV tour? some of the trails we went on were really scary, i couldnt believe the hills to get to the natural pool - i couldnt believe how brave i was

---

Posted by Future Mulligan

shoegal - what did you think of the ATV tour? some of the trails we went on were really scary, i couldnt believe the hills to get to the natural pool - i couldnt believe how brave i was

---

OMG.. i almost died Thank God it was only a 1/2 day. i held on to dear life & the more we screamed the faster they went. there was a girl wearing her bikini top, well thats just say at one point she almost lost it & the guys got a free show

i made a big mistake of wearing flip flops & when we got the natural pool i almost killed myself.

hope you had as much as we did

---

Posted by shoegal68

we luved Aruba & can't wait to go back. the weather was perfect in April. we stayed at the Hyatt & loved it. everybody was so friendly & helpful. the restaurants at the hotel were so good, i think we only went to a few places outside the hotel. El Gaucho, Madame Janette, Flying Fishbone are all good restaurants. the food is expensive but worth it. we usually had a late breakfast that would hold us over until dinner. we did the ATV jeep tours to the natural pool & did some snorkeling.

i don't think i know one person that went their that had anything bad to say...

---

Well that is good to know, i dont know anybody that didnt like it either. I am going to check out one more place that a friend of mine stayed at on her honeymoon and then we are going to decide which one we like better and book it

---

Posted by shoegal68

---

Posted by Future Mulligan

shoegal - what did you think of the ATV tour? some of the trails we went on were really scary, i couldnt believe the hills to get to the natural pool - i couldnt believe how brave i was

---

OMG.. i almost died Thank God it was only a 1/2 day. i held on to dear life & the more we screamed the faster they went. there was a girl wearing her bikini top, well thats just say at one point she almost lost it & the guys got a free show

i made a big mistake of wearing flip flops & when we got the natural pool i almost killed myself.

hope you had as much as we did

---

ok, me and DH thought some of the trails were really scary - he used to have a motorcycle and we would go out on that and i was never scared and he would go really fast - but ATV'ing was soooooo scary compared to going out on his bike.....DH was so afraid i was going to fall off the ATV it was really fun, but it was insane, we didn't think we could make it up and down some of those trails....

and yes i almost killed myself going into the natural pool as well....DH couldnt stop going on and on about how brave i was being that day but i banged my foot on some kind of rock in the natural pool and i think it actually may have been some kind of coral b/c after 2 weeks i still have this rash of raised hard bumps - i think i may have gotten some reef rash so i have to keep an eye on it....

i just wanted to see if we were wimps or not - there were 2 other couples ATV'ing with us and they were hardcore crazy, but they all did stuff like that before, DH rode quads a lot but never on those kind of trails and with me on the back it was more scary for him....so im glad you thought it was nuts too! after what you said about the girl in the bikini i am SO GLAD i wore sweatpants and one of DH's t-shirts - i looked like a dork but at least i didn't give anyone a show

---

Posted by Soon2beMrsC

So I know many of you went to Aruba on your honeymoon. Did anyone stay at or visit the Renaissance Marriott? We are looking into staying here for our 1 year anniversary and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips.

It says they have their own private island so everyday they have a shuttle boat to take you out there for the day. It looks awesome.

If anyone has any info let me know.

thanks.


So we finally decided on a hotel, it was either between the Marriott Stellaris or the Renaissance Marriott and we chose theMarriott Stellaris Resort & Casino

Has anyone ever stayed at this hotel or know anything about it? We think this is the better choice since it is on the better side of town and there is a lot around it to do and see.

---

We didn't stay there but we went to check it out. I heard good things about it. It is the furthest down on the strip but in a good location. Their lobby was really nice and the casino was nice -- none of the casinos are big but they have cheap tables and some fun slots. The dealers were all patient so if you don't play it is a good place to learn!

You will really enjoy it. There is so much to do and you don't feel guilty if you do nothing at all!

You will really enjoy it. There is so much to do and you don't feel guilty if you do nothing at all!

---

I wont feel guilty at all I know its 10 months away but I can't wait. I feel like I sound terrible becasue I just got home from a 2 week honeymoon but I always look forward to a good vacation

---

Posted by Future Mulligan

---

Posted by shoegal68

---

Posted by Future Mulligan

shoegal - what did you think of the ATV tour? some of the trails we went on were really scary, i couldnt believe the hills to get to the natural pool - i couldnt believe how brave i was

---

OMG.. i almost died Thank God it was only a 1/2 day. i held on to dear life & the more we screamed the faster they went. there was a girl wearing her bikini top, well thats just say at one point she almost lost it & the guys got a free show

i made a big mistake of wearing flip flops & when we got the natural pool i almost killed myself.

hope you had as much as we did

---

ok, me and DH thought some of the trails were really scary - he used to have a motorcycle and we would go out on that and i was never scared and he would go really fast - but ATV'ing was soooooo scary compared to going out on his bike.....DH was so afraid i was going to fall off the ATV it was really fun, but it was insane, we didn't think we could make it up and down some of those trails....

and yes i almost killed myself going into the natural pool as well....DH couldnt stop going on and on about how brave i was being that day but i banged my foot on some kind of rock in the natural pool and i think it actually may have been some kind of coral b/c after 2 weeks i still have this rash of raised hard bumps - i think i may have gotten some reef rash so i have to keep an eye on it....

i just wanted to see if we were wimps or not - there were 2 other couples ATV'ing with us and they were hardcore crazy, but they all did stuff like that before, DH rode quads a lot but never on those kind of trails and with me on the back it was more scary for him....so im glad you thought it was nuts too! after what you said about the girl in the bikini i am SO GLAD i wore sweatpants and one of DH's t-shirts - i looked like a dork but at least i didn't give anyone a show

---

DH and I did those ATVs to the Natural Pool back in 2006! I was the only one who rode on the back with DH, instead of on my own ATV, and I was SO glad I did!!! The other girls who rode alone were getting stuck and holding everyone up! That was some crazy ride but SO much fun!!!