Aruba

Where have you all stayed in Aruba and can you give me pos/neg feedback on it.

TIA

I stayed at the Renaissance Ocean Suites and it was amazing! I went there for a destination wedding. Diagonally across the street is the Renaissance Resort & Casino. Both of the hotels are connected and offer shuttle service between the two.

I like the suites better b/c it has less of a hotel vibe and has more open space. It also has a small private beach and a better pool with a swim up bar. The staff is great and there is a restaurant on the premises as well.

The Renaissance Resort & Casino is where most of the bridal party stayed but they were at our hotel everyday b/c it had a better pool and easy access to the bar. However, this hotel is good b/c it has a couple of restaurants and bars, casinos, and high end shopping. There is also a boat that takes you to a private beach from this hotel

All along the strip there are places to eat and shop and they also have a movie theater. Either way, you can't go wrong but the suites were fabulous. Good luck

we got engaged in aruba. i would totally go back there for our honeymoon because i feel it was the perfect vacation. there is so much night life, beautiful beaches, and sooo many restaurants. we stayed at an all inclusive hotel which i would not recommend doing all inclusive in aruba because there are so many restuarants to choose from! we stayed at the divi all inclusive which is on eagle beach. it was very private. it was not in the high rise area -where the beaches are shorter are more crowded. we had our own private balcony literally right on the beach. eagle beach is very big and private so i def recommened booking a hotel somewhere over there.

we stayed at the marriot surf club - its a timeshare - it was gorgeous

i wouldnt do all inclusive - too many good places to eat there - for the most part the beach was nice all along the strip of hotels - the riu looked really nice, like a palace

I have stayed at the renisance resort and casino and also the marriott ocean club (timeshare) i liked the first one better. Its away from the other hotels and in the center of town so you can walk everywhere. They also have a private island with hammocks and 2 sides (adult and kids) it is filled with flamingos and georgous.

aruba is absolutly fabulous, i have been there 6 times and counting.. lol

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

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Posted by FutureMrsKuehne

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

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when we stayed at the divi we actually thought the drinks werent good at all so we ended up drinking their local beer pretty much the whole trip ...

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Posted by FutureMrsKuehne

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

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we stayed at the occidental grand which is all inclusive...it was AMAZING!

ita about all inclusive being the way to go...you can still go out to the restuarants for some of your dinners or whatever...but you will still save so much money bc you aren't forced to buy 3 meals a day, not to mention all the drinks! If you are like us we drink a lot out on the beach during the day and it will totally add up if you have to pay for it all..

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Posted by MrsC2010

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Posted by FutureMrsKuehne

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

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we stayed at the occidental grand which is all inclusive...it was AMAZING!

ita about all inclusive being the way to go...you can still go out to the restuarants for some of your dinners or whatever...but you will still save so much money bc you aren't forced to buy 3 meals a day, not to mention all the drinks! If you are like us we drink a lot out on the beach during the day and it will totally add up if you have to pay for it all..

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the occidental is in out timeshare book - do you have to do the all inclusive there. FH doesn't drink and I knwo when i go on vacation i dont eat 3 meals a day so it really wouldnt be worth it

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Posted by RitasEngaged

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Posted by MrsC2010

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Posted by FutureMrsKuehne

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

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we stayed at the occidental grand which is all inclusive...it was AMAZING!

ita about all inclusive being the way to go...you can still go out to the restuarants for some of your dinners or whatever...but you will still save so much money bc you aren't forced to buy 3 meals a day, not to mention all the drinks! If you are like us we drink a lot out on the beach during the day and it will totally add up if you have to pay for it all..

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the occidental is in out timeshare book - do you have to do the all inclusive there. FH doesn't drink and I knwo when i go on vacation i dont eat 3 meals a day so it really wouldnt be worth it

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honestly, i am not sure if you have to do all inclusive. It seemed like everyone did, but I am not sure if they have an option to not have all inclusive..def check it out though bc the hotel was amazing. we didnt have any complaints!

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Posted by MrsC2010

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Posted by RitasEngaged

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Posted by MrsC2010

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Posted by FutureMrsKuehne

we stayed at the Tamarijn all inclusive, the sister resort of the Divi, both are amazing...u get all inclusive to both so u can drink at all bars, eat at all restaurants,

and IMO all inclusive is still the way to go cuz we like to drink!!! we eat out at the restaurants in aruba, or downtown in the shopping areas, but still paying for all of ur alcohol would kinda suck dont u thinK????

---

we stayed at the occidental grand which is all inclusive...it was AMAZING!

ita about all inclusive being the way to go...you can still go out to the restuarants for some of your dinners or whatever...but you will still save so much money bc you aren't forced to buy 3 meals a day, not to mention all the drinks! If you are like us we drink a lot out on the beach during the day and it will totally add up if you have to pay for it all..

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the occidental is in out timeshare book - do you have to do the all inclusive there. FH doesn't drink and I knwo when i go on vacation i dont eat 3 meals a day so it really wouldnt be worth it

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honestly, i am not sure if you have to do all inclusive. It seemed like everyone did, but I am not sure if they have an option to not have all inclusive..def check it out though bc the hotel was amazing. we didnt have any complaints!

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Thanks I will because I have heard nothing but good reviews about it

I have another question for you ladies

did you guys rent a car while you were there.

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Posted by RitasEngaged

I have another question for you ladies

did you guys rent a car while you were there.

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we also stayed @ the occidental and LOVED it!!

we rented a car on the last day we were there to drive to Baby Beach

ETA: the occidental has different 'degrees' of inclusive-ness... like you can have ALL inclusive with drinks and food, or just with food, just with drinks and i'm pretty sure there is an option for not inclusive

nope didnt rent a car...lotsa excursions include p/u and drop off in their prices, and cabs werent too expensive to go to certain restuarants etc...

also, whenever wed go shopping downtown we took the public bus...its not dangerous at all, i think it was alot cheapre than if we rented a car


oh...and nina, that stinks about ur drinks!!! FH and i were WASTED every night both times at the tamarijn!!!! we had 2 fave bartenders Ray and John and theyd put a floater on top of every drink i got, plus fill up the straw w/ the vodka, and not let me leave the bar til they saw me down the straw shot!! LOL like i wasn't allowed to mix it!

but the divi wasn't as good like that when we'd drink there, so maybe thats why...if u ever go again, spend more time at tamarijns bars...tip them good once and they remember u...john and ray knew us the second we got back the second trip...

good people in aruba, i love it!

We stayed at The Hyatt and LOVED it!!!!!!!

If you have specific questions FM I will gladly share.

I would not stay at an all-inclusive -- so many good restaurants to choose from!!!!