Westin Aruba?

Hi,
Does anyone have any feedback from the Westin in Aruba. I know alot of people say go to the Hyatt but they have no all-inclusive package there whereas the Westin does. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

We're staying at both the Hyatt and Westin in December (we're using points at both).

Like the above poster said, the Westin is brand new.

We own a timeshare through Starwood so we try to stay at their resorts whenever possible and we have yet to be disappointed, especially with Westins and the Luxury Collection hotels.

I have a friend going there to stay this weekend. I will let you know what she said about it when she gets back

I sent my clients there for thre honeymoon

they loved it! They called me wanting to extend there HM for 6xtra nights...i did what they asked!

im very confident you will like it- not many 4* All Inclusive in Aruba!

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Posted by ali120206

Like the above poster said, the Westin is brand new.

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Hi girls...

I am staying at the Westin Aruba in late Oct. for my 1st anniv.

I hate to burst your bubble but the Westin is not brand new at all. It used to be a Wyndham hotel and Starwood took it over in Dec. 2006 making it a Westin. But the building itself is not brand new at all...in fact I hear the grounds are in major need of renovations/fixing up.
Starwood did re-do all the rooms when they took it over so the rooms will feel new - new beds, decor, flat screen tv's, etc.
But the pool area looks so outdated compared to all the other hotels on the high-rise strip there. I have heard they are going to put in a new pool within the next couple of years.

I believe the Hyatt, Marriott and Radisson are said to be the 3 nicest hotels on the strip. They look a lot more up to date than the Westin. DH and I chose the Westin for our anniversary trip b/c we got an amazing deal....our total package for air and hotel is costing what flights to Aruba alone would normally cost - we just couldn't pass it up. It gets very mixed reviews on Trip Advisor but DH and I are so laid back and pretty easy going - I think we are going to love it.

Just wanted to clarify this so no one was fooled thinking the Westin was a brand new property.

I will gladly post pics and a review when we get back in Nov...

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by ali120206

Like the above poster said, the Westin is brand new.

---

Hi girls...

I am staying at the Westin Aruba in late Oct. for my 1st anniv.

I hate to burst your bubble but the Westin is not brand new at all. It used to be a Wyndham hotel and Starwood took it over in Dec. 2006 making it a Westin. But the building itself is not brand new at all...in fact I hear the grounds are in major need of renovations/fixing up.
Starwood did re-do all the rooms when they took it over so the rooms will feel new - new beds, decor, flat screen tv's, etc.
But the pool area looks so outdated compared to all the other hotels on the high-rise strip there. I have heard they are going to put in a new pool within the next couple of years.

I believe the Hyatt, Marriott and Radisson are said to be the 3 nicest hotels on the strip. They look a lot more up to date than the Westin. DH and I chose the Westin for our anniversary trip b/c we got an amazing deal....our total package for air and hotel is costing what flights to Aruba alone would normally cost - we just couldn't pass it up. It gets very mixed reviews on Trip Advisor but DH and I are so laid back and pretty easy going - I think we are going to love it.

Just wanted to clarify this so no one was fooled thinking the Westin was a brand new property.

I will gladly post pics and a review when we get back in Nov...

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Was just there last week and what the above poster said is exactly true. They are re-doing one side, so its in construction.

We stayed at the Divi Divi AI and it was aweseome..if you are looking for High Rise-Riu Palace was aboslutely GorgEOUS-and the Hyatt and Marriott were also nice.

WHAT!

I just went on my honeymoon and stayed at the Westin- Aruba.

It was amazing! The rooms are brand new- we had 2 flat screen televisions- marble bathroom- soup to nuts.

All of the all-inclusive restaurants are amazing. We didnt even need to leave the resort. Everything was super clean!

I loved everything about it!

As newlyweds, they give you champagne, tee-shirts that say (Honey- in pink for the wife - and Mooner - in blue for the husband) - also a free night stay for any time in the next year and a half.

It was by far the best vacation I have ever been on.

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by ali120206

Like the above poster said, the Westin is brand new.

---

Hi girls...

I am staying at the Westin Aruba in late Oct. for my 1st anniv.

I hate to burst your bubble but the Westin is not brand new at all. It used to be a Wyndham hotel and Starwood took it over in Dec. 2006 making it a Westin. But the building itself is not brand new at all...in fact I hear the grounds are in major need of renovations/fixing up.
Starwood did re-do all the rooms when they took it over so the rooms will feel new - new beds, decor, flat screen tv's, etc.
But the pool area looks so outdated compared to all the other hotels on the high-rise strip there. I have heard they are going to put in a new pool within the next couple of years.

I believe the Hyatt, Marriott and Radisson are said to be the 3 nicest hotels on the strip. They look a lot more up to date than the Westin. DH and I chose the Westin for our anniversary trip b/c we got an amazing deal....our total package for air and hotel is costing what flights to Aruba alone would normally cost - we just couldn't pass it up. It gets very mixed reviews on Trip Advisor but DH and I are so laid back and pretty easy going - I think we are going to love it.

Just wanted to clarify this so no one was fooled thinking the Westin was a brand new property.

I will gladly post pics and a review when we get back in Nov...

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Sorry, I wasn't more clear - I meant that the Westin was recently opened - so the rooms have been redone - the structure isn't brand new.

I just came back from Aruba--we stayed at the Westin, and I have made it my mission to talk everyone out of staying there! The front desk staff was VERY rude: our key card did not work when we got there and after 3 trips up and down bet. our room and the lobby the girl workig there finally sent someone up to take a look --> nevermind the fact that I asked her to send someone after the 1st time I had problems... instead she treated me like I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to swipe a card! During my third discussion with the check-in staff, another guest who was waiting to check out overheard our conversation and said to me: 'I've been here for a week and my card has not worked either!'.

The tub was disguisting!!! This is something we learned was a problem in other rooms as well, as we heard others complaining about it too. I also had to leave a note EVERY DAY asking for washclothes to be left in out bathroom, and I only got them 3 times -- we stayed there for 6 nights.

Aruba is great, and my friends who've gone love it, too, but they've all stayed at the Hyatt or the Marriott. The Renaissance is another favorite. I hope you have a wonderful time, I wish my experience at the Westin was better....

PS: You have to go on one of the safari trips through Da Palm Tours. That was the best part of our trip!!! We were a bit sceptical, as group tours can be cheesy, but this was amaizing!!!

Have fun!

Kamila

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Posted by KMK

I just came back from Aruba--we stayed at the Westin, and I have made it my mission to talk everyone out of staying there! The front desk staff was VERY rude: our key card did not work when we got there and after 3 trips up and down bet. our room and the lobby the girl workig there finally sent someone up to take a look --> nevermind the fact that I asked her to send someone after the 1st time I had problems... instead she treated me like I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to swipe a card! During my third discussion with the check-in staff, another guest who was waiting to check out overheard our conversation and said to me: 'I've been here for a week and my card has not worked either!'.

The tub was disguisting!!! This is something we learned was a problem in other rooms as well, as we heard others complaining about it too. I also had to leave a note EVERY DAY asking for washclothes to be left in out bathroom, and I only got them 3 times -- we stayed there for 6 nights.

Aruba is great, and my friends who've gone love it, too, but they've all stayed at the Hyatt or the Marriott. The Renaissance is another favorite. I hope you have a wonderful time, I wish my experience at the Westin was better....

PS: You have to go on one of the safari trips through Da Palm Tours. That was the best part of our trip!!! We were a bit sceptical, as group tours can be cheesy, but this was amaizing!!!

Have fun!

Kamila

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Washcloths are apparently an American thing. Lots of resorts in the Caribbean don't even have any washcloths to give you...I learned that a while ago when visiting the Dominican Republic so now I always stop at either Costco or TJ Maxx and pick up some cheapy wash cloths for our vacations to the Caribbean and throw them out when we're done with them. I don't think that's a strong enough reason to not stay at a hotel b/c they didn't leave you washcloths....but that's just my opinion.

Key cards are electronic and get de-sesitized very easily - can happen anywhere. Sorry it happened to you so often. Again - not a reason I wouldn't stay at a hotel.

I have heard lots of mixed things on the Westin but for worse reasons than you're stating. Your mishaps sound like little annoyances - I wouldn't try to persuade others not to stay there b/c of these little annoyances.

I'm heading there in a month so will be sure to give a full report when I get back.

The person who just honeymooned there sounds like they more than loved it so I am not too worried...

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Posted by KandE917

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Posted by KMK

I just came back from Aruba--we stayed at the Westin, and I have made it my mission to talk everyone out of staying there! The front desk staff was VERY rude: our key card did not work when we got there and after 3 trips up and down bet. our room and the lobby the girl workig there finally sent someone up to take a look --> nevermind the fact that I asked her to send someone after the 1st time I had problems... instead she treated me like I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to swipe a card! During my third discussion with the check-in staff, another guest who was waiting to check out overheard our conversation and said to me: 'I've been here for a week and my card has not worked either!'.

The tub was disguisting!!! This is something we learned was a problem in other rooms as well, as we heard others complaining about it too. I also had to leave a note EVERY DAY asking for washclothes to be left in out bathroom, and I only got them 3 times -- we stayed there for 6 nights.

Aruba is great, and my friends who've gone love it, too, but they've all stayed at the Hyatt or the Marriott. The Renaissance is another favorite. I hope you have a wonderful time, I wish my experience at the Westin was better....

PS: You have to go on one of the safari trips through Da Palm Tours. That was the best part of our trip!!! We were a bit sceptical, as group tours can be cheesy, but this was amaizing!!!

Have fun!

Kamila

---

Washcloths are apparently an American thing. Lots of resorts in the Caribbean don't even have any washcloths to give you...I learned that a while ago when visiting the Dominican Republic so now I always stop at either Costco or TJ Maxx and pick up some cheapy wash cloths for our vacations to the Caribbean and throw them out when we're done with them. I don't think that's a strong enough reason to not stay at a hotel b/c they didn't leave you washcloths....but that's just my opinion.

Key cards are electronic and get de-sesitized very easily - can happen anywhere. Sorry it happened to you so often. Again - not a reason I wouldn't stay at a hotel.

I have heard lots of mixed things on the Westin but for worse reasons than you're stating. Your mishaps sound like little annoyances - I wouldn't try to persuade others not to stay there b/c of these little annoyances.

I'm heading there in a month so will be sure to give a full report when I get back.

The person who just honeymooned there sounds like they more than loved it so I am not too worried...

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Thank you, and I look forward to your truthful and honest review next month. We are getting this honetmoon for free from FFIL and if it was a shack in Aruba we would still have a great time together. I have heard many people who truely loved this resort and I hope to be one of them. I also agree with you that to make sit your mission to get people not to stay here b/c of key problems and no washclothes is ludacris. Give me a real complaint and maybe I'll start worrying

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Posted by jteach711

We are staying at the Westin Aruba. From what I heard it is one of the nicest resorts on the island and its brand new. I don't have any pricing info b/c ffil has a time share and got us it as a present.

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It is definately not a shack, but it is not the nices either. You will have a great time. Aruba is gorgeous, the water is breath taking. Make sure you sign up for the bus that takes you club hopping and out to dinner. Very fun. The Hyatt and Marriott are the nices resorts there. I was there on my HM and I stayed 2 resorts down from the Westin. My gf stayed there. She enjoyed it for the most part. The service ***** at most those resort.

Hi girls...

Just back from my 1st Anniv. trip to Aruba and as promised I am working on my review of the Westin. We had a great time...Aruba was really nice and relaxing. They have some really amazing NY quality restaurants there which we were pleasantly surprised by.
We thought the Westin was just fine. Nothing to complain about at all. They are currently doing some construction to the lobby so the main lobby is closed completely but honestly we didn't know we were even missing out on anything. The lower lobby is where you check in and it's fine - the spa and lots of shops are down there. I never saw the main lobby so had no idea on what we were missing out on there.
The rooms are great - totally redone. The bath tub itself was a little dirty but nothing that I haven't seen in other hotels. Service was great...all the staff were friendly and would go out of their way for anyone.

And surprise surprise we had an abundance of wash cloths left for us every day! LOL if you read the previous posts in this thread!!!

So if you are headed to the Westin Aruba you have nothing to worry about! I just posted some restaurant suggestions in another Aruba thread out there on the Honeymoon board.

Hey if you are headed there for a special occasion make sure you mention it. We got upgraded for free to a better room b/c I mentioned at check in that it was our 1st Anniv. trip and on our 2nd night they left us a bottle of champagne with a Happy Anniv. note which I thought was so great!

So I highly recommend the Westin. Sure the Hyatt and Radisson and maybe the Mariott all on the same strip seem a little more up to date and nicer but we thought the Westin was just fine...no complaints at all.

Any questions feel free to ask...in the meantime I'll get working on my review! Will post some pictures tomorrow!