The Occidental Grand Aruba is a very nice all inclusive resort with a beautiful beach. When we paid for the all inclusive in advance we requested a 5th or 6th room with a pool view based on other reviews. We were given a 3rd floor room with a pool view. Upon entering the room, my wife noticed a musty odor. I turned up the AC in the room but by late evening there was no improvement. The next morning we requested a new room and were moved to the 6th floor. The room didn’t have a pool view (not a big deal) but it smelled clean and was great for the rest of the vacation. The food at the all inclusive was good and there was a nice variety. The four restaurants were all very good with the appetizers better than the entrees. Since we booked though RCI, they made all our dinner reservations in advance so that was not an issue. The Mexican restaurant closed the night of our reservation but we switched to another night without issue. The wait staff in all locations was excellent. Housecleaning was prompt and thoroughly cleaned our room every day. The beach was great but you do have to go down around 6AM to get a prime spot. The bars are good. The beach bar has low end liquor but all other bars have decent brands (CC, Absolut, Bacardi), you just have to ask for them. The Creamsicle was my favorite drink at the pool bar. Went on an excellent jeep tour of the island with ABC Tours. Strongly recommend this and hopefully you get Marshall as your tour guide. Aruba is a wonderful place for a vacation and I would recommend the Occidental Grand Aruba as a place to stay.

Just got back from the Occidental yesterday. We travel a lot and always look at the reviews to get some sense of what to expect. Well I want to tell you that the concenses in our group was thumbs up to the Occidental. From the time we arrived we were wisked up to the ninth floor and thats where we met Viviane. She was pleasent and accomodating. We had forgotten a peice of luggage at the airport and notified Viviane. She contacted the airport and had her husband pick it up and deliver it to the front desk. Now thats going above and beyond.
We stayed in the Royal club and it was just like all the positive reviews. We did not see any signs of insects anywhere. The food was exellent and a good variety. Freddy at the Lobby bar was very polite and very entertaining. I have been to five star hotels and recieved less value for my money. Don't listen to the negative comments. Go enjoy your stay. The beer is cold the alchohol is plenty the pool is great and the Ocean is beautiful.
The only thing is people reserving huts and not showing up. I think if a fee was to be applied this would be rectified.
Satisfied Canadians

1. Location: Cannot be beat on the island. Best beach by far.

2. Palapas: get out EARLY and reserve yours by the towel system.

3. Food: UPGRADE to the royal club. The private restaurant was fantastic and you are treated like royalty. You have the same staff everyday that works very hard to cultivate a relationship with the guest. They aim to please and provide extra service. This is NOT to take away from the rest of the hotel staff, that does its best and works very hard to accomodate. We ate at the a la carte restaurants. The Italian restaurant is the best. The Palm buffet was mediocre, but if you upgrade to the Royal Club you probably will only do lunch there, which is adequate as a beach break.

4. Drink: UPGRADE to the royal club. Better liquor. the bars are adequate. No mojitos though, which was surprising.

5. Cleanliness: Hotel is very clean. Our room was spotless, cleaned every day, plenty of towels etc. Had a lack of hot water issue, but worked out okay.

6. Room: Odd numbered rooms in Tower 1 view the ocean and lighthouse. Rooms on the 9th floor (royal club is 7, 8 and 9) have larger balconies, which was very nice. View was great. We were in room 1921.

6. We had a great time! Night life could use improvement on campus.

7. Staff was great.

From Beginning to End, I had the Vacation I had Hope. The Easy part is the Weather & The Beach. As much Sun & water Activities as You Wish. Every Day Jessica would have Ready The Palapa With a Ice Bucket of Cool Beverages and Treating Us like Family. Fine Dining in the Restruants was always Enhanced by the friendliness of the Host [ especially Amando ] and Staff. I will miss most of all the Staff at the Royal Club where we had our Daily Breakfast. Fanny & Melvin were great and I look forward to seeing them again