The hotel is clean and on a great location but I found the property needed several upgrades. The gym had three of the four treadmills broken. The rooms were also clean but they looked like they have had a lot of wear. I do not think this is due to neglect from holiday in but more than likely from the large number of people that visit the island and stay at the hotels.

Overall it was a great stay and the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. I too found it odd that I had to wear a band to identify me as a guest yet I never saw anyone looking at my arm to see if I belonged there or not.
My one complaint was room service. I had called several nights to order room service and I always had to keep calling because no one would answer. Maybe they were understaffed but once I even had the operator try to get a hold of room service and after a five minute hold she just told me that she would track someone down and call me back. In a few minutes she called back but this was a daily thing which I found a little odd.
I would stay there again and I would recommend it because it is a great price to stay at that location.

My husband & I, and another couple stayed at this resort in april 2011, happy about the room parcial ocean view,the beach is beautiful, same the swimming pool. The food is just ok not great, drinks are not good everything was serve in to plastic cups even inside at the bar and very washed down , pina coladas not even close to the real taste all sugar down , plus when your book all inclusive, your assume even some rum & coke or other is free instead we have to paid for'it, for some shade you have to get up at 5 or 6 in the mornning and line up to sign up for one spot at the beach and for towells as well. .At night there was nothing to do really dad in the hotel ,not music or entretainment, we went across the street were all happend the music the shops the ice cream patios etc...!!!! However we try to enjoy the best we could, because the weather is excelent and so is the beach,but the disapoinmnet part is we like to get away to relax away from everyday routine , and did not help to get up early to line up in the morning to get towells and spot everyday not so good ! We will go back to Aruba ,but not to this place :)

This was our 3rd time back to the Holiday Inn in Aruba. The first was in 1999, the second 2009, and the third this past October. The beach is the big draw to this resort - it is longer and wider than the adjacent resorts. Not sure why but the water was not nearly as clear as before, almost murky. We stayed in the Bonaire Tower, 6th floor, room # 6617. Very updated and bathroom was brand new. Book this room if you go here. The resort was kept up well enough and the staff was very friendly and accomodating. Some changes I have noticed over the years....the food has steadily gone downhill with each visit. We always take the all inclusive so it can be disappointing. Ironically the Iguana Bar had better finger foods while the restaurants struggled. My advice : hire a top notch chef and a real onsite (not substitute from another function) restaurant manager and problem is solved. They have to keep their red wines at the proper temperature and not standing in the hot weather. I prefer wine but switched immediately after being served a glass of hot red wine - yuck. Other than the food it served our purpose for a 5 day/4 night getaway. Pack your own snorkel equipment. They stopped including non-motorized watersports equipment last year. The casino was dead and next to no night life here, maybe because it was off season? All in all we enjoyed our time at this resort but now that our son will be turning 13 and no longer fits the Kids under 12 stay and eat free criteria we will be moving on. I was able to justify moderate lodgings and less than medicore food because I was only paying 3K plus change for 2 adults and 1 child. Now that he's classified as an adult we will try the Divi or RIU next. Bon Bini!

Stayed in the Aruba tower. The room was very clean and updated with nice furnishings. The bathroom was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. We had a small balcony with two chairs, an end table, and a view of the garden and the ocean. There was a small refrigerator in the room which came in handy for storing cold drinks, snacks. The common areas in the hotel were nicely maintained. The staff were not super attentive or friendly, but we didn't have any bad experiences. The beach -- which is why you go to Aruba -- is great. The hotel has a very good system for reserving a palapa. The beachside bar is convenient and makes good drinks -- the food was only ok. The pools are really nice -- one for kids, the other for adults. There were plenty of lounge chairs.

The high-rise area is busier than the low-rise area which means that the beaches are a bit more crowded and less peaceful than the low-rise area. The advantage to the high-rise area is that there are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. This is a Holiday Inn -- it is not a luxury property -- it is very well run and well maintained. This hotel is a great value.