I go to Aruba with family and friends at least once a year and its always a blast. I have stayed at the Stellaris, the Ocean Club and the Surf Club. I like them each for different reasons. We usually stay at the Ocean Club because it is located in the middle of the "complex" and you have central access to everything. There are a few nice shops and a good sports bar. The pool area is also a lot less crowded than the new Surf Club pool area, although the Surf Club's pool area is much newer (fresher) and much larger. Aruba is a very windy island but for some reason it is much more noticable at the Surf Club (perhaps the design of the building) you have to anchor down everything (could just be the area we choose to sit in). I stayed in a room at the Stellaris only once because the air flowing in the room made my husband and I congested the entire time we were there (we have not had this problem in the other rooms) but the facilities (restaurants, shops, casino, and pool area) are very nice.

Definately take the time to walk the length of the beach and check out the other hotels (shops, bars, restaurants) we like to stop at the Pelican Cove located on the pier down the beach for appetizers and drinks. The outdoor bar next door to the Surf Club (Mambo Jambos) has great atmosphere and good drinks.

Favorite Restaurants on the Island:

You have to go to Madam Jeanettes, its a favorite for sure. I have loved every dish I have ever ordered from this restaurant. It has a beautiful, fun atmosphere.

I really enjoy La Trattoria at the lighthouse. The view is beautiful from this outdoor restaurant. The high altitude offers a great panorama of the landscape. The trattoria filet is great (I think I'm naming the correct one, it has strawberry's in the description).

El Gaucho is good (once) for serious meat lovers.



Every year we rent our own 4 wheelers and trek across the island, its a blast. Be sure to carry a backpack with water, sunscreen, goggles (at least glasses), camera. We go around the lighthouse and across the back of the island by all of the traditional sites (church, gold smelting fort, etc) and up the road to the Ostrich Farm for a smoothie. Then we continue on to the Donkey Sanctuary where you can leave a donation in the mailbox outside of the gate (to care for the donkeys), you can let yourself in and walk right up to the animals . From there we continue on to the natural pool (this is a difficult ride even on 4 wheelers but its worth it) for a swim. The water is clear in the pool and if you have some bread the fish will put on show around you. From there we continue through the national park towards the beach where there is a bar literally in the middle of nowhere (its really cool). We stop there for fish and margaritas (everything has to be weighted down because it is very windy at this outdoor bar). If we aren't out of time (on the first go-round you will probably have gone the wrong way a few times and be short on time) we continue to the caves and from there for a short but relaxing swim at Baby Beach. The water at Baby Beach is extremely shallow for a very long time - its nice, I have heard that there is good snorkling farther out. After that its def. time to get back.

I would not go to Carlos 'n' Charlies, I have had very bad experiences with the staff. There are also a lot of people that hang around outside hoping to sell illegal substances.

We stayed at the Ocean Club for a week in January. It was our first time using our timeshare points to trade and we really enjoyed our trip. We stayed in a regular hotel room which was equipped with a small refrigerator and a toaster and microwave. Our room was on the second floor and we had a view of the beach area. It was very convenient to walk out to the beach every day. We ate at the Marriott Hotel restaurant every morning which was a huge buffet but expensive. It cost us $20 each, we should have gotten food in for breakfast as we usually don't eat much for breakfast anyway.

Every morning we went to the towel hut and reserved a palapa (beach shade tree). We swam in the beautiful green water and then took a nap on the beach. The beach had a dropoff as you entered the water that had lots of shells in it so I suggest water shoes. After our naps we would order a drink or lunch from the waiter on the beach. Heaven is laying on a beach and having someone bring you lunch and a froo froo drink.

At 3 pm it was happy hour in the pool bar so we would go swim for a while there and get drinks, (2 for 1 but only the specials of the day which were 2 frozen blended drinks and 2 on the rocks drinks). After our afternoon swim we would go shower up and take a taxi to one of the many fantastic restaurants in the area.

The only real issue we had was the uncomfortable situation when guests from the Surf club would come to the Ocean club pool or beach. The staff would notice their towel colors (each propery has different towel colors) and chase them away. I understood but it was still odd.

All in all, we enjoyed the Ocean club and would definitely stay here again.

We just got back from our 2nd stay at Marriott properties in Aruba in less than a year - July 2007 at Surf Club and Jan/Feb 2008 at Ocean Club. Ocean Club was much less crowded than Surf and appeared to have a bit older clientele on average. We traded our Marriott Grande Vista (Orlando) timeshare for a 2-bedroom at the Ocean Club. The suite/villa was nice, but very average. I am a picky girl and the moldy caulk in the shower grossed me out. Overall the furnishings are a bit dated, but not horrible. I would think a refurb would be called for in relatively short order. Ocean Club tells you that every room is Oceanview. This is not true. We could not see one speck of blue from our 1st floor pool view room. It was still an acceptable view, but not an ocean view. The staff is pleasant and helpful, but the internet connection painfully slow and the concierge/front desk phones don't get picked up quickly. Pool drinks are not inexpensive - a Pina Colada is $9 before tax and tip with a virgin Pina Colada being $6 before tax and tip. The big value we found at the Marriott was the side order of french fries. Good fries, a heaping portion for only $3 + tax and tip. Not the healthiest snack for sure, but it was a good value. Manadara Spa was acceptable and if you go, make sure you're appointment times are confirmed and that they have the treatment correct. I've had multiple scheduling issues with them and who needs aggravation at a spa when you go there to de-stress. Not alot of nighttime dining options at the Marriott. Simply Fish is very good and a lovely setting. Ruth Chris' was not open at the time of our trip, leaving Simply Fish as the only on-site dinner option (other than LaVista which we don't really care for - but we are "foodies"). All in all, Ocean Club is a good option for a trade, but I would not pay the nightly rate of $625 for the 2-bedroom that we had. Nice grounds, nice staff, nice pool. I would go back on a trade for sure.

stayed at ocean club for 5 nites...had a wonderful time..room was perfect...2 couples in a 2bdrm unit..we shopped at ling and son, b4 we arrived at hotel. asked taxi driver to make a pit stop..no problem..forgot to buy our booze at the duty free store at airport, so bought it at ling and sons..had brkfst and lunch at our unit, went out (outside hotel) every night for dinner. once we arrived i went right over to conceirge to make reservations for dinner at chalet suisse, flying fishbone, madame janettes, papiamento, & screaming eagle. Loved flying fishbone, long taxi ride there and back, but well worth it. Chalet suisse was also nice, didnt love madame janettes, ambiance was nice but lots of big parties around us, and food was just so so, screaming eagle was the least liked for everyone in our party, very shi shi, and meals were very luke warm, even when i asked him to reheat it...they didnt reheat, they gave me another dish of same meal...ugg, so i ate it. Papiamento was our most favorite...sitting at tables around a pool with lights and wonderful landscaping all around, food was very good.
well took a day to get used to the routine of the palapas..but we faired very well...had to pay but it was better than getting up at 7 am or sooner to stand in line for the towel hut to open and reserve one.
i havent been to aruba for 8 yrs, last time there...the motor boats were very loud...they are not so close anymore to beach so it was much better.
we didnt have best room for viewing, 1st floor way all way near the stores., but it was fine...we spent most time at bch.
we didnt get into town on time...by the time we arrived all stores had closed...ck b4 u go into town...
staff was frndly, i would def go back, but im not a creature of habit...walked by the riu palace..looks awesome...i want to try that next time...
the one thing i didnt like about the beach ..was walking along all the beach front hotels...for the most part there is a paved walkway, that travels all the way down the beach except for one spot in front of a restaurant (bar) and holiday inn...had to walk thru sand...it would be nice if they could fix that little issue for those that like to power walk.
taxi fare adds up...next time id prob rent a car..at hotel...to get a small one. and taxi back and forth to hotel from airport.