After reading some of the reviews for this resort, I felt that I should write my own. I have been going to Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club since it first opened and LOVE IT! The very first time we went they had just built the resort, and my family and I decided to buy a 2bedroom/2bath villa, and we have been going back ever since!
The beach, the activities, the pool, the rooms, the restaurant's, the shops, everything is perfect! They have a great beach, just make sure you reserve a palapa early in the morning at the front desk (We like to reserve ours by the Vela Windsurfing Area because its quiet and it has a great view). Now there are 3 different pools within the resort, one at the Hotel, one at the Ocean Club, and one at the Surf Club. My kids love the benefit (pool hopping) all day because each one is very different. Although on some of the reviews they say you cannot go from pool to pool, we have learned that as long as you do not carry a towel from your place to the other pool's you should be fine. We usually leave our towels at our palapa anyways and jump in the pool before the security guards see if we have armbands. Sure we feel a little guilty for this but hey, you pay for the whole resort you might as well enjoy all of it! Also the windsurfing in Aruba is amazing. That was the main reason we came to Aruba our first time and we love Vela Windsurf right next door! My kids and wife started windsurfing when we came back the second time, and they all have gotten pretty good at it. My oldest son is learning how to kite surf which is a new experience for all of us to watch. The rooms are always nice to and they always update them each time we go. If you can try to request an ocean front room, they are bigger and have a huge balcony! After you stay in one of these you will never want to leave!
Also, the restaurant's around town are great! Sure the one's by the hotel's are going to be overpriced and crowded, but if you drive or take a cab into Oranjestad, you will find some of the best local restaurant's in the world, and for a very cheap price! The restaurants and market's at the resort are very expensive, but you are going to find that at all resorts! We go to Ling & Sons for groceries, it is just like a regular Kroger or Publix back in the States and has a great selection of food. Behind the Holiday Inn, The Hyatt, and the Grand Occidental, their is a street of restaurants that are also very good. Usually we will go to Tango which has great food and also live shows, right next to that is a great little pizza kitchen that is sit down and very relaxed, and then once every trip to Aruba we will go to Texas de Brazil which is an all you can eat steak house. It might sound a little disgusting but it is really an upscale and expensive steak house with a fixed price. These 3 restaurants are all great and their are many more right next to them that we love to go to and are just a short walk from the hotel(we usually walk on the beach to get to them, then cut through the hotels).
The Ocean Club is my favorite resort in Aruba. We have tried a few other places that I will tell you about. We stayed at the Hyatt for 3 nights and enjoyed it but just not worth it. The rooms were tiny and you could get a 2bed/2bath ocean front at the Marriott for about the same price as as small king room at the Hyatt(and that does not have a kitchen or anything)! We also stayed in Aruba for 2 weeks one time, the first week at the Ocean Club, and the second at the Surf Club because Marriott gave us a free week. We had a 3bed/3bath which was very nice but was not ocean front. It was a little bit nicer then the Ocean Club because of course it was newer but it was a huge building and very overcrowded. Each time we wanted to go somewhere we had to wait forever to get an elevator, whenever we walked in the main lobby we felt like we were at some huge resort in Florida. It just was not as quite as the Ocean Club and we did not enjoy it as much.

Sure, Aruba does have some flaws but every place will. You just have to learn how to get around these obstacles and deal with them. The Aruba Ocean Club in my opinion is one of the best resorts in Aruba and we will always love coming back.

I like Aruba very much and I am a big fan of the Marriott Resort Club experience. Two years ago I stayed at the Marriott Surf Club next door. If you are looking for a more family place - I would suggest the Surf Club. If you are looking for a quieter place to get away then choose the Ocean Club. The only negative is the pool sharing agreement between the two properties has been suspended until further notice.

The Ocean Club is an older property and it shows in certain areas. However, for the location and the amenities - still a great place to go.

I stayed at the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club the week before Memorial Day. There were good things and bad things about this resort.

Pros:
Great beach, clean and clear water
Easy to reserve palapas
Pool for small children
Not over-crowded like the Surf Club
Quiet and relaxed atmosphere while the Surf Club felt like I was going on Spring Break.
Free internet in your room if you bring your own computer
Very convenient to have a kitchen in your room.

Cons:
- Rooms are in dire need of renovations. While the rooms aren't in disarray, everything is quite old and outdated. Good thing they will be closing in the off-season to do renovations. The Marriott Stellaris underwent (still on-going) renovations and that hotel looks much more modern and chic.
- Only 1 free change of towels/sheets during the week stay. You can pay for additional changes.
- If you forget anything at home or run out of something, the market in the hotel is quite expensive.

Since there is a dispute between the Ocean and Surf clubs, you can't use the other club's pool/beach area. Upon checking-in they give you a piece of paper that tells you this.

Would I go back?
I would after they did their renovations. If you are going soon, I would recommend the Marriott Stellaris, Westin or the Hyatt.

The Ocean Club at the Marriott Aruba is the best for all-young old and in between. The accomodations are great! The staff is great! Construction on Ocean Club will start next year so we are not going back until it is done. Momma Beach breakfeast is great. Scream Eagle restaurant at Eagle Beach is great. My wife and I love the island and when we get home, we want to go back.
Rest and Relaxation on the Happy Island is the motto for Aruba
You can't go wrong!
Mr. & Mrs. DK