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Aruba Hotel: Traveler Reviews


Hotel class 1.0 of 5
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1215 Las Vegas Boulevard South, (formerly Thunderbird Hotel), Las Vegas, NV 89104
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Best fare found from Detroit to Las Vegas: $255

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60% Do not recommend
3.0 of 5 stars 39 reviews
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Worst Hotel we've ever stayed at!

Aruba Hotel

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1 of 5 stars
lil_hottie_00200   1 contribution
Apalachin, New York
Jul 25, 2008 | Trip type: Couples
4
people found this review helpful

We booked this trip with tripres.com, which I must add they corrected all issues we experienced by switching hotels for us.

Aruba Hotel has got to be the worst experience we have ever had. The entire description is incorrect and the photos are deceiving. We arrived to the hotel late, as the flight was a late flight. We had to check in at the bar, which had buckets catching drips of water from a ceiling that isn’t in the photos of the bar. Once finally getting checked in, we walked through a maze over the roof and along a long hall, very long walk for being one of the very few guests at the hotel. Once arriving at the room, the floors were all ceramic tile with two throw rugs, not vacuumed (debris all over). The room was bland and barely had the regular amenities of a hotel. The bedspread was ripped and falling apart, once removing the bedspread is the true horror. There was hair all over the pillows and sheets including a pair of hairs attached to a scab... that night we slept on the top of the sheets and covered ourselves with a blanket that we had with us. Once daylight came and we left the next day, we were able to see everything much more clearly which included the pool, which we only looked at from afar but it followed the deceiving photos argument. We did not notice anything that made this hotel a spa either, just 8x10 paper signs made by hand labeled “hotel & spa”. The surroundings weren’t the best that Vegas has to offer either. Across the street is a strip club, which may be a plus for some. On the strip side of the hotel is a whole line of drive through weddings. Just to add to this, we've only talked to one person our entire trip that has even remotely heard of this hotel, and that was only after a cab drove us all around Vegas trying to find the thing. No shuttle bus goes there or picks up there even though its downtown. A travel hint for Vegas is to stay away from Cabs. Thirty bucks per trip each ride. The deuce goes up and down the strip and if you can’t get to something from the deuce when in relation to the strip then it isn’t worth it because it makes it impossible to get around in Vegas that way.
Pros about this hotel would include: clean towels and the bathroom seemed clean although didn’t feel safe using it. We used the towels for pillows.

  • Liked — Honestly, there was nothing good or best about this hotel!
  • Disliked — Please read above review!
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay July 2008
  • Visit was for Quality time with family
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 18-24
  • Member since July 25, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? No
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Spa, Other
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: €35 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Be ready...

Aruba Hotel

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1 of 5 stars
doom78   2 contributions
NY
Jul 10, 2008 | Trip type: Friends getaway
2
people found this review helpful

Me and my friends were very disapointed! There was terible hotel service, dirty rooms, disqusting bathrooms with NO towels. We asked for towels couple times, they promised to bring them and they finally did last night (2 towels for 4 people:o). We are not picky people but this one was too much.

  • Liked — Nothing
  • Disliked — dirty room and bathroom
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
    • 3 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay July 2008
  • Visit was for Hobbies / interest / culture
  • Traveled with Friends
  • Age group 25-34
  • Member since May 04, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? No
  • I recommend this hotel for Pet owners
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Other
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: €35 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Do your research

Aruba Hotel

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1 of 5 stars
ViaggioLover   1 contribution
Southern California
May 19, 2008
2
people found this review helpful

Normally, we read reviews but didn't in this case and chose to stay here because a trusted music event had held their annual festival here a few months ago and after looking at the website thought it looked like a decent place. Big mistake! I would not recommend this place to anyone. By looking at the photos on their professional website, we had the impression that it was a cool old school hotel that had been refurbished with a nod to their historic past. Sadly, the place is just old and rundown. It seemed that everything that could go wrong with the room did. We actually had to switch rooms twice and even had to buy our own sheets and pillows at Target since theirs were unacceptable (hair and stains), they didn't have any extras (all sheets and blankets were being cleaned). The towels had stains, everything in the room had the general feel of squalor. Thank goodness we had our own car and could escape to buy these necessities. The pool was cloudy, so didn't use. We were stuck staying here because all rooms seemed to be sold out in other hotels or cost 400+ and didn't care to spend that much. We relearned a valuable lesson- research, research, research. On a side note, the general staff was fine but management should be ashamed to run a place with such blaring issues.

  • Liked — Nothing, other than its interesting past as The Thunderbird
  • Disliked — Everything! Cleanliness was the biggest problem and the misleading website, i.e. internet (actually costs 5.00 a day and is only in the lobby!, pool looks great on website and is actually pretty gross w/dirty water, parking lot needs work/repaving)
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
    • 1 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay May 2008
  • Member since May 19, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? No
  • I recommend this hotel for Pet owners
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Gambling / Casinos, Other
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: €35 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Whoop! Whoop! When can we go back??

Aruba Hotel

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4 of 5 stars
SusiesaurusRex   1 contribution
WA
Apr 15, 2008 | Trip type: Business, Couples
3
people found this review helpful

We were heading to Vegas on a business trip, then decided to make it a longer stay and have some fun. We picked the Aruba because it has a pool, restaurant and lounge on the property. (We were on vacation after all!) AND... The price was certainly well within our budget!!
Once we navigated the airport(!) We had no problem getting to the hotel- we actually took a limo- THAT was fun, and probably an unusual sight to pull up to the Aruba in a limo!
The check -in staff was very friendly and helpful.
The first elevator we came to didn't work, ugh! Our room was on the third floor! Whew! The second elevator worked and was much closer to our room.
I was VERY skeptical what to expect of the room after reading many of the reviews, but I was delighted! Beautiful area rugs on the tile floors, and I think tile is much more sanitary than carpets anyway! The bedding and curtains were lovely. It's obviously an older building, and things are kinds run down, but what the heck, we are there for the town, not the room.
Our next stop was the lounge-
WOW! Amazing history in there! The old photos are wonderful, you can FEEL the history and excitement! The bartenders are outstanding!! AND... it's happy hour from 6am-6pm!!! That's a LOT of sweet happiness in a cup! :)
We proceeded on to our next adventure on the property-
The Pool.
WOW! FUN!! We had a blast! Being from Washington State, we were overjoyed to be in the sun and the heat and had a hoot in this big beautiful pool!
After swimming and cleaning up, we next tried the restaurant on the property. Now, I am not saying that everyone's experience will be the same here, but... We found the restaurant, Esteffany's, I believe it is called, to be an enormous let-down. They did not have the first items we ordered off the menu. Our food took an hour to get to the table (and we were the only people in there) and the food when it did arrive, well. Let's just say I have never had instant mashed potatoes served with chicken Parmesan before, nor do I ever hope to again. One really GREAT thing about the restaurant- The VEGETABLES were HEAVENLY! Zucchini and carrots....... yummmmmm... wish I had some of those now!!
We stayed there 5 nights and 6 days and yes, we will go back. It is great to be off the beaten path, away from the crowds, within walking distance to anything we need, and any further- Hop on the Deuce! Wow, the double decker bus- ride once for $2 or pay $5 and get a 24 hour pass to ride as often as you like. It takes you from the crazy "strip" up to the Best area- FREEMONT! Wow, go there! The Aruba is in the middle of it all, away from them, but close enough. We spent one entire day just hanging around the neighborhood, and we did not see hookers, beggers, etc. Just a lot of newly wedded couples! :)
The very best part of the Aruba experience was the people- They ALL were wonderful to us and made the trip more fun.

Yes, you can stay in the glitzy, costly hotels, but you are more likely to get robbed, snubbed, spend all your money, overwhelmed, and not experience the history you get being in the Old Thunderbird.

We love this place, and we will be back!!

  • Liked — PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE
  • Disliked — The Restaurant- only real downfall to the place.
  • My ratings for this hotel
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
  • Date of stay April 2008
  • Visit was for Business
  • Traveled with Spouse / significant other
  • Age group 35-49
  • Member since March 28, 2008
  • Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
  • I recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I do not recommend this hotel for Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
  • I selected this hotel as a top choice for Other
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Was this review helpful? Yes
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Check Rates ABS:HotelCheckRates-d91950?ext=true&src=ShowUserReviewsHotels&fromServlet=ShowUserReviews&Action=QC_Button_Reviews
Average price*: €35 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
Use common sense and Aruba makes sense.

Aruba Hotel

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2 of 5 stars
allstarnonstop   1 contribution
Baltimore MD
Mar 17, 2008
5
people found this review helpful

Just returned from Las Vegas and yes, I did stay at The Aruba. Reason being, the usual places I book were either sold out on one or more nights of my stay, or were off the charts pricewise due to conventions and spring break. After reading some other reviews of this place I have to say ... use some common sense when evaluating this place. Before taxes the average nightly rate was 34.00. That should tell you something. Also, realize that this location is north of the Stratosphere along Las Vegas Blvd in an older section of the strip that .... imagine this ... is somewhat of a seedy neighborhood. The building is old, the exterior paint color is horrible, the parking lot needs much better lighting at night and is in need of repaving. However, the actual rooms sit back off the strip about 60 to 75 yards, my room was spacious, clean and very average. The bathroom looked like it had been remodelled in the last year or two. Basic tv, basic phone, older drapes ... all for 34.00 a night. The staff was great, and one night the night clerk actually walked me to the room as it was very late.
This isn't Caesars, it's not even Motel 6, but in a pinch all things considered it was more than adequate for one guy for one week on business. Not a family, not a couple, one guy. If one uses common sense you'll be fine here. Restaurant there is ok, just ok, but for the last time ... 34.00 a night this will certainly meet SOME people's needs.

  • Date of stay March 2008
  • Member since November 22, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: €35 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
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Aruba Hotel Also Known As

  • Aruba Hotel Las Vegas
  • Aruba Las Vegas
Address: 1215 Las Vegas Boulevard South, (formerly Thunderbird Hotel), Las Vegas, NV 89104