It was our first time in Aruba and we got a recommendation from a friend about Amsterdam Manor. We considered staying in the 'high rise' area, so glad we didn't. Amsterdam manor was much better for us. The biggest plus for me, no crowds. We visited the high rise area and it's full of people - crowded beach and traffic. AM was ideal for our 2 kids, 14 and 11, they could come and go as much as they wanted. The beach and pool, very close. The road to the beach was easy to cross, just look both ways. As long as you got to the beach by 10:30 or so, there are open umbrellas for shade (you will want shade during the middle of the day). The rooms are nice and priced better than the high rises. Most of the guests seemed to be European, which was fine with us. As for the smell, not a big deal. In fact you cannot smell it from the hotel, beach or pool. Only noticeable when you drive away with car windows down. Don't let that stop you. Food at the beach was OK, not great. We did not have dinner on the beach, but did walk on the beach in the evening and the tables are lite up really nicely. Overall, really liked AM. If you want a more peaceful vaca, pick this and avoid the crowds. It's a 5/10 minute drive if you want to eat or shop at the high rise spots.