Ritz Carlton Aruba

Just returned from my annual trip to Aruba. Where I spend my days on the beach and in the Carribean Sea. and my nights at the casino at the Ritz Carlton. This year I did rather well on the Mystique Unicorn slot on both Monday and Saturday. On Monday I hit for $955 and Saturday for $1010. Thank you Mr. Carlton

 

How is the Ritz casino?
Last time I went to Aruba, we went to I think a casino in the Marriott. Very unimpressed!
Wife & I are going back in October, might check out the Ritz.

 

I went to the Ritz about two weeks after it opened during the day time. It was virtually empty, I think 4 other people in the whole casino. I stopped going to Marriott Casino because it's just to much smoke in there.

 

Aruba is my other happy place. We spend 2 weeks at our timeshare every January; this year I'm going again in July.

 

We went MTFS and it was busy all the nights. We go after dinner and a stop at the Gold Palace jewelry store (happy wife happy life) so around 10 p.m. and stay until 12 or so. Always have a good time, free drinks just like Vegas. I like it better than the Marriott. Aruba is an island 12 miles long and has 12 casinos. Ritz is the best in my opinion.

 

Great hits.

As far as casinos go in the Caribbean, I think it gets no better than the Ritz Aruba. Great service, loose slots and you are at the Ritz. Headed back for Christmas, hope to find that Unicorn is still paying!!

 

The Unicorn is in the bank of slots right in front on the cage. Hit em hard.

 

Glad to hear this! I'll be staying there in 57 days....but who's counting!

 

Did you play any tables? What kind of minimums for craps/blackjack I wonder?

 

I stayed at the Ritz Carlton Aruba for a week over Christmas/NYE, went to the casino 4-5 nights and played exclusively craps and blackjack. Early in the week when the resort was less busy craps and BJ were both $10 minimums. Closer to NYE, minimums were split between $10 and $15. There is one craps table and probably 4-6 blackjack tables. Even when the casino was busy I never had an issue getting a spot to play craps or BJ. For BJ it was a combination of 3:2 and 6:5 where 3:2 would normally have a minimum $5 higher although sometimes they were the same(!). Crazy to see people playing 6:5 when a 3:2 table was adjacent with open seats. Double odds for craps although when it you can place $25 in odds on a $10 pass line, $50 on $20, etc if I remember correctly.

I really enjoyed the casino. Dealers were nice, smoke was minimal and drink service was fast. As someone already pointed out, drinks are free.

 

Scarne309 summed it up pretty well. I did play UTH it was $5 min. and I looked at craps which was $10 all the times I was there. They also offered caribbean stud and roulette. I don't remember Baccarat.

 

A funny thing about the Ritz Aruba, with as many people that bitch about Vegas resort fees, what do you think they would say about the 15% of your nightly rate Resort fee at this property!!?? Even I find it a bit off putting on our Christmas booking at nearly $400/night resort fee, but it is what it is. It will sell out in a matter of weeks

 

Does anybody have any experience with the Club level rooms....is it worth the extra cost? Seems like it might be on the surface but then maybe not real convenient to have to go back and forth to get the food and beverage offerings?

 

We never stay in the High Rise Area. We stay on Low Rise Area on Eagle Beach. If you want the most relaxing resort you've ever experienced check out Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort! Also Adults only! If you're thinking about going I would book at least 6 months or more in advance.

 

This is where my wife & I go!! It's our favorite resort we've ever been to. 3rd time going there this October.
You are correct it is the most relaxing vacation!

 

I just booked an October trip at the Marriott next door for October.They offer a similar club experience.
The reasons you stated are exactly the reason I chose not to do it.
The cocktail service was not all day.I did not have to wander up to the club to get a beer .

 

Wow, it's not cheap. $1k a night (thereabouts) before food and expenses. Glad I get points on my credit card lol

 

Yes it is not cheap, plus the beach isn't great and it is in a not great location. I stay at the Hilton at the other end of Palm beach and walk up to the Ritz almost every year. I don't know that I would ever want to stay there.

 

Let me state that no way on earth is the Marriott Executive Lounge experience anywhere near the same or even in the same conversation as the Ritz LOL!!! I'm a Platinum Marriott member and you get Marriott Exec level complimentary, not so with the Ritz. Having said that, for most people it wont be worth it, but for us we always do Club Level, in our opinions there is no other option. Top shelf everything, and decent food offerings. The Aruba Lounge is pretty great so makes for a great place to go have some pre-dinner/pre-gambling cocktails and their concierge is top notch. You check in there, you check out there (if you want) they will set up all your tee times, dinners etc etc. Sitting in the Ritz Bachelors Gulch lounge as we speak typing this, sipping a Makers rocks!

 

Yeah and over Christmas it's $2500/night, so those points add up quickly! Just booked 4 rooms on the CL and earn a cool 500K points, those will over course get transferred to my Starwoods account for a much better value (IE 200K skymiles when transferred)