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Aruba

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by Gdicke13, Apr 30, 2014.

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  1. Gdicke13

    Gdicke13 Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    Just got back from 7 days in aruba w my wife and 6 year old son. 4th trip...it was so great I'm thinking of making another trip there in july(air and hotel are super cheap then, not to mention wonderful marriott and jet blue points are a help!) stayed 6 nights at the marriott and 1 night at the new ritz carlton(wanted to try it and marriott points took care of it) both are fantastic properties. Anyone thinking about a Caribbean trip, I can't recommend the island more..it's the most revisited island and I know why. Great restaurants, safe, beyond friendly people(taxi, check in, waiters etc) marriott and ritz casinos are good(it's not vegas..but it gets the job done) good rules at the marriott..all blackjack is 3-2 even $10 tables. Slots were looser than expected...hit $1000 on back days on a $1 WOF machine! For sports betting degenerates(like me!) they have 2 sports betting kiosks easy to use and you can bet on everything. Aruba restaurants are fantastic. Not an island to do an all inclusive...so many to try and again safe island, no worries about being in the wrong area. Paid for the trip and then some at the casinos (was up a massive amount, then got cocky...oops!!! Not a good strategy) can't wait for vegas in late June...a return to aruba depends on my luck!
     
  2. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Happy to hear you enjoyed my favourite location, it's been my home away from home for 27 years! I own timeshare at Playa Linda and The a Phoenix. Don't tell anyone....but I <3 Aruba more than Vegas. Shhhhhhhhhhh!
     
  3. sam

    sam Low-Roller

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    Is there only one Marriott in Aruba? How was the airfare? Thanks for the information. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I have been there but on a cruise ship so did not stay long. Did a catamaran sunset cruise that was fantastic and I always said I would like to go back and stay.
     
  4. CVG2LAS

    CVG2LAS Tourist

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    Love Aruba! One of the best things about it: it almost never rains!
     
  5. jaybert

    jaybert Low-Roller

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    I enjoyed aruba too. We stayed at the radisson which has a really nice pool and beach. The only thing I'll disagree with is the food. I thought it was generally overpriced and mediocre, pretty standard touristy restaurants in the high rise area. To be fair, we didn't venture too far out without a car and with a baby.

    Also of note is the casinos are not 24 hours, which I guess is standardish in much of the carribean. Usually slot machines are close to 24/7, bit table games open in the afternoon.
     
  6. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Thanks for the insights. How's the water? Snorkeling/water sports? Golf? Hiking or history? So EZ for us to just flop on over to Hawaii v. the Carib but we do need to get down there some time. Casinos? Not so much for us.
     
  7. oghuman

    oghuman VIP Whale

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    There is the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, and two timeshares next to the hotel. The Marriott Aruba Ocean Club and The Marriott Aruba Surf Club. The Ritz Carlton is also in the Marriott family. Ocean and Surf Clubs have no casinos.
     
  8. Jerseyguy

    Jerseyguy MIA

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    It's not really a golf destination like HI

    More of a beach ,watersports,gambling ,partying island.Different from most Carib. islands because its not lush tropical rain forest ,rather dry desert .
    Trade winds blow just about every day. A small island ,not a whole lot of history like other islands ,plantations,pirates and so forth. I think Americans discovered the place when Esso built an oil refinery there years ago. Some good restaurants and shopping there . As an avid golfer and non gambler I think you would like Bermuda much better,just my opinion.
     
  9. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    I'm seriously thinking about checking out Aruba next winter. How is the video poker in those casinos?

    Any idea if they follow Nevada regulations? Paytables?
     
  10. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Thanks, jersey! Beach and party doesn't suck. lol I'm not a non-gambler. We just don't need a casino everywhere we go.
     
  11. goblue55

    goblue55 Tourist

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    Do the Aruba casinos comp drinks?
     
  12. Gdicke13

    Gdicke13 Low-Roller

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    2 courses 1 9 hole new course and a Robert Trent jones 18 hole championship course. Fantastic course, great sights, wonderful layout. The winds though, oh the winds..they play havoc w your game. Speaking of the winds. It's almost a constant 20-25mph wind. Takes about half a day to get used to IMO. the breeze keeps things comfortable. Temps are almost a constant 90 degrees. Nice warm but not hot or stuffy nights. Lots and lots of high end shopping(for those into that) LV, zegna, tag hauer, Rolex etc. actually found some really good deals. The water is great crystal clear. Many places to snorkel including a ww2 ship. Water sports of all kinds are everywhere. Many restaurants have Argentina beef, which I find terrific. Yes restaurants are expensive, but it's the Caribbean and almost everything is imported. We have taken a horseback trip of the island which was awesome...atv, jeep tours as well...again can't speak enough of the people....only drawback is A LOT of Bostonians make aruba a regular vacation spot, so if you hate us, you may want to look elsewhere, we are like a virus that has spread around the island lol!!
     
  13. Big Tip

    Big Tip VIP Whale

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    But do the Aruba casinos comp drinks?
     
  14. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Yes they do.
     
  15. buckeyetodd

    buckeyetodd High-Roller

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    30 trips to vegas but only 2 to aruba. aruba my favorite by far.

    all the casinos are smallish but if you are up by the resorts, you can make an entire night of walking from casino to casino.
    yes the casinos are closed during the day but when you got all that unbelievable beach, why open?

    have snorkeled twice there, once with aruba bob where you use a little james bond type hand held propeller to take you thru the water.

    rode horses the first trip on the western shore where the waves are rough and where the natural bridge "was", it collapsed a few years back. that side of island also has an abandoned fort which is pretty cool.

    once we stayed at a condo by eagle beach, the first time we stayed at the renaissance in oranjestad. liked that they had two casinos and a private island for sun bathing but was away from all the other resorts.

    is very windy but that helps with the heat.

    i would encourage anyone who enjoys the beach to visit aruba once and then decide how many more times you want to go.

    todd
     
  16. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Just booked a Labor Day weekend trip to the Ritz Carlton August 30-sept 3. Anyone know how the Ritz is there? Also how's the weather during end of summer?
     
  17. jaybert

    jaybert Low-Roller

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    Second hand info, but I was told while the ritz is nice, it's not up to the level of standards you'd expect from a RC. I think they just opened up reasonably recently, so could just be growing pains.

    I've only been in winter, but my research told me that it's essentially the same weather year around.
     
  18. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Ritz is on the far end of Palm Beach and is new. I am certain you will enjoy. Get out and explore away from the hotel as well.....Aruba has fantastic restaurants. The weather is quite constant all year; Aruba gets very little rain. I go for the last two weeks of January and the first week of September and the weather is always perfect with a cooling trade wind.
     
  19. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    That's what I have read on some reviews on trip advisor.
     
  20. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Thnx for the info. I think we will just be missing each other?
     
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