i stayed at the RC Aruba in August 2014. the other reviews here are correct - it is a very peaceful, relaxing hotel to stay. if you are looking for a high-energy vibe, you would be better to select one of the other hotels. the grounds are beautiful - yes, it is windy at the beach, but it is windy throughout all of aruba all the time. the difference is that this hotel is at the far end of the beach, and they do not have the beach littered with palapas - a huge bonus in my book. there are two pools, and they do enforce that one is adults only. i was relaxed the entire time i was on the beach or at the pool. (the cabanas right along the pool's edge are fantastic - definitely reserve one in advance if possible).

since the hotel has just been opened a year, it does have that new hotel feel. the rooms were what one would come to expect from a ritz carlton - and each room has a great balcony. the common areas are not run down, and hopefully the management will continue to keep the property in top notch shape. the staff as a whole were great - there were a few missed steps here and there, but that is to be expected from a hotel that is still trying to establish itself.

the food outlets are expensive, but that is what you come to expect at a ritz carlton. this is not the right hotel for anyone on a tight budget - you come to the ritz because you want a relaxing experience and are willing to pay for it. too often you find people who want to stay at the ritz because of the name and they want to think they can live the luxury lifestyle but they are not willing to pay for it - i am sure those are the people who complain about this place. it is not cheap - you have been warned. if you want a cheap place, choose a different hotel along the beach...

a word about the "resort fee" - i have come to expect that a resort fee is more of the norm these days instead of the exception. IIRC, the resort fees at the RCs in both Grand Cayman and St Thomas were $60 per day. in Aruba, there is a "Service Charge" equal to 14% of your room rate per day. i have mixed feelings about this "service charge" - it is another word for resort fee, and it covers internet, non-motorized water sports, use of spa facilities, and so forth. since it is a percentage, it varies for each guest - and that bothers me. is someone who is paying less than me using any less of the services? i think not. it is just a way to see revenues increase. but what can you do? i will stay here even with the service charge.

we visited several other hotels in the high-rise hotel area. each had something different to offer, but i was happy with my choice of the ritz. it felt great and relaxed when we went home. it did not seem overcrowded even though the hotel was at near capacity - and i was told that was by design. even almost in a sell-out situation, you had no problem getting a chair poolside or a beach umbrella. and that is what i was looking for in my vacation. i cannot recommend it enough. (wow, i sound like a RC commercial)