writetorich

Yeah I'd be interested.
or Maybe not. My analysis of the comments seems that there is what gamblers would call "high variance".

FT'ers either seem to really really like it /love it.

Or hate, regret or at a minimum not happy. I'd look for a property with greater consistency.

Like something where most say "really good:. nice enjoyable stay.

writetorich

I appreciate that Aruba is not easiest place to get to , but also not so far out od the way,
Jetblue AND Southwest both service as well as the legacies.

I don't think that a longer than typical cancellation property is unreasonable.
But for large Hiltons I tend to see 14 to 21 days , if they deviate from normal 3 days, and the penalty tends to be full first night prevailing rate.

I think 60 days is a customer unfriendly policy. c'mon is is a big box convention hotel with hundreds or rooms,

These policies tend to be for 15 to 30 room hotels ( Not hiltons obviously).


And while many Honors require FULL payment upfront , ( maybe to show you are serious) , its one night penalty most of the time.

More common is a required cash deposit for the first night only , if on all point standard room reservations,


I think Aruba Hilton's policy just tends to reinforce the " inflexible " and rigidity and this property .

nk653

I just booked a trip for myself, wife, mother-in-law and two kids (1 y.o. & 3 y.o.) with two rooms (1 king & 1 double) for April 20 (4 nights).

The cancellation policy seems pretty relaxed: If your plans change please let us know – it’s free to cancel or update your reservation by 11:59pm local hotel time on Apr 13, 2018.

I have Diamond status, and looking forward to free breakfast at minimum. An upgrade would be awesome. I'll update after the trip.

qed

The Aruba Tower (1) has standard rooms on levels 3 thru 7 and Palm Beach Club rooms on levels 8 and 9. Bonaire (2) has rooms on levels 1 thru 4 and Curacao (3) has rooms on levels 1 thru 6. Walking from the main lobby to Curacao requires either one flight of outdoor stairs down or the use of Bonaire's elevator. Once you are checked in, you can park (22) right next to Curacao. The best views are from the upper floors of Aruba. Most of the ground (= first) floor rooms in 2 and 3 have sliding doors to the outside. Have fun!

Milhous Gloriosus

I'll be there in March. We like Aruba, but this will be first stay at this property. Anyone been there recently?

Milhous Gloriosus

Anyone? Any recent reports? Diamond experiences?

brp

We will also be there in March (9-12) as Diamond. I guess we'll find out together

Cheers.

writetorich

yeah , take a look at christmas week / new years and other "high peak times"
This is a convention hotel with hundreds or rooms. Aruba is mnot that remote to get to ,
If it was a 12 room boutique hotels that was a a difficult location to get to , I could see 60 days.
Also I expect not as liberal over "festive" period" as the hotels call xmas / new years.
but 60 days is way excessive
30 or 21 would have been understandable, AND you dont lose first night penalty , you lose everything. meanwhile last Xmas they were 100% booked even using diamond force, so did the charge two different HHonors member for the same room????????

I have never seen such a large hotel with a 60 day policy.

writetorich

BRP please share your experience.
of course march 9-12 is not super peak season

ARLT

i just came back from a stay at the hilton aruba as a diamond member. they no longer offer free breakfast at the laguna restaurant. the policy was changed 2 months ago to only offer a $25/day dining credit for my family of 4. continential breakfast at the laguna is $10, but the buffet ranges from $20-$26/person so $25/day doesn't quite cut it.

i was not offered an upgrade at check-in. when i asked, they said nothing was available and i got a room on the 5th floor in the curacao tower which is the furthest from the beach.

no access to the executive lounge as they rebranded it to the palm beach lounge and you can only have access if you book those rooms. overall, a terrible experience as a diamond. i should have stayed at the hyatt next door.

JohnMI

Yeah, it's a shame that this place just hasn't been great since the change to a Hilton.

JohnMI

Can anyone confirm if the resort fees are still waived (most of them, at least?) if you book using points?

When I went a couple of years ago (once just before and once just after the Radisson->Hilton conversion), all of the fees (except maybe room hospitality fee?) were waived if you paid with points. I'm curious if that is still the case.

- John...

SilverGoat

We stayed at this property for 5 nights on points in March. All Resort Fees were waived due to our stay being fully on points. As stated above, the Executive Lounge is gone, it is now the Palm Beach club and only for guests staying in that part of the hotel (formerly the HHonors floor(s)) of the Aruba Tower.

Overall we liked this hotel for proximity to beach and restaurants, but we also almost ended up at the Hyatt next door which appears just as nice. Removing the Executive Lounge was a step backwards.

-Goat

JohnMI

Thanks for the info -- that is what I was looking for -- much appreciated!

EDIT: Two more questions -- what level are you and did you receive a dining credit for breakfast like the user above mentioned?

- John...

SilverGoat

At the time I was Gold. We received 2 coupons per day for the length of our stay, but there were 3 of us. The coupons were accepted at Laguna for breakfast buffet or had a cash value if used in the Coffee Shop around the corner from the Front Desk. The new credit system seems like a further downgrade.

-Goat