bombnthud

Just got back from a 3-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Aruba over the long weekend. The hotel had been showing as "Not Available" for quite a few months, but many rooms opened up the week prior to my stay. I'm guessing many canceled their trips due to Aruba moving up to CDC level 4, but I found the island to be very safe. Some impressions:

- Booked a standard 2 queens room (3rd floor room with no balcony) with points. As far as I could tell, there's very few of this type of room on the property. Every room faces out toward the ocean (with the lower rooms obviously having less of a view), and the standard points room are the only 3rd floor rooms without a balcony (Juliet or full). Standard and premium suites were available with points as well, but decided to go with the cheaper points option and hoped for an upgrade. Was upgraded to a 4th floor room facing the adult pool, albeit one on the corner close to the elevator and therefore having the smallest Juliet balcony out of all the rooms. Was told by a couple of different staff that the hotel was only 30% occupied, so they were very stingy with the upgrade (out of 9 floors). I'm only an Explorist due to cc, so I didn't push back.
- Renovated room looked great to me. Spacious room and bathroom. The rooms on the adult pool side don't get to see the sunset, but we just hung out at the beach for sunset.
- Pool complex was terrific. My kids loved the waterslide. Since occupancy was low, we never had to wait for the slide or either of the hot tubs. Chairs available everywhere. Really couldn't have picked a better time to go. I had considered the Hilton next door since I had a couple of FNCs, but it wasn't available. Went to check out their pool areas and I thought Hyatt's was much nicer. (However, there were fewer boats out in the water in front of the Hilton vs the Hyatt, so you could argue the beach is nicer.)
- Beach was great and water was clear. Nothing to see here for snorkelers. Also, palapa reservation times must have changed, as we were told and were able to make reservations starting at 12pm for the next day. Again, no issues with finding one due to the low occupancy. Even grabbed a front row one for free in the late afternoon one day. The Delphi watersports shop is right on Hyatt's beachfront. Was able to set up parasailing for the family easily.
- Only tried Balashi Bar (the swim-up pool bar) out of all the restaurants. They have a kids menu though it wasn't on display; I only knew because it was on their website. Easy enough for lunch everyday at the pool. Did breakfast and dinners off-site since the hotel is so close to the main drag. Highly recommend Fisherman's Hut. I don't recommend YOLO Aruba (close to the new Radisson Blu) - got ripped off.
- Gym is pretty decent. One room with the cardio and weight machines, and a separate room with dumbbells and other free weights.
- Camp Hyatt was right next to gym rooms, but we didn't try that out.
- Didn't get to try the casino - I didn't bring enough cash.
- Asked for late checkout of 12:30-1pm. Granted 12pm. Again, front desk was stingy and I really don't see why.
- Saw a sign for $35 COVID antigen tests at the nearby Paseo Herencia mall. Decided to do the tests there versus $50 at the Hyatt. No problems.

Overall, great stay and would most likely return, though I'm sure it will certainly be more crowded the next time.

m1chael

Stayed for four days this past weekend. Booked on a whim without much research other than hotel availability and cheap direct flights ($300 RT from MIA).

Same thing happened to me.

Booked the 2-queen 25k/nt point option. As a Globalist, the app said I could check-in and pick between a Resort View and a Resort/Ocean View. Also noticed that the app asked for check-in/out times, but wouldn't let me select a check-out time other than 11am.

Didn't complete app check-in. Got to the desk and the receptionist said they had Resort/Ocean on the 5th floor or Resort View on the 9th floor. Opted for Resort/Ocean on the 5th. They gave us room 511 - also on the corner close to the main elevators - which had a straight-on view into the neighboring rooms and a craned-neck view of the resort/beach.

Checked the app and Hyatt was still showing Partial Oceanfront and Balcony rooms available, so I went down to the desk and asked if there was chance of switching to a different room. They switched us to, what I believe is a Resort View with Balcony - room 568, but at the end of the hall, with a direct view of the resort/beach. Room was larger (600-sqft vs. 380), with full balcony, and located on a much quieter hall.

Same/similar experience and agree with everything else bombnthud said above.

Other notes:

• Occupancy was very low. No rat race for chairs or palapas. Everything very laid back. I could see enjoying the resort less at fuller occupancy.
• They just switched to the new Regency Club on Monday, January 24.
• The pools might not be cold, but they are definitely not warm.
• Drinks are $12-15. If you walk three minutes up the beach to the adjacent Playa Linda resort, they have a beachfront "Beach Bar" with 2-for-1 $8 drinks through 7pm.
• Food, drinks, restaurants on the island are nothing special. Zeerovers is a fun experience for a fresh-caught fish-fry (try to skip the weekend lines). The Kitchen Table is fine, but it's also $250/head with the wine pairing. Nothing blew us away.
• You probably only need a car for one or two days. Our car sat in the parking lot unused for half our trip. Taxis were always cheap and easy. Every bar/restaurant will call you a taxi. They also now have Bird scooters for shorter jaunts.

kirkpd

Can anyone comment on the newly opened Aruba Regency club? Hours? Amenities? Food and drink offerings? Going in May.
Thanks in advance.

bds123123

Same question bump

bds123123

Club was nice. Food was solid for the hors d'oeuvre portion. Breakfast at the restaurant was buffet style but very tasty. Beer and wine from 5-7. Nice views, indoor and outdoor seating.

platbrownguy

Glad to hear nothing has changed 👍

nas6034

Tried random dates throughout this and early next year and don’t see any points availability.

yqx733

Was told that globalist breakfast is at the regency lounge instead of the restaurant option. Anyone had recent experience can comment on the quality of that? I’ve never been a fan of the lounge breakfast and hearing about this disappoints me a bit.

surikatina

Just returned from this resort last week. Breakfast, which is buffet plus made to order eggs/ omelet included is only served in the Palms Restaurant and not in the lounge. The lounge has a coffee / cappuccino machine and soft drinks beginning around 7am and small snacks such as cookies and nuts but no breakfast food. 5-7 pm will have more substantial food and veggies with wine and beer as well. Please note that you will be charged extra for any specialty coffee such as a latte or cappucinno at breakfast.

Chris2142

Just returned from a points stay, and breakfast buffet is at the Palms, and then the Regency Club opens at noon for snacks, and in the evening for great food choices, free drinks including beer and wine, etc. This is a very nice club, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. A picture of the outside area is attached. The service was incredible, with at least two, and sometimes 3 people manning the Regency Club at all times.

PortlySpartacus

What is left on the plate in the picture? It looks like a half-eaten meringue. Please explain

Steph58

Seems most folks here stay on points, but I was all set to book 5-6 paid nights and use a suite upgrade. Then I noticed on the price breakdown that there is a "service charge" listed. In calculating it's hefty--$54/nt on a $364/nt rate. Globalist line didn't know so called the hotel front desk who stated it's a government tax of 25% and, therefore, would not be waived for Globalists. Five nights at the $364 rate mentioned the breakdown shows: Occupancy tax $238, Service charge $327, Environment AHATA $21. I checked the price on a room at Hilton and they list a 15% Service Charge, and 9.5% tax, but explain on their web site that the Service Charge is actually a resort fee.

Looks like Hyatt is doing the same but front desk is stating it's all government tax? Perhaps I should send an inquiry to someone other than the front desk.

platbrownguy

It's neither a tax nor a resort fee: it's a service charge, just like the 10% service charge in the Maldives that isn't waived for Globs. Think of it as a well-established mandatory gratuity. It's not government mandated as far as I'm aware, but it's also not a "resort fee" in the sense of the daily fees that have certain inclusions and that are covered by Hyatt Globalist status or Free Night Awards.

I've stayed on cash a few times (as a Globalist) and it's not waived. I think I had the same reaction you did the first time, but then I got there and it's a pretty great place so I got over it.

It also seems to be the practice at other hotels -- Hilton might be fine calling it both a "service charge" and a "resort fee" because there's no resort-fee waiver in that brand (Diamonds still pay resort fees). And it's definitely the practice at tourist-strip restaurants... service charge is included, but when it is, there's no expectation of a tip.

If you're a 60-night glob and have a Concierge, send them an email, but my view is that whoever you spoke with at the front desk just gave you a bad answer. Happens.

Steph58

platbrownguy, Thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions. Today I did read back in the thread, starting with 2017, and learned a lot. It sounds like they love you at HR Aruba! Yes I am a 126 night Globalist (2021), so I have a MHC and 4 suite upgrades that I haven't been able to use. Okay I accept they aren't going to budge on the 15% service charge, so I'll just accept the nightly rate being +$50. MHC's assistant said it's a "service tax" and won't be waived. For the most part only family suites are available. Even more confusing is the other standard suite is the Cayena suite, however, only the Cayena suites on the lower floors are standard--high floor Cayena suites are premium. Good grief. In any event, only a couple of days with Cayena availability and for just 2/3 nights. I read your description of said suite for your stay from August 2020. As of now I'm going solo so don't really need a family suite, basically just want a room with a full balcony. Will need to ponder what to do. Not likely I'll find anyone wanting to come with me willing to sleep in a bunk bed! But I'm really frustrated with never being able to use my suite upgrades. MHC for the past year hasn't done anything that I can't do myself online. Thinking about staying at another resort--maybe Baha Mar.

platbrownguy

Definitely no need for the family suite. The Cayena suite is the new name for the Executive Suite which I had on most of my stays before. There's really no difference between the regular (3rd floor) and the "high floors" (it's just 4th & 5th floor) except that the 3rd floor is directly above the club lounge so there's some potential noise there I guess. But you'd hear it from the 4th & 5th too. During the day you have the water slide right in front of you and then the pool area and then the beach. At night there can be some noise from the hot tub. I don't know, still a great room and worth the TSU for the extra space and the ocean view.

The Cayena suites are in the shorter south tower (it only goes up to floor 5) -- the real premium rooms are on the ocean-facing end of the taller north tower. Those & the Cayena suites are the only ones with full balconies. The mini balconies on the other rooms are kinda small. There are plenty of folks who book the north tower oceanfront rooms for cash for the same week each year, etc., or who pay cash on short notice, and I don't think the hotel has any real incentive to give those rooms away.

End of the day, if you're solo, maybe another place would indeed be better. I thought it was a deal at the Covid prices I was paying, and then I enjoyed returning with friends & family. And got a lot of value out of the club and really enjoyed the adult pool & the full service beach with F&B etc. But if there's another place with a solid pool & beach setup maybe that's a better option for a solo at today's rates.