Mar 5, 2018, 8:07 pm
Last edit by: hhoope01
This thread refers to the various Marriott brands within a specific geographic area. Marriott Bonvoy hotels in XX usually have posts asking which property is better, etc. Trip reports are usually better suited in the property specific threads.
Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Aruba
Jun 9, 2012, 3:37 pm
#737
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Florida
Programs: Marriott Rewards-Lifetime Titanium, Priority Club-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, United-Silver
Posts: 403
Jun 9, 2012, 5:29 pm
#739
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,207
+1 on the lazy river, but it really depends what kind of vacation experience you want. As mentioned, the Stellaris is a FS Marriott and as a Plat you're likely to get a room upgrade if you request nicely ahead of time and at check in. The Surf Club is timeshare and it sounds like at 280k that is a 2 bedroom villa?
If you only have a couple people, the 2bd villa isn't worth it since you won't be using the other room. You'd only need the upgrade to a 1bd villa. Having the kitchen and fridge is nice if you want to go to the store and get things for breakfast or lunch etc, but if you're planning on eating meals out all week then you won't get use out of it and the Stellaris may be a better fit.
If you only have a couple people, the 2bd villa isn't worth it since you won't be using the other room. You'd only need the upgrade to a 1bd villa. Having the kitchen and fridge is nice if you want to go to the store and get things for breakfast or lunch etc, but if you're planning on eating meals out all week then you won't get use out of it and the Stellaris may be a better fit.
Jun 10, 2012, 10:00 am
#740
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Diego
Programs: UA 1k, US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 19
Thanks for the info. It's just my wife and I and I doubt we will ever be eating in the room. We are more about experiencing the local food when we travel. I thought about the renaissance, but I've heard all the action is over by the other 2 Marriotts, although we would save a lot of points staying at the Ren, but I think I want to be able to just walk out on to the beach and relax and not worry about taking a boat or bus.
I've done some searches and found a few threads and it looks like the FS Marriott is the way to go. We also decided to pay the extra 70k pts instead of paying the ~$500 we would have to pay on top of the 210k pts to get their min room (the partial oceanview room) that was available. I requested the Platinum upgrade in our reservation too, so fingers crossed on that.
Will the Surf Club let you use the lazy river if you are staying at the FS Marriott?
I've done some searches and found a few threads and it looks like the FS Marriott is the way to go. We also decided to pay the extra 70k pts instead of paying the ~$500 we would have to pay on top of the 210k pts to get their min room (the partial oceanview room) that was available. I requested the Platinum upgrade in our reservation too, so fingers crossed on that.
Will the Surf Club let you use the lazy river if you are staying at the FS Marriott?
Jun 10, 2012, 2:00 pm
#741
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Florida
Programs: Marriott Rewards-Lifetime Titanium, Priority Club-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, United-Silver
Posts: 403
Thanks for the info. It's just my wife and I and I doubt we will ever be eating in the room. We are more about experiencing the local food when we travel. I thought about the renaissance, but I've heard all the action is over by the other 2 Marriotts, although we would save a lot of points staying at the Ren, but I think I want to be able to just walk out on to the beach and relax and not worry about taking a boat or bus.
I've done some searches and found a few threads and it looks like the FS Marriott is the way to go. We also decided to pay the extra 70k pts instead of paying the ~$500 we would have to pay on top of the 210k pts to get their min room (the partial oceanview room) that was available. I requested the Platinum upgrade in our reservation too, so fingers crossed on that.
Will the Surf Club let you use the lazy river if you are staying at the FS Marriott?
I've done some searches and found a few threads and it looks like the FS Marriott is the way to go. We also decided to pay the extra 70k pts instead of paying the ~$500 we would have to pay on top of the 210k pts to get their min room (the partial oceanview room) that was available. I requested the Platinum upgrade in our reservation too, so fingers crossed on that.
Will the Surf Club let you use the lazy river if you are staying at the FS Marriott?
Jan 4, 2013, 10:25 am
#743
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
Jan 4, 2013, 11:34 am
#744
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,078
We're going the Tuesday after Easter for a week, and I'm trying to see if there is a Junior suite or bigger room for the wife, me and 2 growing boys. Had knee replacement surgery recently, and the wife won't be able to sleep in a double bed with me because it's still hard to get comfortable.
Regarding your knee. Having had knee surgery before, my guess is by April you will have no problem sleeping and getting comfortable. It took me about 3 months before I was back to normal from a sleep perspective. The rooms at this hotel have queen beds, not double beds so that should be of some help. I don't know how big your boys are, but sharing a real queen bed will be much more comfortable for them than sharing a sofa bed. FWIW, all of their rooms and suites state "Rollaway beds not permitted".
Jan 4, 2013, 2:25 pm
#745
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Regarding your knee. Having had knee surgery before, my guess is by April you will have no problem sleeping and getting comfortable. It took me about 3 months before I was back to normal from a sleep perspective. The rooms at this hotel have queen beds, not double beds so that should be of some help. I don't know how big your boys are, but sharing a real queen bed will be much more comfortable for them than sharing a sofa bed. FWIW, all of their rooms and suites state "Rollaway beds not permitted".
But good info on the beds in the room.Cheers.
Jan 5, 2013, 7:47 am
#747
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Jan 7, 2013, 6:53 am
#749
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
We did the tradewind Floor and got the worst room on the floor as a Platinum. I was told that almost everyone in the Tradewind Floor was a Platinum too. I would not expect anything as Plat except an extra pts at checkin. Maybe you will have a better experience than we did. Overall we haven't been too impressed by the Marriotts in the Carribean region in terms of service.