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
Aug 7, 2017, 8:00 pm
#886
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I like the option of telling my guests they have $50 a day to spend, whether on booze or breakfast, on top of our formal meals. Personally, I know some people prefer to drink while other prefer a big breakfast and light lunch with no booze during the day.
Aug 8, 2017, 6:43 am
#888
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2nd vote for the Renaissance. Private island has nice beaches and feels more secluded. The main beach is nice, but honestly the Ritz is pretty far towards the end past other stuff.
It really comes down to more of the night activities... downtown closes earlier except for a few restaurants, bars, and the casino. Being at the Ritz you could walk (although its about a mile) to the highrise palm beach area for more nightlife.
It really comes down to more of the night activities... downtown closes earlier except for a few restaurants, bars, and the casino. Being at the Ritz you could walk (although its about a mile) to the highrise palm beach area for more nightlife.
Aug 8, 2017, 4:57 pm
#889
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For what it's worth, my contact in Marriott's corporate office tells me the flagship Marriott in Aruba averages a 93% year-round occupancy rate with low-season rates above that of the Ritz-Carlton.
Aug 9, 2017, 8:23 am
#890
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I'm guessing the beach, but since I'm the one paying it really seems like the Renaissance is better. I've read that the private island is better than the public/semi-public beaches of the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.
I like the option of telling my guests they have $50 a day to spend, whether on booze or breakfast, on top of our formal meals. Personally, I know some people prefer to drink while other prefer a big breakfast and light lunch with no booze during the day.
I like the option of telling my guests they have $50 a day to spend, whether on booze or breakfast, on top of our formal meals. Personally, I know some people prefer to drink while other prefer a big breakfast and light lunch with no booze during the day.
2nd vote for the Renaissance. Private island has nice beaches and feels more secluded. The main beach is nice, but honestly the Ritz is pretty far towards the end past other stuff.
It really comes down to more of the night activities... downtown closes earlier except for a few restaurants, bars, and the casino. Being at the Ritz you could walk (although its about a mile) to the highrise palm beach area for more nightlife.
It really comes down to more of the night activities... downtown closes earlier except for a few restaurants, bars, and the casino. Being at the Ritz you could walk (although its about a mile) to the highrise palm beach area for more nightlife.
Aug 9, 2017, 9:17 am
#891
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I'm going to buck the trend a bit and vote for the RC. While the island at the Ren is nice IMO the beach at the RC is nicer and much larger. I also prefer the restaurants at the RC over the Ren. I guess it also depends on whether your group likes a high end resort experience or more of a typical Ren experience. BTW, if you do choose the Ren I would purposely avoid the Ocean Suites building - It was pretty worn around the edges when I was there about 18 months ago and the pool was not well kept.
I've gotten the Renaissance down to $129 and the Ritz down to $199. It's just a matter of picking.
Aug 9, 2017, 12:57 pm
#893
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I think if it's a short stay and there are a number of folks that have not been to Aruba (or to a RC property) you should go with the RC. It really has more of a tropical beach resort feel than the Ren and your group might appreciate that.
Aug 10, 2017, 4:40 am
#894
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Final questions: How long will you be there? Any possibility of switching properties mid-stay? Any in your party not been to Aruba?
I think if it's a short stay and there are a number of folks that have not been to Aruba (or to a RC property) you should go with the RC. It really has more of a tropical beach resort feel than the Ren and your group might appreciate that.
I think if it's a short stay and there are a number of folks that have not been to Aruba (or to a RC property) you should go with the RC. It really has more of a tropical beach resort feel than the Ren and your group might appreciate that.
If there a week would do 5 at Ritz 2 at Renaissance.
Aug 29, 2017, 1:53 pm
#895
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http://www.aruba.com/our-island/aruba-marr
"SnappyScreen, the world’s first touchless sunscreen application system, is now available at Aruba Marriott Resort, Marriott Aruba Surf Club and Marriott Aruba Ocean Club.
With SnappyScreen, you select your height and choose your SPF (15, 30, or 40) on an interactive touchscreen. Nozzles spray you with a very fine mist of sunscreen as the base rotates ensuring complete coverage from the sun’s harmful rays. SnappyScreen is completely self-automated providing guests with the opportunity to receive full-body coverage in less than 10 seconds without any assistance."
Cheers.
"SnappyScreen, the world’s first touchless sunscreen application system, is now available at Aruba Marriott Resort, Marriott Aruba Surf Club and Marriott Aruba Ocean Club.
With SnappyScreen, you select your height and choose your SPF (15, 30, or 40) on an interactive touchscreen. Nozzles spray you with a very fine mist of sunscreen as the base rotates ensuring complete coverage from the sun’s harmful rays. SnappyScreen is completely self-automated providing guests with the opportunity to receive full-body coverage in less than 10 seconds without any assistance."
Cheers.
Oct 16, 2017, 9:42 am
#896
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I stayed at the Renaissance Aruba earlier this month.
1) Check-in was a mess because there was no dedicated elite lane nor was there a dedicated online check-in line. Online check-in was pointless because this hotel still subjects you to all the formalities.
2) While the online check-in and online check-out features of the Marriott mobile application worked here, the rest of the application -- special requests, chat, etc. -- did not work.
3) The hotel plays fast-and-loose with Marriott'e elite benefits, particularly any upgrades -- not just to a suite, but any room category. First, the hotel front desk told me they were a franchise and, as such, didn't need to follow the terms and conditions. That was a lie. I then showed the terms and conditions pertaining to upgrades. I was then told they had no availability. That was a lie because every category of room and suite was available for booking. In fact, I was able to make a dummy booking for the presidential suite. I then asked for the front desk manager-on-duty. The manager then lied and told me that they didn't upgrade to suites, which again was not true based on the terms and conditions of Marriott. After protesting -- I also had two lifetime platinum-elite guests accompanying me -- I was supposedly upgraded from an executive suite in the adults-only Marina building to a regular room in the Ocean building. Whatever. My colleagues were not given any upgrades, despite plenty of availability.
4) The hotel did give a choice between arrival points and amenities on a card, like any international Marriott hotel. I chose the points; 500 points.
5) Staff outside of front desk were good, but it's clear that the management is intentionally not following the rules. There's no way some low-paid front desk clerk makes up the line that franchises don't have to follow the rules. Clearly, she was told that lie. My guess is they don't get caught because there are probably few very guests with platinum or lifetime platinum statuses when availability is low enough to allow for upgrades.
6) The hotel itself is weird because it's basically two completely different hotels with some shared services and facilities.
7) The private island is great, but honestly if you just want to sunbathe then the swimming area by the Ocean building is fine.
8) The hotel failed at performing basic services. Turndown service was guaranteed with my rate. I only received it one night. The turndown service consisted of laying down the pillows on the mattress and putting one piece of chocolate on the pillow. That's it. No refreshing of used amenities in bathroom or used towels. No drawing of curtains. No bottled water at the nightstand. My rate also include slippers and a bathrobe. Neither were provided. After two days of calling, a robe was finally sent up to me room.
9) There is one concierge for the entire hotel, both buildings. Basically overworked and impossible to reach. It took five phone calls to get the concierge to answer. I needed help confirming a restaurant reservation. I also wanted to book a private yacht but neither the concierge nor the front desk could put me in contact with a charter service. Their only suggestion was to go down to docks and barter with someone until I found an acceptable price.
10) They have a 6-days-a-week English language newspaper that is basically a reprint of the Associated Press wire service. Plenty of newspapers are available at the front desk, but there are none delivered to the rooms and none by the elevator on each floor.
11) TVs are dated. Reception is limited to maybe a dozen channels, most of which are fuzzy and analog. Very poor quality.
12) I think the location is superior to the resorts at the north end of Aruba on Palm Beach, if only because you get to experience the real culture of Aruba and not cookie-cutter resorts that could be anywhere in the tropics. One of my colleagues with me has been to both the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels and said this was better, both in terms of price and value but also the private island.
13) No complimentary bottled water in the room. $4.50 per bottle.
14) Rooms in both buildings were renovated within the last two or so years. Nice design, but bathroom tiling was already in need of a re-grouting. I spotted what could have been mold in a couple of places.
15) Rooms in the Ocean building are poorly designed because the bedrooms are by the entryway and have zero view of the water. Also, there are way too many light switches instead of a central switch to control all the lighting. If you wanted to charge your phone by the phone you had to leave the two night lights on at night. Stupid.
16) Some rooms in the Ocean building had kitchenettes (microwave, drip coffeemaker, crockery, stovetop burners) while others didn't.
1) Check-in was a mess because there was no dedicated elite lane nor was there a dedicated online check-in line. Online check-in was pointless because this hotel still subjects you to all the formalities.
2) While the online check-in and online check-out features of the Marriott mobile application worked here, the rest of the application -- special requests, chat, etc. -- did not work.
3) The hotel plays fast-and-loose with Marriott'e elite benefits, particularly any upgrades -- not just to a suite, but any room category. First, the hotel front desk told me they were a franchise and, as such, didn't need to follow the terms and conditions. That was a lie. I then showed the terms and conditions pertaining to upgrades. I was then told they had no availability. That was a lie because every category of room and suite was available for booking. In fact, I was able to make a dummy booking for the presidential suite. I then asked for the front desk manager-on-duty. The manager then lied and told me that they didn't upgrade to suites, which again was not true based on the terms and conditions of Marriott. After protesting -- I also had two lifetime platinum-elite guests accompanying me -- I was supposedly upgraded from an executive suite in the adults-only Marina building to a regular room in the Ocean building. Whatever. My colleagues were not given any upgrades, despite plenty of availability.
4) The hotel did give a choice between arrival points and amenities on a card, like any international Marriott hotel. I chose the points; 500 points.
5) Staff outside of front desk were good, but it's clear that the management is intentionally not following the rules. There's no way some low-paid front desk clerk makes up the line that franchises don't have to follow the rules. Clearly, she was told that lie. My guess is they don't get caught because there are probably few very guests with platinum or lifetime platinum statuses when availability is low enough to allow for upgrades.
6) The hotel itself is weird because it's basically two completely different hotels with some shared services and facilities.
7) The private island is great, but honestly if you just want to sunbathe then the swimming area by the Ocean building is fine.
8) The hotel failed at performing basic services. Turndown service was guaranteed with my rate. I only received it one night. The turndown service consisted of laying down the pillows on the mattress and putting one piece of chocolate on the pillow. That's it. No refreshing of used amenities in bathroom or used towels. No drawing of curtains. No bottled water at the nightstand. My rate also include slippers and a bathrobe. Neither were provided. After two days of calling, a robe was finally sent up to me room.
9) There is one concierge for the entire hotel, both buildings. Basically overworked and impossible to reach. It took five phone calls to get the concierge to answer. I needed help confirming a restaurant reservation. I also wanted to book a private yacht but neither the concierge nor the front desk could put me in contact with a charter service. Their only suggestion was to go down to docks and barter with someone until I found an acceptable price.
10) They have a 6-days-a-week English language newspaper that is basically a reprint of the Associated Press wire service. Plenty of newspapers are available at the front desk, but there are none delivered to the rooms and none by the elevator on each floor.
11) TVs are dated. Reception is limited to maybe a dozen channels, most of which are fuzzy and analog. Very poor quality.
12) I think the location is superior to the resorts at the north end of Aruba on Palm Beach, if only because you get to experience the real culture of Aruba and not cookie-cutter resorts that could be anywhere in the tropics. One of my colleagues with me has been to both the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels and said this was better, both in terms of price and value but also the private island.
13) No complimentary bottled water in the room. $4.50 per bottle.
14) Rooms in both buildings were renovated within the last two or so years. Nice design, but bathroom tiling was already in need of a re-grouting. I spotted what could have been mold in a couple of places.
15) Rooms in the Ocean building are poorly designed because the bedrooms are by the entryway and have zero view of the water. Also, there are way too many light switches instead of a central switch to control all the lighting. If you wanted to charge your phone by the phone you had to leave the two night lights on at night. Stupid.
16) Some rooms in the Ocean building had kitchenettes (microwave, drip coffeemaker, crockery, stovetop burners) while others didn't.
Last edited by hockeyinsider; Oct 16, 2017 at 9:52 am
Sep 28, 2018, 7:12 am
#898
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 405
Has anyone stayed at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino since August 18th and the "new benefits"? If yes, did they offer "free breakfast" option and if they did and you took it, was it the full buffet breakfast?
