GONE : Westin Aruba (Leaving Starwood February 27, 2014) [Master Thread]
 

I'm planning a trip to the Westin right after it converts on December 20th. I'll be there for 10 days.
- Anyone ever stay at the property in the past? Any input?
- Will it be a Westin in "name only" or will it truly be converted to a Westin?
- Pictures of it look dated, is there any overhaul occurring?
I welcome any and all input.

There are several threads on this property...this one having a good amount of rather recent info

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=560508

Westin Aruba
 

I have an upcoming stay right before Christmas. I was told by Starwood the hotel is new and I was lucky to get reservations. Any news or updates of this hotel? Is this a brand new property or rebranded? We normally stay at Hyatt so looking forward to a new property.

Well, it's new to Westin, but by no means a new hotel. It's been operating under *wood's auspices now for some time, after a conversion away from the former Wyndham flag. If you'd like to read something about the former property, a simple search for the Aruba Wyndham on google (or elsewhere) will deliver scads of detail.

After *wood purchased it and it dropped the Wyndham banner, it has operated as the Aruba Resort and Spa.

I will not go to Aruba. :(

Any reason? I wouldn't mind a trip there?

So that is why it looks so familiar, it was the former Wyndham. I guess not much will change, just a more comfortable bed and now a charge for Internet access!

Now the Westin.. Dec 20th
 

Now that's it's becoming a Westin, anyone been to the property in the last few months have a report? rennovations? much improved or slightly improved? Thanks

I think it'll be slim pickings here on FT until it actually is branded Westin. Those of us here on FT, remember, are the hyperFrequentFliers and FrequentGuests of the world and don't like staying at hotels when they don't give stay credits! After Dec 20, you can bet there will be lots of info here.

Perhaps yours will be the first. Can't wait to hear about it!

I will be there this weekend so will be able to report any changes evident then. Just hope they would have installed the Heavenly beds by then.

I'll be very interested in what changes they have made since I was there in August.

On the Westin promo highlighted this week, they want a whopping $539 per night....and that is a sale. I almost choked when I saw that.:eek: I love Aruba.. have been there several times...yes it is pricey.

The hotel I stayed at in August would have had to have changed dramatically to be worth that much money...yes even in the high season.

I checked though...and the marriott on Palm Beach goes for around that....that is a big shock to me that Aruba would be worth that much. Obviously it is to many

LOL, saw the $539 rate per night as well. If you order from Low-to-High however, the rate drops to $179. I guess the hotel is hoping you will book at higher rate. Glad I got my deal in early as part of a package deal. However if I knew nearby Radisson was so nice, I would have booked there for same price. Now that it does not matter since I won't get SPG points until Dec. 20 stays.

If one can get a rate of $179 for the high season, that is, indeed, a good price.

The radisson in Aruba is very, very nice--I haven't stayed there but have eaten there and been on their grounds. The whole ambiance of the place puts the westin to shame. Their casino is nicer too.

SPG50 is also a good option for this hotel for high season. I got quoted $235 for peak dates in Feb when the cheapest rate on the site was $399.

I just got back from several hotel stays in Aruba. The Westin is certainly a work in progress. I got last night comped because of a fire alarm drill at 6am this morning. Boxes in stairs, furniture out on balconies, couldn't get downstairs during drill- this would have been a huge fire code violation in US, but Caribbean may be more relaxed. Right now, this place is a mess! Room was half done, had heavenly bed and shower along with nice plasma tv but rest of room was not done. Old lightswitches, sliding glass door let wind in. Art work not up yet. This property could have potential but they would have change many more things, including the jacuzzis in the pool area.

To be fair, the Hyatt and Marriott are overrated, although I checked out Marriott for timeshare. Radisson however looked nice and found their bars to be better.
PM me and I can send you pictures. High season is getting into full swing before year end.