Aruba Resorts....

mdurette · Jun 24, 2015

We decided to take a trip to Aruba:

Currently II has available:
Marriott Ocean Club
Marriott Surf Club
Renaissance Aruba

We will be traveling with a 9 year old.

Which resort would you consider the most family friendly....also having organized activities for the kiddo is a plus.

Fasttr · Jun 24, 2015

Surf Club has a great lazy river....that would be my first choice for your 9 year old.

Lee55 · Jun 24, 2015

Surf Club. It has organized activities, plus the lazy river.

Ron98GT · Jun 24, 2015

We just got back from Aruba a few of weeks ago (June 4th) and we stayed at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club

.

My vote/recommendation is to stay at the Surf Club :cheer:

, you and your nine year old will luv it. It has a lazy river as mentioned, a water slide, a kids pools, a playground, activities for kids, etc.

The Ocean Club is small with a small pool. The footprint is so small that the activities were being held on the public sidewalk along the beach.

We had a 2 bedroom in the Lighthouse building, facing the pool, near the beach, which was really convenient.

WI GAL · Jun 24, 2015

Another vote for Surf Club!

dioxide45 · Jun 24, 2015

We have never stayed at the Ocean Club, but did visit the property once while in Aruba. I too would vote for the Surf Club. Lots more for a young family.

TRAVELING FOOL · Jun 24, 2015

We were just there as well. Definitely Surf Club! Lots of kids activities.Also, there is an outdoor show with fountains and performers at the Paseo Herencia Mall nearby in the evening. Plenty of watersports available on the beach in front of the resort. Have fun!

m61376 · Jun 24, 2015

My favorite place! It's unanimous for the Surf Club. You'll have a great time! Plenty to do at the resort and the restaurants are very family friendly.

Can't wait to spend a week there with our 1 and 5 year old grandsons

heckp · Jun 25, 2015

Very lucky to get an exchange to 2BR with my non marriott ts checking in July 16. Looking forward :banana:

dms1709 · Jun 25, 2015

With children-the surf club

jont · Jun 25, 2015

another vote for Surf Club. If I was just going with my wife I would (and have) stayed at the Ocean Club but the Surf club is the way to go when staying with children. They will love the lazy river.

Fasttr · Jun 25, 2015

jont said:
If I was just going with my wife I would (and have) stayed at the Ocean Club but the Surf club is the way to go when staying with children. They will love the lazy river.

My sentiments exactly!!!

dioxide45 · Jun 25, 2015

jont said:
another vote for Surf Club. If I was just going with my wife I would (and have) stayed at the Ocean Club but the Surf club is the way to go when staying with children. They will love the lazy river.

People without kids like lazy rivers too....

Fasttr · Jun 25, 2015

dioxide45 said:
People without kids like lazy rivers too....

But you have posted that you are not a big fan if kids when you are on vacation....so if you could pick a nice calm pool with a swim up bar next door for you and your wife to quietly enjoy, or the lazy river with kids all around you, which would you pick. :shrug:

Decision,decisions.

dioxide45 · Jun 25, 2015

Fasttr said:
But you have posted that you are not a big fan if kids when you are on vacation....so if you could pick a nice calm pool with a swim up bar next door for you and your wife to quietly enjoy, or the lazy river with kids all around you, which would you pick.

Decision,decisions.

Man, you don't forget a thing, do you?

. I know, it is a tough decision. I loved the lazy river when we were at the Surf Club in 2013. We went in the shoulder season when the kids weren't as thick. So it wasn't too bad. If we were traveling during a more peak time we would perhaps opt for the quiet Ocean Club.

mdurette · Jun 25, 2015

Thanks All!

Looks like Surf Club is the winner! I will start my OGS. Of course, right now I can see 1BR at the other two. But, I'm ok holding off for the right resort!

This place has been on my bucket list for sometime and now that Southwest flies there and I can get there on points....its a no brainer!

jont · Jun 25, 2015

dioxide45 said:
People without kids like lazy rivers too....

yes we do, and i have snuck (sneeked?) into the lazy river at the SC a few times
shhhh....dont tell anyone. ok?

Quimby4 · Jul 21, 2015

What about with teens?
Which has the better beach? Surf Club or Ocean Club?

Thx

GregT · Jul 21, 2015

Quimby4 said:
What about with teens?
Which has the better beach? Surf Club or Ocean Club?

Thx

They are adjacent properties so the beach is the same. That being said, I recall my sea grass on the beach floor off Ocean Club versus Surf Club, even though they are literally 100 feet apart. I do not know if that was unique to 2012, but I didn't love the sea grass (but I did love Aruba!).

Best,

Greg

m61376 · Jul 21, 2015

As Greg said, the beaches are adjacent. The Ocean Club has more palapas per keyed room and fewer guests on the beach, so people consider it a "better beach;" while many consider the Surf Club's pools to be better.

You'll have a great time at either property.

rovitm · Jul 21, 2015

I know Ocean Club guests can use the Marriott hotel's pool and gym. Do they have use of the palapas and beach?

ilene13 · Jul 22, 2015

rovitm said:
I know Ocean Club guests can use the Marriott hotel's pool and gym. Do they have use of the palapas and beach?

No at each property, hotel, OC, and SC guests can only use their own palapas- beaches are public.

theo · Jul 22, 2015

dms1709 said:
With children-the surf club

Which would be the choice among the listed options without any little kiddies in the mix (i.e, more adult oriented)?

ilene13 · Jul 22, 2015

We love the Ocean Club with and without children.

m61376 · Jul 22, 2015

theo said:
Which would be the choice among the listed options without any little kiddies in the mix (i.e, more adult oriented)?

I guess it's a matter of preference. We love the SC with or without the grandkids, and others, like Ilene, prefer the OC. If you want quieter, choose the OC. If you want the Lazy River, an adults only pool, and/or in room W/D, choose the SC. If you are trading in through II, I'd request both and be happy with whatever you get.

Aruba Resorts....

mdurette

Sighting Expert & TUG Review Crew: Expert

Fasttr

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Lee55

Ron98GT

WI GAL

dioxide45

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TRAVELING FOOL

m61376

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heckp

dms1709

jont

Fasttr

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dioxide45

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Fasttr

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dioxide45

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mdurette

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jont

Quimby4

GregT

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m61376

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rovitm

ilene13

theo

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ilene13

m61376

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