I am trying to decide between Bucuti and Costa Linda in Aruba. They are on the same beach so this is not a problem. Which one is nicer? Bucuti? We are traveling without kids so looking for peace and quiet, good service. Restaurants are not an issue since we plan to eat out in good restaurants anyway. We plan on eating breakfasts and some lunches in the unit so that's why we like idea of unit with kitchen as opposed to regular room. If we will rent Bucuti, we will rent studio or bungalow with kitchen.
I think Bucuti is more upscale then Costa Linda? Although I am familiar with other upscale resorts in Aruba like Radisson and Marriottt these two (Bucuti and CL ) look more low key. But this time is what we are looking for - less crowd, casual elegance.
Please advice. sophia

I'm not sure the Bucuti is really more upscale. I think the Costa Linda may have a bigger pool and would be more of a "self-service" experience, as it is condos rather than a hotel.

I recall the Bucuti being a low rise motel like building and Costa Linda is a stacked high rise, more hotel like building...Bucuti and Manchebo have boasted the widest beach if memory serves...I too thought Costa was technically rated higher...I recall Bucuti being very no frills...

I am a travel agent and I know Bucuti rated as moderate.

However, I looked at their site. I was looking for something elegant, small , boutique type.
On Bucuti.com it says and I guess what is confused me:

Bucuti Beach Resort featuring Tara Beach Suites & Spa is a European style resort that offers full facilities including dining, concierge, fitness center, gift shop and much more!
Or they refer to Tara Suites?
Looks like Tara Suites is a new resort within resort, but it does not make sense - a boutique resort within motel resort???

As I asked in my previous post, I am looking for quiet nice property and Costa Linda might have many families, I prefer more like romantic couple environment.
thanks

Hi....we stayed at the Bucuti Tara Suites in March.This trip was for my fiance and I to enjoy a nice , relaxing, adults on ly experience.It was VERY quiet.The suites themselves were new and relatively nice.This is not a Four Sesaons, however, and I personally enjoy a little more luxe when I travel.That being said, the staff was nice, the food not very good, and the pool was not as nice as the one in my back yard.However, the beach was amazing and I didnt really want to venture to the pool.The ocean was ok although no one was really swimming in it....which I thought to be strange.Anyway, if I were to return to Aruba, which I probably would not, I would more than likely stay at the Hyatt.The Bucuti was good...I just got a little restless after two days and wanted a little more luxe and a lot more action.

I just walked through both these properties last month. The Tara Suites are newly constructed right on the beach, several floors high, but they are very "motel-like" in appearance. I personally like the look of Costa Linda much better and it seems a bit more "upscale" to me than Bucuti. The beach is great at both properties, it's my favorite part of the beach in Aruba -- we stayed at the Marriott Ocean Club (Palm Beach) and it is way too crowded and over built there. Note -- Costa Linda is a timeshare resort so it may have more kids. Neither can be considered upscale, probably both are moderate. For more upscale properties you have the Hyatt, Marriott, Radisson (I loved the look of the Radisson -- very spread out, wonderful landscaping--and the beach is a bit wider there than at the Hyatt or Marriott). Both the Marriott properties and the Hyatt have lots of rooms crammed into a small space which equals too many people, and this was the off season!

We stayed at the Bucuti in a garden view room early this year for the first time and had a wonderful vacation. This property was very quiet and recently has been changed to adults only for new bookings. The staff were very friendly.
The room and property were clean and our room was nice sized--average in decorating. We are leaving in a few weeks to stay in the new Tara Suites which we look forward too.
If you like it quiet this is where you want to stay. The beach area is expansive and plenty of room between palapas. We never once had to wake up early to get a palapa. Sownside is the pool is small.
Walking distance is a Subway Sandwich, Alhambra Casino, French Steakhouse, bagel stand etc.
The Sand Bar Happy Hour at the Bucuti is fun and you always end up talking to someone. We sometimes walked over to the Manchebo for their Happy Hour just for a change.
We have previously stayed in a suite at the Wyndham and a garden view room at the Radisson. Although I missed the pools at the Radisson we prefered the Bucuti because it was quiet.

Bucuti and Costa Linda are neighbors so it is the same "beach" - and much better than Palm Beach where the Radisson, Hyatt, etc. are, IMO.

Bucuti is the least kid-friendly hotel on the island; there would probably be more families at the C/L.

Thank you. I probably not interested in large American type resorts at this time, plus I see that Eagle beach is much nicer.

I am leaning towards Buciti probably, however, I still have more time to decide (we will be traveling in fall 2005 and I know it will be Aruba).

We do not care much about pool, but love to be on the beach. The lack of kids is a plus in Bucuti.

thanks

If you're travelling as a couple and looking for peace and quiet and something a little more 'upscale', I would recommend Bucuti rather than Costa Linda. Bucuti is geared to couples and discourages children - (although during our visits there there were always a few families, but

Sorry - something keeps going wrong with my postings - apparently Fodors is still having problems.
What I was saying is that children were few and far between at Bucuti - Costa Linda seemed more like a typical family place, with organized activity such as aerobics with music, aquajogging, and activities for the kiddies. Not our sort of thing!
As regards luxury, Bucuti is certainly fairly basic as regards the rooms and swimming pool. We really don't mind, the rooms are clean and spacious and have coffee- and tea making facilities and a fridge, which is really all we care about. But there is no question that the Hyatt (which we also checked out) is much more luxurious. Still, we vastly prefer the quiet and space of Eagle Beach to the hustle and bustle of Palm Beach which is much smaller and more crowded. But, it all depends on what's important to you, of course!

thank you carola2,
is the car needed there? To get to the restaurants.. And some groceries and other shopping?
sophia

Most of the better restaurants are not within walking distance of the Bucuti. It's very easy to use taxis or even the local buses.

We compromised by renting a car for half a week. This allows you to stock up on groceries while you have a vehicle, and spend a day or two exploring the island (Natural Bridge, Baby Beach, Charlie's Bar, etc.). It only takes a day or so of driving around to realize that the best spot is right there at your hotel.

thank you. To rent a car for few days is a good idea. How was driving - easy?

Driving was very easy; you drive on the RIGHT; and rental rates were lower than many other islands.

My husband and I stayed at the Costa Linda in October. We walked over to see the Bucuti, and overall I am very glad we stayed at the Costa Linda. We stayed in one of the new one-bedroom units on the first floor. We were able to get 1/2 the normal rate because we agreed to go through a time share presentation.

Our unit was great; very clean. The bedroom only had three walls -- one of the sides was the hallway -- so I wouldn't want to stay in this unit with more than two people, but for the two of us, it was perfect.

The pool at Costa Linda is MUCH better than the one at the Bucuti. We had originally wanted to stay at the Bucuti, but it was sold out. I'm really glad now that we stayed at the Costa Linda.

We, too, thought driving was easy, but make sure you don't rent from Budget. The car was dented, scratched, had torn upholstery, vents were broken, etc., but it did get us to where we needed to go

Thank you Samsaf! I will let you know where we will end up. Probably Bucuti. I will visit Costa Linda too. I am a travel agent and see as many resorts and take notes as I can. I am familiar with larger resorts, but not these too.

I think the fact that the Costa Linda is affiliated with a time share should give you an answer.Every time-share affiliated establishment I have ever visited(not by choice, mind you, my in-laws)has been, for me anyway, a huge disappointment.I mean, I know there are those that enjoy them.....I however, am not one of those individuals.Though I was not blown away by Bucuti in particular, or Aruba in general, I would still vote for Bucuti Tara Suites of the two options.We stayed there primarily because it is adult only and with four kids between us ,thats what we wanted. I enjoy small Euopean-type boutique hotels and was hoping to maybe get in a little topless sunbathing..but its not quite that European.The beach is great, however.Keep in mind though that they offer no beach activities and no music at all until late in the day and that's around the bar area.Though I am by no means into the Conga line around the pool thing...a light steel drum in the background at some point would have been cool.

Capri, thanks for your feedback. actually peace and quite and no music by the bar, no kids is a plus for us. If we want music, we will go somethere at night to listen.
sophia