Hi,
We're planning a trip to Aruba in Feb. 2011. It's high season, so the rates are up there, but I'm trying to figure out where to stay. I've done a lot of research but I'm still in a muddle.

We're spending the last two nights at the Hyatt (staying free on Hyatt Gold points...), but the other four nights are up in the air. (There's no way we're paying over $600 a night to stay at the Hyatt the whole time.)

I've narrowed it down to two, based on price, beach and amenities. Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa (Manchebo/Eagle Beach) and the Radisson (Palm Beach). It looks like Eagle beach is the largest and least crowded, but we can't afford to stay at Bucuti.... Has anyone here stayed at Manchebo? I've read that some (but not all) of the rooms have been renovated, so that's a gamble. Manchebo has a 5-night minimum stay, so we'd be paying for an extra night we don't need.

The Radisson looks like it has a bigger beach than most of the other resorts in the high-rise area, and they don't have a 5-night minimum. I've seen a lot of good reviews of the Radisson on this board, but I'm still wary of spending our whole time in the high-rise area. However, the rooms look a lot nicer than the ones at Manchebo. And the pool looks beautiful (where Manchebo's pool looks like a motel pool from my childhood.)

Has anyone been to Aruba in February? Would it be worth it to stay at Manchebo to avoid the crowds?

I just returned from Aruba on Wednesday. We stayed at the Radisson and it was fabulous!! Even the cheap rooms (where we stayed) were extremenly nice.

We booked through Player's Choice/MCM Tours and they got us the best rate, as well as free breakfast buffet daily, a $200 beverage credit, airport transfers both ways and some match play money for the casino. If you are interested their # is 1-800-ARUBA.

I do not work for this company in case anyone is wondering.

We've stayed at The Radisson 3 times ( once in February) and are going back in March. I think it has the nicest beach in the high rise area and tends to be less crowded than the Hyatt, even in February. The rooms and the property itself are very nice, and the location is walkable to many good restaurants, nightlife, and the other hotels along the strip.

Oh, and like P_M, we booked through Player's Choice for all the reasons mentioned above.

First, why is this tagged Turks & Caicos?

Next look at www.VRBO.com nd www.homeaway.com for some great prices. Now I don't know if they'll rent for 4 nights only, but you can try. We've used both services with great success.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. It was tagged Turks and Caicos by accident -- because I was in that forum commenting on something else. Sorry, I can't undo that.

Go w/ The Rad

We've stayed at the Radisson in Aruba in Feb. We will never go back there, however. The accommodations were very small, the bed was the worst we've ever slept in (and we have been to well over a dozen Caribbean islands)and the bathroom was very small. The staff was not pleasant - again, very unusual for us. The waitress that we ended up with every day wanted us to vote for her in a staff contest to the point where we decided we would rather not eat. We were traveling with friends and met other people that had rooms close by ours and everyone complained about the same thing! I would stay anywhere else!

OMG, knowing....that's terrible. When was that?

Knowing, I'm sorry to hear all that but our experience was completely opposite. We were in the least expensive catagory room and we had a king sized sleep number bed. My DH is ready to buy one exactly like it. I can tell you they are doing some remodeling so maybe your room had not yet been upgraded.

As for the staff, we never had any problems whatsoever. As some of you know from another thread my DH lost his wallet and it was returned the same day by an honest Aruban guy. After the guy called to say he's on his way to return the wallet, hotel security called to say if he doesn't show up to let them know so they can apply some pressure. That wasn't necessary as the guy did bring it back, however hotel security called again to make sure we did get it. The desk staff and even the Hertz guy were all great about trying to help us when we thought the wallet was lost.

PM, I was thinking of you & your recent positive experience w/ The Rad in Aruba. That's why I wanted to know when "Knowing" had been there.

So,PM...how are you doing? Is it raining where you are, ha, ha...?

I've replied to these comments before about The Radisson, but we had such an opposite experience from Knowing, that I sometimes wonder if we visited the same hotel! We had a lovely room with a good bed and partial ocean view in the Aruba Tower. We purposely didn't eat at the hotel very much since there are so many other more affordable and better options within walking distance or a short taxi ride. We found the staff very accessible and had no problems at all.

For comparison's sake, we have also stayed at The Hyatt,( very small rooms) The Aruba Beach Club, The Holiday Inn ( UGH!), and The Marriott Surf Club. Out of all of these, the Radisson has the best pool and beach area. That's the main reason why we keep going back.

Weadles, can you walk from Marriott Surf Club to The Rad?

OceanBreeze1,

Yes, you can, but it's a fairly long walk- about 30 minutes. The Surf Club is all the way down at the end of the beach ( to the right of the Radisson as you face the water).

Hi OceanBreeze, the weather here at home is perfect. Funny how we got so much rain in Aruba and perfect weather at home. <sigh>

That's OK, I still wish I were there.

Me too, PM....3 more months! You shd go back in February!

Ocean

Weadles, that's too far to walk late @ night going back to Surf/Ocean Club.

I am trying to figure out where we can walk to dinner each night from Ocean Clu that's where we will be next trip). PM said there were good restaurants near The Rad.

Why does that stupid face end up there every time I type b??? It must result from....b....& then a an open bracket. Let me test this

Well, look @ that! The ugly face w/ the tongue sticking out is b.....and..... open bracket.
Why would anybody want to do that??

OceanBreeze1,


Yes, that would be too much of a hike at night. I seem to remember that there was a taxi stand and a bus stop just outside the Surf/Ocean Club. That would certainly make it much easier for you to get out and about!

Thanks, Weadles. That's what we will do.
The last time we were @ Ocean Club we ventured out one night in search of a great restaurant. We walked south for about 15 minutes along the beach/boardwalk. We did not find anything. I don't mind walking to the restaurant around 8:30PM but feel uncomfortable walking back to Ocean Club late at night after dinner.