I have a week in late August and saw a very reasonable package deal with Applevacations but in checking on this site ,I have seen people mentioning renovations scheduled for July .Any updates???

Below is an article from their (the Bucuti's web site). The renovations were to begin in July and last through December and they are only related to the Bucuti wing (not the Tara suites). Personally, I don't think i would be the least bit worried about it.... they really excell when it comes to pleasing guests.

ARUBA BUCUTI BEACH RESORT SCHEDULES SUMMER MAKEOVER
Renovations to Begin in July 2005
'Beauty and the Beach' Getaways Available During Renovation Period

March 8, 2005 -- Eagle Beach, Aruba -- Following the overwhelming success of the new Tara Suites, Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort has announced plans to upgrade the Bucuti wing accommodations and common areas this summer. Starting in July 2005 and scheduled for just 5 months, the renovation will upgrade the Bucuti wing in a style similar to the Tara Suite design.

In order to ensure consistency and their high standard of quality, the resort has hired the same designer, Nhora Quintero, now with NCQ Interiors Studio, Inc. out of Orlando, Florida. The interiors feature furnishings and color palettes similar to those in the Tara wing. The feel will be contemporary chic without sacrificing an ounce of comfort. The accommodations will feature dark walnut furnishing from Max Studios who also design for upscale resorts like W hotels. Natural colors and textiles like granite for the bath counters will also be used. Additions to the rooms include a built in wet bar/mini bar and a sophet or dropped ceiling for more modern lighting. In addition, the indoor and outdoor lobbies will also be renovated in this style to complement the new contemporary style.

Bucuti wasn't able to complete its renovations by December. They're now shooting for May. I believe that they may have suspended work on the renovations until the end of the busy season but I'm not 100% sure about that.

This is the latest information on Bucuti's room renovations from the hotel's website:

Bucuti Wing Remodeling Project
Bucuti proudly announces a complete remodeling and upgrade of our Superior, Deluxe, Jr. Suite and Bungalow Suites which began July 4th, 2005.

The original completion date was December 2005 however due to unanticipated events, we will have 60% of the rooms renovated prior to the Winter season beginning December 23, 2005. We will take a break from the renovation over the winter months and the remaining rooms will be completed starting Spring of 2006. As soon as a new start date is known, we will update this information.

The new Tara Beach Suites and Penthouses, located in a separate wing across the courtyard will not be affected by the remodeling at all. Further, all public areas and restaurant will remain open and unaffected by the remodeling, only the interior of the Bucuti Wing will undergo the remodeling. The Bucuti Wing rooms and suites will remain open during the remodeling process and we will take a cluster six rooms out of order at a time for the remodeling. The work will happen between 9:30am and 5:30pm while most guests are out of the room and on the beach. This is not a construction project however for limited periods of time during the remodeling while we change air-conditioning and install new inset spot lighting, bathroom vanities and doors, muffled hammers and movement of heavy items can be heard in the building. While the building itself will not change, only the interiors therefore public areas and the beach will not be affected. One external elevator will be erected between the two vertical columns of three rooms to load and unload furnishings and for access by the workmen to minimize disruption. No views will be disrupted and no jack hammering. We are taking all possible pre-cautions to minimize disruption to Bucuti wing guests occupying the wing. Tile will be laid over tile, for example. Each cluster of 6 rooms will take 3 weeks to complete and we move on to the next six until finished.

I just got back from Bucuti 2 days ago and while they aren't doing anymore renovations inside the rooms until May (they told us), they are doing work in the Bucuti building and on the outside. No major annoyance but it can be ugly walking past equipment and torn up stairs to get to the elevator and the paint smell was sometimes strong.

Word of warning: Do NOT stay in the unremodeled rooms. The remodeled ones are gorgeous but alas we were in the jr suite in the bucuti wing (stupid rule about only 2 people in the tara wing suites) and this room was not only the ugliest and sparsest I've ever stayed in after 12 island trips, but had the most wrong with it.

I was shocked that a property of this caliber (which was otherwise great, esp the beach) would have such crappy rooms. Besides the fact that you get no stove or oven, and only a dorm size fridge, here's just a partial list of what was broken:

1. closet door busted, slats missing, very hard to close
2. TV remote didnt work; I was told to 'jiggle it' after telling 5 different staffers about it
3. safe lock key and bolt were bulky and old (why arent they using punch code safes??) and got stuck in the safe. I was told to jiggle that too.
4. Ants in the kitchen - LOTS
5. Floor lamp bulb and socket were hanging by a wire when we arrived
6. soap dispenser in tub busted
7. door to bedroom worn and very hard to close
8. NO exhaust in bathroom, steam was unbelievable

If I owned this place, I'd be embarrassed to put anyone in this room at the rates they're charging. There's nothing quite like suffering in an awful room and having to walk by beautiful remodeled ones.

Also be prepared for extremely anal towel issues. No honor system here. They count them and make you carry towel cards.