We have just returned from a week @ the Marriott in Aruba & are posting this report so that others may not experience the disappointment that we (& many other guests with whom we had spoken during our brief visit) have. The Marriott in Aruba is hugely <BR>over-rated. Billed as a 'luxury' hotel ($445 <BR>plus taxes puts it well over $500 $US per night <BR>for the room...just a room!), it falls far short in a number of ways. <BR> <BR>1. First of all, the <BR>hotel is lacking in 'basic amenities' such as <BR>a decent bed! The beds @ our kids' summer camp are better than these! The bed consists <BR>of a slab of foam (I am not making this up!) <BR>on a box spring! The pillows are lumpy <BR>foam, the bedspread was filthy!!! Luxury? <BR>Not even close! <BR> <BR>2. Noise level! The rooms are tiled....big, <BR>white tiles with a tacky area rug thrown under the foam-mattress bed. The result is that you can hear everything from above, below, & on either side. Sound travels!!! <BR>Use your imagination.....toilet, bed, people <BR>venting...the couple next door to us fought every single night around 1:00 AM & we heard every, single word. <BR> <BR>3. Room Service! Ha! what a joke! We ordered <BR>@ 8:00 PM. When our food had not arrived by <BR>8:45 we called to ask if it was 'on its way'. <BR>We were told that "for some reason it had not been processed. Yes, we have it here but we have to put it in." We finally rec'd our dinner @ 10:00 PM!!! And, it was inedible! We called room service to have the dinner cart removed. They told us to 'put it out in the hallway'. It was still there @ 5:00 PM the next evening!!! ( Maybe that's why they have an infestation problem!!! See below) <BR> <BR>4. Elevators: There is only one bank of elevators to service this hotel. Throughout the week that we were there only one of the two elevators in the bank worked!!! <BR> <BR>5. Overcrowding: The pool area, beach area <BR>(which, by the way, is public) and breakfast restaurant (there is only one & you cannot make reservations so you join the long line with guests from nearby hotels,etc.....) are <BR>packed! Think 'sardine'. Worse than that! <BR> <BR>6. There are no refrigerators in the room as <BR>indicated in the promotional materials. There <BR>is a mini-bar fridge. We asked for the mini-bar contents to be removed so we cld. <BR>store water, wine, soft drinks, juices that we had purchased elsewhere but were told <BR>"We are not allowewd to remove the things from the mini-bar." <BR> <BR>7. Balconies: We chose Marriott over the Hyatt b/c of the balconies. The irony is that you cannot sit out on <BR>your balcony @ the Marriott b/c of the mosquitoes @ night! And, the patio doors are not screened! So, if you leave your door open the mosquitoes invade!!! We were eaten alive the first night. A lot of other guests complained <BR>about 'huge, red, bumps,!!! When we called the front desk about this <BR>they said "so...do you want us to spray your <BR>room?" thereby raising the question of pest infestation in the rooms. Yuk! Luxury? I don't think so! <BR> <BR>8. Staff Attitude: "Please, don't bother me. <BR>I am busy chatting with my co-worker." <BR> <BR>9. Rooms: Tired, badly in need of re-furbishing. Tacky, floral bedspreads, <BR>one phone.... a mile away from the bed, plastic coated furniture....bad, bad, bad.... <BR> <BR>10. Showers: One night we had no water! <BR>When we called the front desk they laughed! <BR>"Yes, there is no water. It's a domestic problem." Honest! That's what they said! On a daily basis,the showers trickled..... only about a third of the shower head worked! Luxuty? Ha! <BR> <BR>11. Go to the Hyatt!!! <BR>

Based on my experience visiting and <BR>reading about Aruba at various bulletin <BR>boards, I am extremely surprised to <BR>read about your disappointing experience <BR>at the Marriott! I do believe in the <BR>two years I have acquainted myself <BR>with the hotels in Aruba, that your <BR>trip report is the first negative <BR>report about the Marriott! To be fair, <BR>are you referring to the Marriott <BR>Ocean Club (its timeshare) or the <BR>Marriott Resort & Casino? Was this <BR>your first time in Aruba? It should <BR>be noted that in the Caribbean, it is <BR>preferred to have tile floors-- <BR>carpeting traps moisture causing mildew <BR>problems and musty odor; also it is <BR>easier to keep clean and maintain. <BR>Regarding refrigerators, only the <BR>Marriott Ocean Club, a timeshare, have <BR>regular size refrigerators. Also, how <BR>can you have bug infestation if your <BR>room is sprayed? What about using <BR>insect repellent on yourself-- commonly <BR>used whenever we travel in the <BR>Caribbean! <BR>I am truly sorry you were disappointed-- <BR>hope that this experience doesn't <BR>discourage you from visiting other <BR>islands! <BR>JanGail (returning for third trip to <BR>Aruba May 2001!)

I, too, am surprised at this negative report. We stayed at the Marriott Resort & Casino a year ago & found it to be wonderful! I, also, wonder if you may have stayed at the Marriott Ocean Club next door. <BR>The only thing I agree on is that the pool area was crowded, but so is every other pool at a major resort. The iguanas by the pool more than made up for it!

I am also very surprised about this report. I have always known the Marriott Aruba to be one of the best resorts on the island and I hardly heard any negative comments about the resort. You should foward your expericences to the Manager of the Marriott Aruba, he always gives a listning ear to problems guests may have with the resort. The Marriott still remains a well worth five resort for me.

Myself and another single friend stayed <BR>(not the norm as Aruba is known for <BR>familys and honeymooners) at the Marriott over Memorial Day week in 2000. We had one of the best traveling experiences we have had. Over the past five(5) years we have been going to Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas which we absoulty love. So the Marriott had a lot to live up to. But I must say we had a great time, with not one problem to mention. I do agree that <BR>it was noiser than I expected due to the <BR>tile floors and I also commented that they should have screens on the sliders, but we had no mosquitoes bother us. I too hope that you would give the Marriott another try as it was one of the nicest vacations I have taken.

I wonder if Alex knows that 5 stars in the US and 5 stars in the Caribbean are not the same thing. I think a lot of people go there with too high expectations then are pissed when the room and the "Caribbean Way" doesn't fit into their I want it all and I want it now attitude. <BR> <BR>Things are slower down there and more laid back. The rooms would reek if you had carpet in them. As for being innudated by mosquitos while leaving the slider open. Well, DUH...what do you expect? You open the slider, bugs get in. No rocket science here. <BR> <BR>Couldn't sit on the balcony? Well, get a can of insect repellant, spray yourself and sit outside like all the other tourists do. <BR> <BR>Only one phone! Oh my. What a hardship. Plastic coated furniture? Imagine how quickly people would destroy good wood furniture, not to mention what the humidity of the islands would do to it. <BR> <BR>I would address his other complaints, but won't bother. I think you all get the idea here. <BR> <BR>Alex sounds like a spoiled petulant child and should do himself and his family a favor and stick to state side vacations where luxury means luxury....

This is a open forum & why is it when someone complains someone always want to say they just don't understand "the Caribbean way"?! That does not necesarily have to be true! Dirty & overcrowded & overpriced are the same in any country & does apply to several places in the Caribb & elsewhere...& I have found great places worth the extra $$. But going in I would expect Aruba to be too commercialized & crowded....sometimes paying more & getting off the beaten path are worth it. $500.00 a night should buy better accommodations & service anywhere than what was described.....& yes I have gone many places & paid twice that (in the South Pacific) but it was worth it! <BR>Bottom line that is usually the situation...was it worth the money TO YOU.

bully for you. why do people on these forums try to impress everyone by waving the price tag as to how much they paid to stay somewhere. I am not impressed. There is a lot of money out there and there ain't no sense getting in a pissing contest over the price of a room.

Americans, they never appreciate always complain...you give all of the Americans where ever they go a bad name. <BR>Why doesn't it surprise me that many Caribbean islands are leaning more and more towards European visitors.

The point was not to argue or impress, the point is to say everyone has to make their own decision about what is worth spending their money on, period! <BR>Whether it is $50.00 a night or $500.00 it has nothing to do with lumping all Americans into a group of complainers, I for one am not & have been lucky. I have enjoyed low cost & high cost vacations & got what I expected & was satisfied. Some other people have not obviously & they are entitled to their opinion. The point is to travel & experience varied cultures & cuisine & topography....and to not sweat the small stuff. Happy travels!

I found very poor service at Aruba two years ago but it's not the Carribean way.. stayed at St. Martin the sam yer and the service most everywhere was excellent. We had to walk out of several hotel restaurants in Aruba after not being servied order lost etc. <BR>

I disagree with the "five star in the Carib is not the same" comment. Five star is the TOP rating - all over the world, everyone knows 5 stars equals absolute top of the line. Are you saying that the Ritz St. Thomas, and the one (the name escapes me) in Nevis, are not 5-star? It is attainable anywhere in the world, and if Alex paid 5-star bucks, he is entitled to a great bed, fine wood furniture, and excellent room service, as well as having his food cart removed by noon at the latest. Thanks for the heads up, Alex!

I disagree with the "five star in the Carib is not the same" comment. Five star is the TOP rating - all over the world, everyone knows 5 stars equals absolute top of the line. Are you saying that the Ritz St. Thomas, and the one (the name escapes me) in Nevis, are not 5-star? It is attainable anywhere in the world, and if Alex paid 5-star bucks, it is not unreasonable for him to expect a great bed, fine wood furniture, and excellent room service, as well as having his food cart removed by noon at the latest. Thanks for the heads up, Alex!

I have been to both the Marriott and the Ocean club and never had any problems. I do suggest that Alex talk to the Management of the hotel. In these types of cases they would make it up to him/her. If not, call JW himself in Washington DC at their headquarters.

Alex, <BR>Use your head and call/write the management. I would have never checked out until doing so. At least maybe you could have received an upgraded room or your money back. Maybe you work for Hyatt or the Radisson. LOL

Well, we're all set for the Aruba Marriott in April. I must say we've been in their properties in many places 'round the world and the tariff is well worth the guarantee of standards. If there ever is a problem, we are quick to report and make our wishes known, and Marriott staff is quick to respond. i'll report back with our experience in April. It's always a shame when someone has a lousy vacation...

Hey Alex, <BR>Do you work for another hotel? We have stayed at the Marriott Aruba three times and it has always been great. In fact we always found the staff to be very nice which is why we return. The pool was great and the rooms clean. Unless it has changed in 2 years since we have been there we have always found the Marriott to be the nicest of all the hotels in Aruba.

Stayed at the Aruba Marriott in November 2000 for 8 days. For the most part we happen to agree with you Alex, especially since we previously stayed at the Hyatt and loved it. Although we found the service to be very good at the Marriott, staff was pleasant and accomodating, and the beachfront very nice, Marriott's rooms need serious refurbishing in everyway, they are run down! Beds are in poor condition and there is a musty smell. And why there are no screens on the doors is a mystery, and yes, my husband got eaten alive by bugs, which has never happened anywhere before. We did have bugs in our room. Elevators are in poor condition. And most definitely, the noise level in our room was horrendous!! I promise you my family had not one decent night's sleep. After three nights, Hotel offered to move us, but we foolishly didn't feel like re-packing and unpacking again. The point is---the Hyatt, Radisson and Marriott all have the same rating, but the Marriott is not on the same level as the other resorts. Although we did check out the Ocean Club at the Marriott and it was far better than the Hotel and I think that it would be worth a try. If anyone is going to the Aruba Marriott stay at the Ocean club section it's quite nice. Stay away from the hotel accomodations.

Between Hyatt & Radisson which is better? <BR>We are going to Aruba in Sept & are trying to decide b/t Hyatt & Radisson. <BR>Thanks!

Was surprised to see mention of mosquitos in Aruba. The brief rainy season is the ONLY time that any kind of flying bug (particularly mosquitos) can propogate and that is usually in November. I was in Aruba at the same time and never saw a thing. Wonder what the Marriott folks have going there.