Official Aruba Community Forum - View Single Post

Randi · 10-24-2009, 07:56 PM

Hi Pierre,
I guess my comments were directed to my main experiences during Platinum Plus weeks. I also travel during Platinum too but only recently.

As for prices, things have changed greatly from a few years ago. When we bought (prior to construction of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th buildings) we did compare the pricing and it was significant. Prior to the Surf Club being built we did stay at the Ocean Club (loved it too) and the pool area was packed. During the early years of the SC when only the first building was open and the lazy river was not completed many people used both pools. There was a reciprocity agreement between the two buildings but the SC had to pull the plug as the OC pool became very quiet and the SC pool was OUT OF CONTROL and only the two buildings of the SC were open.
I remember a family coming down to look at the Lazy River and stuck up a conversation with our family. They were interested in buying a Platinum week. They weren't sure if they wanted/could spend the extra money for the SC but the sales office gave them the option of buying the OC as it was a lower price. They told them you could own at the OC but use the lazy river (which was their attraction to the Marriott). This was at a time when the owners of the SC knew that this would be the last year of reciprocity.
Some people are very happy to own at the OC because the pool area is much quieter than the SC. But my comments are based on what was...

Again, I will state that the OC pool was once packed (prior to SC opening) and now it isn't, so where did all the people go? Perhaps, with SC bracelets obtained under false pretences????

With today's economy, perhaps the gap betwen the prices (selling privately) of the two complexes have become closer but that was not always the case.

So many of the SC owners have been so frustrated by the lack of space at the pool that they have investigated building another one. This, of course, will cost all of us owners more money. There is no question there is an over crowding issue at the SC but as I said, it may not be as bad as it seems because people are finding ways to let others use the pool. I am not trying to sound mean or righteous but it is just reality. We complain but we don't do anything to help ourselves. Management is trying to help us and we are shooting ourselves in the foot by finding ways around the system.

10-24-2009, 07:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Randi Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,483	Hi Pierre, I guess my comments were directed to my main experiences during Platinum Plus weeks. I also travel during Platinum too but only recently. As for prices, things have changed greatly from a few years ago. When we bought (prior to construction of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th buildings) we did compare the pricing and it was significant. Prior to the Surf Club being built we did stay at the Ocean Club (loved it too) and the pool area was packed. During the early years of the SC when only the first building was open and the lazy river was not completed many people used both pools. There was a reciprocity agreement between the two buildings but the SC had to pull the plug as the OC pool became very quiet and the SC pool was OUT OF CONTROL and only the two buildings of the SC were open. I remember a family coming down to look at the Lazy River and stuck up a conversation with our family. They were interested in buying a Platinum week. They weren't sure if they wanted/could spend the extra money for the SC but the sales office gave them the option of buying the OC as it was a lower price. They told them you could own at the OC but use the lazy river (which was their attraction to the Marriott). This was at a time when the owners of the SC knew that this would be the last year of reciprocity. Some people are very happy to own at the OC because the pool area is much quieter than the SC. But my comments are based on what was... Again, I will state that the OC pool was once packed (prior to SC opening) and now it isn't, so where did all the people go? Perhaps, with SC bracelets obtained under false pretences???? With today's economy, perhaps the gap betwen the prices (selling privately) of the two complexes have become closer but that was not always the case. So many of the SC owners have been so frustrated by the lack of space at the pool that they have investigated building another one. This, of course, will cost all of us owners more money. There is no question there is an over crowding issue at the SC but as I said, it may not be as bad as it seems because people are finding ways to let others use the pool. I am not trying to sound mean or righteous but it is just reality. We complain but we don't do anything to help ourselves. Management is trying to help us and we are shooting ourselves in the foot by finding ways around the system. __________________ Randi Next Aruba trip in Last edited by Randi; 10-24-2009 at 08:14 PM.