Dine Around Program question

[ArubaJAK]

Good morning All,

I have a friend who will be going to Aruba in a few weeks with his family (wife and two pre-teen sons). He is asking about buying into the Dine Around Program. Honestly, I have been going for 20 years and have never bought into one of these programs and have never bought AI - so I have no valid advice to give him. We prefer to not plan out every meal and take each day as it comes.

I am wondering if any of you have ever used or know of someone who has used this program and can offer some advice.

They will only be there 4/5 days and will be staying at the Radison. Their boys are somewhat picky and none of them are big eaters or what I would call Foodies. My first instinct is to not recommend buying into the program but that is based on my opinion and vacation habits.

[Andrea J.]

look at the restaurant listing for the dine around.
see if the restaurants are places that he and his family will enjoy.

http://www.arubadining.com/dinearound/


my suggestion is to have him purchase a couple of gift certificates from the AGA dine around (the price is discounted) and he can use them at one of the dine around participating restaurants. in august (i think) we used aga gift certificates that we purchased .........used them at Amadeus and Buccaneer.

when buying into the plan.........it is a LOT of food. appetizer, entree and dessert. sometimes too much food.

i am leaning towards agreeing with you re: telling your friend to "skip it"

[Andrea J.]

Gift certificates are accepted at both AGA and VIP restaurants. Each $50.00 gift certificate can be purchased for $45.00. Minimum order: 2 gift certificates. Participating restaurants are subject to change.

(from the link that i posted in the prior post) we bought 2 gift certificates for $90 but face value was $100)

this worked for us as we love AMADEUS and BUCCANEER restaurants.

[hummel]

Restaurants that take the gift certificates will not honour other discount coupons at the same time

[ArubaJAK]

Thanks for your responses. So they can buy generic gift certificates and use them at participating restaurants? That sounds like a good deal to buy at a discounted rate even if they can't use any other discount coupons.

I'm with you Andrea - if they really want to buy into some sort of dine around plan the GC may just be the way to go.

We really love Amadeus and make a point of going more than one time but I'm not too sure if they are willing to drive or pay to take a cab there. I'm not even sure if they will be getting a rental. My guess would be that they plan on sticking close to Palm Beach and the Radison. I know I would if I only had 4/5 days on island.

[Arubalisa]

Instead of the Dine Around Program, in June we purchased their gift certificates and used them twice at Laguna's theme buffets (at the Radisson) and once at Amadeus. We felt this gave us a small discount while at the same time the flexibility of ordering what we wanted and not being committed to three courses.

https://www.arubadining.com/dine-around-program/

"Gift certificates are accepted at both AGA and VIP restaurants. Each $50.00 gift certificate can be purchased for $45.00. Minimum order: 2 gift certificates. Participating restaurants are subject to change."

[Andrea J.]

the "generic gift certificates are bought thru the link i posted and can be used only at the restaurants listed on the site.

10% saving using the gift certificates.

Thanks for your responsed. So they can buy generic gift certificates and use them at participating restaurants? That sounds like a good deal to buy at a discounted rate even if they can't use any other discount coupons.
)

[ArubaJAK]

Thanks Andrea; that's what I thought - I followed the link after I asked the question - sorry about that. I sent my friend the link you provided and had him review it with his wife. I don't think they will be buying into the program. It makes no sense for them since they are only there a few days and their boys are so picky.

[arubanole]

where on website do you buy the gift cert? also did Amadeus drop from the list. I did not see it on list

[arubanole]

I see the option now to purchase gift certs. Anyone know about Amadeus?