WOW! I can now understand the 'why' part of why so many of you return to Aruba frequently. As I write this, my girls are passed asleep from a fun day at Renaissance Island.
The fun 'trek' to Aruba started Friday Morning and it takes 3 planes and all day to get to Aruba. The last flight was the most "eventful" in that we were leaving Miami but the flight was delayed an hour while the crew was LOOKING FOR 2 PAGGANGERS. Hmm... ok let's make an full plane of people wait until we locate these 2 passangers --- I didn't get it. However, the American Airlines employee told me that since the flight was international and the passangers bags were already on the plane then they would need to either locate the passangers or locate and remove their bags off the plane <sigh>. The people finally boarded and alot of people clapped and the back half of plane BOOed.
We had confirmed our pick-up with Bully the Taxi Driver we found on this thread for the initial 9:30pm arrival. He was there waiting at 11pm for us outside the glass doors with his sign. Thank you Arubalisa for a picture of him on the Aruba Bound website because I was able to quickly spot him and started waving frantically -- 'WE ARE HERE WE ARE HERE' ha... ; ) He took us to the Ocean Suites and we were finally here... but ...
...
After 14 hours 'door to door', with 2 little ones we were READY to get to the room. The computers were down <another sigh> and the guy behind the counter took 30 min to get us checked in while he was looking for a room for us. We finally made it to the room... 4th floor pool & ocean views --- but not a timeshare room.
We booked thru Interval International via timeshare exchange and the room we should have received would have been a bit larger, with some burners, fridge, dining table -- etc.. none of those things were in the 'suite'. The kids were passed asleep and we spoke to manager on duty said he would 'switch' us in the morning (mind you I had already unpacked half our stuff ---ugh. <yes another sigh>.
This morning we made the move to a 5th floor room that faces Ocean only and over looks Renaissance Island as well -- WOW -- really really amazing and the room is a timeshare unit! Come to find floors 1, 3 & 5 are the timeshare floors. Anyways -- we re-unpacked and cooked breakfast in the room. We ended up at the Renaissance Island and the only word I can say is HEAVEN!
It was at that moment when I finally thought -- I am now on vacation. ; ) .... Rob/Cindy-O => Guess who came to us as a waiter??? --- Jorge! I told him I had read so many wonderful comments about him on this thread and he was a bit overwhelmed and shy about it all. He was so great -- you are right. He brought the girls strawberry and peach smoothies and we played and had lunch and played some more. Our favorite part of the Island (not that we saw it all) was the section at the 'back' of the beach/water where the beach comes back up and you can stand (near the back rocks). Mom & Dad 'layed out' there while the kids packed us with sand as they stood in 12 inches of water... very very relaxing setting.
One last Jorge comment --- he told his manager what I had mentioned and she came over and asked for the website address so she can see what you all say about Jorge --- Jorge was so happy!
Heading out soon -- will write more tomorrow and download pictures once I return.
The temp. is PERFECT here!
THANK YOU ALL -- for all your comments and suggestions to all my questions. I was able to learn so much from all your advise.
View of Rennaissance Island
Reassuring as always to know that Bully was reliable. Not that I have ever heard otherwise. 
to get you to pull back a little bit on all of your activities. 
07-13-2008, 10:39 PM
