All Inclusive?? Which one?

[Traceyd14]

It depends what kind of vacation your friend wants. Last year on our first trip to Aruba we stayed part of our visit in the low rise area and part in the high rise. For our style, the high rise was better. We don't rent a car, we prefer to walk. We like to have a lot of options in walking distance so the high rise works better for that. We also like the cheesy touristy places like Senor Frogs mixed in with the beach bars like Moomba.

Also you mentioned she is a teacher, so if budget is a concern, Holiday Inn is not a bad choice if you keep in mind that you are going to get what you pay for. I would suggest reading the reviews on Trip Advisor - they are mixed, but most of the points are right on, good and bad. The Occidental looks so nice and I would love to stay there, but for our budget Holiday Inn works better. They have an all-inclusive option but it doesn't not include top shelf liquors, and only Belashi beer. This yer we are skipping the All-inclusive option since we were so comfortable going off the resort.

[Arubalisa]

If it turns out they are interested in the Holiday Inn All Inclusive, it is very difficult to find package pricing.

www.aruba.com/forum/f9/where-do-you-stay-53468/#post217106

https://www.facebook.com/HolidayInnResortAruba?sk=info

Holiday Inn Resort Aruba
"We have available an all inclusive package for our guests. You can check availability here: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/holiday...no=%2099502222

ARUBA-BEACH RESORT & CASINO Hotel | Book Your ARUBA Hotel Today | Holiday Inn Resort Hotels & Resort
www.ichotelsgroup.com

Choose Holiday Inn Resort ARUBA-BEACH RESORT & CASINO Hotel & with our Lowest Internet Rate Guarantee, you get the best rates on our ARUBA Hotels every time.
January 10 at 12:44pm"

If you go to the above link and enter your travel dates, it will come up with MANY different types of packages. You must scroll ALL THE WAY down to the bottom for the last offering which is the all inclusive package.

"ALL INCLUSIVE PKG
all inclusive plan includes room and unlimited food and snacks and choice of restaurants offering an alternative a la carte and buffet selections. includes all alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages at bars and restaurants taxes and gratuities. some surcharges may apply to premium items and brands"

Children 11 yo and under are free of charge
Children 12 - 16 yo are $55 pp when sharing the room with parent(s)

Otherwise for a 4 star resort there is the Riu on Palm beach, for oceanfront rooms there is the Tamarijn which includes use of the facilities and amenities at the Divi. The Divi as mentioned, casual Caribbean all inclusive, but a tad more upscale than the Tamarijn.

The Occidental on Palm beach is pretty much middle of the road price wise as well as centrally located to tons of shopping and entertainment street side.

[Traceyd14]

For Holiday Inn- we booked through hotels.com and got VERY lucky to find a rate in February for $120 per night for an oceanview superior room. I contacted the hotel directly to confirm my reservation (something I always do when booking thru a 3rd party. I asked the hotel about adding all-inclusive and was told that we could add it on for $84 per person per day - that quote was for 2 adults.

[Pegmeister]

I'm headed back in March for my 5th trip to Aruba and once again staying at the Divi. My preference is the low-rise area as it's less crowded. The beach at the Divi is gorgeous and the layout of the resort works. We were, however, disappointed in the evening buffet last trip and ended up going off resort for dinner. We're going back to the Divi because the price was good enough that even if we do go off resort for dinner it is still less expensive then some of the other resorts. I just can't get enough of that beach, and the staff is wonderful as well.

[dipeblnd]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I am passing this link on to her. I really think she would enjoy Aruba... others have given her advice for the same old "stuff" Jamaica and Mexico but she really wants somewhere relaxing not spring breakish

[Chadd]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I am passing this link on to her. I really think she would enjoy Aruba... others have given her advice for the same old "stuff" Jamaica and Mexico but she really wants somewhere relaxing not spring breakish

Relaxing and quiet sounds a lot more like the low rise area than the high rise area to me.

[hatteras]

If I were you, I'd also mention to your friend to check into Manchebo. It has my favorite beach on the island, and the staff there is wonderful. They have an all inclusive option, and the restaurants are very good. They just finished their remodel, and the new rooms are very nice. Also, Aruba has fantastic restaurants, and it is very easy to get around there by bus, taxi or car. She might want to reconsider the AI idea, or at least plan on eating a few dinners away from the resort.

[Arubalisa]

If I were you, I'd also mention to your friend to check into Manchebo. It has my favorite beach on the island, and the staff there is wonderful.

Their new rooms and baths look beautiful.

[lillion]

I would recommend the tamarijn. all rooms right on the water steps away from the sand. you get to use the divi aruba resort next door also. gives you 8 restaurants and 6 beach bars, free nightly entertainment, free non-motorized sports like snorkel, scuba lesson, kayaks, climbing wall, windsurfers, fitness center, free golf cart ride to and from divi, tamarijn and alhambra casino. can use 9 pools between all the divi complexes including on other side of road. see thweir website at www.megaresorts.com for pix, menus, prices etc. I would not book through them directly but get a vacation package from aavacations.com or www.expedia.com for a cheaper price. kids under 18 stay and eat for free.

Is this true that you can use all the pools on the complex??

[Andrea J.]

nope
if at Divi AI or at Tam you can use the 3 pools on those 2 resorts.

Is this true that you can use all the pools on the complex??