Divi Aruba all inclusive

[moochie242]

My wife and I are planning a return trip to Aruba for the 4 time . The last time we went and stayed at the La Cabana very dissapointed right before they were sold. We will be staying at our old favorite the Divi Aruba all inclusive. We haven't been there since 2004. Has anything changed about the huts? Get up early! Did they add anymore huts? Any new restaurants?

[Arubalisa]

Since 2004, I am fairly certain that the Palm Grill is a new addition.
http://www.tamarijnaruba.com/restaurants/index.php
http://diviaruba.com/menus/palm_grill_menu.html

At the Divi the Sandpiper Bar may or may not be new, again, I am not certain, but they are now serving food there as well as beverages. http://www.diviaruba.com/menus/sandpiper_menu.html

Windows on Aruba http://www.windowsonaruba.com/ at the Divi Links is available as an add on the all inclusive for $25 pp, so would imagine the offer would apply to Divi guests as well.

There is an excellent review of the Divi written here at
Very long trip report with lots of photos!

[bishop]

They added more huts. sandpiper bar now serves lunch type food and has a covered seating area. gingers asian restaurant at the tamarijn open mon-sat 6 pm t 10:30 is a part of all inclusive. Red parrot has new seating area, they closed in half the buffet with glass and put in air-conditioning in the buffet at divi. Presently building 58 more rooms and a mexican restaurant over where the maintenance buildings used to be. new maintenance bldgs. are now where tennis used to be. have to go to tamarijn to play tennis over there now. Was the climbing wall and new fitness center up at the tamarijn your last visit? new bar over the new watersports hut at tamarijn is NOT part of the all inclusive. we stayed at our divi dutch and used food vouchers at both resorts. no more entertainment on sat. & sunday night. just movies. sunday a good night to plan casino action!! there is entertainment on mon-Fri.

[sandersn]

Is it true that if you stay at the Divi (or sister properties - Village/Tam) that you can use all the facilities, including the A/I restaurants? If so, I assume they must use the wristband system? Also, we are traveling with 2 kids (5 & 11), are the rooms bigger at the Divi or Tam?

[Arubalisa]

Guests staying at the Divi and Tamarijn have full use of the facilities of each of those two resorts.

Guests at the timeshares such as Divi Village and Dutch Village must purchase the all inclusive option to take part in the all inclusive.

For more info on the dining options through the all inclusive check out the info at http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/tamarijn+restaurants.html

In that I have never seen the rooms at the Divi, I am unable to comment on the difference in size. This trip report Very long trip report with lots of photos!for someone who stayed at the Divi has photos of their room, but it was a king room and not two queens, so not sure how much a difference that would make in space.

The rooms at the Tamarijn are a little on the small size, but we find in Aruba the only time we spend in our room is to dress, shower and sleep. I have photos of one of the rooms we have stayed in here. The Tamarijn is more geared towards kids than the Divi- game room, billiard tables kids club.

[katherine]

Okay just 2 months to go until our ninth Aruba trip - first trip to the low rise area. We will be arriving the day before Easter - I know Easter week is a busy one on Aruba, but was under the impression that even a busy week at the Divi/Tam is still very low key and "uncrowded", compared to the high rise area. Is this impression true? Mostly concerned about getting the dinner reservations we want in the a la carte restaurants during our stay especially since we will have a party of 10 most nights.

Also kids want to know if the ocean floats are available at this resort and do they have the kid float vests for the pool by chance - usually bring my own.

Have also heard conflicting reports whether Divi guests are allowed to use the pool at the other divi resort that has the kiddie pool and water slide. Does anyone know the real answer to this question?

Also is there a store that sells snacks (ie chips, crackers, sodas etc) for a semi reasonable price at the resort. Know food is all inclusive, but still would like some small snacks and sodas for the room.

Last question for now is the brand of soda - hoping Diet Coke is available. I can handle an occasional Pepsi, but am a die hard coke fan.

More questions are sure to come...but that is all for now!

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by katherine

Okay just 2 months to go until our ninth Aruba trip - first trip to the low rise area. We will be arriving the day before Easter - I know Easter week is a busy one on Aruba, but was under the impression that even a busy week at the Divi/Tam is still very low key and "uncrowded", compared to the high rise area. Is this impression true?

If you are anything like us, you will be shell shocked your first couple of days. The difference between high rise and low rise is like night and day.

If you have read a sufficient amount of reviews on the internet, you will have an excellent idea of what to expect from this resort. This is not going to be a 4 star resort like the Marriott, Radisson or Hyatt or even the Westin. We have stayed at the Radisson, Hyatt and Westin when it was the Wyndham on Palm Beach and found a much more relaxed atmosphere at the Divi/Tamarijn.

Dh and I, still believe there are "trade offs" for staying along Palm Beach at some of the more "upscale" hotels and staying at a resort such as the Divi/Tamarijn. There are not all the many activities within walking distance, the rooms are much more basic. For us, however, the tangible bonus of any of the rooms at either the Divi or Tamarijn is being almost directly on the beach. As much as we love the Radisson we cannot do that there.

Will you still have to wake up early to get a palapa yes? I can say though that having stayed at the Tamarijn over Christmas twice with both the Divi and Tamarijn being sold out and sharing facilities and amenities, did we ever have a feeling of being crowded.

Mostly concerned about getting the dinner reservations we want in the a la carte restaurants during our stay especially since we will have a party of 10 most nights.

We were a family of 13 this past Christmas and we were always able to get a reservation. Also important to us, was that we were always seated together at one table.

The only downside of this is that at the Red Parrot at the Divi, imo, the best ala carte restaurant, large tables are only accommodated inside. Tables outside on the patio are smaller and not really made for pushing tables together. Hard to describe. They allow you to make reservations for up to two nights in advance.

The only other thing I can say is that it REALLY helps to be flexible as to dining choices and times. Very early, 5:30 and 9 pm are much easier to get. 7:30 pm is much more difficult. To increase your chances of getting what you want, to be on the safe side, have someone in your family make sure they are on line when the concierge opens at 8 a.m.

Also kids want to know if the ocean floats are available at this resort and do they have the kid float vests for the pool by chance - usually bring my own.

Don't know about the floats, am thinking they probably do. I know the Tamarijn has not only floats, but noodles. Have never seen vests.

Have also heard conflicting reports whether Divi guests are allowed to use the pool at the other divi resort that has the kiddie pool and water slide. Does anyone know the real answer to this question?

You are allowed use of "3 Freshwater pools;" There are two swimming pools at the Divi and one at the Tamarijn.

Do people use the swimming pools at the Divi timeshares? Yes. You may be asked to leave, you may not. You will be wearing your all inclusive bracelet (cloth type for adults) so it is a dead giveaway. Also note, that the all inclusive at the Divi does not include any of the bars at any of the timeshares, only the Divi and Tamarijn properties.

Also is there a store that sells snacks (ie chips, crackers, sodas etc) for a semi reasonable price at the resort. Know food is all inclusive, but still would like some small snacks and sodas for the room.

Again, not sure about the Divi, but there is a sundries shop at the Tamarijn. Imo, just as easy to take the golf cart to the southern end of the Tamarijn and walk across the street to the grocery store.

Last question for now is the brand of soda - hoping Diet Coke is available. I can handle an occasional Pepsi, but am a die hard coke fan.

When I ask for a Diet Coke or Coke I am handed a soda. All soda is fountain soda. If you ask, I am sure you will get the answer you want to hear.

[hockeymom]

To add to what Arubalisa said, having stayed at the Divi -

Yes, they do have floats and noodles. Never saw life vests, but then again, weren't looking for them. As to the snacks, they do have a limited amount athe store, but expensive. The store at the Divi is much smaller than the one at the Tam

I would bring something you could pack - i.e. crackers, etc, or go to the grocery store. There is popcorn and ice cream available most of the day. Or you could take some things from the buffet for later. There isn't much time between the meals that you'd really need something. I know they had a very nice date nut bread and bagels at breakfast that you could save for later. I have to say, I was never hungry at the Divi !!

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by hockeymom

Or you could take some things from the buffet for later.

Yes! There are always apples, bananas when available as well as an assortment of fresh cut fruit. Yogurt as well can be taken back to the room and stored in the fridge.

[katherine]

Thanks for all the info. The dinner reservations are now 2 nights in advance? That would be great - when we booked it was 3 nights then changed to 1 night at a time which i was not looking forward to.