How busy is Aruba in July / Occidental

[mike1970]

In July, we are staying at the Occidental for a family vacation with our two kids (3 and 6). This will be our first time in Aruba and first time at an AI hotel, so we have a few basic questions.

Is July high season for tourists..will the hotel beach be busy?

The travel agent advised that the men's dress code at most AI hotels is business casual for dinner and I should plan on packing dockers or slacks to be safe. I would prefer to wear Dockers or dress shorts. I have read that restaurants around the island have lax rules but not sure if these rules also will apply at our hotel. Has anyone been at this hotel recently that can comment?

Will the kids be permitted in the sitdown restaurants at dinner?

Thanks in advance for any input you provide.

Mike

[Andrea J.]

Originally Posted by mike1970

In July, we are staying at the Occidental for a family vacation with our two kids (3 and 6). This will be our first time in Aruba and first time at an AI hotel, so we have a few basic questions.

Is July high season for tourists..will the hotel beach be busy?Yes it will be busy but not overly crowded

The travel agent advised that the men's dress code at most AI hotels is business casual for dinner and I should plan on packing dockers or slacks to be safe. I would prefer to wear Dockers or dress shorts. I have read that restaurants around the island have lax rules but not sure if these rules also will apply at our hotel. Has anyone been at this hotel recently that can comment?docker shorts are fine i even think that business casual might be over doing it my husband has never worn anything dressier than a short sleeve polo/golf shirt and dockers.

Will the kids be permitted in the sitdown restaurants at dinner?
yes
Thanks in advance for any input you provide.you will have a blast and ask as many questions that you can think of. july is a great time to be on island.
andrea

Mike

andrea

[TomFrederick]

>>> "Is July high season for tourists..will the hotel beach be busy?"
---- No but will have more children than any other month of the year.

[fattypatty]

i 2nd the dress code - shorts and a polo or short-sleeve button down works everywhere. although you always see the ladies wearing dresses and high heels.

[Arubalisa]

Bad news...

According to http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147247-i144-k2598319-l16333188-Occidental_questions-Aruba.html

"Posted on: 8:39 pm, March 04, 2009
Men definitly have to wear pants in the ala carts except in the caribean restarant both men and women can where nicer shorts.

I never wore shorts in any of the restaurants, except the caribean, but I seen a few women wearing dress shorts in other restaurants. The men will be turned away no matter how nice the shorts are in all the other ala carts. I never ate in the buffet so I'm not sure of the rules there. During the day you can wear whatever you want in the buffet, but you must have shoes on and men must wear t shirts."

[mike1970]

Thank you SO much for that info, Arubalisa! I was scouring for a specific answer with no luck.

Oh well, this is very disappointing.

It seems unfair to be denied dinner service (that is paid for in advance - in full) because I would choose to wear dress shorts in 90 degree weather while on vacation. There appears to be no dress code at most of the fine Aruba off-property restaurants, which is also the case at St Martin and St Barts. This is my first AI but I understand this policy is the norm at many AI's.

That being said, I did receive advance warning about the possibility of a dress code - I was just hoping it wasn't enforced as it seems like bizarre rule. If the objective is to prevent people from walking in right from the beach, I would think a rule that requires dress shorts or prohibits beachwear would be a reasonable request.

I will cross my fingers and maybe the hotel see this message and change the rules before our trip!!

[Cosmo]

Mike
I only own 1 pair of dockers, I live in jeans and shorts. It isn't too bad to get dressed for dinner, then get changed right afterward. It does keep the restaurants nicer.

[Arubalisa]

Mike, I don't suppose you could switch over to a more casual resort such as the Tamarijn/Divi?