Opinions on room category at The Radisson

[kristy1]

Hello all ~ I am new to this forum, but have been looking through it and have found very helpful information on here! The last time I was in Aruba was 22 years ago when I got engaged, and we stayed at The Americana (I believe that is what it was called)
Anyways, fast forward ~ Our 20th anniversary is coming up in September and we would love to go back to Aruba (loved it there) ~ after researching on here we decided the Radisson would be a great place to stay and found (through this forum as well) a package deal that includes 7 nights, roundtrip AF direct from JFK, breakfast and lunch daily, beverage credit, transfers, oh, and spa credit and casino credit I believe ~ for around 1499.00 per person
That is for the "guestroom" which I was told is a lower room, and not a specific view, but close to beach, pool (Bonaire tower)
If I wanted partial oceanview in the central, main aruba tower ~ they could accomodate, but price would go up about 300.00 per person
Long story short (sorry, already long! ~ but wanted to give background) ~
Are the "guestrooms" nice, or would people pay the extra to be in that main tower on a higher floor?? We purposely chose to not do all inclusive because we remember how great the food was there, and after researching on here, found that still to be true ~ and thought this package was ideal because it does include breakfast and lunch daily, but could try a variety for dinners. With that being said, I am hoping that the regular guestroom would be fine and that people are happy with that ~ so that we can put that money towards some nice meals.
Opinions/thoughts on this would be much appreciated!! Thanks in advance

[Andrea J.]

i have no comments about the rooms at the radisson as i have not stayed there.

possibly arubalisa or kath2me will comment as they both stay at the rad.


welcome to the aruba.com community forum


andrea

Originally Posted by kristy1

Hello all ~ I am new to this forum, but have been looking through it and have found very helpful information on here! The last time I was in Aruba was 22 years ago when I got engaged, and we stayed at The Americana (I believe that is what it was called)
Anyways, fast forward ~ Our 20th anniversary is coming up in September and we would love to go back to Aruba (loved it there) ~ after researching on here we decided the Radisson would be a great place to stay and found (through this forum as well) a package deal that includes 7 nights, roundtrip AF direct from JFK, breakfast and lunch daily, beverage credit, transfers, oh, and spa credit and casino credit I believe ~ for around 1499.00 per person
That is for the "guestroom" which I was told is a lower room, and not a specific view, but close to beach, pool (Bonaire tower)
If I wanted partial oceanview in the central, main aruba tower ~ they could accomodate, but price would go up about 300.00 per person
Long story short (sorry, already long! ~ but wanted to give background) ~
Are the "guestrooms" nice, or would people pay the extra to be in that main tower on a higher floor?? We purposely chose to not do all inclusive because we remember how great the food was there, and after researching on here, found that still to be true ~ and thought this package was ideal because it does include breakfast and lunch daily, but could try a variety for dinners. With that being said, I am hoping that the regular guestroom would be fine and that people are happy with that ~ so that we can put that money towards some nice meals.
Opinions/thoughts on this would be much appreciated!! Thanks in advance

[bgmouse]

We always stay at the Radisson. You will really enjoy it. The breakfast buffet at Laguna is really good. We also took the lunch this time and I found out from Raqual in reservations is that you can have lunch at Gilligans from 12 til 6. So you can actually use your lunch credit for dinner if you don't want to go out for a fancy dinner at night. We stay at the beach late and we have decided that we can just walk steps from our palapa and have dinner in swimsuits. What a life. Also, from my understanding a regular guest room is either on the ground floor or second floor. Last year we renewed our wedding vows on the beach at the Radisson and had only booked at regular guest room. To our surprise when we checked in they put us in a suite, it was just beautiful. The staff at the Radisson is just great and go out of their way to help you if you are having any kind of problem. Enjoy you trip, I can't wait to go back on July 12.

[Arubalisa]

After 5 stays at the Radisson, we have now stayed in all three towers of the resorts in either a gardenview, partial oceanview or Bonaire Suite, and do not mind any of the towers or accommodation. They are all unique in their own way and offer slight differences.

There are some thumbnails of photos below, please click on the photo to enlarge. For some reason the forum software from the gallery makes them teeny weenie here

The Short and Sweet Story...

If you require a big bathroom, definitely request the Aruba or Curacao towers.

If you wish to be centrally located and bath size is not as important, definitely request the Bonaire tower.

If you require extra space, consider one of the suites with even more luxuriously appointed baths as well as living room and in the case of the Curacao tower two balconies or Aruba tower suite with an exquisite view.

From what I understand the Plaza Club is also an upscale add on for those interested especially in snacks and complimentary beverages as well as upgraded room amenities and personalized concierge services. If you have booked your package through Players Choice/MCM Tours with breakfast buffet and lunch included, "the club" maybe overkill and necessary.

Other considerations for room category:

How much time will you spend in your room?
Will you use your balcony in September when it is particularly warm, even at night?
Would you have better use for the money you save by booking a lower category accommodation?

Imo, if money is no object, book a ocean/poolview.

Personalty, and just us, we have found the walls of the rooms in the Aruba tower to be paper thin so would gladly walk a bit further from the Curacao tower and forsake just a tad of the view. With our dd there are 3 of us and the big bathroom is NICE! If it were just the two of us, we would be happy with a gardenview or guestroom depending upon our budget. We do not spend much time in our room, and most of it is at night.
__________________________________________________ ________

The Long Story...

Room 1717, the best partial oceanview in the Aruba had a beautiful view-- Just gorgeous! I believe this is now a Plaza Club room.

I have a layout of the resort at Radisson Aruba Resort Property Map

The Aruba Tower even numbered rooms basically have ocean/poolviews and face southwest. Aruba Tower Suites are beautiful, have a lot of room and are VERY expensive. An ocean/poolview in the Aruba Tower gives you the same view.

The northside of the tower as is the room above, are odd numbered rooms which offer partial oceanviews and a view over the island. If the ocean/poolview ends up being more money than you wish to spend, partial oceanviews, odd numbered rooms in the Aruba tower, imho are pretty darn nice as well.

Aruba tower has the largest rooms, just slightly larger than the Curacao tower, but you will wait for the elevator and have a walk from the lobby on out to the pool and beach beyond.

If money is no problem, the Bonaire Suite in my mind is the absolute perfect accommodation for a honeymoon or anniversary. For me at least, it felt like a repeat of our weddingmoon when we stayed at a 5 star hotel in the Bahamas and this suite is the same price. We did not use the huge living room, but the balcony and view and especially the bathroom were to die for. If you can get the 4th floor suite you will still have a little bit of an oceanview, poolview and of course a view of all of the grounds.

You do not want a Petite Bonaire Suite. There is a difference in price because of the bath. Not worth spending the extra money for a suite not to have a balcony. If that were the case you may as well stay at the Hyatt.

Bonaire tower rooms are the smallest, but also the most centrally located to the rest of the resort. Bonaire tower room view. Unless you need a LOT of bathroom space. for two people they are perfect

Curacao tower rooms offer some nice views from the upper floors. Curacao tower room view

Our most recent partial oceanview room view in the Curacao Tower



A nice size bathroom


Beautiful room


If you read our trip reports at
Our Radisson Trip Report September 2000
Our Radisson Trip Report March 2001
Our Radisson Trip June 2001
Our Radisson Trip June 2011

They may give you some "feel" for how we felt about the accommodations on our previous stays and the Radisson itself. No matter which accommodation you choose I am sure you will love the Radisson.

Bonaire tower bath

If a picture tells a thousand words, then all you need to know is:

Aruba Tower Suite 1419
Aruba Tower Room 1409
Aruba Tower Room 1717
Aruba Tower Penthouse

Bonaire Tower Room
Bonaire Tower Room View
Bonaire Suite

Curacao Tower Room
Curacao Suite

[Andrea J.]

i knew lisa would info

everything you need to know about the radisson, and if she does not have the answer, she usually can find out.

[kristy1]

Thanks all tso much for the responses ~ and Arubalisa...Wow!! what a detailed,so useful wealth of information you gave me ~ I am SO glad I found this and posted the question ~ you gave me way more than I would have imagined, and really helped me with all the detailed info regarding size,location, etc etc ~ those pictures were so helpful as well ~ and I haven't even read through your trip reports yet !! but will do tha next ~ just wanted to say thanks! I just can't believe how much detail you put into your response, and it is very much appreciated!! By you doing that, you helped me have a good "visual" of it, and to tell you the truth I thought I would really want the main Aruba tower (before reading this) but after looking at your pictures and what you said ~ I think I am leaning toward the Bonaire Tower ~ just for the location and being able to get to pool/beach quicker. We really don't need a huge room because it will just be the 2 of us. I will just have to decide if we will go with a regulare guestroom, or try for partial oceanview. I haven't officially booked, but am going through the agency you recommended ~ and we are waiting until next month when Jetblue releases the schedule for September ~ but they gave me a "ballpark" quote ~ I really like the idea of the breakfast and lunch included, and then go out for dinner each night somewhere different. We know the food there is real good (one reaon we don't want to do an all inclusive)
Well, thanks again!! I am about to read all your trip reports! (and looking forward to that!)
To tell you the truth, I haven't even checked any other locations ~ just the Radisson.
Feel free to give any more suggestions/opinions ~ Much appreciated!!!
Kristy

[kristy1]

PS....To my above post/reply ~ just want to add ~ don't get me wrong ~ the Aruba tower I would love, but would want the oceanview ~ and that brings the price up quite a bit ~ trying to think of that too!

[Arubalisa]

kristy, you are welcome.

When it comes time to book the Radisson I would tell Player's Choice that you would really like to be in the Bonaire tower and see if in that case, it really matters which category you book.

The package with the breakfast buffet and ala carte lunch at Gilligans or served to you on the beach cannot be beat!

[kristy1]

Bgmouse - thanks so much for your reply - that is good to know about the lunch credit!! Makes me want to be there now! Hope you have a great trip in July! I will have to wait for September to go there
Arubalisa - thanks again for all your help. I think I will take your advice on that (regarding Bonaire tower and category) when it comes time to book. (which I plan on doing sooner than later!!

[MAZOO]

Kristy1--We just booked the radisson for our tenth visit in a row. We have stayed in the Aruba Tower three times, the Bonaire Tower once and the balance in the Curacao Tower, partial Ocean View. I have a preference to the Curacao Tower but just check if you do that, it's an inside room or you could be looking at the RIU. This being our 40th anniversary (9-9-72) this year I'm going the extra and booked the Aruba Tower. We'll be there from the 4th till the 13th in September. Maybe our paths will cross.

I love the Radisson, they make you feel like you were just away on vacation and just returned home. Cannot say enough about the staff and management (especially as my wife says "the omlet lady"). Player's Choice is also an agent I have had absolutely no problems with, Ursula and Guy are top notch. Arubalisa is spot on with her info.

I'll be looking into doing a vow renewal and dinner on the beach also.
So---Happy Anniversary a few months ahead of time.

MAZOO