Radisson

[vanessa]

I need some help. We have stayed at the Hyatt for the past 4 yrs. We love the Hyatt. This year it is too expensive for us. We are going from Dec 7-17. Our choices are the Radisson and Playa Linda. To stay at Radisson it will be about $300 more than Playa but the Radissons price includes breakfast buffet. I need help deciding if $300 more is worth the Radisson. Does the breakfast buffet include an omelet station with real eggs. WHat else is on the menu for the breakfast buffet. Does anybody know where on line we can find it. How does the palapa reservation system work? I know it starts at 4 but how early do you have to wait in line to get a front row-Is this going to be eating into our beach time..Can you get a fridge-seperate from mini bar in the room to store drinks
Location-we love the Hyatt location thats why we are considering Playa..however Iam nervous that the resort quality will not be up to par to Hyatt...any thoughts... our main thing is we stay on the beach from 8.30-6 so we wont be in the rooms that often..however i dont line being packed like sardines and having a loud beach with people everywhere making tons of noise.. any thougst

[Arubalisa]

The Radisson has an omelet station which as far as I have seen, uses real eggs. You can see them sitting in a bowl at the photo I have a photo of the "omelet lady"
Click on thumbnail to enlarge

We love the breakfast buffet at the Radisson. When we book the Radisson through MCM Tours the buffet is always included in the price of our package. The buffet itself has just about anything you would expect to find. Was there something specific you were looking for besides the omelets? If your price difference between the PL and Rad was $30 a day, that more than covers the price of the breakfast buffet at the Radisson which I believe was about $17.95 + service charge + 12% tax. Last time we were there they served the breakfast buffet until 12 noon so if you are not big eaters, could incorporate this into your day as brunch, skip lunch and save some $$$.

My Mom and Dad stayed at the Radisson last August and the resort was pretty busy. Line up for palapas usually started at 3 pm for 4 pm assignments. My Mom usually did not wander over until 5 pm or so though and there were always palapas left for reservations the following day. One day they did not reserve one because they planned on going shopping and they STILL got a palapa. December is one of the slowest months of the year, so I don't think you will have any problems.

Yes, besides the mini-bar, the Radisson does have small refrigerators which you can request for use in your room. They are on a first come, first served basis.

Having stayed at both the Hyatt and the Radisson, we like the Radisson better than the Hyatt. The beach at the Radisson is much longer and more spread out than that at the Hyatt. The resorts both have about the same number of rooms and the beach at the Hyatt is 441 feet long vs. the beach at the Radisson which is 600 feet long. Having spent many a summer at the Jersey shore the Radisson's beach is heaven in comparison. There is not a HUGE amount of space between palapas, but there is certainly enough to give you your own sense of space. Clientele at the Radisson was comparable to that of the Hyatt.
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
More beach photos:
Beach I
Beach II

The Radisson's rooms have balconies, whereas as you already know, if you stay at the Hyatt, you must book a suite. Nice for relaxing right before going to dinner. Dh and I like you, spend early morning until sunset on the beach. We also like the swimming pool areas at the Radisson better than the Hyatt. Though the Hyatt's pool is gorgeous, the Radisson's pool areas are much more open and much more spread out. Virtually the length of the resort.
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
More pool photos:
North Swimming Pool
South Swimming Pool

[vanessa]

I have read several reviews on line that the breakfast buffet at Radisoon is terrible.-rubbery pancakes and the worst food they ever had and that people went to the Hyatts breakfast even though the buffet came free with the room at the Radisson. Is it that bad. Do they have fresh bagels, pastries and fruit?

[vanessa]

also is the beach at the Raddison more windy than the Hyatt..thnks

[dividivi]

Originally Posted by vanessa

I have read several reviews on line that the breakfast buffet at Radisoon is terrible.-rubbery pancakes and the worst food they ever had and that people went to the Hyatts breakfast even though the buffet came free with the room at the Radisson. Is it that bad. Do they have fresh bagels, pastries and fruit?

We love the breakfast buffet at the Radisson. When we book the Radisson through MCM Tours the buffet is always included in the price of our package. The buffet itself has just about anything you would expect to find.

If ArubaLisa said she loved it, I doubt that it would be horrible. I can't imagine her dining on rubbery pancakes and loving it.

[Arubalisa]

Thanks for the confidence dividivi . No matter where we have stayed in Aruba where we ate at the breakfast buffet did we find a bagel comparable to the northeast US. More like the Lender's frozen variety. Pancakes? Never had an issue with them either. The griddle is right on the other side of the wall where they are kept on the buffet. If you don't like the texture, I am sure if you request it, they would make them fresh for you.

If you are referring to reviews on Trip Advisor, my soon to be 95 year old grandmother will tell you, "throw out the best of what you read and the worst of what you read and the truth is somewhere in the middle." If our family believed everything we read in the reviews there before our December stay at the Tamarijn, we would have stayed home. The Radisson in not commanding the prices that they are because it is a mediocre accommodation.

[serene56]

Lisa- looking through your photos (again) and saw this hot tub
http://www.arubabound.com/photos/htl/rad/pool/wa.jpg

Does the radisson have only one hot tub-- exactly where would it be located?

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by serene56

Lisa- looking through your photos (again) and saw this hot tub
http://www.arubabound.com/photos/htl/rad/pool/wa.jpg

Does the radisson have only one hot tub-- exactly where would it be located?

Ah...the secret hot tub! At one time there were two, don't remember if it is just one now or not, but seriously, it is set back from the pool and beach on the south side of the Curacao Tower. There is a pathway which runs along that side of the tower and the tub is just on the boundary between the Radisson's property and Riu.

[Karen Lutzker]

We have stayed at the Radisson, Westin (formally Wyndham), Hyatt and Marriott. We own timeshare, but like to have a nice buffet breakfast out once in a while. Hyatt indeed has a wonderful Sunday brunch. Personally, it is much to much to eat. Radisson has a very good buffet breakfast and lovely resort. Far less crowded then the Hyatt. We also enjoy Westin's buffet breakfast as well. Marriott's buffet breakfast is nice, but does not have smoked salmon during the week. The same for goes for Hyatt during the week. Westin and Radisson always have smoked salmon on their breakfast buffet. That is of course if you like smoked salmon.

[arubarocks11]

ive stayed at the hyatt for years now and loved everything about it. especially there bingo at the pool and there brunch is awesome, not to much! i also stay at the playa linda while we are there and its amazing, there rooms are so nice and the deck with a perfect view of the ocean ! and if you cross the street behind theres an awesome amount of beautiful restaurants and a cute strip of stores, and the beach is perfect. the water is so clean and clear.theres no better way to go