HI !
I AM JUST SO CONFUSED, HAVE LOOKED AT MANY FORUMS HERE, THIS IS MY FIRST TRIP TO ARUBA, HAD FIRST LOOKED AT THE HYATT DIRECTION, NOW WITH ALL THIS INFO, THIS TAMIJ & DIVI PLACES ( ALL INCLUSIVE ) DONT LOOK BAD, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE NOT BIG DRINKERS, I AM REALLY PUSHING THE ARUBA GET AWAY - HUSBAND DOESNT REALLY CARE. WE ARE IN OUR 50'S TO EARLY 60'S, DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN WITH A ALL VERY YOUND CROWD. WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THE BEACH AND ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A NICE POOL AND TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A PLACE TO EAT AROUND THE POOL. LOVE A SWIM UP BAR, DON'T THINK EITHER OF THESE 2 PLACES HAVE THAT. JUST LOOKING TO HAVE A NICE CLEAN, GOOD FOOD. ARE THESE PLACE FAR AWAY FROM TOWN, AND THIS CASINO PLACE IS IT ACROSS THE WAY. LOVED ARUBALISA'S PICS OF THIS PLACE, DON'T WANT TO MAKE MYSELF CRAZY ( LIKE I FEEL I AM ), BUT FOR MY FIRST TIME TO ARUBA, WOULD LIKE IT TO BE THE FIRST OF MANY, SO WANT TO BE SURE I'M LEANING TOWARDS A GOOD DECISION. ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. LOOKING TO GO ANYTIME FROM SEPT - NOV.

Reading through your comments, my first thought is that the swimming pools at both the Divi and Tamarijn are NOT fancy. For us the tradeoff of a "plain" swimming pool was the oceanfront room.

Both the Divi and Tam have pizza bars (sandwiches and munchies as well). At the Tamarijn it is poolside, at the Divi it is catercorner. The Divi and Tamarijn are also very close to downtown Oranjestad. The Hyatt is approx. 4 miles from downtown Oranjestad and the Divi/Tam are a mile from downtown.

In regards to food there are plenty of options that you will not become bored with the choices for a 7 night stay.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18

imo i would opt for the divi OR the tam
you are in my age bracket and you will be quite happy there with many many 50 somethings
tamarijn has more kids than divi
divi has many couples, and honeymooners
if it were me. go with the divi
(i love both)
beach is nice
rooms clean and adequate
food is good
drinks, good choices and plentiful

divi/tam properties about 1.5 miles to downtown
hyatt approx 3 miles to downtown

all resorts along the bus route!

re: the hyatt it is magnificent it is up on palm beach in the hi rise area a bit too chaotic in that are for my liking i like to be able to walk thru a lobby in a resort in my bathing suit and cover up hyatt is a bit more formal than that and not as laid back as the places along the lo rise end (eagle/druiff beach)

either way, wherever you stay, you will have a wonderful time
ever think of renting a timeshare unit?
andrea

THANKS FOR THE ADVISE, ARUBALISA, I CONTACTED THAT WEB SITE AS YOU SUGGESTED WWW.ARUBA4U.COM SPOKE WITH AMY, VERY NICE AND THEY ALSO ARE VERY IMFORMATIVE, SHE SUGGESTED THAT I MIGHT BE VERY HAPPY AT THE RADISSON ( NOW ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT ) , THE RATE SHE HAD QUOTED ME WAS VERY REASONIBLE AND INCLUDED BREAKFAST. ALSO WE LIKE TO HAVE SOME DRINKS BY THE POOL, BUT WE'RE NOT HEAVY DRINKERS.
ANDREA, THANKS ALSO FOR YOUR INPUT, AND IF I DO END UP CHOOSING A ALL INCLUSIVE, I WILL CONSIDER THE DIVI ( WENT TO THE WEB SITE ) ALSO LOOKS VERY NICE. AS FAR AS TIME SHARE, MY NEIGHBOR OWNS IN THE MARIOTT OCEAN CLUB, HE SAID I MIGHT LIKE THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK I WANT TO DO THAT, FIRST TIME THERE.

<<Hee Hee>> That Amy is a smart lady! The Radisson is really our favorite resort, just that right now in our lives, the Tamarijn is more affordable.

I have 100's of photos from our 4 stays at the Radisson HERE.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18

Hi Again,
Arubalisa, I Didn't Want To Mention Your Name, But I Did Tell Her You Recommended Her Web Site, She Was Very Good, She Told Me That You Used To Go To Radisson All The Time, But I Guess Recently - Maybe Children You Switched, But That You Still Use Them. I Also Have Children, But This Escape Is Just For Myself And Husband, We Need This Time, Its Been A Heck Of A Year. Thanks Again For All Your Help, I Really Do Appreciate It.

go to the tam and relax. 7 steps from patio to beach. you can visit other resorts while you are there for a return trip another time.

Because of ArubaLisa and Amy we are going to the Radisson for our first visit.

We are not drinkers and there is a difference in price between the Radisson and the Tam for us.
There are many places to eat---all with excellent reviews so I cn experience Aruba instead of staying on site.


Even with going out every night for dinner-- I still saved a few bucks by staying at the Radisson.

We've stayed at the Tam twice and the Divi eight times. We enjoyed both places, but the beach at the Divi is much better than the Tam. The crowd at the Tam tends to be a little younger. We always go the first week in March and never see many children at either resort. Never stayed at the high-rise area, but have heard that they are much more crowded. No problem getting huts at the Divi each day. Good luck and enjoy Aruba.

Serene, That Amy Sure Is Nice, Isn't She ? And So Helpful. The Radisoon Sounds Great, Went To The Website And Looks Very Nice Also, Have You Checked Out Many Places To Eat? I Still Haven't Looked That Far. We Are Kind Of Plain Food Eaters, No Raw Fish Or Anything Like That. When Are You Heading There ? I Can't Decide Whether Sept Or Nov, I Guess I Could Consider Oct Also. It's Great Chatting With Someone Who Also Has Not Been There Before.