My wife (an avid user of this Forum, cindyo) and I have been going to the Renaissance Ocean Suites since 1997. In 2001 we purchased our first timeshare (week 15), in 2004 we bought our second (week 16), and we have recently purchased a third (another week 15, which we intend to make available to friends or float to another timeframe when kids are off to college). Since we purchased, our friends and family have purchased an additional 11 (yes, eleven) weeks, all in weeks 15 or 16.

Obviously, from the number of posts she and I have made, combined with the number of times we have gone and the total number of timeshares that have been purchased by us, friends and family, we love Aruba. We've always looked for a way to keep in touch, and found a way to do so through this forum.

The Renaissance Members website provides information from time to time, but does not provide a mechanism for owners to keep in touch, communicate, and exchange experiences and ideas. I am starting this thread in the hopes that members will introduce themselves (first name, number of week owned) and help keep the feeling of Renaissance alive year round!

Rob

....with CindyO near California Lighthouse
Next Aruba trip in

Any Reaissance timeshare owners out there??? Love to hear from you

Cindyo
View of Rennaissance Island
Daughters dining at El Gaucho

Next Aruba trip in

We (Ed and Sue) own weeks 3 and 4 at the Renaissance and also love it there. I think the reason the official members site won't do a directory is because they don't want folks communicating directly with each other as they don't want members buying weeks directly from each other. That would eat into commissioned sales by Brian. Not unreasonable to protect their business interests, but inconvenient for the members.

People always ask for a directory at the members meeting, so this would be a good place to publicize your idea next time you are there.

The member's site never picked up any momentum; it rarely gets updated. So...we can do our own updating here if we can generate some interest! I always like to know what's happening at our "home away from home" while we're away!

....with CindyO near California Lighthouse
Next Aruba trip in

Rob and Cindy,
What a brilliant idea.! The last time I was at an owners meeting, Brian gave me an arrogant answer of NO! when I asked for a copy of the current owners names and addresses. Just imagine how many people we could help by purchasing, renting, and trading without the hefty commissions being asked by the realtors!
Cheers,
Dennis and Susan we just purchased week 21 hurray!!!

Rob and Cindy,

Greetings from another Aruba Renaissance Ocean Suites owner! I own week #3 and week #30. Can't wait to go back at the end of July!

I've enjoyed your posts about Aruba and the Renaissance on this BB. I've been a reader of this BB for several years, but just registered now to follow-up on your original post.

Yes, it would be great for us owners to have some way to communicate. That being said, I just this morning stumbled across a website that seems to be what we may be looking for. I have no idea whose site it is, nor am I involved in any way. It looks like the site was just started in April.

Since this is my first post on this forum, I hope it's not against the rules to post the site's address! It is www.ArubaOceanSuites.com

I share your enthusiasm for the Aruba Renaissance Ocean Suites, and the whole island of Aruba!

Chip

Welcome to this forum and thanks for the advice on the arubaoceansuites webpage.

How far back does your ownership go? Sonesta? Harbortown? We started going in 1997 and purchased in 2001, 2004 and 2008.

....with CindyO near California Lighthouse
Next Aruba trip in

Rob,

My first trip to Aruba (and to the Renaissance Ocean Suites, then known as the Sonesta Beach Tower) was in 2002. I returned in 2003 and 2004. Having been to a number of other tropical islands, I just fell in love with Aruba and the Ocean Suites. I finally bought a week #3 Ocean Suites timeshare from a seller on RedWeek, since I enjoy escaping the snow here in January. A week #3 in January wasn't easy to find! I guess I was lucky. I first used it in 2005. A few months later, I bought a week 30 from ReMax in Aruba. Since then, I've been going twice a year, and can't wait to get back!

When I was there in January, Jorge (what a great waiter!) on the private island enthusiastically welcomed me back, and even remembered what I ordered six months ago! Although I am a creature of habit and somewhat boring when it comes to food choices, it felt like I was coming home. What a nice feeling. The people of Aruba are wonderful.

Chip

Good post. I went to your suggested website. It would be great if they would add a category called Ownership Directory that we could begin building. We could even refer other people wanting a directory that we hear from at the weekly meetings when we're at the resort.

We first went to Aruba in 1987 & bought wks 7 & 8 preconstruction (Harbourtown!) We have gone every year since & are now up to 4 wks in Feb/Mar (we rent 2 wks); we also have gone 7 or 8 times in Aug & will being going again this year.
A member directory would be fantastic......I have a couple of ideas about how we could do this. Let me think it through & I'll get back to you!!
Lynne

lynnen