I'm hoping someone can help me? My husband and i are going to aruba july 1-9 ...want to stay at the occidental grand aruba, i was wondering if the all inclusive package is worth the money.It is about 2000 dollars more than a regular package.We both drink, but not real heavy,maybe on average between 8 and 10 drinks a day total.Can you eat as many meals as you want, or is there a limit? any info would be greatly appreciated. Karen

I don't think the all inclusive is worth it. There are so many good places to eat in Aruba. For the extra money that you will pay for the all inclusive (which is a lot by the way), you can eat and drink at a different place everyday of your stay. When I was in Aruba we never went to the same place twice and never had a bad meal.

Good Day!!
Hubby and I have been going to the Tam for the past 5 years and are going again this year in March. The Tam is an All Inclusive, and yes, it is worth the money. Now just know about the Tam, the main meals are set up on a time line because the kitchen must have time to set up for each meal. But there is a Pizza bar that is open from about 11:00 till maybe midnight to serve the ones who what something in between. Around the dinning area, there is always some sort of fruit around to keep you going. About the drinks, just think about it, 10 drinks or so a day, maybe $4 to 5 a drink, and if it goes down real good, maybe even more drinks, yes I think it's worth it. By the way, that's for a small size of beer at the local watering hole in town. Hope I answered your question. Enjoy!!

Do not do the all inclusive at the
Grand. You will do much better going out for dinner at the great restaurants in Aruba. Breakfast there is fine but its too restrictive to dine there every night. You can eat and drink at lot for the extra 2000.
What do other people think????

we have stayed many times before they closed for renovations and are planning to go back in dec...my feeling is this. to drink unlimited is enough for me. you can eat all you want of any meal be it at a buffet or even a sit down, we have ordered more than one entree. the food is better than decent. but, if you don't want to be limited to eating only at this hotel, then the price would not be worth it. there are so many wonderful restaurants that you would miss out on around the island. you need to decide if you think you will spend less than the $2000 they want for the allinclusive package in the week on food and drink. then make the decision on how important it is or isn't to see the other restaurants the island has to offer...that will tell you whether to take the package or not...hope this helps.

8-10 drinks per day is alot! Alcohol is included and all the food you want. It does limit you to the resort instead of enjoying many of the great places to eat on Aruba. $2000. more seems a little heavy. We went all inclusive the first time, that was 13 years ago. I think you could have alot of meals and drinks and save some money by not going all inclusive. Happy hour offers 2 for 1 at alot of places every afternoon and each hotel is a different time.

Eight or ten drinks ?

I have always been of the opinion that all-inclusive packages are just a waste of money. Aruba has some of the best restaurants around and to limit yourself to only eating at the hotel restaurants is a shame! If you do like to drink then just go to the supermarket and stock up on beer/wine and take your own down to the beach. Our first year in Aruba we stayed at the Occidental and met a nice couple from Vermont who went all-inclusive (we didn't). Needless to say the couple regretted it as they got bored with the hotel restaurants and came with us to eat at some of the nicer restaurants on the island. Do yourself a favor and skip the all-inclusive and explore all that the island has to offer in terms of cuisine. For a list of nice restaurants just see various posts on this site or just email me...I'd be happy to suggest some of our favorites as we've been to Aruba 3 times.

Karen, for about $1200 we eat and drink each year, without doing an all inclusive. There are too many fab restaurants within walking distance and short cab rides.....we do not skimp on places to go...it's our one great trip per year and we love the options that are available......cj

Seems like a lot of money.. We only pay £1200
for two weeks AI travelling from England to stay at the Occidental. We have booked again for June 06 as well. We do drink lots though,and you can eat as many times as you want, food was great as was the wineand beer.