Any info. on the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino would be greatly appreciated. It is a nice place to stay, etc.? We will be taking our baby, and want to make sure it is a good place to stay. Thanks!

Go to www.geocities.com/marriottaruba12000 and RIGHT click and save target as... to download a short movie. Bring extra money to pay for a palapa--such greed.

Its greed Tom and also its the lack of beach accommodations. Their building more and more units and they do not have enough beach chickies, huts, palapa's whatever you want to call them. They also do not have enough useable beach as well. My take on this is that most people want to be on the beach. Families with smaller children tend to do the pool area. For the amt. of the new already there and the new ones being erected, they need to develope beaches for tenants. People seeking the Marriott need to check this out throughly before they rent or purchase.
If they think the pool and ocean/beach is a 50-50 split as to where vacationers will go too they are definately incorrect.
Look at shore areas in the US. Everyone including kids are at the beach. Very few at the pools that are near the beaches.

Marriott certainly should have considered enough beach room for the more and more rooms and condos they have and are still building.
Alecia, if you are not locked into the Marriott, their are certain lowrises that are great for a baby and plenty of beach accommodation.

CasaDelMar and Aruba Beach Club :
and one of my favorites the DiVi.

Research all you can and remember opinions of anything in these threads vary from A to Z. One opinion I hold true too is that a hotel guest should not have to pay to get a hut on the beach associated with the hotel they are staying in.

Happy Hunting.

Hi Alecia,

My husband and I stayed at the Marriott in 2003 and really enjoyed ourselves! The hotel is located right on Palm Beach, at the end of the high rise area. Yes, there are some issues with the beach 'palapas' (you will have to wake up early to reserve), but from what I've read, this seems to be an issue at many resorts (i.e. not enough to go around). They do have huts which you can pay to reserve; I believe it is $15 per day for the first row, and $10 per day for the second/third rows. You may also reserve a 'free' hut, but again, this means waiting in line in the morning.

Good restaurants on site; Tuscany for Italian, Simply Fish - they set up tables right on the beach for sunset dining; Champion's, next door at the Ocean Club (Marriott's timeshare facility), for burgers and pub-style fare. There is also a sushi bar and dessert kiosk in the hotel's lobby. And of course, the casino!

A few small gift shops also on site. Would recommend taking the bus ($2 pp) or a taxi downtown for shopping, change of pace, etc.

We found a nice mix of families, couples and singles at the resort; you should have no problems there with a little one. Nice pool area as well, if you are not a 'beach' person.

Also, for some 'alone time,'Mandara Spa is located next door. If you have the time, make an appt with them - well worth it.

Any other questions, feel free to e-mail me directly.

Good luck! ENJOY!

I was there in Feb for a school vacation week and this hut situation did not exist. We were on the beach allday with no problems.
The whole Marriott complex Stellaris/Ocean Club/Surf Club is Absolutely beautiful and classy. Stay there and don't listen to thes people. I have kids and feel very safe there. No hussle and bussle of the downtown area. I will be very surprised if you have anything bad to say about the Marriott!!!
The Marriott is WORLDWIDE... THink about it?????? There is a reason for that....

You do not "have" to pay to get a hut. We were at the Marriott Ocean Club Jan 29-Feb7 and never paid for a hut and got second row every day. On our daily walks I noticed the other hotel beaches were much more congested. We're already booked for next year for our 4th trip. As for the pool/beach situation, many days families would come to the beach for an hour or so and then head on up to the pool for the rest of the day because the kids wanted to swim in the pool. We never sat at the pool but did take a dip now and then to visit the pool bar. So, I do think as many people use the pool as the beach.

Marriott does indeed have a rental hut policy. Thats why 100's of people here have mentioned it. Maybe their all lying.

I love the M. as well but they do at high season when the hotel is full have a beach hut problem. Its very well known.
My opinion only, I'd pass on Tuscany's. Their star restaurant. Very expensive, small portions, but very nice atmosphere.
Madamme Jennetts is much better in quality, portions and sitting under the stars with out side seating with familiar US music is paradise.
I was treated to dinner at Tuscanys this year by a client.
I ordered their mixed seafood dinner. One of the highest priced dinners on the menu.
It was over Cappellini. I was served two mussels, 2 medium shrimp, one very tiny lobster tail no bigger than a newborns fist, and about a tablespoon of calimari. $33.50. Plus $9.50 for a spinach salad.

These opinions here are always very varied. Marriott has a lot of hussle and bussle in its self. Elevators to your room etc. LowRises are much quieter and walk 30 seconds to the beach. New York City lovers hate the burbs. Too quiet and visa versa.

My son lives in the wilderness of New Hempshire, way up on a hill 16 miles from almost all civilization. He has to drive at least an hout to get to the supermarket, each way and the same just to get to a Home Depot. When he visits us he feels like a caged in lion. I could never live where he lives and he couldn't do my area.

Point is, some love the hundreds of teens bopping thru the M's. lobby all night and walking and taking elevators to their rooms and others find this too much of a inconvenience on a vacation.

We step literally 30 steps out of our patio door and step on the beach. First floor, 30 steps back to the room for beer, snacks, lunch, nap, whatever. If the resort shoe fits, wear it.

Hi Alecia,

Just to clarify, there are huts (palapas) available for a reservation 'fee', as I stated above, or huts available without a fee, which are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.

I cannot speak for others, but I can tell you that when we were there in Sept, 2003, the line for reserving huts began forming around 6:30 a.m. We are going back this year, staying at the Marriott Surf Club this time around. While I agree with others that 'paying for shade' can be crazy, for me, it beats throwing my husband out of bed at the crack of dawn to stand in a line. We like the Marriott, so we're willing to spend the extra cash.

As others have mentioned, it is busier at different times of the year. But we were there during 'low season,' and still had to wake up early to reserve.

Please do not let any comments here steer you away from Marriott - you'll have a wonderful time.

Hello! We visited the Aruba Marriott in Sept, 2003, as well. We loved the Resort and the Island. We've traveled all over the Caribbean (as well as Hawaii and we live in FL) and we think that Palm Beach is one of the BEST beaches anywhere. It is huge and sandy, the water is clear and shallow, there are plenty of food outlets and shops and there are no pesky vendors asking to braid your hair or sell you some trinket. And for what it is worth, we NEVER got up early for a beach hut. If there wasn't one available right when we hit the beach, we simply hung out by the pool until someone left their palapa. It was no big deal. And now you can pay to reserve one. I think that is a great idea, if shade is a priority.

We just bought at the Surf Club and can't wait to head back in May, 2006! Have a great trip!

Looking forward to staying here in May!

:-)

You could find something negative about every place, so I'm just planning on enjoying the positives about Marriott...my father-in-law is staying at the Hyatt two weeks after us, and was commenting on how he wished he was staying at the Marriott!

K.