Has any one stayed at the renaissance? How is the food at this resort? How much $ can a person spend on food and drinks in one day?
They offer AI pkg 115.00 per day per person a min 5 day. This also includes a Latin show. What I like about this we don't have to look at the prices and worry about not tipping enough.We might try the first two day on our own and see.
Any ideas on how to save money calling home? Some calling cards don't work in Aruba.

Nathlaye - I stayed their a week ago and the food everywhere was good.<How much can you spend on food and drinks in one day>, alot or a little would have to be the answer. We didn't do the Al. To many places out side of the resort to try for us. I would do their Al drink next time. Drinks are high in price. We stayed at the Ren. Marina Tower. At their Blue Bar a 8oz bottle of local beer was $5.80 with out tip. I know you can get calling cards their,but I wanted to be reached by phone in case it was urgent and I rented a phone from fastphones. This phone was one of the best things I planed. All of this info is just one persons opinion. We can't wait to go back.<BigPapa>

If you go to the rennisance web www.aruba rennisance.com they list all of the resturants that you can use in the plan. I think if I did the plan i would drink alot more!! There are a ton of resturants you can use at the rennisance and all are good. We plan on about $150.00 per day for food. We usually have breakfast and dinner and a snack around lunch time. I don't call home from the island so I don't have info on that. But you will like the rennisance.

Never stayed at either Renn. location. Plan on $75-100 per day per person for food and drink depending on where you go. Keep breakfast and lunch sandwich items in your room refrig if you have one. go to grocery stores other side of bus terminal (1/2 mile away.) Latin show at crystal casino is $44 per person without the dinner package if you want to figure in a comparison. if a surcharge is added to your bill, that is the tip. Use the cyber cafe in the Royal Plaza mall, 1st floor rear corner on left for calling USA and Canada at 25 cents per minute, or use e-mail for $5.00 per hour. Like ribs? the Paddock across from one Renn. location has all you can eat ribs on wed. nights for $10.00 per person. $12.00 lunches/dinners at Iguana Joe's by mall too. The Tamarijn and divi aruba all inclusive offers a 3 day minimum for all food, drinks, tips, use of beach chairs, nightly entertainment at their resorts for $75.00 a day per person. you have to wear a wristband.

We stayed at the Marina and the acommodations are nice with a friendly/helpful staff. We hardly spent any time at the resort though. We were always on the go, so we really only used it for showers, sleep and....well, you know. $115 pp/pd sounds a little high. IMHO, I personally would steer clear of the AI at any resort on Aruba because there are so many great restaurants on the island. Budgeting $330 per day for a couple will get you drinks and meals about anywhere.

we just got back from the ren and spent about $1200 for the week on food and drinks. I think we made out better by not doing AI at the renn. because it would have cost us $1600 to add AI for both of us. We did not skimp on food or drinks, we ate every meal out and had dinners at french stakehouse, waterfront crabhouse, driftwood, amazonia etc. also had about 3 drinks per day each some days more. hope this helps.

We stayed at the timeshare part of the Renaissance during Presidents Week, week 8 this year. The Unit was very nice and the service was great. The downtown location was perfect nd the resort is set back just enough for privacy. The pool/beach area is clean and pretty. Rent a cell phone fron arubafast phones it is a good thing to have better then using the phone cards. The decicel stand is right outside after you get your bags. You can make prior arraangements right on this board with Charles.

I'm staying at the Ren. this coming week, where did you get the information on the AI package? Do you know if the restaurants are restricted to those on the property, or are they inter chaangable with other off site rest.?

How much was the AI beverage only package?

The AI package for $115 per day, was this for food and alcohol?