What is a palapa?

[DSL24]

Don't laugh.. this will be my first trip to Aruba. Been seeing this word being referenced . What exactly is a palapa?

[~Amy~®]

These are palapas - and you really do need them in Aruba - the sun can be brutal.

[DSL24]

THanks.. do I need to reserve them? Are they offered at the marriott Solaris?

[~Amy~®]

Originally Posted by DSL24

THanks.. do I need to reserve them? Are they offered at the marriott Solaris?

Every hotel/resort has them but each is different as far as reserving or "first come/first serve" policies.

We don't stay at the Marriott so I don't know what their policies are. I'm sure someone else who has stayed there should be able to answer your question though.

[Arubalisa]

You may wish to post that specific question in the Hotels category.

It appears you can reserve them in advance, but I am almost positive there is a charge.http://www.aruba.com/forum/f22/marriott-resort-stelarios-casino-several-questions-42908/#post161248

[miesk5]

Great info by Amy!

We stayed @ La Cabana on Eagle Beach again this past NOV and the La Cabana Security Folks were "tagging" (marking) each un-occupied but marked Palapa (by a towel, beach bag, hat attached to it or a chair) . They did this to let people know not to "reserve" them but fail to use them in a 3 hour window.

It is a problem and a shame to see them "reserved" as early at 0530 hours each and every day, but unoccupied until hours later.

So, the security folks are responding to this common work-around of the first-come, first-served policy.

btw, we saw some towels removed from the Palapas during our stay.

[Mr. Ratt]

It would be sort of nice to see the same practice catch on at some of the other resorts as well. I have to agree that it's a bit irritating to wake up, look out your window and see towels and such all over the lounge/beach chairs. It puts a bit of a competitive edge on the vacation, something most people don't really want to deal with, and are likely on vacation to escape from. It's too bad, but sometimes the overcrowding situation leads to this kind of thing, and yes, it can ruin the fun for everyone.
As much as rules "may" be a pain in the butt sometimes, they're obviously implemented for a reason.
Because some folks just can't play nice... and that's a shame.
I guess if we all thought about how we'd feel if it happened to us, we'd all be a bit nicer to each other.
(Which is not to say any of us aren't nice folks, I'm using the "royal we" here.)

Ah well. To those in paradise, think of those of us not in paradise, and send us some of that wonderful sunshine and warmth.... brrrr, Toronto's not too warm yet.
My little computer thermometer is reading -2.

[DSL24]

That has happened to us in Cabo...wake up in the morning only to find that all the chairs/lounges by the pool are already "reserved" with towels and no one around.

[Eagle Beach Boy]

In some areas of Aruba, Palapas are also known as Chickies.

[sunnysmiles]

Our room at CPVR is pool side and every morning the same couple would "claim" the table outside our room and all they did was smoke (and cough) - all day. It was awful just sitting on our own little porch. No matter how early my dh got up to get out there and claim that table, their stuff was already there (and I'm talking 6:30a.m.!). It is frustrating but after a few days we just laughed about it.