travelin' twins

My husband and I are headed to Aruba in May, with our twins, who will be almost 7 months old. We are staying at Marriott's Surf Club and wondered if anyone else has stayed there with babies. I'd assume it's a pretty kid-friendly resort, but is it baby-friendly as well? Can I get cribs? Should I bring my own baby food or is it easy enough to buy (and not too expensive) in grocery stores there? What else is there to do on the island? If nothing else, we're looking forward to seven days of warm beach time. Would you recommend renting a car for 7 days from the airport or just on the days we need one near the resort?

One last question for anyone, not just those with kids... my parents have visited Aruba on cruise ships a couple of times before. They HATE Aruba and keep telling us to go someplace else. That's not an option as we're basically locked in to our travel plans. Will we hate it? We figure 7 days on a beach in the Carribean - how bad can it be, right? Please set my mind at ease that we'll enjoy this trip with our babies.

cindyo

Aruba is a great place. I don't know if I were hopping off a cruise ship that I would be so impressed with aruba either...the port looks kinda seedy....you really have to see the whole island, and meet its people to fall in love with the place.
I haven't stayed at the surf club, but I did visit my relaties there on several occasions so my info my not be as good as others, here's just a fun thought....we saw lots of little kids in those floaty boat things. The "blow up" hut will blow them up for you. Stick the kids in the boats, hang onto them, and float down the lazy river....
There are grocery stores around. One being Ling and sons who will deliver to your hotel within a time range. You can order your needs in advance and have what you need from their on-line service. Google Ling and sons, aruba to get their site.
Renting a car or jeep might be a nice change with the babies. There is a nice beach, Baby Beach, ( fitting , huh) that is shallow and visited by lots of families. Sunscreen is a must there.
Other things you might want to do with a car would be: butterfly farm, drive-in ( while they nap)....Hopefully others with babies can give you more info.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the island, you can't go wrong !!!

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Randi

Well my baby is 13 but here goes my advice anyways!!

We stay at the Surf Club and the pool has an area that has a round small wading pool that might be a nice place to sit with your kids. Seven months olds don't do all that much but enough that sitting in a stroller all day isn't that much fun. That area has a fairly nice shady area. I am not sure about how busy it is in May but I would imagine it must be easier to get chairs, umbrellas etc at that time.

As far as a car goes, I would say rent one! I was always very particular about putting my babies/kids in car seats so if you rent one then you can always have the car seat available. I believe many of the car rental companies have car seats so you don't have to bring one (or two) from home. The grocery stores are amazing and you will find almost everything you get from home there.

Bring lots of very strong sunscreen as it is much hotter than people realize. Another suggestion, is to bring small life jacets for the kids. This is the safest way to bring the kids in the water (this is what I did when my kids were small, I packed them in our suitcases) and if you wanted to go on a boat tour you would have proper fitting life jackets as I am sure no tour company would carry the infant size life vests. You can still place the kids in a water ring but if they move around or slip you know they are the safest.

Good luck and enjoy!

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MissShannonBunita

I can't imagine anyone staying at the Marriott and "hating" Aruba, but it's a matter of expectations, etc. The worst part will be the flight, and I hope your pediatrician makes a recommendation for the ear pressure. You may want to contact Surf Club ahead of time and see if you can request a room close to the elevator, perhaps the closest one. This will mean only one room next to yours.

Buy and pack everything you can HERE. Diapers, wipes, baby food, "Good Start" (to supplement nursing or if you formula feed, whatever formula you use." Roll the cans in towels and pack them in your suitcase). Don't pack any lotion in a carry on - they'll take it away at the airport. Bring your own sunblock too, as everything is about 40% higher in Aruba. You may want to stop at the "Certified" supermarket on the cab ride or rental car trip from the airport. Get your "staples" there - milk, water, beer, etc. We pack some microwaveable meals and have them for lunch instead of buying food at the pool.

The first time we went, we just stayed on the grounds of the Marriott and went back and forth between the beach and the baby pools. The second time we went into town, to a flea market and outdoor barbecue. When we go in March, we'll do even more. The concierge desk at the Marriott will be more than happy to help you plan things to do, babies and all. I can't say enough about the entire staff at Surf Club. They cater to my daughter and she feels very loved and special there. I would never go ANYWHERE else, and I've traveled quite a bit in my life

ENJOY !

jojo777

Looks like you got a lot of good advice already. We went to the Surf club last May and we are going again this May. My kids were 3 and 5 but the Surf Club is fabulous. There is not a chance you will hate it!!I hope you have a 1 bedroom, for the full kitchen with the kids. Bring all the babyood you can, it is expensive, especially baby stuff. I always pack cereal, snacks, baggies, crystal light, paper plates, napkins, PB and J etc. It just saves money, then we go to the store when we get there. We like to have a car, but many do fine without them. If I had 2 babies I would get a car. You can go for rides and will have the car for the store.

margaret wever

Please ask them how those cribs work! I was happy to see that they are nice and sturdy, not pack and play. The side can be lowered, but it is not easy. And please put on the bumper, you don't want your babies licking the metal bars.

margaret wever

I never pack too heavy (too much formula, etc.) when traveling with Armelle if her favorite formula, food, etc. is available at our destination, since she is handful all by herself. I do take the necessary emergency medicine along (with a letter from a pediatrician to allow me to carry it on board), including a few small bottles of clear Pedialite.
Make sure babies are sucking/drinking during take off and landing as this eases the pressure for them. When Armelle was smaller the pediatrician also advised me to put a small drop of the saline solution in her nose to keep the passages clear and again ease the pressure.

Karen Lutzker

We have been traveling to Aruba several times a year for 29 years. We own timeshare at another resort then the Surf Club, but did take a tour on one of our recent trips. What we noticed is that several of the buildings are a very, very long walk from the beach. I asked the salesman if a golf cart shuttle is provided from the buildings that are further away from the beach. He told my husband and I that there were no future plans to add a golf cart shuttle to the beach. With the eldery, handicapped or familes with small children and babies, this is not a good thing. Being that you have 7 month old twins, my suggestion is to stay in the pool area near your building where you will have easy access to your unit. What you can do though as I have seen many people with babies do is to bring a playpen to the pool area with one of those clip on beach umbrella's. The resort may be able to provide one for you. Another suggestion is that if you are renting at the Surf Club, you switch your reservation to the Marriott Ocean Club next store to Surf Club. It is a smaller resort and much closer to the beach. Also, if you can bring an ice chest to the pool or beach area, you can keep juices available for the babies. It gets very hot out there. Good luck!!

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Randi

I wouldn't say that the Ocean Club is that much farther than the Surf Club. It also depends on which building you are in at the Surf club. From what I am told, the Surf Club seems to be attracting more of the people with children (because of the Lazy River).

You will be fine, just go and enjoy!

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Randi

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Lori H Davis

I agree with Cindyo if you were visiting from a cruise ship, you would not be impressed!

My husband and I have been three times to Aruba and like it so much we bought a time-share at the Mariott Surf Club. It is crawling with little kids and is very family oriented. Take lots of sunscreen, water toys, and RELAX! That's what Aruba is all about!

If you should get a chance to get away sometime without the children, Aruba has some of the finest dining I've experienced. Almost every restaurant has an outdoor patio! We love it!

Enjoy yourselves!