I have reservations to stay at the ARUBA GRAND in March in their lanai room. I am told that the rooms were all updated, are large, have refigerators and open up to the pool / beach area.

We are getting married in Aruba, and my choice was between the ARUBA GRAND and the WYNDHAM. I originally choose the ARUBA GRAND because I liked the sound of the lanai rooms, and I thought it sounded great to be able to just open up the room to the outside, rather than being in an upper floor at the WYNDHAM. But, now, I am reading so many comments that the people that stay at the Aruba Grand are all much older. We are 40 - 50 age range.

I would appreciate any comments, good & bad.

My husband and I stayed there for our first visit to Aruba last year. Although it wouldn't be our choice of hotels for future visits, it certainly isn't as bad as what you read on these message boards. We really liked the Wyndham and Raddison Hotels. We are in our early fifties and I think we were one of the oldest couples staying there. It is a quiet hotel, very clean, and the beach is the nicest of all the high rise area beaches. Their restaurant was very nice, too. Staff was extra friendly. Rooms very clean and big. Of all of the hotels on the Palm Beach Strip, the only one I would probably not recommend is the Holiday Inn. Very dated.

Carol - My husband went to Aruba last September. We debated over staying at the Aruba Grand or the Wyndham and ended up deciding on the Wyndham. We had a wonderful time. We are both in our mid-50s and the Wyndham had a mixed crowd (20s-50s). They had a very nice happy hour from 5PM-7PM with live music. From our oceanfront balcony, we could see the Aruba Grand's property. During the afternoon, there was never anyone at their pool, pool bar, restaurant, etc. In the evening, we visited their Casino. Besides us, there were 2 other people, old enough to be our parents, and the place closed at 12 midnight. During our 7-day stay, occasionally I noticed very few people (less than 5) at the pool in the afternoon. They did not have a happy hour (there weren't enough people to have one). I stayed at the Aruba Palm Beach in 1994 and 1996 (before it became the Aruba Grand) and we had a very nice time. However, the place is getting kind of run down and does not seem to have many guests. I heard that a good part of it has now become a time share. After visiting the Aruba Grand, we were so glad that we chose the Wyndham instead. Good luck in whatever you choose, but I would highly recommend the Wyndham for many reasons.

Carol--my friend and I (both early 30's) stayed at the Aruba Grand last August. The room was spacious, although we didn't stay in a lanai room. Also, the room was clean and everyone who worked there were very pleasant. We never had to get up before sunrise to get a decent spot on the beach or pool, which seems to be a problem at other resorts. About the only thing I didn't enjoy was the casino. It's not one of the more popular ones, but we just went next door to the Radisson. We enjoyed our stay there, maybe because it was very quiet and not overcrowded. Either way, have a great time!!!

Hi Carol-
I have to tell you the Aruba Grand is one of the best places ever, and the most romantic! I am one of those people who does not want tons of people around when I go on vacation. One of the reason the Aruba Grand is so great is because you aren't bothered by other people or fighting over a place on the beach like the Wyndham or Raddison. Gonzales, the beach boy, tells me they have more square footage of beach than any other hotel on Palm Beach. When we were there recently, the hotel was sold out and you would have never known. When you walk in the front door to check in everyone greats you with a smile and says "welcome home". It makes you feel so special. My husband and I have been going twice a year since we have been married. We honeymooned there and can't seem to go anywhere else...we find ourselves missing it (especially with the cold winter). Anyway, high season is over after Easter or thereafter and the summer is peaceful (we do one trip in the summer and one in the winter). We are in our mid 30's and can't recommend it enough! The lanai rooms are very nice. They do have a patio that you can sit on, a great place to watch the sunset. I'm not quite sure how someone can make a recomendation when they have not been there....keep that in mind. Good luck!
Lauren

Carol-
One other thing, they do have a happy hour daily with live music and activities. When we were there they were having paddle boat races in the pool which was hysterical! My mom said that they were just ranked in the top 500 hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure. I haven't seen the article, but it doesn't surprise me.

I HAVE BEEN STAYING AT THE ARUBA GRAND SINCE 1990.IF YOU LIKE BIG CROWDS, YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE.IF YOU LIKE AN OLYMPIC SIZED SWIMMING POOL AND THE QUIETEST AND BEST BEACH IN ARUBA, THIS IS YOUR PLACE.
IF YOU LIKE TO GAMBLE, THERE ARE 6 OR 8 OTHER HOTELS NEARBY TO GO TO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE TO GET A PLACE ON THE BEACH EITHER.GONZO,ANTHONY AND RANDY ARE THE BEACHBOYS AND THEY TAKE CARE OF YOUR EVERY NEED.
I WILL BE THERE ON THE 21ST FOR TWO WEEKS.I CAN'T WAIT. GO AND ENJOY NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN COMING TO ARUBA FOR MANY YEARS. WE FIRST STARTED STAYING AT THE RADISSON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST PLACE TO STAY IN ARUBA . FOR TWO YEARS WHILE THEY WERE CLOSED DUE TO REMOLDING WE STAYED AT THE HOLLIDAY INN FOR THE FIRST YEAR WHICH WE WILL NEVER GO BACK VERY POOR CONDITIONS.NOT FRIENDLY GUESTS VERY LOUD AND ALWAYS A PROBLEM GETTING A NICE SPOT ON THE BEACH. AND ALSO VERY CROWDED. THE SECOND YEAR WE CHOSE THE ARUBA GRAND. WE HAVE NOW STAYED EACH YEAR IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND PART OF FEBUARY. THE BEST BEACH NOT CROWDED VERY FRIENDLY GUESTS AND A GREAT STAFF. WHILE IT IS A OLDER HOTEL IT IS VERY CLEAN AND AND EACH ROOM HAS A GREAT VIEW OF THE OCEAN. TO THE PERSON WHO SAID THAT MOST OF THE GUESTS ARE OLD THIS NOT TRUE. AS WITH ANY HOTEL IT DEPENDS WHO STAYS AT THE SIGHT AND WHEN. WHILE THEIR ARE OLDER FOLKS THEY HAVE CLASS COMPAIRED TO PLACES LIKE THE HOLIDAY INN. THE WYNDAM AND EVEN NOW THE RADISSON. WHAT ALSO IS GREAT ABOUT THE ARUBA GRAND IS UNLIKE ANY OF THE HOTELS ON THE PALM BEACH STRIP . YOU WALK OUT OF YOUR ROOM TO THE NEARBY ELEVATOR DOWN TO THE BEACH LEVEL AND WALK KNOW MORE THAN THIRTY YARDSTO THE BEACH SO TO WOMAN OF ALL AGES THAT CHOOSE NOT TO WALK PAST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU WANT A LITTLE PRIVACY THEN THE ARUBA GRAND IS FOR YOU.WHILE ALL IS NOT PERFECT. WHAT PROBERTY IS.AGAIN WHAT MAKES THIS HOTEL TO ME GREAT IS THE ABSOLUTE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND ALL THE THINGS WE ALL WANT WHE WANT WHEN WE GO ON VACATION . MY WIFE AND I HAVE TRAVELED ALL FOR MANY YEARS TO MANY PLACES AND HAVE NEVER FOUND A PLACE LIKE THE ARUBA GRAND. BY THE WAY IM 57 MY WIFE IS 52 ON THIS BEACH AND HOTEL TODAY FEB 11TH 2003 WE SEE COUPLES IN THEIR TWENTIES THIRTIES ALL THE WAY UP TO EIGHTIES. THE SO CALLED GREATEST GENERATION ALL HAVING A GREA TIME

My wife and I are time-share owners at the Aruba Grand. This hotel, is in my opinion, the best of the hotels on the Palm Beach strip. There are only 35 time share units with most of the hotel avaiable for rentals. The Sea Watch restaurant is among the best we have eaten at. Our first visit to Aruba was in 1985 and we have been coming here on a yearly basis since 1989. It is only 8 floors yet has the biggest and best beach of all of the hotels. I have read that people are complaining about how many "old people" stay here. What is old? If you are above a certain age, are the beaches not the same; does the magnificent sunsets look any different? Age has nothing to do with enjoying what the Aruba Grand has to offer. People of all ages come here. There are young families that come here with or without their family. Come and stay here and at least one night of your stay, go onto the pier that juts out into the sea (the Caribbean is not an ocean) sip a glass of wine with your lovely and watch the sea swallow up the sun!!!