Anyone been there? I am going in 2 months for 8 nights..just looking for both good/bad feedback, suggestions for things to do inb the area? thanks

I hope for your sake that you are a member of the 50s and older crowd. The Aruba Grand is totally deadsville. There are not enough people to have a decent happy hour. You see very few people on their beach or at their pool. It's the only pool area on Palm Beach that has about 4 lounge chairs around it. Their restaurant is practically empty and so is their casino. The Aruba Grand is for people who eat dinner at 5PM and go to bed between 8PM-9PM (the old folks). If I were you, I would see if I could still change my plans and go to another hotel, like the Radisson or Wyndham, where you can really enjoy yourself.

Yes we have been there many times.
It is a nice and quiet hotel.
Just do not make your reservations through Dolphin Holidays. They screwed up our airline reservations and refuse to answer my letters

The Aruba Grand is all a matter of personal preference.

We are not over 50 (we're in our late 30's) and we don't go to bed by 9pm and....we love the Aruba Grand because it is a smaller, quieter hotel on Palm Beach. They have less than 200 rooms compared to 444 rooms at the Wyndham next door.

Now, if activity at your hotel is what you're looking for, then yes, stay at the Wyndham or Radisson.

My husband and I have been staying at the Grand since 1996 (in their lanai rooms) and love it because we lead a very busy fast-paced life and want to "get away from it all" for a couple of weeks and spend some quality time with each other. So, the Grand is for us. And don't worry about lounge chairs...the Grand has plenty. They just don't need as many because it is a smaller hotel (which is great for us because it means the beach is less crowded.)

Ginny: Just because YOU don't like the Grand doesn't mean other people don't like it, too. Everyone has their own personal preferences. And you can't judge a book by its cover when you state everyone who stays there is over 50, etc. - we've met many people there who are our age.

great thanks...for the honest feedback...we are 25/26 yrs old but are goin to stay with our reservations thanks

If you are 25/26 year olds, you would probably have more fun at the Occidental Grand. We go there every year and have a blast because there are a lot of couples in our age group and we all party together.

not a real happening place. One of the older hotels that has not been renovated. Let me tell you this my husband and I went over to gamble we were the only one's at the table. Their was noone in the hotel.

Stay at the Radisson next door you'll love it.

CS - I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. What others have said about the casino being quiet and the fact that the hotel has no nightlife is true. It is very quiet there at night. But you also have the Wyndham and the Radisson on each side of you, too, if you're looking for activity. We enjoy being at a quiet hotel and looking for activity if the mood strikes us while others like to be right in the "thick of things". So, again, it's all in what YOU are looking for in a hotel/vacation. I just want you to see both sides since people tend to be overly opinionated and think that everyone should like the same things. The Grand is not for everyone - but for us, staying in the lanai rooms just steps from the beach...it's perfect!

Have a great vacation!

The Aruab Grand

I went to the Aruba Grand on my Honeymoon several years ago and we go back twice a year now. We are in our late 20's. The hotel was renovated last in the late 90's I think. Everyone knows it as the "Best kept secret in Aruba". I think that most people who present negative comments have never stayed there before. It is worth a try, but I have to say if you are looking for action and someone to hound you during your stay this is not the place (and that is why we like it). You actually go home feeling relaxed. There is an afternoon happy hour with live music every day and when I was ther last, they were doing paddle boat races in the pool. There are many chairs and lounges around the pool deck and on the beach (very nice beach staff too!). Please don't let these internet people change your mind. The Radisson and Wyndham are nice but not the same. Good Luck!