I'm now considering LaCabana vs. Marriott because of the HUGE price diff. for fam. of 4. Does anyone recommend AI or a partial AI at this resort? Are the 1 bed. units with sofa bed roomy and nice, and is their a supermarket within walking distance? Thank you for replies!

A few months ago, we went to contract on a time share at the new Marriott Surf Club. We just went to Aruba Presidents Week and stayed at La Cabana. We took the bus up to see the new Marriott construction, and when we came home, we cancelled the deal and lost $3840. (our deposit) The La Cabana beach is MUCH nicer, and we can buy a timeshare there for one-tenth of the price!!!!!I think you will like La Cabana. I wouldn't do the AI though because there are so many nice places to eat. You can't walk to the supermarket, but you can take the bus ($1.25 each way or $ 2.00 round trip). There is a little Mini-Market on the La Cabana property.

Carol,

The AI depends on you and your family, plenty of good food at LaCabana for the AI
but the Island has lots of great places to eat. Also depends on how much drinking, LaCabana has happy hours starting at 4 or 4:30 and keep going at different locations till around 6:30. One bedroom size depends on wether you stay in the Front ( BRC) or the
rear (Villas) Go to Lacabana.com click on members and select floor plans and scroll down to room capacity this will show you the different room layouts for the BRC and Villas. If you are not already aware, you can also rent direct from owners for almost any week of the year. At Lacabana website
click on the communicating block and select
BRC or Villa Rentals. Price negotiating has to be done via e-mail to the owner. If you need any other info, ask. Have stayed at LaCabana 6 or 7 times and have always had a great time. Have Fun

We too stayed at LaCabana this past Christmas and happily bought at the Marriott Surf Club. We were have stayed at LaCabana numerous times. Firstly, in terms of ownership at L.C. I would not recommend it as it is owned by a small company which is in financial problems and is in receivership. The Marriott is a large worldwide company and there is no threat of going under. The problems with LC is that there is no money input from the Casino (that is a story unto itself) which is suppossed to be used for maintenance and upkeep of LC. LC is still nice but is in dire need of updating and a facelift but there is no money. If each owner was asked to put in more money to make improvements, many would just walk away from there investment if they have owned them for awhile. Many have made their money back and would not want the additional expense. The resort is nice but the Marriott is in a "trendier" area with more going on there and places to walk around at night. As Aruba is a safe island it is nice to explore. The difference between the Marriott and LC is quite vast. It is the difference between a 4 star and a 5 star resort. The restaurants in LC are very average and not as plentiful as advertised. Two of the restaurants they advertise are actually a little take out place in the lobby. The Captain's Table and E Piscado are actually the same restaurant just have entrances on different sides of the lobby. They adjoin inside. The Islander Grill is open during the day but not open every night. The pizza place is just a hut and it is take out. So don't be fooled about the many places to eat at LaCabana. The rooms are spacious and clean. The maid service is adequate. We had friends at the Marriott so we spent a good deal of time there and there most certainly is a difference between the two properties. The quality and caliber of staff is quite evident and that is what you are paying for too. The rooms are more modern and up-to-date. If you are travelling with children, LC has lots of younger children but if you are going with teens the Marriott tends to have more kids that age. Neither place is within walking distance to the grocery store but it is a short cab ride. I would NOT recommend the mini mart at LC as the prices are much much higher than the grocery store and the quality of stuff is not anywhere near as nice.

LC has pull down Murphy Beds..I think they are obsolete..

La Cabana has a beautiful beach. There is no beach at the Surf CLub. There is a dock where commercial fishermen come in and clean their fishing gear into the water attracting large fish. If you want to swim, you have to be with the people from the Ocean CLub and get up at 6:00 AM to get a palapa or a chair. It is so crowded on the beach that you can not see the water from your lounge chair. The rooms are nicer at the Marriott but I don't spend much time in the room. If I want to eat at the restaurants at the high rise area, I can take the bus in front of La Cabana and go up there for dinner.

WELL I LOVE LACABANA I AM AN OWNER AND DON'T THINK I WOULD CHANGE IF FOR THE WORLD THE MONEY PROBLEMS ARE AFFECTING THE VILLAS MORE THAN THE RESORT BUT IT IS AFFECTING US BUT IT IS GETTING BETTER. I LIKE LACABANA BECAUSE IT IS SMALLER AND OWNED BY A SMALLER COMPANY CAUSE THE PRICES AREN'T SO HIGH BECAUSE IT NOT BEING A WELL KNOW CHAIN LIKE THE MARRIOTT CAUSE ALL YOU ARE REALLY DOING SPENDING THE MONEY TO BUY THE NAME MARRIOTT INSTEAD OF BUYING SOMEWHERE YOU WILL FEEL SO COMFORTABLE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GO HOME CAUSE AT LACABANA YOU CAN SPEND SO MUCH TIME THERE GET TO KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE AND FEEL LIKE YOU ARE NEVER AWAY FROM THE PLACE EACH TIME YOU GO BACK THERE.

la cabana is the best. you dont need to walk to the store. the small store in the loby is not cheep but then neather is the small store on the corner at home,hello?, la cabana will shop for you .you fill out a form, they go to the supermart shop for you ,put everything away in your unit for you wile your at the beach..... for $5. all the furniture is new.the beach is great, they have the most huts. the food is great at all the resturants.....i still dont care for the captians table though, and the shack as it was called that has pizza and pasta is excellent sometimes you dont feel like a large time consuming meal and it hits the spot. as for the small company that runs it , they treat you like a king know matter who you are, i think that may be why a few snobs are writing negitive things about la cabana ether that or its their compitition. there are places that are more elegant than la cabana in aruba, but its a great place. it has murphy beds in the efficency units that connect to the other units , the efficency units have a great setup though, its wide open and has a nice kitchen, yea right who wants to cook but its still great to have the other units have kingsize beds that are new.

and last but not least it is right on the beach, there is a small servis road between it and the beach were you can walk to some nice places to eat. the road is about 15' wide there is nothing between your veiw or your stroll down to the beach except the small road and a few palm trees wich makes the beach private from the rooms at night so you can do what ever youd like without all the eyes of the resort on you, check the web site out and see for yourself... and have a great time!