Going to Aruba for first time in April. Am considering the Tamarjin resort, due to the fact that we are taking two of our kids with us. If it were just my husband and I, we wouldn't do all-inclusive. Has anyone stayed there? Also, what is the Quality of the food? We don't have a bit of a problem spending for a quality meal.

Karen, prepare for all the idiot comments that will answer this post. I have been there 10+ times, the quality of the food is average, buffet style, you also have several restaurants to choose from. Being that you are bringing a family, unless money isn't an issue, all inclusive is the way to go. There are many excellent restaurants to choose from on the island, however it can get quite expensive. If you choose not to go all inclusive, I suggest a time share rental such as La cabana where they have full kitchenettes, go to Ling & Sons or Kong Hing and buy stuff for breakfest and lunch, and save the money for dinners. No matter where you choose, you will enjoy Aruba and like I mentioned above, ignore the uninformed, idiotic comments made by people on this board about how horrible the property is.

Gary, Thanks for the advice on LaCabana. I checked their website and see that they have a variety of dining/drinking plans. The rooms also look spacious. The kids don't care as much about a high quality lengthly meal as much as we do. Therefore I think I'll try and book there and get a modified drink/dine plan. No sense in doing all inclusive then going out for dinner elsewhere and dropping another $200.00. Do you know if they rent jet-skis off the beach near Lacabana?

Hi Karen,
I stay at La Cabana every year and I go all inclusive. I feel that it is well worth the money, and I can still afford to go out a night or two. All of the food is good there and I like that the only buffet is at breakfast.
The rooms are all suites and are great. The staff is very nice as well. I hope this helped.

Paula

Just got back from Aruba, and I hate to disappoint but the Tamarijn was a major disappointment for us. It was a good deal pricewise, however it is under remodeling construction and the front was boarded up when we arrived. There are construction workers everywhere. I'm sure it will be nice when it is done but I wish someone would have told us it was under construction. Also it is the very first one on the lowrise side and there is an abandoned resort next to it. I also did not enjoy the mosquitos in the room and the fact that we did not get the type of room we requested. Our room was not ready for check in until 4:30 pm. The food was average, nothing too great, although the Divi right next door was very nice. Next time I would choose the Divi.

this is the main reason the tam is the best resort in Aruba, Karen when you walk out of your room you are 12 steps until your feet are in the sand, and only 12 more steps and your feet are in the water. No other resort in Aruba can make that claim.

Karen, yes you can rent jet skis in front of La Cabana. It is across the street from the widest and biggest beach in Aruba. We have stayed there also, but never done any form of the all-inclusive there so I can;t help you out. Rachel, the Tam renovations has been ongoing for 2 years with different projects. Did you go through a travel agent? They should of told you this. Also, the Divi next door is one of the original properties built in Aruba, so it is way older then the Tam, I think the Tam blows away the Divi.

Sorry to disagree but we were at the Divi in Feb. and there was construction going on at the tam.. There was yellow tape up blocking off certain area's.. There wasn't this condition at the Divi so we were happy to be staying there.. If we were paying $2500 per person to stay at the Tam we would have been very disappointed.. They were also constructing the water sports hut at the Tam and it was very messy and noisy.. Now if this was the situation at the Divi, I'm sure we would've been dissapointed with the Divi but it wasn't..

The Divi is next on the list. Renovations to start early next year.

Rachel,

Like Gary said, the Divi is next for renovations. So you will have to deal with that next year. If you read this board you would have seen that the TAM was under renovations. The mosquitos is from all the rain from Ivan.