Aruba Resorts With Day Passes

[billyblaze]

Thanks for the update Bill!

[beachlover2]

We went to the Aruba Spa and Casino Resort at 10:00 am after a short cab ride. The receptionist check us in early as I explained to her that we were not sleeping in the room only using it for the day and then leaving. for $127 four of us used a beautiful resort, beach, pool ect. At the end of the day, we all took showers cleaned up and caught a cab to Carlos and Charlies. It was the best day of the whole trip for less then$35 a person. No way a ship excursion could have matched what we received.

 

Bill

 

Were drinks and food included?

[rag top man]

Hey everyone, My daughter and I were in Aruba on the AOS a few weeks ago and walked at about 9:00 a.m. over the two or three blocks to the Renaissance Resort from the dock, paid $100 with a credit card and got a couple of waters before we loaded into the launch that leaves right out of the atrium at the hotel through a canal system out to the resort harbor...

 

5 minutes later we were unloading onto the dock on their private island and 5 minutes after that we had chairs and a big hammock under the palm trees on one of the two beach areas on the island...we chose the adult beach area to escape the larger and louder family crowd at the family beach side. Both beaches are located on lagoons created by rock jetties about 75 yards offshore and are calm with sandy beaches..there is a little rock and coral right at the edge of the water and some urchins in the deeper part of the lagoon so I kept some water shoes on when I did not have fins on.

 

The pass includes free non motorized water sports (snorkelling, floats, kayaks) for the day..the snorkel gear was in good shape. It also included two lunches (anything on the menu) at the island grill and the food was good ( fine onion rings) and two alchoholic or non drinks. They provide a hagen daaz bar for desert as a nice touch. The help, the food and drinks were all top rate.

 

There is a small convenience shop on the island as well for sundries. There are animals of interest in the form of iguanas that they feed a couple of times during the day..flamingos that hang on the adult beach side and parrots in zoo style display cages near the restaurant. The bathrooms are fine for an island retreat though not as nice as the ones in the resort lobby .

The drink service on the beach was regular and prices were reasonable.

 

 

You could see the ship as you walked on the channel side of the island for a little reassurance.

 

The snorkelling was interesting for a beginner like my daughter inside the jetty area and in the shallow mangrove bays in the channel that ran between the two beach areas...brown coral but lots of fish and sea life.

The adventure and the sea life was even better outside of the jetty area for the more adventurous.

 

The shuttle ran until 7:30 p.m. on the day we were there. A quick trip to the resort lobby and a change in the hotel bathroom and we were off to a fun meal at Iguana Joes on the way back to the ship. Great jerk chicken skewers and curry dishes.

 

great deal for a great day with Marriott/Renaissance level service. Very nice and would do it again. It set the tone for the rest of our excursion days for the trip.

[bling19572010]

There are four of us going on RCL and the stop is from morning until the following morning at 1 am. We decided to rent a room at a resort through priceline. A 100 dollar bid got us the Aruba Beach Casino Resort (Wyndam). So for $25 a person we all have use of the resort facilities as well as a private room to change in or use the facilities. Seemed kind of cheap to us given the amount of time we are on Aruba.

 

How many stars is the Aruba Beach Casino Resort (according to Priceline)? Also did you have any problem with only reserving 1 room for 4 people? Also, do you know if the snorkeling is good off the beach at the Aruba Beach Casino Resort?

 

Thank you!

[Arubalisa]

How many stars is the Aruba Beach Casino Resort (according to Priceline)? Also did you have any problem with only reserving 1 room for 4 people? Also, do you know if the snorkeling is good off the beach at the Aruba Beach Casino Resort?

 

Thank you!

JMAT- the Resort is 4 star

http://www.betterbidding.com/

 

I just emailed this info to another CC'er today :)

 

There is nothing to see in the waters off the Aruba Resort (former Wyndham). It is just a white sandy bottom. There is a swim platform, and you may see some fish swimming by, but that is just a random thing :-) If you have your own snorkel gear, a short walk south towards the Phoenix Resort, there is a break that goes about 150 yard out into the water. The water is very calm there. There is also a little rock island where you can view fish, octopus, etc. There is a little Polis (Police) substation right there on the beach (point of reference- between the Wyndham and Phoenix). This is a perfect spot on Palm Beach if you just want to do some snorkeling on your own for free :-) Unfortunately the sand here is loaded with tiny coral pieces and rocks, but there is free shade. No chaises though nor much else close by. See the bottom half of the page.

 

IF you need to rent snorkel gear, http://www.arubawatersportcenter.com/pricelist_WS.htm the Aruba Watersports Center is right there on Palm Beach. They are located at the northern end of the Radisson's beach.

[Arubalisa]

Some updated information I read today in other forums.

 

This person emailed the Divi/Tamarijn Resorts to inquire about purchasing a day pass.

http://bb.visitaruba.com/showpost.php?p=68788&postcount=2

Yes, you can, sort of, $120 per day with a 3 day minimum

 

A quote from a frequent visitor to the island in referring to the new Riu Resort

The business model is such that they are trying to create an exclusive environment for their paying guests.

Kind of like how the Bucuti will no longer rent lounge chairs to non-guests - sure, they could make more money by doing so and add more revenue for food and drinks from non-guests, but this is not the environment they are advertising and want to keep it an "exclusive, uncrowded" environment for their guests.

[Shine]

The following is a response to a request of information regarding a day pass from RIU;

 

 

Good Afternoon,

 

Thank you for your kind preference for Riu Hotels & Resorts.

 

A day Pass for the Riu Aruba is $ 100 usd.aprox.

And you would buy the day pass in the Front desk and the moment of your arrival.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if can be of any further assistance

 

Warm regards

 

Marlene Rejón

Reservations Agent

Customer Service

Americas Division

MEX 1 800 225 5748

USA 1 888 666 8816

CAN 1 866 845 3765

http://www.riu.com

 

 

 

Good Afternoon,

 

Thank you for your kind preference for Riu Hotels & Resorts.

 

Is all inclusive meals, drinks, alcohol, use all the facilities in the Hotel. Everything is inclusive except the rooms, and the Specially restaurants.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if can be of any further assistance

 

Warm regards

 

Marlene Rejón

Reservations Agent

Customer Service

Americas Division

MEX 1 800 225 5748

USA 1 888 666 8816

CAN 1 866 845 3765

http://www.riu.com

[cruzobsessed]

wow...i just looked at the website. it looks gorgeous. we were hoping to go to renaissance for the day but we'll be in aruba during christmas week and the likelihood of them being less than 90% full is not great.

if this place is offering day passes for $100 pp and it includes all meals, drinks and facilities:rolleyes:

[Arubalisa]

A day Pass for the Riu Aruba is $ 100 usd.aprox.

Is she saying the price is only approximate???

[arlenez]

I just called the Renaissance and they quoted $75 per person for a day pass.

 

Regards,

[cruzobsessed]

the op said that the RIU PALACE is $100 for a day pass.

i have another issue....my husband needs shade. i've been told that most of the beaches don't offer enough shaded areas and usually it goes to the hotel guests. that's another reason that a day pass is especially attractive for me.

[arlenez]

Are there any other nice resorts within walking distance of the dock that we can either get a less expensive day pass or a public beach on one of the resorts that we can use?

 

Thanks for any information.

 

Regards,

[Arubalisa]

Are there any other nice resorts within walking distance of the dock that we can either get a less expensive day pass or a public beach on one of the resorts that we can use?

 

Thanks for any information.

 

Regards,

All beaches in Aruba are public. You can take the bus http://www.arubus.com/ to get you to any number of beaches (except for the most notable Baby Beach).

 

Renaissance Resort is the only thing within walking distance for a day pass.

 

Surfside Beach may be walkable, but not sure. Also not positive what their facilities are like these days. Used to be able to rent chairs.

 

More info: Aruba Beach~Help!

[Arubalisa]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=12124644&postcount=8

We just returned from Adv. of the Seas Cruise--We were on Aruba 10/17 and went to the Marriotts private Island--Rennaissance --The cost was $75. per person--This got you a boat ride from inside the Hotel Lobby to the island, a wonderful lunch and a drink each. The island was spectacular with no mosquitoes or bugs. The great thing is that it is about a 5 minute walk from the ships docking place to the hotel. Walk off the ship--pass all the car rental places--go right at 1st main street--walk down about 3 blocks--Marriott on left. On your way out to the island, you'll have a great view of the ship. On the island were Pink Flamingos walking around, lots of Iguanas (Pretty much in one area where they are fed) a great restaurant, lounge chairs, hammocks, thatched shelter areas a volleyball net set up, available floats and free towels. All in all, a great way to spend a day in Aruba comparable in cost with any of the ships excursions but a better bargain because so few people realize the island is available. The boat ride to and from the island is spectacular. Have your camera ready--You are going to want to take pix--Mike OB

Great info...

[arlenez]

Has anyone ever used Marriott reward points to spend the day on the private island? If so, how many points were required?

 

Thanks & regards,

Arlene