Just let us know where we you've stayed on the island......
And where you would surely go back to when returning.....
And if you have the time just state why...

Is the option to buy a timeshare better than a package deal?
what's your opinion!

Whether or not you choose timeshare over package deals depends on your point of view.

I haven't regretted buying mine. The owners run the resort and have keep the member's expenses to a minimum. The resort itself is operating in the black. I enjoy the convenience of having one set vacation in place every year. I know when and where I'll be staying and I can count of the weather being great.

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Aruba for me

I could only vote for the Renaissance, because that's where we've stayed all 3 visits. This year is our first stay on Eagle Beach, at the Costa Linda, and I get the feeling I'm gonna like it a lot.

We're considering buying a timeshare, but right now I belong to a club that gets me into resorts worldwide for $799 a week or less, and we like to travel quite a bit and only go to Aruba once a year, so I'm not sure if we'll buy or not. I do love the convenience and freedom provided by a suite with a kitchen, that comes with staying at a timeshare. And $799 for a 2bdr at CL for a week? I gotta think that's a great deal!

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I know I'm in the minority, we stay at Caribbean Palm Village. We don't find it necessary to stay on the beach and prefer a quieter place. Also, the staff and management are tops!!!

Carol

>>> "Whether or not you choose timeshare over package deals depends on your point of view"
---- Ditto Ditto Ditto.
I own at Casa del Mar as its a timeshare. If I didn't it would be Bucuti. Every year we have a dinner or 2 at Bucuti and one or 2 at Manchebo.
One year out of many it started to rain at the Piartes Nest. Most took their plates inside. We took ours to the bar so we stayed outside. Very enjoyable dinner their.

Tom,

I am going to Aruba in June to celebrate my divorce. I am also going alone which may sound strange but I have been several times before to Aruba and fell quite safe there. My question is I would like to have a few dinners out, I would like to know besides El gaucho and the flying fishbone, what are the good steak and good seafood restaurants please? I am planning on eating early in the evenings so I am less conspicuous that I am alone! I know you are a veteran of these boards so I trust your opinion. Thanks.

I'll defer to Tom on the restaurant selection, but as far as eating alone...feel no shame! I was single for many years, and went out to eat fairly often - not in Aruba (couple central), I'll admit - my advice is to talk to the staff, eat at the bar and yak with the bartenders, most importantly bring something to read. Have a great time, it sounds like you've reason to celebrate!

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this was a tough choice because you have a lot of my favorites places Manchebo beach resort, Bucuti, Costa Linda, Divi, Tam, So I chose Manchebo beach, but Basically I will say because I am a Low Rise person any Resort in the low Rise area is my favorite place

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Born to raise Hell and enjoy every minute of it. Hawklords

>>>> "I am planning on eating early in the evenings so I am less conspicuous that I am alone!"
----- Can recommend any of the ones below.
www.calypsorestaurantaruba.com/
www.marandiaruba.com
www.madamejanette.com/
www.elgaucho-aruba.com/
www.manchebo.com/steakhouse/
www.ledome-aruba.com/
www.gasparito.com/
www.bucuti.com/english/dining/index.htm
www.rumba-aruba.com/
Once or twice each trip I have a late dinner out by myself as wife and daughter usually have a ladies night out while I watch the 2 grandsons. In Aruba I am not a pizza person as love to eat out in Aruba. I'll be there in June for 2 weeks and usually a lot of the restaurants are not filled so have no problem getting a late table.
At the FF you might stand out as think many couple go early to toast the sunset. All the restaurants above equal or surpass the FF.

The Divi all inclusive has been the best way to go for us. Between not having to carry money all the time, to the always freindly service . These people are like family to us.

Even the bartender (dino) agreed to be my best man! We are leaving for our 4th year in a row on may16th and cant wait!!!

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Why is there 5 syllables in Monosyllabic?

Our favorite place to stay is Costa Linda. We will stay at almost any resort on the island though. We usualy go for 10 to 12 days and end up staying a week at a timeshare and 2 to 5 days before and/or after the week at different resorts. So we have stayed at a lot of the resorts in just 7 trips. We have stayed at least 2 nights at Wyndhan, Marriott, renaisance, Holiday inn, Divi village and Hyatt. We stayed 2 weeks at Costa Linda and 1 week at each of the following- Aruba Beach Club, Dutch village, Divi Phoenix, Casa Del Mar and Playa Linda.

We would stay at any of these again. We plan to try Radison on our next trip.

We have one week (studio) at La Cabana & generally stay 2 or 3 weeks (we bank our FL timeshare & use it for Aruba). One year we stayed at the Divi Village & got a terrific room. This year our exchange is taking us to the Divi Dutch Village, so we're really looking forward to that.

In the future, we hope to rent an apartment for a week or two. The prices seem reasonable for the off season and last trip we visited several likely prospects.

~M~

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Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.
Mark Twain

We stay at the Marriott Stellaris Resort & Casino. Would we return?? Yes for the 4th time this fall! We enjoy the facility. Nice, clean, comfortable, spacious rooms. Enjoy the beach area in front of facility. Pool area is beautiful. Swim-up bar is a plus! All workers...... from maids, to watiresses/waiters, to bellhops are WONDERFUL and FRIENDLY!

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Aruba is ONE HAPPY ISLAND!

I voted under "others" but to mean the Divi Aruba beach Mega all inclusive as I don't see it here on the list. It is quite unclear if the "divi(dutch village/village)" also means the Aruba mega or not). The Divi Aruba is a hotel resort directly on the beach and the Divi village/dutch village are different timeshares units not on the beach. The Divi Aruba also allows you to use the Tamarijn resort.

The Divi AI is the way to go.......great staff, wonderful beach. We will be arriving October 9th!!!!!!

Kevin~

If you don't mind, what is the club you belong to to get your rates so low? Thanks!

Stacy

The name of the club is Travel to Go (www.traveltogo.com). I joined when I was planning our honeymoon in Aruba, and did the math on how much 2 weeks would cost us . Even with the cost of joining (appx $1200, one-time), we've already made up for that with our continued use of the club. All over the world, 3 weeks every year - but most importantly whenever you want to go, not the same week/same resort every year. We've stayed in Aruba at the Ren ocean suites and at Costa Linda, as well as in Bahamas and Marco Island Florida, always nice properties with kitchens. We plan on using them every year at least once for Aruba, as well as Hawaii (someday)...

They also have 'hot weeks', which are great for the last-minute shoppers. A week on the beach starting at $99!

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I stay at Paradise Beach Villas, next to LaCabana and have been a member for 15 years. I prefer timeshare ownership because of a set vacation time and have flexibility in switching dates if available there. What is nice though is I'm a member of Interval International and since I have two weeks in Aruba I sometimes bank one week. This option has given me the chance to travel to other places from Key West, Lake Tahoe, Phoenix, New Orleans, Hilton Head, and this year to Hawaii. My favorite, of course, is Aruba. Always will be. We have made friends with people at our resort in Aruba on our weeks and it's nice to go back, like home away from home.