All the room renovations are complete. I was pleasantly surprised to find hair dryers in the bathrooms as well as a soap dispenser by the sink, and soap and shampoo dispenser in the shower. Each change I made, I had to ask for the dispensers in the shower to be filled since they were empty.

Some units have closet doors, and some don't. I understand that when the initial order was received, it was the wrong doors. It seems that each unit had to be measured independently for the doors because each is a different size. Anyway, they're all now ordered, and expected anytime.

The little market is being expanded... Since the tennis store is no more, they're breaking through the wall to enlarge the market. For now, the market is located next to the guest lounge. February is one of the busiest months... can't imagine why they began then!! The hallway to the lobby was closed at the construction site so you had to walk outside past the Juggling Fish, and back inside through the rear of the lobby.

There's a new women's store where the old resale office was. Lots of neat clothes, and owned by the woman who owns Aruba Destiny. She actually designs most of the blouses and tanks...

New green chase lounges at the pool... and, new green towels.

The beach was the best I've ever seen it. Of course with weather, that's always subject to change.

It makes a big difference now that CDM guests cannot reserve a hut on ABC's beach until 8 AM. Many more huts were available. That's not to say that everyone followed the rules, but most did.

It appeared that they're now trying to separate each building... ABC with green towels, CDM blue towels, and the Ambassador striped towels as opposed to blue.

When I left, they were painting some of the unit's railings on the balconies that hadn't been done..

The first wing that was completed has the large plasma tv's... the second wing still has the little ones that were initially there, and look silly in that large opening. The mattresses leave something to be desired, and are a disappointment.

Overall, the place looks wonderful!

__________________

Thanks Elaine for your update...I for one really appreciate it. I will be there in June, and didn't get to stay in my unit last year as they were the last ones being renovated. Last summer I stayed on the wing closest to the Manchebo and they had the flat screen tvs. What a bummer. I guess I will have to wait for that too!

Can't believe your home already, time sure does fly!

Again, thanks for keeping us posted!

Suzie

__________________
Aruba, no other place like it!
Our next trip June 19 th - July 3rd 2010

Suzie ~ I actually had you in mind when I wrote my post because I knew you wanted to know what was happening.

Maybe your unit, since it's the large one, does have the plasma tv. I didn't hear anything about upgrading the small ones in my units which was disappointing. It's not that I watch that much television, but when I do, it would have been nice to have a larger screen.

Yes, my month did go quickly!! Ideally, I'd love to go a couple times a year, but it's not in the cards right now.

__________________

Thanks Elaine for posting the update to ABC. We are off in 3 days (but who's counting??!!) and cannot wait. Last year, our end unit (CDM wing)wasn't done so am anxious to see it this year. I guess they were the last ones to be done. It would be really nice if they had the plasma tvs in the end units. Like you said, it's nice to watch when you are in the room. I would love to go for a month, but hubby is still working and feels he's lucky to take 2.5 weeks off all at one time. Maybe some day.

Kathy... sounds like you have the one bedroom, and as I told Suzie, I'm not sure about the televisions in there because I never looked. I only know that the superiors in that building have the same stinky small ones.

The units are nice, but the furniture wasn't practical, and already show signs of wear.

I know how lucky I am to go for a month... On the other hand I don't think my boss was too happy!!

Enjoy yourselves... have a safe trip. By the way, I'm the owner of hut #27... I had it all four weeks.

__________________