We just returned from a week at the Occidental.
We own weeks 51 52 and1 but stayed in a friends timeshare for the week.
This was a two bedroom suite. The rooms are definately ready for new furniture and bedding. Things are looking very tired. I hear that it is scheduled for this year.
Hotel was very busy, very hard to get dinner reservations.
My timeshare has mandatory AI, unfortunately. The hotel would be doing themselves a favour if they let us have the option. Hotel guests were angry about the lack of dinner reservations. Several i talked to were forced into the buffet for four nights before getting a restaurant reservation.
Now we know they could have booked outside of the hotel and paid for dinner, but some people are not willing to do that, having paid their all inclusive to the hotel. In my opinion, something needs to be done about the lack of reservations for the hotel guests. So many were dissatisfied and will not return to this property.
The beach is difficult now. No more having Jonny or Frankie helping out with palapas. Husband rose every morning at 5 am to get a place on the beach.
Bar staff has been cut back so there were line ups some days at the beach bar. Ten deep at times.
I suggested to Carlos that some palapas be set aside for vacation Club. Don't think that will happen but he is talking about a private area for Royal Service. I am feeling like a second class citizen here.
Guess we should have bought Royal instead of Vacation Club!
No more hobbie cats available in your all inclusive. Water sports consist if snorkel gear and one Sun Fish and one plastic sea Kayak and of course floats.
We love Aruba and we love the people who look after us at our hotel. They are simply the best. Everything else we will put up with. Their kind smiling faces make it all worth while.
Management needs to take lessons from their staff.
That is where things break down. I feel perhaps the GM doesn't care or perhaps just doesn't have people skills