the last thread had conflicting reports on the condition and expected completion dates......any updates?

Pictures and info on the hotel website (http://www.occidentalhotels.com/hote...=1082645250631) look fantastic - can anyone provide a reality check? My wife and I are looking to book a trip to Aruba for our 10th anniversary in late January and we're very interested in Occidental Grand as we've been to one other all inclusive Occidental resort (Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen, Mexico) and had a fantastic experience there.

Also - are there any independent online sources I can check to find out more about the renovations (types, $ spent, etc)?

Thanks!
Rich

Completion - depending on who tells ya what. I just returned from Aruba, the Allegro was to have been renovated in 2004, not 2005. Far from complete, they are renovating and still knocking down walls. The guard said December/2005, dreaming he was, another owner I ran into off the beaten path, he said he heard Spring/2006.
A lot of competition for labor, you have the Marriott consumed with building, the Holiday Inn under renovation, and other new places being built.
The Allegro should have found a way to do the renovation in segments, but I guess folks that call the shots had other ideas......... dumb !