Few questions about the Rennaissance Hotel.

Is that the hotel in town that is next to the Crystal Casino?

What beach do they use?

How is this place overall? Do you feel isolated from the other hotels in the low rise?

I just need some info if you can help

thanks

Yes, this is the Hotel beside the Crystal Casino. My husband and I stayed there last March and loved everything about it.

The beach: A boat taxi picks you up in the lobby of the hotel and takes you out to a private island with 2 lagoon type beach areas...one for adults and one for families. It's a fun ride and a beautiful place to relax. We found that it was never very crowded, even during prime sunning time. Much quieter than the beaches in the Low Rise and High Rise areas.

The rooms are a bit small but you don't go to Aruba to spend time in your room. The facilites were modern with very pretty colors and very quiet. We were never disturbed by any "town" noise.

The staff is wonderful. Very friendly and helpful. Especially the staff at the Blue Lounge.

The pool is a zero entry with lots of sun that overlooks the Marina and the action on the street. Great view of the cruise ships.

We loved staying right downtown. We were in walking distance to lots of restaurants, shopping, bars, the marina, two casinos etc. The other beach/hotel areas are an easy bus ride away. The bus service runs frequently and is very inexpensive.

All in all, we loved it and have reservations to return this March (health issues pending).

__________________

Aruba-One Happy Escape!
Midwest Shelley
Aruba- Feb 3-17, 2007
Ireland (pony trekking) July 2007

We stayed in the suites across the street last year and also loved the place. We usually stay at Casa del Mar and were concerned we weren't going to like the downtown area after spending so many years in the low-rise, low-key area. Not to worry, it was wonderful! We loved the private island. I didn't particularly love the pool over at the ocean suites, but toward the end of our stay, we spent an afternoon over at the hotel pool and wished we'd thought of it sooner. The chaise lounges are very comfortable, the pool is quite nice, not too crowded when we were there, and in late afternoon it's great to see the cruise ships leave port and watch the afternoon sun fade. We didn't find it necessary to rent a car either. We walked to a different restaurant in town every night, including Marandi and Pincho's.

LisaK- when you stayed in the timeshares was there a beach for you to use or did you have to take the boat for the private island?

__________________
LynnS

LynnS - I can answer this for you. Yes there is - it is man made and small and Nothing like the private island, but there is one. 2 pools too.

Shelly - I was at the Marina side last Feb. - It is just like you said. The whole thing about the private island is Super - No crowds ever - Just Great. There was some Topless bathing on the Adult Side, but nothing much to speak of.

__________________
I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

As BigPapa said, there is a manmade beach at the ocean resort that would probably be good if you have small children because it's not too deep and there are no waves. Unfortunately, I thought the bottom was a little slimy and that creeped me out a bit. Let me elaborate a bit on why I didn't like the pool at the Ocean resort and it's really my own nuttiness that makes me think this way. So here goes -- It's a really beautiful, very large pool and the pool area has a lot of seating for guests. The thing that kind of bothered me about the pool is that swim-up bar and the fact there are no bathrooms that are even remotely convenient to the pool area. Between the kids pee-ing in the pool and the adults who were sitting at the bar, who didn't want to have to give up their seat, dry off, and walk all the way through the lobby to use the bathroom, well, you can just imagine... Told you it was my own nuttiness!

OMG - I never thought of that. I didn't swim init tho, we swam at the Marina Blue pool, but now after thinking about that, I don't think I ever will. Ha

__________________
I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

Lisa, I knew there was something about that Ocean Suites pool but just couldn't put my finger on it. HAHA We loved the Marina pool, though. Down the elevator (or stairs), grab a drink and plop down on a comfy lounge chair or couch. 5 minutes total. Ah, paradise.

Hi Big Papa,
Hopefully we'll run into each other sometime. I think you and Georgene are fabulous. I love your posts. Between you and Charles Croes, I can feel the Aruban sun right here in Iowa.

We saw some topless nudity on the adult side but not much. We actually enjoyed watching the kiddies on the family side. Mine are all grown up, so it's fun for us to be around small children.

Rennaissance here we come...52 days...doctor's permission pending.

Shelley

__________________

Aruba-One Happy Escape!
Midwest Shelley
Aruba- Feb 3-17, 2007
Ireland (pony trekking) July 2007

Thank You Shelley for the nice thoughts - and to placed along with Charles can only make me Blush. I hope everything works out so that you can go and have a Safe Fun time.

__________________
I lead with my Heart and my Body follows

Dan & Sweet Georgene

Im afarid I must disagree with some of you on this one.
We stayed a couple of nights at the Marina a couple of years ago and the room we had on the 6th floor faced the street behind the hotel. We did not get any sleep until about midnight because of traffic noise. At 5am we were jarred awake by some kind of delivery trucks backing up to the building reving their engines and beeping. You know, beeep beeep beeep and very loud. About 4 trucks later it stopped(after 3 calls to the front desk). The pool there is above the road and gas fumes and noise are abundant in the pool area. We will not stay at the marina towers again.
On the other hand, the ocean suites that we stayed at in April last year were very nice. Very quiet and clean. The private island was great although be sure and take everything with you that you will need for your stay because once you get there its time consuming to come back to the hotel for something (2 boat rides and a couple of waits)and exspensive to buy a replacement on the island(sunglasses for wife)
Just my opinion.

Shelly is right on. We (wife and I) stayed at the Ren (Marina Tower next to Crystal Casino) in August of last year. This will be our resort of choice from now on. We almost didn't stay there due to comments on this board about room size. Don't let this concern you unless you intend playing baseball in your room. Our room (top floor overlooking the main street) was very comfortable, quiet and well air conditioned. I will say the balconys are quite small (I managed to get a desk chair to fit out there, but it was a tight squeeze).
If you're taking small kidos or young teens they probably will want to walk out the door and be right on the beach. If so, this is not the resort for you. Also, the hotel has a very "international" feel to it. You will hear the guests here speaking many different languages. A lot of the airline flight crews stay here also.
One other thing, if you rent a car there is very limited (almost none) on site parking. We rented a car for the week and could always find a parking place across the street in the public parking area.
Being right downtown in the middle of the action was perfect for the two of us (we're in our late 50's)
Hope this helps.
-Tom

The parking adjacent to the public lot/marina area is for the Ren guests, whether they're staying at he marina tower or ocean suites. I love the pool at the suites, but suddenly am very aware of the bathroom situation

Regarding feeling isolated from the other hotels - it's in the center of town, so there's not much isolation. The suites bldg is set back from the street a bit, so it's quieter.

We missed being able to take a long walk on the beach after dinner (ala Eagle beach) or in the AM, but we enjoyed walking the marina area as an alternative.

We love the Ren!

__________________

I don't want to put a damper on anyone's plans but personally I think that if you are spending money to go to a Caribbean Island, you would want to look out your window and see the beautiful beach stretching out on both sides. To stay in town to me is like going to Hawaii and only staying in Honolulu. We could have been in Miami and not known the difference. Thank heavens our second week was Kauai. My point is that if you want that lazy Caribbean feel, stay somewhere on the beach. Not, on a main street.

Different strokes...we like to roll both ways. Eagle beach is wonderful, but equally so is staying downtown amidst everything, and having their private island to retreat to. When given choice we prefer Eagle, but we'd never be disappointed to stay at the Ren.

__________________

We stayed at the Ren. Ocean Suites a couple of trips ago and was very glad we did. I really really liked it but I did comment to my husband that if it was our first time in Aruba (which it was not) I would have been very very disappointed. As a first timer to any Carib Island you'd want Beach and Sand (IMO). We chose to stay there after 2 stays in Palm and 1 in Eagle and I wanted to get a feel of what it would be like being "in Town". Being we bought in Eagle Beach I knew we'd go there for the rest of our lives so lets give it a try. I liked being able to walk to everything. At night we would just stroll along the Marina over the little bridge and check out what was going on. I loved their pool and swim up bar and must say I really never thought about people using it as a "potty". And certainly won't let that stop me from staying at places with swim up bars (its usually a prerequisite for us) I do think it is way too long of a walk (thru the lobby) to use a bathroom while your poolside and they should consider changing that, not to mention people dripping wet passing the front desk just to pee!!!! When not on the private island we would sit on the side where the cement ends and the sand starts and I felt I got the best of both worlds...pool and beach!

__________________
"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Re: the noise level at the renaissance maina tower

yes arubabob is right.
quite often there is noise late and then early

request a room on the "inside" corridor
meaning, your step out balcony and large window will overlook the lobby/mall/shuttle boat dock.

we had difficulties with the noise level once and requested immediately to be moved and our request was honored.

i truly love the marina tower for a couple of nights pre and post timeshare week

re: the ocean suites pool if we all knew how many folks peed in the pools on a daily basis, we'd be shocked. (i run an intercollegiate sized swimming pool here in town , of 200,000 gallons of water. i teach at least 5 classes a day and of those 5 classes, kids and adults, i'd wager that one third pee in the pool) chlorine and bromine are our friends.
on that note, time for me to go back, climb in the pool and teach a synchronized swim class . ;-)

I understand that they are renovating the lobby, pool bar & restaurant at the Ocean Suites (could be completed by now, not sure.....but will find out in 33 days!!) Anyway, new restrooms by the pool were supposed to be part of this renovation.

thanks everyone for your help