Wonderful Vacation

Don't understand all the negative comments about the Aruba Grand. We spent a week there in January, 2004 and had a wonderful time. The rooms on 7 & 8 had all been redone and were terrific. Service from all the staff was friendly and timely. The grounds were spacious, clean and NEVER crowded. The pool is not "fancy" but is quite large with plenty of lounge chairs and shaded areas and again never crowded. There was also no early AM line up for a beach hut as we saw at other resorts.

Huts were available almost all the time up to 9:00 AM. The pool bar was a real treat with cool drinks and hot food served all day. We will be going back to the Aruba Grand.

Better than the Holiday Inn

Our trip was in April 2002, The Aruba Grand was far better than the Holiday Inn we stayed at. The staff were very personable and friendly.

The rooms are neat and clean. Very quite beach resort to get away from the extreme. Would highly recommend it to all our friends. Plan on going again April 2004.

Aruba Grand Blows

We requested a non smoking room because of my husband's heart problem, they did not have any available, my husband caughed a lot from the smoke floor room. First room we checked into fridge was not working,overlooked stained roof top, switched rooms -stil smoking room, view was very nice, sliding patio door kept coming off track, I had to keep having to lift it up each time to put it on track. When you picked up the top of the toilet tank it was black and mildew ridden. My husband kept saying all thru our experience that the ArubaGrand Blows!

Pick either of the hotels to the right or left of the Aruba Grand and you will be happier! Also there are no shops in the Hotel - just a small gift shop with no hotel post cards....That should give you a clue of how far behind times they are...

Return every year.

Love the Aruba Grand Hotel! Its the best hotel in Aruba as far as I am concerned as well as my family and friends. The Aruba Grand is located on the best beach on the Island. We wish they had more entertainment in the afternoon. We end up going to other hotels for happy hour. The rooms are comfortable and clean. We absolutely love the beach at this hotel. The other hotels are all so crowded and people and chairs are right on top of each other. It so conveniently located to all the great restaurants. Just a short walk away along the beach at night. Its wonderful, and soooo relaxing. It is a quiet hotel, so if you are looking for excitement this is not your hotel. Looking forward to my next vacation at the ARUBA GRAND!

First time and quite pleases

This was our first visit to the Aruba Grand. For us, it was nearly perfect. The room was comfortable. It included a small fridge and had a nice set of amenities including bathrobes, which Lee loved. The Grand is right on the beach, where the attendants are wonderful, the water warm and the sand white and fine. The resort is small enough that there is no competition for beach huts. The pool is quite nice. Its configuration is a simple rectangle. There is a casino. Though the slots are tight, the tables had lots of action. The on-site restaurant, the Seawatch, is excellent. There is another restaurant, offering burgers and sandwiches, but we did not try it. On Wednesday night there was a manager's cocktail party at the pool bar with lots of drinks and fine nibbles. We asked for a room close to an elevator and were given room 425 -- close to the elevator and to the (quiet) ice machine as well. Views from the room included a great one of a visiting cruise ship. See trip pics at septemberhouse.net

Aruba Grand is horrible

I went for my honeymoon and was horribly dissapointed. The Aruba Grand is rated high but is a dump. The rooms are dirty and the beach is crowded. The all-inclusive package is a meal plan. You have to eat between certain hours or you miss that meal. The service in the restaurants was extremely slow. We transfered to the Wyndam, next door, and it was like night and day. The Aruba Grand has no entertainment and the Wyndam has tons. I highly recommend the Wyndam, Hyatt or Marriott. Steer clear of the Aruba Grand, it is a shack compared to the others.

Not so grand

My main complaint is that they kick you off of the beach chairs around 5:00 pm. They actually walk up to you and ask for their chairs back. I have never stayed at a hotel where they have the nerve to do this. The beach at the Aruba Grand provides you with an excellent view of the Aruba sunset, so you think they would want you to stay on the beach and enjoy it. My friend and I went over to the Hyatt every time time we wanted to see the sunset. We sat on their chairs and spent our money at their bar. Then in the morning you have to go to the "chair pile" and lift your chair off of it and drag it down the beach to a suitable spot. Only once did a staff member offer to help my friend and I with our chairs. He didn't seem too happy about helping us either. My next complaint is that anytime you asked for something, the staff looked at you like you were nuts. For example, when we went to exchange our beach towels midday for fresh ones, they made it seem like it was such a big deal. This hotel is definitly not a good spot for young girls to stay. My friend and I (ages 22 and 23, both girls) were hit on by staff members everytime we walked through the hotel. It made us feel very uncomfortable. We wouldn't even walk through the casino because you could feel a million eyes undressing you. It was a very unprofessional situation. Also, on the beach, hotel security would drive by on quads and stare you down. Not from a distance though, they would drive like two feet away from your beach chairs. This was really annoying considering we were on the beach to relax. The sound of a quad driving past every five minutes isn't exactly relaxing. I would not stay at this hotel again. Stay at the Hyatt if you can afford it. It is definitly the best place that we went to.

Grand week at the Aruba Grand

If you're looking for a sprawling resort with water slides, pool volleyball or even an exciting nightlife - you've got the wrong place. The Aruba Grande is a clean and pleasant hotel in great location that is extremely relaxing and quiet. This is not one of those resorts that you have to set your alarm clock for 630am inorder to go out and reserve a beach chair. At the Grande you can sleep to 10am, have a great and inexpensive breakfeast at the Seawatch and then go outside and easily find a great spot to tan, swim and snooze. The Aruba Grande's pool is in need of updating but I can say it is always very clean and the water temperature is always perfect. Last year my wife and I stayed at the Marriott due to a very inexpensive package trip we purchased and the pool was freezing. It was actually an effort to go in the pool! The staff at the Aruba Grande is very nice and although the facilities are not 5Star by US standards, they are good. The casino at the Aruba Grande is very quiet and most nights there is only one blackjack table going. My wife and I usually walk down to the Allegro and play and if we're out late (and win) we take a $5 cab back. All in all the Aruba Grande is a great place for a quiet relaxing place away from the kids, away from loud music and away from activity directors trying to get you to play volleyball, etc.

Great Time at the Aruba Grand

We stayed at the Aruba Grand in January 2002 and had a great time. The beach is lovely, located right next to the DePalm Pier, which offers all sorts of water sports (scuba, snorkel, parasailing, kayaking, sunset cruises, etc.) The hotel is located amidst the other high rise hotels and in walking distance to several restaurants. It has a convenience store for all your essentials (water, sun tan lotion, film, etc.) You can rent a 4 wheel drive car to get all around the island right from your lobby -- the companies will pick you up and drop you off. It is an $8-10 cab ride to downtown Oranjestad and many restaurants. The hotel restaurant was adequate for a quick breakfast or lunch -- often all you want when you are trying to get out to do things. We are planning to stay there again; this time with the children.

OK, but quiet !!!

We spent 8 days, 7 nights at the Grand. Older hotel but clean. Upgraded to the Jr. Suite when we got to the hotel. Very quiet. Out of the 3 dining rooms only one is really open. But... food very tasty. All inclusive the only way to go. There is NO nightlife in this hotel. Casino open but only two tables were running and pretty much dead. Outside pool bar leaves much to be desired.

Atmosphere poor but service very good all the way around. Olympic size pool great if you enjoy swimming laps but once again no atmosphere or tropical landscaping if thats what you're looking for. No shops in hotel but there is a sidewalk connecting all the hotels where shopping much better. Would pick the Radisson, Hyatt or Marriott hotels if we returned. Beach area great!