Home
About Aruba
Sights
Virtual Views
Google Map
Beaches
Weather
Travel Info
Communications
F.A.Q.
Aruba Hotels
Hotel Specials
Hotel Reviews
Villa Rentals
Timeshare
Real Estate
Car Rentals
Airfares
Cruise Ships
Things To Do
Scuba Diving
Restaurants
Honeymoon
Weddings
Trip Reports
Bulletin Board
Free Discount Coupons
Fun Stuff
Aruba WebCams
Newsletter
Links
Contact Us
Español
Other Islands:
Bonaire
Curacao
Vakantie Curacao
|
Renaissance & Hyatt, March 2004
By Joe and Tracy
Here is a quick trip report for all of you. My wife and I spent six days
there earlier this month (March '04). It was our first trip and we had a
great time.
We travelled on a Monday and spent 2 days at the Renaissance, and then 3
days at the Hyatt with a work group on a reward trip. A lot of people have
tried to compare/contrast the Renaissance with the high rise hotels, and I
truly think it just comes down to what you're looking for. Both were really
nice but completely different.
We were in the Marina Tower at the Renaissance, and saw no signs of
construction. The rooms were a bit smaller than normal, but we spent almost
no time there so who cares. I can't say enough about the staff at the
Renaissance -- they were the friendliest, most helpful I have ever seen.
One night we came back to the hotel around midnight, and my wife had a
craving for some cheescake. We stopped a girl who was straightening chairs
by the pool (just off the main lobby) to ask her where we could go to get
some cheescake, and her response was, "Please just sit down, and I will
bring it to you," completely stopping what she was doing to become our
personal waitress. I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single
Renaissance employee we encountered was friendlier than the friendliest at
the Hyatt. There was a HUGE difference in the overall personalities of the
two staffs.
The Renaissance island was really nice, very unique. We snorkeled right off
the beach, and outside the rock barrier with no problems.
Dinners at Driftwood, Iguana Joe's, and El Gaucho -- all were very good. I
have never seen so much staff as at Driftwood -- it seemed like one person
for about every two tables, and they refilled water glasses faster than a
Hooters girl does a beer glass. Food was excellent. Iguana Joe's was
really good, but a much different type of place. We sat on the deck
overlooking the street -- good food and atmosphere -- a great place for
people watching. Went to El Gaucho with a group of 10. Steaks (and other
meats) were excellent, while everything else was pretty standard fare. I
kept hoping for a bit of original local flavor, but by the end of the week,
I got the feeling that there is very little that is natively Aruban.
Rented a 4X4 from Amigo rentals for a day touring the north coast. Great
people and service from Amigo, but the 4X4 was on it's last legs (it
actually had 4 different types of tires on the 4 wheels). I kept wishing I
had spent the extra $20 for a "real" Jeep. We also drove down to Baby Beach
-- I honestly don't think they want you to find that place. A pretty place,
but not sure it was worth the drive.
Our whole group (26) went on the "Taste of Aruba" snorkeling cruise on Mi
Dushi. We had a great time, and the crew was great. Stopped at 3 sites to
snorkel (all on the west coast) and had a ball.
The Hyatt was all that it's cracked up to be. Everything in its place -
very nice, very corporate. All in all, the Hyatt could have been picked up
and set down anywhere else and it would have been exactly the same - a big,
very nice but sterile property. A beautiful beach (with $50 daily hut
rental), but it really lacked the personality that the Renaissance had (but
I know that that is exactly what a lot of people want).
As much as we loved the trip, I doubt that my wife and I would go back to
Aruba again, before we tried some other places first. When I travel outside
the US, I like to get a sense that I've really gone somewhere foreign, and
you just don't get that much in Aruba. The only Aruban money I saw all
week, was a coin I found on the ground (no lie). It was rare that I even
saw a price listed in their currency. The Hyatt was so Americanized, that
it could have been on Hilton Head, and you wouldn't know the difference.
I'll try to include a couple pics. One of the catamaran pics makes a
beautiful background for my desktop.
Joe and Tracy
|
|
