Big resorts are more crowded and you'll have to deal with saving beach chairs.

Pick a smaller resort elsewhere.
https://www.stjamesclubantigua.com/mobile/

Have you considered VRBO?

Seems like chair saving is less of an issue at those types of condo places because they have less people staying usually than a hotel.

I've been to all 3 hotels but never stayed at any of them (stayed multiple times at the Marriott Surf Club timeshare). If you can afford the Ritz I would do that any day. There is NO comparison between the Ritz and the others.

The Marriott Surf Club timeshare (there are two - this one has a lazy river) is great for families. However as pp mentioned it's a bit of a pita getting a beach palapa and pool chairs. You can pay to reserve the palapas the day before for a certain number of days. You also have to bring your own float for the lazy river. Both of these things seem abnormal to me for a Marriott property but once you know you just accept and deal with it. I've always been at a much less busy time than you are talking about so I would choose the Ritz if price isn't an issue.

We have stayed at 3 hotels in Aruba at different times of year. Getting up at 5am to get a beach chair is not something I am willing to do anymore on vacation so Aruba is off the list.

Anonymous wrote:I've stayed at the Divi. It's not good. Like a cruise on the beach with lots of lower middle class people.

I loved the Hyatt.

WTF...can you only have fun surrounded by the elite? The rooms are fine and the balconies over the water are exceptional for Aruba. but I care more about the view than whether I am surrounded by Elites.

I've stayed at the Divi. It's not good. Like a cruise on the beach with lots of lower middle class people.

I loved the Hyatt.

Love the Ritz. Only con is that it is a long walk to the better restaurants. You could always take a cab for about $6 but it is so nice to just walk a block to restaurants. It is also a longer walk to my beloved Eduardo's Beach Shack for the most amazing acai bowls and smoothies. It is considerably nicer than the Hyatt as you can imagine. The thing I didn't like about the hyatt was its stretch of beach. It has boats and equipment rental on either side and when I was there, the water had a sulfur smell from accumulated seaweed and other stuff. That same trip we walked down to to Hilton - a few hotels down and rented umbrellas on their beach and there was no smell and it is just a nicer stretch of beach. Consider the Hilton if the Ritz is too pricey. The con of the Hilton is that it allows cruise people to buy day passes and cruise people use that stretch of beach but it was only a problem on one of our 2 stays at the Hilton when the atmosphere changed and it was too crowded.

La Cabana

I like the divi -- it is right on the water. The others are probably fancier.

La Cabana has a terrific water slide my kids loved and a better beach. I haven't stayed in the other 2. the Marriott is popular too.

We stayed at the Marriott last spring break. The resort was nice but the towel game was crazy. People were reserving chairs at the pool at 4:30-5:00 am. Insanity.

Ritz, Divi or Hyatt? Which one did you like and why?

Not sure if there are more but it looked like these were the 3 more popular places if you have kids in Aruba.

Considering a Dec holiday vaca with 7 and 9 year olds kids for a few days this year. Running out of beach destinations with Puerto Rico, Mexico, BVI out.. Already have done Turks/DR. Not interested in Atlantis. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks!