Aruba Ocean Villas

My husband and I loved this place!! It’s like Tahiti meets Hawaii in the Caribbean! The staff is wonderful. Cookie, Brenda, Yvonne, Zangay Jeanne-Marie all took great care of our breakfast and at the bar. They always asked how our day was and we had a lot of good laughs - good people here. Yonge was always waiting at the gate for us at the end of the day with a smile and some conversation. And Antonio - our waiter - was the best - great knowledge of just about anything. Perfect environment to relax all day or go kayaking surrounded by people who felt like family after a few days.

Last week’s vacation didn’t start well. Every worker at the Aruba airport was rude and disrespectful, as we stood in line for an hour in Customs. After we arrived at our villa, we both fell, due to a one foot drop from the bath tub area to the refrigerator. We weren’t ready for the cold shower and rock formation on the floor of the shower area. I’m sure we’ve been pampered by our home’s conveniences. Our first breakfast the next morning was a breathe of fresh air. Cookie greeted us with a smile and her refreshing attitude toward every thing she did to serve us. Yvonne and Jean Marie did the same the next morning. We were blown away by their kindness, attention to detail and quality service. They weren’t very busy after our breakfast, so we talked. My wife and I weren’t that familiar with anyone who loved their jobs like Cookie, Yvonne and Jean Marie. My wife and I left for our villa, chatting about what we had just experienced and watched all three of the women behave in the same, positive manner while serving everyone, at every table. We couldn’t wait for breakfast the next morning. As we arrived, Cookie greeted us again, followed by Yvonne and Jean Marie. Their familiarity with us made breakfast even more special. Each morning we experienced the same upbeat greeting and service. Our stay got off to a challenging start, but Cookie, Yvonne and Jean Marie’s kindness made our vacation special.

On the whole, this venue has an undeniable enchantment. However, I question whether the experience is worth the investment. Our Room: We reserved a room to mark our anniversary and were pleased with the thoughtful display. We selected Joy, which featured a beautiful outdoor bathroom. Regrettably, our enthusiasm was tempered by the presence of rain flies and ants in the room, including our bed. Management failed to apologize, instead expressing puzzlement that this issue was isolated to our room. We were transferred to Elle Marie, an upgrade, but our preference remained with Joy, especially its outdoor shower. Although Elle Marie boasted a more spacious area, a small beach, and a couple's swing, the bathroom lacked the same impact. Service: Staff politeness and accommodation were notable, but forgetfulness led to meal timing issues. Restaurant: Unfortunately, the food was mediocre, inconsistent with the restaurant's visual appeal. Omelets were overcooked, yogurt tasted sour, and desserts seemed pre-prepared. The difference between a cook and a chef is evident, yielding underwhelming, stale, and overpriced food. The Beach: Despite its stunning and comfortable appearance, the beach's water shoreline area is compromised by an overgrowth of algae, making it unpleasant to access, even with water shoes. Activities: Unfortunately, there are none. We attempted to utilize two outdated kayaks, but no snorkeling gear was available, and the front desk was unaware of the sailing tour, which was allegedly offered by a partner, with no effort made to connect us with them. Essentially, what are you paying for? The experience, a peaceful environment and combined beach and jungle views, which is indeed beautiful