Cabo San Lucas Mexico or Aruba?

[kid@heart]

We're in the planning stage of our Fall 2006 vacation and were wanting to do a beach vacation. We've been looking at the available resorts and have narrowed it down to the Villa Del Palmer in Cabo San Lucas or Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club in Aruba. Has anyone stayed in one of these resorts? Has anyone been to Cabo or Aruba who can tell us what there is to do? How hard is it to do a World Passport Collection trade? When are the low, mid, or high seasons? Sorry for all the questions, just want to make a good decision. As always, THANKS!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I have not stayed at either of these locations...however, the Marriott's are usually very nice.

You may want to request reservations at both locations, and simply take the one that opens up first. I am sure both are very popular and may be difficult to book. Good luck.

 

[Dean]

We're in the planning stage of our Fall 2006 vacation and were wanting to do a beach vacation. We've been looking at the available resorts and have narrowed it down to the Villa Del Palmer in Cabo San Lucas or Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club in Aruba. Has anyone stayed in one of these resorts? Has anyone been to Cabo or Aruba who can tell us what there is to do? How hard is it to do a World Passport Collection trade? When are the low, mid, or high seasons? Sorry for all the questions, just want to make a good decision. As always, THANKS!

First let me preface by saying I've never been to either but have extensive info on Aruba and for some other MX locations. Reviewing the info I can find on Cabo, I'd say that Villa Del Palmar would lkely be the lowest on my list of the four there and all the resorts on the DVC II list are definitely below the Marriott. Knowing the top Marriott's and having a lot of info on Aruba, I am confident that you will be happier with the Marriotts if you get one. Remember there are two Marriotts and expect the other (Surf Club) to be added to the DVC list soon if it hasn't been already.

Since you said Fall of 2006 that gives you a lot of time but you should put your search in as soon as you've made your final decisions. Remember it's not as simple as it may sound so you may or may not get what you want. You'll have to give them a choice of 3 resorts/weeks combination but it doesn't have to be the same areas or times. So if you're set on one resort and week you can always work it so that's your only real choice. I can tell you how if you need the info. Don't forget Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.

The Low, Mid, High designations are resort specific but in general you can assume that MX and the Caribbean are High for weeks 51-16 (Xmas to Easter) and Mid for most or all the rest. A few places will be low season, If you look on the II-DVC website and it's listed as yellow or green and not red, assume it's Low season. Aruba fits the above mold with all time being red, I have the info from MS directly on the Aruba Marriott resort.

As far as how hard, it depends on what week you're taking about. You may want to reconsider doing it as a trade and look at rentals or direct exchanges. Looking at II, there are tons of units for Cabo and other places in MX for Sept and Oct though none that fits your expect current specificaions. There are also a lot of places for Cancun for 2006 for Sept and Oct if you wanted to consider that and get your options set. The Royals are available in both one and two BR units for most of that time. I'd take the Sands if it were me, ASAMF, I may go back and try to trade one of my Aruba studios for a 1 or 2 BR then.

 

[kid@heart]

THANKS for the information Dean! We've decided that we would want a Marriott resort and are focusing on Aruba. How would we make our requests for to just get a Marriott resort in Aruba. We're pretty flexible on the week. THANKS again!

 

[jellojatdisney]

We stayed at the Marriot Hotel in Aruba which is right next to the time shares about in Oct 2003. They had one completed time share building (sold out) and were in the process of building another one. It looked great - lazy river and all. We did the time share presentation and were def. enticed. We loved Aruba - the weather was great, found some great restaurants and enjoyed the R&R on the beautiful beach. I would def. recommend. There is a really informative website on Aruba. I will try to refind the address and send to you.

My husband actually agreed to the DVC assuming that someday he would get to use the points to go back there. I would love to know if you are successful in getting a reservation.

Ellyn

 

[Dean]

THANKS for the information Dean! We've decided that we would want a Marriott resort and are focusing on Aruba. How would we make our requests for to just get a Marriott resort in Aruba. We're pretty flexible on the week. THANKS again!

Just tell them when you want to go. If you give them a choice of at least 3 weeks they will put the search in for you. You're chances are excellent for Fall. What unit size are you looking at? The 1 BR will be the best value and more likely to be found for a match. I wouldn't do it for the studio.

 

[HeatherAnne]

Hi,

We have gone to Aruba and stayed at the Marriott 3 times. The Marriott hotels are gorgeous and we wouldn't stay anywhere else on the island. We absoulutley love Aruba - it is a really great place to visit.

Anyway, our search for the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba just came through last week. I had orginally started the search in Aug 04 - I requested three diff. weeks in August 05. A few months back I decided to call MS to check on the search to make sure all was in place. MS let me change my search to cover August, Sept and Oct. I thought you could only do three weeks but was told by MS that I could put in as many weeks as I wanted. The more flexible you are with your dates the better your chances are of the getting the resort. Also, our search was for a 1 bedroom and we ended up getting a 2 bedroom for the 1 bedroom points (144). Good luck with your search!

HeatherAnne

 

[Dean]

Hi,

We have gone to Aruba and stayed at the Marriott 3 times. The Marriott hotels are gorgeous and we wouldn't stay anywhere else on the island. We absoulutley love Aruba - it is a really great place to visit.

Anyway, our search for the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba just came through last week. I had orginally started the search in Aug 04 - I requested three diff. weeks in August 05. A few months back I decided to call MS to check on the search to make sure all was in place. MS let me change my search to cover August, Sept and Oct. I thought you could only do three weeks but was told by MS that I could put in as many weeks as I wanted. The more flexible you are with your dates the better your chances are of the getting the resort. Also, our search was for a 1 bedroom and we ended up getting a 2 bedroom for the 1 bedroom points (144). Good luck with your search!

HeatherAnne

The min you can do is 3. 3 resorts, 3 weeks or as combo. The last I knew the max was 64 resort weeks though I have questioned that as of late without a definitive answer.

 

[wills156]

My wife and I vacationed in Aruba a few years ago and loved it. We actually stayed at the Hyatt (which was very nice), but had a chance to dine at the Marriott and were just as equally impressed (this is where we would stay when we decide to return to Aruba).

One piece of advice is to rent a car. Nothing against the public transportation (the taxis were easy to catch and not that pricey), but there is not much that is within walking distabce of the resort hotels. We opted to not rent a car, but I would not make that mistake the next time.