Caribbean Beach Resort FAQ Part 3

[CleveRocks]

I was there the same time while the other posters were there - we stayed in Martinique. The only thing I'm missing is one flip flop but I think that is due to a certain 2 year old. If you are concerned, maybe make sure that you aren't staying in Aruba. If you are given Aruba, tell them your concerns and switch buildings. Stay safe and have fun!

Again ... please ... I truly hope I'm not coming off as uncaring or snarky ...

I can't imagine there is anything endemic to Aruba that makes it a worse neighborhood than any other village. If this happened twice in the same handful of days there, then more likely it was a guest or construction workman or something ... someone transient. Otherwise, we'd be hearing of Aruba thefts over a longer amount of time (such as if it were a Mousekeeper).

Since it seems to have been done by a transient sort, I don't think it would make any functional sense to avoid Aruba.

 

[mom2ru]

I'm not trying to be heartless or sarcastic, just trying to be real, in hopes of helping you not feel so nervous ...

There's no place that is 100% safe. Crime can happen anywhere.

The other thing to keep in mind is that in both of these cases it was theft, not any sort of attack or intimidation.

Whether it was a theft or an attack, you still feel violated. It's been over 6 years since someone tried to rob me at gunpoint on my front porch and I still have my moments.

If ever there was a realist, it is me. I certainly realize that crime can happen anywhere, but I also don't live in fear or expectation of it happening to me. At the same time, it is of concern that 2 guests staying in the same village at the CBR during the same time frame had their room burglarized. As a female who will be spending part of her CBR stay alone, this does cause me some concern. Will I change resorts because of this? No, but it is still something I find concerning.

Always be vigilant no matter where you are. If you are uncomfortable change your situation and always be on the look out. Trust your gut instinct. If you aren't going to be able to sleep or feel comfortable you may want to change resorts.

Oh, we are not causing a panic. Maybe by telling what happened to us we can help someone else not become a victim. Use the room safe, hide things that are too big for the safe. I always lock up my jewelry and other valuables. It was just so fast, and we had just returned from the MK and had just emptied pockets and left for a second to view Illuminations.

I am so sorry you were burglarized, too. What did they take and how did they do it? Did the manager-type person come out and perform a "lock integrity" inspection on your door too? I tried to not laugh when their device failed. What good is that going to do to catch the thief or thieves?

We were there from 10/29 to 11/9, so we there in Aruba at the same time you were. What was your room number? We could have been neighbors!

Unfortunately for the one family, it seems like you were being watched. And whether it's mousekeeping or someone else CBR security needs to be more proactive. I wouldn't put it past being a inside job. We had a odd thing to happen to us there when we went to leave, and management didn't even care. There was no pixie dust to be found. No "have a magical day."

I just wonder how many more thefts have occurred and we don't hear about them. But as the one poster said, theft can happen anywhere.

 

[spauldo]

I'm sure this has been asked a many of times so sorry for asking again. But I would like to request where our room will be. I see alot about Aruba and Jamica, which do you prefer? Thank

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm sure this has been asked a many of times so sorry for asking again. But I would like to request where our room will be. I see alot about Aruba and Jamica, which do you prefer? Thank

They are basically mirror-images of each other ... the foot of the bridge to Old Port Royale is at the Aruba-Jamaica border.

 

[spauldo]

Thanks so much! I guess my question is more of which building is the best to stay at.

 

[ready4mouse]

If I'm looking at the map correctly, it seems to me that if we're staying in TS (for the pirate rooms of course!) that building 35 looks to be the best location in that area... not near a parking lot (which we don't like to be near) and close to TN and water...

Is my thinking correct?

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks so much! I guess my question is more of which building is the best to stay at.

They're all identical, all 6 villages ... rooms are the same, amenities are the same, and so on (well, there is the exception of Trinidad South, which is in the process of getting an entire Pirate theme makeover).

Each village is comprised of 6 buildings (except for Trinidad North, which has only 3). The only difference between the five non-Pirate villages is their relative location to Old Port Royale (food court, restaurant, shops, etc.). There's no meaningful way to differentiate one village from another except for location. With that in mind, I was explaining that since the bridge from Old Port Royale ends at the dividing line between Aruba and Jamaica, one of them is just as convenient as the other.

 

[ahecht]

The only meaningful difference between Jamaca and Aruba is that the busses stop at Jamaca first.

 

[LuvsTinker]

If I'm looking at the map correctly, it seems to me that if we're staying in TS (for the pirate rooms of course!) that building 35 looks to be the best location in that area... not near a parking lot (which we don't like to be near) and close to TN and water...

Is my thinking correct?

Yes, we stayed in TS bldg. 35 in Sept. - we were on the end closest to pool; the bus stop is right in front of the pool area, not across the parking lot like the other villages.

We could not see the parking lot; we were close to the walkway leading to the main pool and food court - about a 7 minute walk.

Enjoy

 

[motherof4]

Took me a little over two weeks but finally have finished reading all 185 pages of this thread! Can't wait till we go! Thanks for all the valuable information!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm on page 31 and had a few questions:

I booked myself and now teh IL's at CBR. I requested Aruba and for adjoining rooms. I just got the email for the IL's and it says "connecting" rooms. I don't want them to have access to our room or ours to theirs. Should I call back and ask for "adjoining" rooms???

Also BIL has some health issues and stairs might be a problem. If I call and ask for a 1st floor will it be a problem?

 

[postesf]

This may have been mentioned already, but...

Why are they only convering one building to the Pirate them? I would think since there are 6 building, they would do at least 2, maybe 3. Do they not think it will be popular or maybe I just missed something???

** Edited to add...I guess I should have used the word Villages instead of buildings... I've read they are converting Trindad S to Pirate themed, but is that it?

 

[kaysmommie]

This may have been mentioned already, but...

Why are they only convering one building to the Pirate them? I would think since there are 6 building, they would do at least 2, maybe 3. Do they not think it will be popular or maybe I just missed something???

Trinidad South has 6 buildings. I think all of them will be Pirate themed .

 

[postesf]

Trinidad South has 6 buildings. I think all of them will be Pirate themed .

Thanks. I meant villages. I clarified in my original post...

 

[CleveRocks]

TOTAL guess ... totally UNINFORMED guess ...

I know that they are charging about $25 more per night for the Pirate rooms. Perhaps they don't believe that more people will be willing to pay the upcharge just for a themed room.

The upside to this theory is that if the rooms consistently sell out when the rest of the resort does not, they always have the option of Pirating another village or 2 in the future. Aaaarrrrrgh!

 

[HappyMomOfThree]

Newbie here. Not sure if this is the right place to ask - but do you guys know if I had booked a preferred room and then changed my reservation to get the new 7 nights for 4 deal - do I now have a regular room?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Newbie here. Not sure if this is the right place to ask - but do you guys know if I had booked a preferred room and then changed my reservation to get the new 7 nights for 4 deal - do I now have a regular room?

If they have rooms available for the deal you can get preferred. If not you will have to take a standard room.

I switched my ressie from POP to CBR when the special came out and they only have standard rooms available.

 

[Disneyfan71]

My DW and I looked at staying here in January and most of the rooms are booked. So we changed it to September---will make our reservation soon and I want a Pirate Themed room I mean, how cool is that? I also heard there are some Finding Nemo themed rooms too. From the pictures I REALLY, REALLY want to stay here rather than Pop Century.

 

[kaysmommie]

Thanks. I meant villages. I clarified in my original post...

okay sorry . The villages are pretty big though.

 

[safetymom]

There will be plenty of pirate rooms in Trinidad South. I am sure if they see a demand they will create more pirate rooms.