Best all inclusive?

Need ideas for a week long stay at an all inclusive w good beach water sports, good excursion choices and good food. Looking at Aruba but doesn't have to be there. Anyone been that can recommend?

All resorts in Aruba have concierges who can arrange watersports for you.

Most all inclusives include non-motorized watersports.

Watersports in Aruba are most prominent on Palm Beach in Aruba. The best all inclusive resorts on Palm Beach are the Riu or Occidental. The Riu overall gets better reviews than the Occidental. Both resorts require men to wear long pants to dinner.

Some will suggest that Aruba is not the place to go all inclusive. It has many excellent restaurants and unlike some islands like Jamaica, it is perfect safe to go out and about at night. I can argue for or against all inclusive in Aruba. It depends upon your individual circumstances.

Having just returned from a week in Aruba, I will say that Aruba has many, many positives but great all-inclusives isn't one of them. :)

We went to Aruba because we really wanted to see the island, the hotel was secondary. We stayed at the Occidental because we find all-inclusives to be a more relaxing way to vacation. Personal preference, everyone is different, but we just like to have most things paid for upfront.

Have we been to better all-inclusives? Definitely. My personal favorite was Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica. All the Sandals resorts are great. Excellence Riviera Cancun was very nice too. A lot of people love the Secrets resorts, but we haven't made it to one of those yet. Maybe one of these days. :)

Having just returned from a week in Aruba, I will say that Aruba has many, many positives but great all-inclusives isn't one of them. :)

 

We went to Aruba because we really wanted to see the island, the hotel was secondary. We stayed at the Occidental because we find all-inclusives to be a more relaxing way to vacation. Personal preference, everyone is different, but we just like to have most things paid for upfront.

 

Have we been to better all-inclusives? Definitely. My personal favorite was Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica. All the Sandals resorts are great. Excellence Riviera Cancun was very nice too. A lot of people love the Secrets resorts, but we haven't made it to one of those yet. Maybe one of these days. :)

I just returned from a 10 day vacation at the Riu in Aruba. Went there last year too. We think it is a wonderful place. Sorry you did not enjoy it there as much as others.

All resorts in Aruba have concierges who can arrange watersports for you.

 

Most all inclusives include non-motorized watersports.

 

Watersports in Aruba are most prominent on Palm Beach in Aruba. The best all inclusive resorts on Palm Beach are the Riu or Occidental. The Riu overall gets better reviews than the Occidental. Both resorts require men to wear long pants to dinner.

 

Some will suggest that Aruba is not the place to go all inclusive. It has many excellent restaurants and unlike some islands like Jamaica, it is perfect safe to go out and about at night. I can argue for or against all inclusive in Aruba. It depends upon your individual circumstances.

I just returned from a vacation at the Riu in Aruba. There were many men every night at dinner wearing shorts.

I just returned from a 10 day vacation at the Riu in Aruba. Went there last year too. We think it is a wonderful place. Sorry you did not enjoy it there as much as others.

I didn't say I didn't enjoy Aruba! I just said we've been to better all-inclusives elsewhere. But we didn't go to Aruba for the hotel. We loved the island. (There's a review of our trip in my blog. The link is in my signature.)

The OP was asking about the best all-inclusives and that is what I was answering.

The Occidental did require long pants in their a la carte restaurants at dinner but not at the buffets. I think that's pretty typical for all-inclusives. They did at Sandals, Excellence and the Palace resorts too. It's a good idea to check the hotel's website for their dress code. Seems like when you read the reviews, there's always someone who is complaining that they didn't know. :)

The Riu permits men to wear shorts in their ala carte dinner restaurants?

The Riu permits men to wear shorts in their ala carte dinner restaurants?

Yes, this is correct. Many men every evening wearing shorts in the dining rooms including the ala carte restaurants.

The only time I saw people turned away was folks wearing bathing suits at lunch.

That's interesting. The RIU website says long trousers are required for gentlemen in the theme restaurants. I guess they aren't enforcing it. Kind of like on the cruise ships. :)

That's interesting. The RIU website says long trousers are required for gentlemen in the theme restaurants. I guess they aren't enforcing it. Kind of like on the cruise ships. :)

No, there are not enforcing it. On a different note I would like to know of the AI resorts that you have mentioned do any have a casino?

thanks

No, the Occidental is the first all-inclusive we've been to that actually had its own casino. At Sandals Antigua, there was a little casino nearby but it wasn't open when we were there. Casinos are one of the pluses to Aruba. :)

Another thing about the Riu is that on the website it says drinks are not free in the casino but this is not true. We got free drinks in the casino every night. Maybe it means if you are just sitting at the bar but not playing.

You might want to consider going to De Palm Island. Bar, food, chairs, and snorkeling are included. The food isn't the best ... but it makes for a nice day and there are LOTS of beautiful Blue Parrot fish. :)

LuLu

If you are only interested in an all inclusive, I would consider Amsterdam Manor on Eagle Beach in Aruba. It is far less crowded than Occidental, with a much wider beach, and better food. A lot of people really like Divi AI also. Manchebo also has an all inclusive plan, but I think that the dining options are limited. It is a lovely, relaxing place to stay.

Does anyone know if these aforementioned AIs offer day passes? If so, do you know prices? Distance from port?

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1100

"Aruba

Occidental Grand Aruba

What You Get for Your Money: Passes, which are $76 for adults and about $38 for children, offer access to all amenities, meals, snack and drinks, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The price does not, however, include use of a room.

How to Get There: Occidental Grand Aruba is a 15-minute taxi ride from port.

For More Info: Visit Occidental's Web site or call 800-858-2258.

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

What You Get for Your Money: The day passes offered at this Aruba resort include transportation to the resort's private island, as well as lunch, a drink and dessert. The cost is $99 per adult and $49 per child and does not include use of a room.

How to Get There: This resort is just one-quarter of a mile from the cruise port, and it's walkable.

For More Info: Visit Renaissance Aruba's Web site or call 800-421-8188"