Pat

I was also looking at boat trips and everywhere you look it seems DePalm pretty much have a tour monopoly on Aruba.

However I did find an independent company that was highly recommended at http://www.aruba-sailing.com

They deliberately don't pack people on their boats, so you get a nice amount of space to chill, as you can see from the photos.

We're going to give them a go when we're there in August.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I did actually look them and also http://www.midushi.com. Must admit I'm swaying towards aruba sailing, as it will be less crowded and more comfortable seating. My only reservation is my 15 year old son, whilst he loves snorkelling, he really fancies trying out the rope swings which they do on the Midushi trips, and I'm wondering if, perhaps, her may end up getting a bit bored with the Aruba Sailing trip .... oh well, perhaps we will do both!

When and where are you staying?

Regards,
Pat

Hi Pat again you picked wrong CUBA great snorkling at PRDO Hotel look it up.

Sorry snowyboy, ....... not with you!!! Thought you were going to Aruba not Cuba, or am I missing something LOL!

Pat

Cuba's certainly on my "to do" list, but not in July/August.....Hurricane Season !

Pat - We're going to the Tamarijn, last two weeks of August.

Pat - Just wondered whether you had thought about emailing the hotel with a room block and level (ground or first) preference and whether any previous guests on the forum had any advice?

From what I gather the rooms are quieter (from the entertainment etc) the further away from the bunker bar you are. Also the ground floor room patios have a partial masonry divider whereas the first floor room balconies have just railings between you and your neighbour, which must feel slightly odd.

I've also been looking into upgrading to a one bedroom suite at the Dutch Village set behind the Tam ocean front rooms. Although you lose your sea view, the rooms are much more spacious with a separate double bedroom and living room with sofa bed. The downside appears to be that they are timeshare owned and there's reports of guests having to move room mid-stay due to an owners imminent arrival.
Has anyone on the forum stayed in one and had any experience of this ?

Hi Crockett,

I sent an E Mail to the Tam about 2 weeks ago requesting a room in Block1100 ...... don't know whether Ive made the right choice though?? Picked block 1100 as it doesn't appear to be too near the pool, bars etc, is next to a wide stretch of beach, and is also nearest block to to Div from the Tam side, giving the best of both worlds (I hope!) Was thinking about requesting a higher block, but read a review about 3 weeks ago where somebody was staying in the higher number block and were complaining about the distance from the pool, bars, restaurants etc, while others say it is only a 2 minute walk from the facilities.

I received a couple of messages from someone who has just returned last week from the Tam. They stayed in block 2100, they said the beach was best around that area (no rocks, but we know that can change) and the use of 2 swimming pools behind the block, I'm not adverse to a 5/10 minute walk to the facilities of the Tam, but I think had the two pools in this area had a bar/restaurant I would have been more inclined to request a higher block number. May change my mind or might end up there anyway ..... nu guarantees!!

As far as a suite is concerned, personally, we booked the Tam mainly because of the location of the rooms. I'm not expecting the rooms to be huge or 5*, and as long they have clean beds, rooms are kept clean, and everything in working order ..... I'll be happy. At the end of the day you only sleep and shower in the room, but then it's all down to preference.

Best wishes,
Pat

Pat
You're absolutely right. We've been to the Caribbean several times now but I think this will be the first time we've had a room right on the beach, so it would be a shame to lose that. If it was just the two of us I'd have had no qualms, but as we're four it might be a little cramped, but we'll see how we get on.

Can I ask which email address you used when you contacted the hotel with your room preference and did you go for ground or first floor ?

I think you've made a good decision with block 1100, as it seems away from (but convenient for) the activities and nicely located for getting over to the Divi. I'm torn between that or heading up the other end, 1600 onwards also seems a good spot and as you say I think the beach is better around the 20's blocks, though I've also heard the beach is lovely and deep between the Tam and Divi, so again 1100 looks like a winner.

There seems to be some debate about whether we can use the pools that are part of the Dutch Village behind. Some say yes, but I've seen some of the timeshare owners comment that Tam guests aren't supposed to use them. Also not sure whether we can use the facilities of the Divi golf across the road, but I guess this will all become clear.

Not long to go for you now !

Hi Crockett,

Since posting my last message, I've been in contact with somebody from the States and is returning to the Tam for the 3rd time next week. She is travelling with her husband and 2 grown up children (17 and 19 ..... I think) and they always share the same room, so perhaps it might not be as tight as you think??

The address I used to request block 1100 was reservations@megaresorts.com I sent the message on the 29th June and received a reply back about 7/10 days later stating that they would do their best to accommodate our request.

Still having 2nd thoughts about block 1100 LOL! Have since received further messages from somebody who returned last week and reccommended block 1400, although they did say that block 1100 is fine, but there is b bit of a dip into the sea from that block ....... would prefer gently shleving as I'm not a strong swimmer. Probably being too fussy LOL!

Are you flying out from Gatwick ....... if so, you must be coming in on the flight we will be going home on.

Pat

Thanks for the info on the group from the US.

We were just looking at the hotel map and still can't decide where to ask for.
Block 1400 is right next to the main building & Palm Grill restaurant, so might be a bit noisy ?
Looking on Google Earth the beach does look better past Block 1600, but the stretch between the Tam and Divi also looks terrific.

Yes, we're on the Gatwick flight coming out to fetch you back to Blighty.
We'll try not to make too much mess !

Hi Crockett,

I did think myself that perhaps maybe a bit too near bar, pool etc, but the woman who travelled with her husband and child said that their room in block 1400 was approimately 100 steps from the hub of everything, and said it wasn't noisy at all ....... so I don't know!

The travel agent whom I booked the holiday with at the Thomason shop returned from the Tam on Sunday. I will be going into town over the weekend to pick our tickets up, so I will try and get a few pointers from her regarding the blocks, and will get back to you once I have spoken to her.

Pat

ps Just make sure you don't drink the plane dry ... leave some for us please LOL!!

Hi again Crockett,

If you look on http://www.oyster.com there are plenty of photo's on there of the Tam. Photo numbers 15 and 19 show blocks 1100, 1200 and 1300.

Not sure it this will be any help to you, but have just had a message from someone else who returned about 3 weeks ago. Four of them travelling from the UK and stayed in block 1400. They stayed in room numbers 1415 and 1413 which are interconnecting rooms. She also said that noise wasn't a problem in that location. With that in mind I think I'm going to send another E Mail requesting a room in block 1400!

Have you looked on oyster.com? There are loads of photo's of the Tam on there. Don't know if it will help you decide room location or confuse you even more LOL!

Pat

Thanks for the Oyster.com tip Pat. Superb range of photos.
Even one of the inside of a wardrobe which pleased my wife (more hangers required apparently......)

Yeh ......... but looks like hubby will be storing his clothes in his suitcase as the wardrobe will just about accommodate my clothes looking at the size of it LOL!

Pat

ps Don't forget the clothes pegs to hold the towels down on the sun beds!

Hi all!! Just got back from 2 weeks at the tamarijn, we had a great holiday. If you're worrying about going there, don't! I will post a review when I've had some sleep, in the meantime, if you have any questions about it, or concerns, please feel free to ask on here.

Hi Wally07

Welcome back and glad to hear you had a great time.

The hot topic with Pat and myself at the moment is which is the best block to stay in, so any advice on that would be appreciated.

Also, are you allowed to use the facilites at the Divi Golf over the road and can you use the pools at the Dutch Village just behind the Tam ?

Thanks.

Hi Crockett,

Spoke to our Travel Agent yesterday who returned from the Tam last Sunday. She stayed in block 1600, it wasn't the one she requested but she was quite happy there. Said it was a 5 min stoll from the bars, restaurants and pool. Also said she found the rooms pretty good, and had no problem even though there were 4 of them sharing. As others have said she found the bathroom needed updating. She never used any of the A La Cartes nor ventured over to the Divi, but found the food in the buffet very good with plenty of choice. Her only disappointment was the lack of entertainment ....... was back in the room by 9pm every night, and due to that wouldn't return. Also said that apparently the entertainment was being upgraded (if that's the right word!) for the following week due to the increase of Americans expected.

To be quite honest, I'm not really fussed regarding the entertainment side of things, as long as there is a bar you can make your own entertainment in meeting new people!

Hi Wally07,

Pleased to hear you had a grreat holiday. Did you notice a new pool being built over at the Divi? Received a message from somebody a couple of weeks back saying that there was a new pool of sorts being built, whereby the sunbeds are actually in the pool for to sunbathe and keep cool at the same time ....... hope that makes sense!

Pat

I must say, I only ventured to the divi for dinner a couple of times, at the red parrot. It's lovely there. We did bike through it, and didn't see any building work going on (that's not to say it's not going on, I just didn't see it). We found that the tam had more than enough to keep us happy, but we're beach bums! You will be able to have a reduced priced meal at the golf resort ($35), which was a lovely 3 courses. Looking at the prices on the regular menu, $35 seems very reasonable. You can't use the facilities for free, but I'm sure you could book a round of golf for a fee. If you're thinking of heading out for dinner, it's pretty expensive everywhere, so make the most of the a la carte at the hotel, Ginger was the worst. Nice, but inconsistent. Papparazzi was very good, and we avoided the palm grill, it was far too hot to sit around a hot plate. You can use all the pools around the Dutch village, if you feel the need to avoid the beach. Now, hopefully, the biggest help I can give you.... Blocks 20-25 are on the nicest stretch of beach, with no rocks! We were in block 2300 (room 2301). It was amazing stepping onto the beach first thing in the morning. Also nice to walk back along the wooden boardwalk after a few cocktails in the evening. We were a bit of a walk from the restaraunts, but only 2 or 3 minutes, and with luck a golf cart will get you along the way. There's always the bunker bar halfway if you need to stop. We were also at the end closest to the supermarket, which was nice too. We only went there to get some aftersun, much lower prices than the hotel shops. We never found it hard to get a palapa on the beach, except for the last day. There were plenty of sunbeds though. Even if you're not in one of 20-25, just stroll up the beach a bit, and you'll avoid the rocks. The sea there was lovely, and only upto my shoulders really far out, and very calm. I hope I've helped a bit, as I said before, any questions at all, just ask.

Many thanks for all the excellent info.

Regarding the evening entertainment, the only Caribbean destination I've had decent shows at was Mexico, everywhere else it's been very low key. I believe the entertainment is better over at the Divi though.

I must say we are leaning towards the 21+ blocks (only twigged today that there's no block 20) as..
a. they're quieter being away from the main areas, one reviewer described it being like a different hotel once past the bunker bar
b. the beach appears much deeper and the sea calmer with less rocks
c. the palapas are on the sea side of the boardwalk rather than the room side (with blocks 11 to 15), so you don't get people right outside your patio doors setting up first thing.
d. More chance of getting a palapa up that end and also the Dutch Village pools (and some shade) are just behind you

So the plan is to ask for block 21-ish.......well that's today anyway !
Must say I don't think I've ever analysed a room location quite so much !