Escape to Paradise: Your All-Inclusive Tamarijn Aruba Dream Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive HEADFIRST into the Tamarijn Aruba. "Escape to Paradise," they say? Honey, I’m here to tell you if it's a tropical dream or a sandy-toed nightmare. Let's unpack this glorious, sun-soaked mess, shall we? Prepare for a brutally honest, slightly chaotic, and possibly hilarious review. Because, let's be real, travel never goes perfectly, and that's half the fun, right?
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Kinda…
Okay, first things first: Accessibility. I, myself, don't use a wheelchair, but I always pay attention because it matters! The Tamarijn…it's got some work to do. They say they have facilities for disabled guests, which is good. Elevators are a must (check!), but the layout? My gut tells me it's not the easiest place to navigate. Be sure to ask SPECIFIC questions. Don't just take their word for it. Question everything. Dig deeper. Call them! They have facilities, but how functional are they? Do the ramps actually work? Is the pool lift reliable? Call and probe. Don't assume because it says accessible that it's easy peasy.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges: This is key, and I didn't personally experience it. I saw restaurants, beautiful restaurants - one of them was near the beach. Imagine the ocean breeze, the sand between your toes. But how accessible were they? This needed more investigation.
Wheelchair Accessible: As mentioned above, the claim is there, but real-world application? Needs investigation!
Internet: The Modern-Day Necessity – And Don't Expect Perfection
Alright, let's talk internet. Because, face it, we're all addicted.
- Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services: They offer it, and that's a huge plus.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Thank the heavens! I mean, this is pretty much a MUST these days, right? They claim to have it, but the speed… well, don't bank on streaming HD movies without a little buffering. Just, temper expectations.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yep, that’s there too.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Paradise, But With a Catch?
Okay, this is where things get interesting. The Tamarijn promises paradise, and lord knows, Aruba is GORGEOUS.
- Swimming pool: Definitely a highlight. Sun, cocktails…the works!
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Outdoor swimming pool! It's basically all outdoor, which is just what you want.
- Pool with view: Probably exists, because Aruba has views for days.
- Gym/fitness: If you're the type to actually work out on vacation, God bless you.
- Spa, Spa/sauna, Sauna, Steamroom: Oooooh, now we're talking. Massages, body wraps… the chance to actually do the thing I always dream about. That's the promise.
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage: I did experience it. I got a massage. That's my "one singular experience". It was… amazing. Okay, it's a messy memory, but let me recount it. It started with the usual, but then, after the massage, I went to the ocean to wash off the residue. And I was like "oh wow, the ocean smells like me!" And then the whole experience was wonderful.
- The problem is: The spa facilities weren't pristine. They weren't dirty, but…there were some signs that it wasn't new. That's my honest take away!
Cleanliness and Safety: A COVID-Era Rundown
Okay, let’s talk about germophobe-ville. Am I a germaphobe? Maybe. Am I concerned about cleanliness? YES. This is important, people.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They've got the list. It’s a good list. It shows they're trying. Are they succeeding? You’ll have to judge for yourself. But it's more than some hotels do!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Good. Makes me feel better.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Vacation Beast
Ah, yes, the food. The most important part of any vacation, in my humble opinion. I'm going to be honest - I went expecting paradise, in this case. But did I get it? Not quite.
- A la carte in restaurant: The options.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Important for allergies and preferences.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: Nice, if you're into that.
- Bar, Bottle of water, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant: A buffet. I love a buffet. However, Buffets are a mess.
- Everything looks great on paper.
- The reality? It depends.
- "Alternative meal arrangement"? I needed a gluten-free option, it was a mess.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: For the weddings, business retreats, or whatever.
- Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests: Solid list. Most are important.
- Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop: Always good.
- Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars: The usual business stuff.
- Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Meh.
- Air conditioning in public area: You need it.
For the Kids: Family Friendly?
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: They claim to be.
- I didn't travel with kids, but I saw families having fun, and there seemed to be stuff for kids.
Rooms: What's it REALLY Like?
- Available in all rooms, Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: They claim to have it all. And for the most part, they do. The rooms themselves were…fine. Clean. Functional. Nothing that blew me away, but not a disaster either.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: They've got all the transport options.
Cleanliness and Safety (Revisited):
- Access, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, , Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: The security seemed good.
The Verdict: Is It Really an "Escape to Paradise"?
The Tamarijn Aruba offers a lot. It’s got the potential. The beach is gorgeous, the location is fantastic, and there are definitely some winning elements! However, there were areas that weren't perfect.
Escape to Luxury: Home2 Suites Opelika Auburn - Your Perfect Alabama Getaway
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because planning a trip to the Tamarijn Aruba? That shit ain't just a vacation, it's a story. And here's mine, cobbled together with the duct tape of memory and the sheer willpower to not totally lose it in the face of paradise. (Spoiler alert: I might have lost it a little.)
TAMARIJN ARUBA: Operation Sunburn & Sangria (Mostly)
Day 1: Arrival & Utter Sensory Overload
- Morning (or, what I think was morning, after a red-eye): Landed. Aruba. BAM. Heat. So much freakin' heat. The airport, surprisingly efficient, thankfully not too busy. I'm pretty sure a bead of sweat the size of a small marble already formed on my forehead. The transfer to the Tamarijn? Smooth. Except for the driver who kept muttering something about "one happy island" as he swerved around potholes. Seriously, dude, I'm already happy to have survived the plane ride!
- Afternoon: Checking In & The Great Room Debacle: Check-in was… chaotic. "All-inclusive" apparently meant standing in line next to a family with three screaming toddlers who seemed to think the lobby was a playground. Eventually – after what felt like a lifetime – we got our room. Standard. View of… a parking lot. My heart sank. This wasn't beach-adjacent. This was "I'm going to need a stiff drink now" adjacent. I'm talking a mega-sized margarita for the emotional damage.
- Late Afternoon: The Beach (Finally): Okay, the beach. This is why we came. Pristine white sand. Turquoise water that looked Photoshopped. The waves… gentle, perfect. I spent the next few hours alternating between blissful floating, getting increasingly red, and muttering about the parking lot view. I found a beach bar, and that's where things started to improve. I ordered a frozen concoction. It came in a plastic cup. It tasted heavenly. I named it "Liquid Sunshine Deluxe."
- Evening: Buffet Battle & Sunset Swoon: Dinner at the buffet. The sheer quantity of food was overwhelming. I ended up with a plate that looked like a culinary crime scene (chicken, pasta, mystery meat… all together) but honestly, it was delicious. And then… the sunset. Oh. My. God. Orange, pink, purple… the sky exploded in color. I found myself blubbering like a fool while taking a picture. Emotional? Yes. Apologetic? No. This was a moment.
Day 2: Beach Bumming 2.0 & The Snorkel Snafu
- Morning: Breakfast Trauma & Poolside Bliss: Breakfast at the buffet. Again. More chaos. I got a hard-boiled egg with a cracked shell. But, the coffee kept flowing, So it was all good. Then, the pool! Finally. Got a spot with an umbrella. Hours of reading, snoozing, and avoiding the sun. Found a new shade I loved.
- Afternoon: Snorkeling & The Sea Turtle That Got Away: I decided to get ambitious and snorkel. Rented some fins. First issue? The fins were too small. Second issue? I panicked the second I got in the water. It was like my brain decided to take a vacation of its own. The fish! The coral! I saw a little bit of everything, but I was so terrified I missed the sea turtle. Missed. The sea turtle. I’ll never forgive myself.
- Late Afternoon: Recovery & Rum Punch: Back at the bar. Needed the Liquid Sunshine Deluxe, plus a double dose of comfort food. Found a plate of fries, ordered it, and sat there, staring at the ocean, trying to decide if I wanted to try snorkeling again.
- Evening: The Italian Adventure (and another parking lot view): Dinner at one of the a la carte restaurants, Italian. The food was good. Even had a new drink, Spritz! Had to walk all over again and the parking lot was still there. Oh well.
Day 3: Exploration & The Windblown Disaster
- Morning: Jeep Tour (Almost Met My Doom): We booked a jeep tour. The island's interior is stunning, but the bumpy roads nearly shook my teeth loose. The guide, a local named Carlos, had a laugh that could shatter glass, which was ironic. Also he was fun, got us to the Natural Pool. And all in all, I almost fell off the jeep, but had some fun.
- Afternoon: Beach Again, The Great Windstorm (And My Hair): Back to the beach. It was windy, though. Like, Sahara Desert-level windy. My hair? A frizzy, tangly, flyaway mess. I spent the next hour trying to tame it, looking like a demented scarecrow.
- Late Afternoon: Bar Hopping & Karaoke Chaos: Found a few bars, and found Karaoke! I took the stage, it was bad. Truly awful. But hey, no regrets. Well… maybe a few.
- Evening: Farewell Dinner & The Sad Margarita: The last night. Dinner was bittersweet. Reflecting on the journey. We had a drink at a restaurant. Got a Margarita. It tasted like tears. Good tears, though. Sad to leave, but glad to have had the experience.
Day 4: Departure (And The Promise to Return, Possibly Sooner Than Later)
- Morning: Last Beach Moments & Packing (The Worst): One last beach walk. One last swim. Packing. The worst. Trying to jam everything into my suitcase. I could have brought the whole place.
- Afternoon: Check Out (Another Chaos) & Goodbyes: Check out. Another long line. But, hey, I survived. Bye. Bye. Aruba.
Quirky Observations & Random Rambles:
- The Stray Cats: Aruba has a ton of stray cats. They're everywhere. Some are friendly. Some are aloof. All of them are charming, I guess.
- The All-Inclusive Buffet: A battlefield. Hunger turns people into savages. I'm not judging, I'm just observing.
- The Weather: Hot. Always. But in the best way possible. Even when the wind wrecks your hair.
- Aruba Time: Everything runs on "Aruba time," aka, a relaxed, slightly delayed pace. Embrace it.
- The Sun: It. Is. Brutal. Sunscreen. All. The. Time.
Emotional Reactions:
- Joy: Massive, unadulterated joy. The beach, the sunsets, the rum. Pure bliss.
- Frustration: The parking lot. The chaos. My own ineptitude at snorkeling.
- Awe: The natural beauty of the island. The sense of peace and serenity. It's magic.
- Sadness: Leaving. The realization that real life awaits.
- Defiance: I will return! And next time, I'm bringing better fins. And less hair product.
Overall Impression:
Tamarijn Aruba? It's a mixed bag, but a wonderful mixed bag. It's imperfect, sometimes chaotic, and occasionally frustrating. But it's also beautiful, relaxing, and full of moments that will stay with you long after you've returned home. Go. Enjoy. Embrace the chaos. And for the love of all that is holy, wear sunscreen. And take lots of pictures!
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Okay, so… Escape to Paradise: The Tamarijn Aruba. Is it *really* paradise, or just a fancy brochure lie? Be honest. I'm susceptible.
Alright, alright, settle down! Paradise? Look, it’s not *perfect*. My first thought, after the jet lag wore off and I’d wrestled with the tiny airplane bathroom, was, "Wow, that water IS turquoise, just like the pictures!" Honestly? Pretty damn close. The beach? Forget it, I spent half my time just staring at it, mesmerized. The other half? Avoiding the rogue soccer ball from the hyperactive kids. (More on that later.) So, paradise-adjacent. Highly recommended.
But here’s the thing: I went with my best friend, Carol, and, bless her heart, she packed enough clothes to outfit a small village. We got there, and *immediately* she's ranting about a tiny stain she found on her pillowcase. Tiny. It’s the little things, you know? Anyway, paradise or not, I'd go again in a heartbeat.
The All-Inclusive thing… Am I going to spend the whole time feeling nickel-and-dimed, or can I actually relax and enjoy myself? (And do they run out of booze? Asking for a friend…)
The all-inclusive aspect is the lifeblood of this place, seriously. I, a notorious over-thinker, loved it. No fumbling for cash in the sun-baked heat! No worrying about a surprise bar bill that would send me spiraling. The drinks? Flowing. The food? Plentiful. (Though...the pizza at the pizza place was a *little* underwhelming, okay? But hey, free pizza!).
Run out of booze? Ha! Never. My friend, let me tell you a story… Carol. Remember her? Well, she took it upon herself to "test" the limits of the free cocktails. We were at the bar one afternoon and she was ordering something called a "Dirty Banana". Then she ordered another. And another. (She may or may not have been doing the Macarena.) They kept pouring. They. Kept. Pouring. So, no. The booze flows like the river of life. Just…pace yourself. Unless you're Carol. Then, party on!
What's the deal with the rooms? Are they those depressing hotel rooms from the 90s, or… something better?
Okay, real talk. The rooms are… fine. They're not the palatial suites you see in those travel magazines. They're functional, clean, and, most importantly, *right on the beach*. That's the key detail, honestly. You walk out your door and *bam!* sand, sun, and the ocean breeze. Honestly, I spent so little time in the room, I barely noticed the decor. It's more about the location, location, location. I did, however, have a minor meltdown over a malfunctioning hairdryer. Needed a little TLC. But hey, I'm on vacation; I survived.
And a word to the wise: if you are travelling with someone like Carol, make sure you get separate beds. Trust me. You'll thank me later.
Food! Is it… edible? And, more importantly, are there good cocktails? Because a bad cocktail is a tragedy.
Edible? Oh, it's definitely edible! And there’s a good range of options to keep things interesting. The buffet? Well, it's a buffet. Some days were *better* than others, you know? The fresh fruit was bomb though – mangoes that tasted like sunshine! Try the Divi Dutch Village restaurants - you can travel between the resorts so you can have even more choices. The Italian place offered the most gorgeous, melty, creamy pasta. The food was definitely better than I was expecting, I'd say.
And the cocktails? YES! The bartenders were *legit*. The "Aruban Sunset?" To die for. The *only* thing you need to know is: Don’t be shy about asking for a double. Or a triple. (Just kidding… mostly.) They make a mean Mojito which can be dangerous, believe me. I still dream of those cocktails. Truly a tragedy would be a bad cocktail in Aruba.
The activities! I'm not a "sit on the beach all day" person. What else is there to do? (Besides, you know, over-imbibing…)
Okay, so you want to *do* stuff? Excellent! They have a ton. Kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling… the usual suspects. I'd suggest the snorkeling. The water clarity is incredible. Seriously, so clear you can see the little fishies flitting about – made me feel like a Disney princess! I saw a little seahorse! I may or may not have squealed. (Don't judge me.)
Also, the windsurfing! Apparently Aruba is a windsurfing mecca. I tried it. Let's just say I spent more time *in* the water than *on* the board. It was hilarious. Carol, of course, was a natural. (I suspected she’d taken lessons, but she vehemently denied it.) Highly entertaining for the onlookers, that's for sure. So, yes, plenty to keep you busy, whether you’re a water baby or a clumsy landlubber, like yours truly.
Are kids welcome at this resort? (and will I be bombarded with them, or is there a good mix of ages?)
Yes, kids *are* welcome. It's a family-friendly place, but I didn't feel *overwhelmed*. There were a few zones where the little ones seemed to congregate -- definitely near the pools. I'm not a kid person, so I sort of avoided those areas. The beach is big enough that you can find your own space.
And here's a story for you: Remember those hyperactive kids I mentioned? Okay, picture this: I'm attempting to read my book (a trashy beach read, of course - no judging!) when *wham!* a rogue soccer ball nearly takes me out. I look up, and there's a pack of kids, eyes gleaming with mischief. I glared at them, but then, one of them, a little boy with sun-kissed hair, comes over, all apologetic, and says, "Sorry, ma'am! You look really…relaxed." I couldn't help but laugh. So, yeah. Kids, but not *too* many kids. You can find your bliss if you look carefully enough.
What should I *absolutely* pack to guarantee an amazing trip? (Besides, you know, a bathing suit…)
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