Voyager Guru I made a reservation for the all inclusive package for holiday inn for July...have you been?

I have not been to Aruba but I do want too. Sooner than later lol. 😁

How did you like the holiday inn?

Hey there! Thanks for your comment. We have not stayed at the holiday inn - but it’s on the same beach. It’s a beautiful location. We did walk through the hotel - the pool is right on the beach and looks nice. The location is central so lots of restaurants and shops right outside. Let us know if you have any questions!

@@VoyagerGuru yes what is your favorite hotel in Aruba

You are so sweet!! Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️

hehe :)

Hey there! Thanks for your comment! That’s fantastic to hear!! I am hopeful to hear that the food may have improved after a few years. The beach there is so fantastic I can’t wait to go back to aruba

@@VoyagerGuru in the years that we have been staying there, we have never had a problem with the food. We aren’t expecting 5 star food, but we have no complaints about it😊

@@funnygal4u2 that’s amazing! So glad to hear that :) thanks for letting us know! Our viewers love updated feedback

Hey! thanks so much for your comment :)! We loved the Stellaris- so new and modern feeling. The barcelo royal level was great- remember to walk straight through the lobby to the elevators for check in instead of waiting in the line by accident like we did, lol. Let us know your thoughts afterwards- we're super curious to see how it compares!

Hey Elena! Thanks for your comment - that’s fantastic to hear!! So glad you had a good time 👏🏻

Thank you very much!!

Thanks so much for reaching out! We have not been back but accordingly to some recent reports, it does not appear to have changed too much in the last few years. The beach is gorgeous, though!

Oh nice!! Where did you stay??

Thanks so much!! Oh man, you can't go wrong with either destination, honestly!! Aruba in July sounds perfect. Let me know if you need any tips! xx

@@VoyagerGuru Will do! Saw your other Aruba videos and decision made! ✔ Thanks a million

Oh my gosh how fun!!! I hope you have a safe and amazing trip. Let us know how you like it :)

Thanks so much!

Hey Diana! Thanks for your comment- totally agree. We liked the lunch offering at the club lounge, loved that pita wrap. The service was wonderful too - glad you enjoyed!!

Hey Aiden! Thanks for your comment- have an amazing time! Let us know how it is :)

Oh no kidding! I love learning the history of hotels :). Wow brick oven pizza sounds so good - wish they still had that!!

@@VoyagerGuru I believe everything closes (food wise) around 11pm except the bar on the second floor and they had a staff near the pool making personal pies to snack on while having a few drinks.

Hi there! Thanks so much for your comment - correct, that’s the case for most all inclusives - you can order anything you want any time :)

Hi Lenora! Thanks for reaching out! We have not been back, however, based on some of the other comments on this video and people who reached out, the food has improved a bit, it seems! It appears that it is hit or miss but may be a bit better than when we were there. I have heard that the restaurant for the club level still has the best food. There are not a lot of great all inclusive options in aruba and this is one of the better ones in terms of location and access to the beach and all its amenities. There are also some great little beach bars and restaurants if you want to venture out as well. I hope this helps!

❤️❤️

Hey San! Thanks for your comment! This is definitely a great spot for families - the pool is fun, all inclusive is definitely helpful when traveling with kids of all ages since they can run around and eat and drink without you worrying about the bill. The beach is really long and the water is calm so also great for kids. We saw many families when we went. Not too sure about the kids club itself, but it didn’t look like the kids were bored. I know for sure that the Marriott has TONS of families as well, but it’s not all inclusive and that can definitely be a stressor you don’t need on vacation. You can’t go wrong! Feel free to reach out with any questions! By the way, highly recommend the UTV tour around the island - it was the highlight of our trips to Aruba

Voyager Guru yea we definitely are doing an all inclusive route. Our main things is the activities for the kids and good food and drinks. We’ve also been looking at Jamaica but I’m kind of liking Aruba

San Frantana honestly Aruba is amazing - the water the beach- incredible. You will love it! And the people are so genuinely nice there, there’s a reason they call it one happy island 🌴

Hi Scott! Thanks for reaching out. I just checked out their TripAdvisor and unfortunately it doesn’t appear that the food is any better. However, there are a lot of amazing restaurants in the area that you can explore if you do end up booking here :)

Thank you so much, Crystal!!

@@VoyagerGuru You're very welcome!!! 😀

Thanks so much!!! Appreciate it!! I think you’re making a great decision - let me know how it is!

Hey there! Thanks for your comment. At the time, none of the food was good, it was just generally bad across the board which was a bummer. It sounds like things have improved marginally from the new comments we’ve gotten in the last few years. The good news is, there are lots of great restaurants nearby :) I will say the club level was ok when we were there. They had decent food and the service was great

Thanks so much for your comment!

Hey James- oh how funny! I think now, the tower to the left (facing the beach) is part of a timeshare, but the right hand side is the hotel side. The top few floors are a club level with nice views.

@@VoyagerGuru Hi Max, We visited Aruba again in 2016, this time we stayed at the RIU Palace just along the beach.. Keep the reviews coming, be great if you could wangle enough time at the Cap Juluca in Anguilla as the wife and I are looking to visit there… (that’s after I’ve sold my soul to pay for it 😂 be lucky buddy and be sure to take care. 🥂

That sounds awesome! How was the Riu?? Also thanks so much :) we sure will! And LOL!!! I would love to stay at cap juluca!! My parents stayed back in 2012- they loved it

Thanks Jonathan! Appreciate it! Have you been to the hotel?

I have not been here but am considering this one as well as the Marriott for a family trip.

Thank you so much!! Our talking heads and most footage is shot on a Sony a7iii - the drone stuff is a mavic pro 🙌🏻🙌🏻. We haven’t stayed at the Riu, but it is next door - it is MASSIVE. They definitely have more food options, but I’ve heard the quality is about the same. I prefer a smaller property typically than the Riu but the beach area looks beautiful and they have tons of activities

Voyager Guru I appreciate the quick response, we are now looking at the Marriott since most people‘s feedback is not great about the all inclusive

Omg we loved the Marriott stellaris! (We have a review from there) the food is fabulous, as are the rooms. Every room is slanted outwards towards the ocean which is great for new construction. You can also go to any restaurants which is a nice perk. There are some wonderful little spots on the beach

@@1LifeTheory what is not great? Which resort?

It's absolutely stunning! Totally agree that it's a bummer. My hope is that they are able to adjust that since everything else is genuinely awesome. I'd be curious to go back and test it out again post-COVID :).

Haha! In our experience, it’s very common for service or food and beverage to go totally wrong when there’s a big change in management. Sometimes, for example, a hotel will get a new GM and there are terrible growing pains. Based on all the return guests they had who said the food used to be amazing, I’m guessing it has to do with some external factors like that since it wasn’t always horrible. I’d be curious to return and find out :)

Hi Debbie! Thanks for your comment!! The royal level is a room type so when you look at the available rooms, you’ll see anything with access to the club says “royal level”. Just scroll down past the standard rooms :) hope this helps!

Yea it’s a great hotel but the food was not their strong suit 😂. There are a lot of great restaurants near by

Hey Jack! Thanks for reaching out! We wish you a wonderful trip. With the all inclusive, all the drinks are included and you do not need to pay for anything :). If you want to drink specialty liquors, you will need to purchase them but otherwise, all the drinks are included free! Also, your food is included as well. Usually the minibar is not included so I would double check before indulging. I hope this helps! Let us know any questions you have!

@@VoyagerGuru Thank You so much that clears so much ! I appreciate it and can’t wait to go back it’s my second time but first to all inclusive!

Thanks Eric! The royal level is about 80-100ish more per night from the very base level standard room. It seems to change and vary a lot, but it does add that additional 100 bucks or so. They do have their own section on the beach so that’s a big perk in a place where people reserve them at 5am 🤣

Hi Christopher, totally get it! At this point, we are hosted 99% of the places we go- we try to provide the most honest review. Our goal, and hotels are aware of this, is to provide travelers with the most real experience they will have. It only helps the hotel to set proper expectations at the end of the day 🤷🏼‍♀️. Check the comments, many travelers have similar sentiments. If you have any questions, let us know! We’re always happy to be brutally honest 😉

Hi there! The royal level is a room type that does cost extra. It is essentially a club level room with access to the lounge on the top floor for meals as well as additional services. We really liked the club level! In regards to entertainment, they did have some nightly entertainment in the lobby. They do have some live music a few evenings per week :).

Hey Kae! Thanks for your comment! The barcelo has a prime location on the beach and the water is absolutely spectacular. In terms of the food, I hope they've made changes in that department, because otherwise, we really enjoyed our experience on property. You can walk to a number of amazing restaurants right in the sand and we looove the area. let us know if you have any other questions!

Hey Meghan and Quincy! Aruba is considered one of the safest Caribbean islands and we really felt that way when we went both times! I can’t say the same for some of the neighboring islands like Curaçao, but we loved Aruba. Of course, be cautious as we recommend in any new place, but I think you’ll find that Aruba is very safe :). Are you planning a trip?

Hey! It’s a beautiful location for sure. With the food, I would recommend reading recent TripAdvisor reviews to see if anything has changed. We stayed there in 2019 so it’s possible things have leveled out

Hey there! Thanks so much for your comment :). We were at the Barcelo in October, but rest assured the weather is pretty much the same every day of the year - 85 and sunny!! Regarding the activities, they do offer snorkeling gear and non-motorized water sports for free on property so you can go and "rent" a kayak, sailboat or snorkel gear to explore the area. The water is calm and inviting so you should be just fine to explore on your own.

@@VoyagerGuru thank you for responding. I was thinking more about the amount of people in January due to Carnival events.

Hey Ann! Ohhh I got you - so looks like January will be quite busy! I’m guessing the hotels will be more expensive and there will be lots of noise and parties on the beach. If you’re looking for a quiet stay, I don’t think you’ll find it there (likely only Ritz Carlton or Hyatt regency will be on the quiet side). Although, I’m not entirely sure how busy it will be given covid so my guess is it’ll be a little quieter than years past

Gracias para su comentario y disculpa Yolanda! Eso es una de los primeras videos que creamos. Estamos viajado ahora, pero vamos a adicionar un traducción en español lo más más pronto possible.

Hi there! thanks for your comment :). We were there through the hotel directly photographing the property so it was direct. They usually offer good deals through their website so highly recommend checking out their offers page :)

@@VoyagerGuru Thanks planning a trip in March just wanna kno the best way

@@countwalker9362 If you're interested in some rate comparisons, feel free to email us at team@voyagerguru.com or DM us on instagram. We have access to some pretty competitive rates and perks!

Hey there! Thanks for your comment! That’s correct, it used to be the occidental - it’s now still in the same brand but the hotel itself is rebranded to Barcelo :)

@@VoyagerGuru Thanks for your swift and informative reply. We've been to Aruba nine or ten times. It's the best! But the last time I ventured into the Barcelo's grounds, they threw me out for simply looking around. When it was the Occidental, however, the treatment was very different: they were eager to sell me a time-sharing. Happy traveling...Robert.

Wow 9 or 10 times?? That’s amazing!!! Good for you guys :). Also that’s a bummer - I hate when that happens. It’s like I’m just trying to decide if I want to stay here next time helloooooo. Anyway, safe travels!!

Hi Barbara, we typically do not include pricing as it changes dramatically from season to season and year to year however the best prices will be in off season during the summer and fall months. The best place to search is on the Barceló Aruba website and trivago.com :)