Divi Aruba All Inclusive Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Aruba

The "disco"

Along with the Phoenix, Dutch, Tamarijn, and Village, the Divi Aruba is one of five Divi resorts that dot the island's west coast. It's located 15 minutes away from the hopping scene in Oranjestad and the High-Rise complex, where most resorts are located.

Many guests either own time-shares or return every year for all-inclusive indulgence -- lounging by the pool, eating too many oven-baked pizzas at the Coco Grill and Bar, and relaxing in the quietude of the Divi's detached bungalows.

A series of one- to three-story structures lines the grounds. None have elevators, or much lighting along the walkways that connect the buildings. My room on the third floor is just a short walk from the open-air lobby. But other rooms are much farther from the reception area and the resort's pool, bars, and restaurants.

During my stay, families, young couples, and retirees were represented equally. The variety made for a large crowd -- the lobby and pool were bustling all day and late into the night. The open-air lobby was the center of activity. Guests sprawled on the patio furniture and watched reruns of ESPN broadcasts. The front desk staff, decked out in floral orange button-downs and tight black slacks, handily managed guests' many questions. One desk clerk, at the Divi on a hospitality training program, checked in new arrivals and programmed room keys like a seasoned vet. The Divi Aruba is a heavily Dutch getaway, with many time-share holders hailing from Holland. Those who weren't Dutch came primarily from the American Northeast.

At night, the beach was lit in phosphorescent purple. More than 20 guests took a samba lesson by the pool. A DJ spun 1990s hip-hop, classic rock and love ballads late at night. Couples danced in the rain to Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You." An older gentleman in cut-off jean shorts tapped his feet in half-time when the DJ obliged his request for "Old Time Rock and Roll."

The desk staff

Reception gave me a free Divi tote upon check-in, filled with hotel information. A bellman carried my luggage up three flights of stairs to room 7304. I kept the "privacy please" sign hanging on my door, but was pleased when housekeeping called to make sure I didn't need anything. Housekeepers and other staff patrol the grounds pretty regularly by day.

Service at the Coco Grill is quick and friendly, as it is at all the restaurants. Waiters at the Red Parrot Restaurant work quickly -- I was actually surprised at the speed with which my food arrived. The bellman was extremely chatty -- he gave poker tips ("never fold a low pair") and love advice ("always go for it"). He flagged down shuttles when I needed to get to the Tamarijn and taxis when I had an appointment downtown.

View on a Larger Map

The Divi Aruba is at one extreme end of the Divi complex. It fronts a wide beach and sits next to the sizable Alhambra Casino (and a Dunkin' Donuts). The alternative restaurants and activities at the Divi Village and Tamarijn resorts are within walking distance. All four Divis on the complex are close to the water, but some are across a small road. The Divi Aruba is directly on the beach, with a wider swath of sand than the other resorts on the complex.

Downtown Oranjestad and the High-Rise shopping complex are short cab rides away (15 and 5 minutes, respectively), but most guests stay at the resort. Between all the Divi resorts, there are bountiful food and activity options. With a shuttle service connecting the properties and guests liberally using the facilities at each one, the Divi complex is practically a city unto itself.

The beach

The Divi Aruba's beach is wider and has more open space -- less cabanas and umbrellas -- than the beaches closer to the High-Rise complex on the eastern end of the island, like the Riu, Westin, and Hyatt resorts.

Some guests lounge on the grass outside their bungalows, where they have private cabanas just feet from the sand. Beach chairs, however, are not in great supply. They're first-come, first-serve.

The glass-clear aqua water is a great fit for small children. The shallow water retains its warmth at night, when I enjoyed a Balashi beer with the water rolling over my feet.

The sand is wonderful -- pillow soft and clean. It even manages to stay cool under the beating sun. But the beach is naturally rocky and fairly narrow. The soft-sand deposits are trucked in to extend the beach beyond its natural boundary, but it still isn't as wide as the broader beaches by the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, the Radisson, the Westin, the Occidental,and neighboring hotels.

The outdoor Sandpiper Beach Bar serves drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches on the beach's rear border, with a full view of the sand and water.

Water sports are also part of the all-inclusive package. Guests can snorkel, kayak, windsurf, and sunfish, although the attendant on duty during my visit didn't make the experience appealing. He yelled at me for accidentally approaching the wrong entrance to his booth, and turned his back when I started talking. When I excused myself to make a phone call, he rolled his eyes and started bad-mouthing me to his coworkers.

The Ocean View Room

The average-size room where I stayed is unspectacular -- it wasn't fancy, but it wasn't dirty. My king-size bed is comfortable, although the bright, multicolored bedspread would not have been my first pick. Since our visit, the decor has been updated with new bedding and furniture. The outdoor walkways that lead to the room aren't inspiring, but also aren't revolting.

However, the stink of cigarettes is everywhere -- in the air, in the bathroom, and on the sheets. All rooms are effectively smoking rooms.

My plus-size balcony would be spectacular if it weren't overrun by mosquitoes (abundant in December). From its small table and chairs, I could see past a thatch of palms and straight to the sun setting over the beach. Sadly, I could only sit out for half an hour before the bugs sent me back inside, where a citronella candle kept me insect-free. My room had a medium-size tube tv next to the desk but now all rooms have flat-screens TVs.

The bathroom is actually two separate spaces: The first holds two sinks and a spacious closet, and the second houses the shower and toilet. For some reason, there is nowhere to hang a towel in the shower room. I ended up dripping water back into the first room before drying off. Bathrooms are undergoing renovations so they will look similar to those at the Tamarijn.

The tennis courts

Golf cart shuttles make stops at the other three resorts on the complexwere, including hotels, beaches, and the casino. Since Divi facilities are part of the same all-inclusive package, each stop is another opportunity for different food and drink.

The pristine pool is a stone's throw from the lobby. During my stay, there weren't enough umbrellas, so guests crowded under the few canopies erected around the pool. The Pelican pool bar serves daily specialty drinks.

The fitness center, staffed by Aruba's premiere female bodybuilder (I'm not kidding), has a basic assortment of treadmills, stationary bikes, and free weights. More impressive is a speaker system that played Creedence Clearwater Revival, Beyoncé, and Sean Paul.

The casino

Honeymooners and hotel employees crowded the casino's large gaming floor at night. The casino is open from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. and the tables get going at 6 p.m. At 11:15 a.m., when I visited, all was quiet save the smokers sitting at the slots, no doubt gearing up for daily 1 p.m. bingo.

Inside the casino there's an empty restaurant with [[four flat-screen TVs] around the bend from the numerous slot machines.

The nine-hole golf course at the Divi Village property is one of the few amenities not covered by the all-inclusive package.

My room stank of cigarettes -- every room is effectively a smoking room. The stench was evident as soon as I opened the door, and even permeated the bathroom. I resorted to airing out my clothes on the balcony and sleeping with the balcony door cracked open.

The room was clean, except for one small bug I found on a pillow, which I probably let in from the balcony. The bathroom, though it didn't shine, was suitably maintained. The lobby is the hotel's busiest area, and also the cleanest. The outdoor walkways were a bit grimy, but that is to be expected.

An appetizer at Red Parrot

Pizza, paninis, and baguettes are available from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. at the Coco Grill, about 20 feet past the lobby. The Coco Grill also offers popcorn, self-serve ice cream, and coffee. And, of course, lots of alcohol, with different specialty drinks each day.

The on-site restaurants, Red Parrot and Pelican Terrace, are mediocre. Furthermore, the food comes out of the kitchen suspiciously fast.

The Tamarijn sister resort (its restaurants are also included in the all-inclusive package) offers the same round-the-clock pizza and paninis, as well as a robust lunch buffet that easily outclasses the Divi Aruba's options.