Divi Village Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Aruba

The Divi Village is part timeshare, part hotel, and part of the humungous Divi development, which includes resorts like the neighboring Tamarijn and other timeshares like the nearby Divi Dutch Village. The Divi Village's main patrons are retired European and American couples who stay for two and three weeks at a time. Though the timeshare offers very little besides guest rooms and a pool, you can hop over to the multiple restaurants and facilities at the Tamarijn and Divi Aruba for more to do, and something to eat.

The Divi Village doesn't even have a reception desk. Instead, you'll have to check in at the Divi Dutch Village, a larger timeshare a block down and on the other side of the street. A free shuttle service was supposed to pick me up from there and take me over to my room at the Divi Dutch, but after waiting 20 minutes, I decided to lug my bags across the road. Guess the warnings on TripAdvisor were right!

Later, when I called reception to ask for towels, I was told to go find housekeeping. Upon further inquiry, the receptionist relented and said he'd send towels to my room. They turned up over an hour later, which was not the case at most Aruba hotels.

Drinks service is available at the pool bar, which shares access with the Tamarijn all-inclusive resort. I ordered some drinks, but when the waitress spotted that I was a Divi Dutch guest and didn't have the all-inclusive pass, she threw a fit because she'd have to fill out a form to charge the tab to my room. It was pretty obnoxious.

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The Divi Village is sandwiched between the Tamarijn and the main road. A gated fence separates it from the Tamarijn. Walk right through and you'll find yourself on the resort's beach. Walk down the boardwalk to the Divi Aruba, another all-inclusive resort.

But apart from its sister properties, there really isn't anyting around. Oranjestad, with its many bars, restaurants, and stores, is at least 20 to 30 minutes away, so you're going to be dependent on the Tamrijn and Divi Aruba restaurants, bars, and cafés for most meals. Remember that you'll have to charge expenses to your room at the Divi Village, unlike the guests at these neighboring resorts who have all-inclusive passes. These fees can add up quick!

Walk past the pool to the Tamarijn to get to the beach, which is a 10- to 15-minute walk from one end to the other. The boardwalk isn't well lit at night, and I only saw one security guard doing the rounds. Still, I felt perfectly safe.

The beach itself is naturally rocky, and the hotel does its best to cover this up. Trucks bearing fresh sand came rumbling by my room to replace the layer that had been washed away. It worked, but it still looked like they were -- quite literally -- throwing money into the ocean.

Unlike other beaches, it doesn't have too many tourists milling around, and absolutely no watersports kiosks or vendors. This climbing rock and the nearby volleyball net are the only two activities you'll see. If you'd like to rent a boat, you could head over to Divi Wind Sports Center, but if you're like most of the guests here, you're probably more intent on building up a tan.

Just like at the Tamarijn, guest rooms at the Divi Village are distributed in various combinations in a series of two-story villas. The hallways and staircases to these buildings are only partially enclosed, to make the most of this tropical paradise.

My large Studio Suite was packed with a full kitchen, a large bathroom, and a pull-out couch, perfect for vacationing families or groups of friends. It definitely had a lot of potential but looked worn and fairly tacky. The walls needed another coat of paint, the furniture was outdated, and the fake flowers swimming in tony vases looked more cheap than charming.

The king-size bed was huge and comfortable, though the linens were very basic. Still, they were enough to keep out the chill from the air conditioner, which kept the room reasonably cool.

The bathroom was very large and featured a generously sized walk-in closet. But both the mounted soap dispensers on the wall and the primo view of the street outside failed to charm. The shower, the toilet, and all the faucets worked perfectly, though.

The kitchen comes equipped with a sink, a four-top gas stove, a microwave, a toaster,a coffee maker, and a pantry filled with bowls, plates, pots, and pans. The setup is ideal for groups or people traveling with small kids, but you're going to have to rent a car to get to the nearest grocer's.

Apart from a medium-size pool and a bar, the Divi Village doesn't have any facilities. Its neighbors, the Tamarijn and the Divi Aruba, more than make up for this. The Tamarijn is the closest, as it's right across the street, so most guests would find it more convenient to use it's facilities. But remember, while the guests at those resorts usually have all-inclusive passes, you'll have to charge everything to your room.

There's a lot the Tamarijn has to offer. The gym is right by the Divi Wind Sports Center and has a good collection of cardio and weight-training machines. And you can always ask advice from instructor Sharine Ignacio, who placed first in the Central American Female Bodybuilding Competition 2008 and is a three-time winner of the national title.

If exercise outdoors is more your thing, the Tamarijn has two extraordinarily run-down tennis courts by the entrance. It also has a pool by its lobby that's in far better condition than its tennis courts, and much better located, but is significantly smaller than the Divi's. Hungry? Swim over to Pizza per Tutti at the far end. Thirsty? Paddle over the other way to Coconuts bar.

If you're more of an indoors person, The Tamarijn also has a game room with plenty of arcade games. Just be sure to carry a bunch of quarters on your way over -- the front desk isn't authorized to give out more than $2 in change at a time! There's an Internet cafe nearby, with a decent connection speed at an indecent $2.50 charge for every five minutes! Families with young kids will love the children's activity center, but be warned -- at least three kids must be signed up in advance for the hotel to open the center. Call the hotel for more details on programs and activities.

And if you're looking for souvenirs on your way out, you're in luck! A row of shops right by the lobby ranges from basic toiletries to kitschy clothing and jewelry. Most stores sell the type of trinkets you could pick up anywhere in Aruba -- or the U.S., for that matter -- but I found some relatively quirky gifts at Coco Sol. If you're still unsatisfied, check out the mid-afternoon handicrafts sale around the pool, where local artisans come in to show off their wares.

The Divi complex's final two attractions aren't even on the property. Down the road from the Tamarijn and around the corner from the Divi Village is Links, a splendid nine-hole golf course. You can get there fairly easily by foot, but you'll need to use the complimentary shuttle to get to the Alhambra Casino, about half a mile further down the road. As noted in our review of the Divi Aruba, the casino is a bit of a letdown. It's huge, but the inside is pretty empty, despite its large gaming floor and Aladdin exterior.

There are no restaurants at the Divi Village, so you'll be dependent on the Tamarijn and the Divi Aruba. Again, remember that you'll have to charge everything to your room as you won't have an all-inclusive pass like the resort's regular guests.

Head over to the buffet at Cunucu Terrace, the resort's de facto dining hall serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As with Pizza per Tutti on the opposite end of the pool, you won't need to reserve a table in advance.

Hibachi enthusiasts survey the crowd at Palm Grill. On a platform hovering over Cunucu Terrace, a chef will slice, dice, and sear a barbecue for you on a hibachi stove in the center of your table! You'll need to reserve that table beforehand.

You'll also have to get a reservation at Ginger. Of all the eateries on the property, this Asian-inspired restaurant serves the best food and has the most romantic ambience.