Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Aruba

Guests board the resort shuttle

Aruba used to be a Dutch colony, and the Tamarijn feels like the last Dutch foothold on the island. Agewise, the clientele was overwhelmingly 30+, but I saw plenty of children and teens running amok on this huge property.

Everyone I met was perfectly friendly -- the receptionist was helpful, the waiters were gracious, and the shopkeepers offered fashion advice.

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The Tamarijn alone is big, but it's only one part of the ginormous Divi complex, which includes its sister resorts the Divi Aruba, Divi Village, and Divi Dutch resorts. There are also two time-shares -- the Divi Village and the Divi Dutch -- not to mention the Links Golf Course and Alhamra Casino. It takes about 10 minutes and a comfortable pair of sneakers just to walk the length of the Tamarijn -- the two-page map I was given at check-in came in handy. So if you're carrying bags -- or headed to the golf course or casino -- you might want to take the free shuttle that circles the entire Divi complex every 20 minutes or so.

Apart from the sister properties, though, there really isn't much around. Oranjestad is at least 15 minutes away, so you're going to be dependent on the Tamarijn's restaurants, bars, and cafés. Thankfully, the mandatory all-inclusive pass gives you lots of options, including the "high-end" restaurants on the property.

The beach

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

Unlike at other beaches, there aren't too many tourists milling around. There were no water-sports 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 most guests were more intent on building up their tans.

Deluxe Ocean Front Room

As visitors on TripAdvisor have noted, the Tamarijn is "adequate" but certainly not five-star. But what the guest rooms lack in style, they make up for by being only a couple of yards from the ocean. Plus, rooms were updated in fall 2009 and now feature contemporary decor and Wi-Fi (for a fee).

The Tamarijn's two-story townhouses stretch out in a long row lining the beach. Since all the rooms are the same size and have practically the same layout, the only deciding factor is location. Get one close to the entrance if you want to be right by the bars, restaurants, pool, and shopping center. But if you prefer peace of mind -- and don't mind walking -- ask for a room further down the beach, where all you'll ever hear is the ocean. Rooms on the first floor mean that the lawn and the ocean are on your doorstep.

My second-floor room was large, bright, and situated at the end of Tamarijn's townhouses. With a large wardrobe and a nook for coats and suitcases, there was plenty of room for storage.

The bed wasn't anything to write home about. But again, the room's proximity to the ocean changes everything -- the waves outside put me right to sleep!

The small, dark bathroom got the job done, though I would have appreciated better toiletries than a pump dispenser mounted to the wall. However, bathrooms were renovated in 2011 and are sleeker and more elegant.

The 24-inch Sanyo TV was crystal clear and had more than 30 channels, from Fox News to HBO. Apart from the TV, Wi-Fi (for a fee) and a mini-fridge, there really wasn't much else in the room.

The arcade

The guest rooms run the length of the Tamarijn's long, narrow beach along a boardwalk. A walk from one end to the other takes 10 to 15 minutes, and the path isn't well lit at night. Still, I felt perfectly safe on the gated property.

The medium-size pool by the lobby is in great condition, and in a great location. Hungry? Swim over to Pizza per Tutti at the far end. Thirsty? Paddle the other way to Coconuts bar.

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 the on-site instructor, Sharine Ignacio. She placed first in the Central American Female Bodybuilding Competition 2008 and is a three-time winner of the national title. For outdoor exercise, the Tamarijn has two extraordinarily run-down tennis courts lighted for night play, beach volleyball, loaner bikes, and a rock climbing wall on the beach.

The game room has 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 also an Internet cafe nearby, with a decent connection speed at an indecent $2.50 charge for every five minutes. That's the highest rate in Aruba!

For souvenirs, you're in luck! A row of shops right by the lobby has everything 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 interesting 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.

Guests have access to the Divi Aruba's spa and salon, which offers facials, waxing services, massages, and yoga classes (once a week).

Families with young kids will love the children's activity center, but be warned -- at least three kids have to be signed up in advance before the hotel will open the center. Call the hotel for more details on programs and activities.

Down the road from the Tamarijn and around the corner form the Divi Village is Links, a splendid nine-hole golf course. You can get there fairly easily by foot.

the casino

You'll need to use the complimentary shuttle to get to the Alhambra Casino, about half a mile from the resort.

Honeymooners and hotel employees crowded the casino's large gaming floor at night. The casino was open from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m., and the tables got going at about 6 p.m. All was quiet at 11:15 in the morning save the smokers sitting at the slots, no doubt gearing up for daily 1 p.m. bingo.

Inside the casino, an empty restaurant with four flat-screen TVs set up shop around the bend from the numerous slot machines.

The cleaning lady knocked on my door every morning to give me fresh towels, sweep my room, and make the bed. The only dirt I saw was the sand I tracked in, and I take full responsibility for that!

Bunker Bar

The Tamarijn provides a range of cusines and dress codes with the nine restaurants in the Divi complex.

For a casual, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy your post-beach eating, you can head over to the buffet at Cunucu Terrace, the resort's de facto dining hall, which serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Like at Pizza per Tutti on the opposite end of the pool, you won't need to reserve a table in advance.

Hibachi enthusiasts at Palm Grill survey the crowd from 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. Here, you will need to reserve the table beforehand.

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

A plus of staying at an all-inclusive resort is the unlimited drinks--at both the poolside Coconuts and the Bunker Bar, an outpost halfway down the boardwalk and perched right above the ocean.

Staying at the Tamarijn also grants you full access to the restaurants at the Divi Aruba. Check our page on the Tamarijn's sister hotel for more information.