Divi Aruba All Inclusive

Kimberly at the front desk made our honeymoon easier by arranging dinner reservations. Book ahead, since we saw people turned away. We loved the meals at the Divi and Tamarijn restaurants, including Red Parrot, Pure Lime, Ginger and Paparazzi. The beach was beautiful and the resort was clean. We stayed in an oceanfront junior suite, with a great view and location, though the bed and pillows weren’t especially comfortable. My husband and I would definitely recommend the Divi.

The one thing that really bothered me was the nighttime security check. We were on the ground floor, and two men came to our back door and tried it. They worked there, but it felt sketchy. The front desk said that if the door is unlocked, staff go in, lock it, and leave through the front. I didn’t like that. The rooms were a little tight for two adults and two kids, but otherwise this trip felt like a dream. Our kids love Aruba, and we’ll be excited to come back. Bring sunscreen, the sun is strong. We travel a lot with our children, and of all the bucket-list islands still on our list, this is the one we’ll return to as a family. The beach was the best I’ve been to, with waves that were fun for the kids and relaxing for adults. The mostly renovated resort felt new, and the pools were well kept and fun. The food was great. The buffet had lots of options, and it was fun watching my eight-year-old order her own omelet. Coffee was the weak spot, since the machine was slow. Lunch and dinner were on par with places I’ve stayed elsewhere. Pool-bar lunches were a hit with the kids, especially the sandwiches and personal pizzas, and service there was great. The bars were well placed, with professional bartenders and a fun vacation vibe. We also loved the restaurants at the Tam, though our family can’t pick a favorite. Make reservations two days ahead. The kids enjoyed the nightly entertainment too.

The wedding venue by the beach near Sandpiper was lovely, with great service and much better food than the resort restaurants. That was a real highlight. We stayed six nights for a family wedding with a group of about 60, and this was our first all-inclusive trip after visiting Aruba three times. Overall, Divi didn’t meet expectations. On our last night, the whole group went elsewhere for better food, cocktails, and atmosphere. The beach was one of the best parts: smaller, easy to reach from the rooms, less crowded than Palm Beach, and with free palapas. The water is rougher but still beautiful and enjoyable. Check-in was smooth, and our ocean-view room in Vista 2 had an incredible view. Staff were friendly, though service varied. The rooms are basic and very noisy. You hear doors, hallway conversations, and other sounds as if they’re in your room. The sheets and towels were changed, but floors didn’t seem to get properly cleaned. There were big puddles in hallways and stained flooring around the property. The towels were thin, rough, and very worn. Some first-floor rooms smelled of sewage. The beds were uncomfortable, TV channels often didn’t work, and the in-room technology and programming need an upgrade. Breakfast and lunch buffets were okay but forgettable. Dinner at Ginger and Paparazzi was bland and disappointing, below even basic chain restaurant quality. The bartenders were friendly, but there was no canned or bottled beer or seltzer, the wine was poor, and many guests thought the alcohol tasted watered down or weak. The Sea Turtles Kids Club was underwhelming and poorly programmed for the cost. A four-year-old costs about $150 extra per day. The pools are basic, with no slides, splash areas, or other kid amenities you’d expect at an all-inclusive. The beach and friendly staff were good, but the food and drinks, cleanliness, noise, kids’ facilities, room comfort, and value left us disappointed. For us, it was a 2.5-star stay.

We came on a friend’s recommendation, but the place wasn’t what we expected. Service was awful. There was one person serving drinks at the main pool, and they’d disappear for a long time, so you had to get your own. The room fridge wasn’t stocked, not even with water, and the air conditioning didn’t work. Maintenance came at 11 at night while we were already asleep. The resort was so boring. All the restaurants were booked, so we couldn’t get a reservation and had to eat at the buffet. There wasn’t even a foot-washing fountain by the beach. I was here for my anniversary and tried to get a refund for the remaining days, but they wanted to charge me for half of them. There’s no outdoor hot tub either. We’d stayed at the Renaissance before, which was much better. Divi All Inclusive wasn’t worth the money or time. You can have a better vacation somewhere that appreciates you as a customer.