Vacation Rentals by Owner

30th Anniversary in ARUBA

Guest: Shopper Shirl (Amherstburg, ON)
Date of Stay: 12/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/21/11

On Dec 11th, we celebrated our 30th anniversary. This was our first visit to Aruba so we had lots to discover. Our accommodations were excellent ~ beautifully furnished, spotless and everything you could wish for was provided. The gounds were a showpiece and the view from our balcony across the beach and ocean was breathtaking. They even arranged to have up picked up at the airport and we adopted Hubert (taxi 83) for the remainder of our stay. We have travelled extensively and never received such excellent service. There is a great choice of places to dine, you can have fun at several casinos, shop or just sit back and relax. We did a little of everything. Returning to our cold Canadian weather was the only part we didn't really enjoy !!

Owner response:We are happy that we were able to make a positive contribution to the celebration of your 30th anniversary! And I'll also pass on your great comments to Hubert, our favorite taxi driver in Aruba; he'll certainly appreciate it! We hope you had a nice flight back to Canada, and look forward to seeing you back in Aruba one day! Thank you for your wonderful review. Rachel

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Beautiful Property with Many Small Oversights

Guest: SueLovesTheBeach (Altoona PA)
Date of Stay: 02/27/11 Review Submitted: 03/09/11

This condo is located in a beautiful complex, and the unit itself has very nice furnishing. But, many small things are overlooked. The unit did not have beach chairs or beach towels when we arrived, which is very odd for a condo located on the beach. They were delivered the next day, but the chairs were too heavy to carry across the street to the beach, and the towels were well used, actually pretty much worn out. There were no blankets on or for the beds, and with air conditioning set at 73 to suit everyone, just sheets and bedspreads that probably haven't been washed aren't good enough. There are three teaspoons in the kitchen and two serving spoons only. The toaster is very old and frightening. The doorbell chimed periodically until we unplugged it. The Internet connection is very sporadic at best. We were told to sign on to another unit's in the building or to go to the business office. So, the free Internet works once in awhile. Everything in the unit is very sparse: one roll of paper towels, one extra roll of toilet paper in the bathrooms, no napkins, no Kleenx, no basics like salt or mustard, etc... The reality company did not call us all week to check on whether or not we needed anything. So, rent another unit in this complex from an individual on vrbo as we have done before, and you will be happier.

Owner response:Thank you for this review of your experience of staying in one of our units, and rest assured that your points are well taken as part of our commitment to constantly improve the services that we provide to our guests. Prestige Realty has grown relatively fast during the last 4 years; at Oceania resort alone, from 1 condo since late 2007 up to more than 25 condos as of the moment of this review. This relatively fast growth is a result of the professional and customer oriented service that we provide to guests and condo owners alike; the high quantity of very good guest reviews (e.g. on this as well as on many other websites) can also attest for that. By this means we therefore sincerely apologize if you feel that our services did not measure up to your expectations. In response to the “small oversights” that you have encountered, we can inform you as follows: 1. We have taken all necessary measures to avoid that certain items like beach chairs are misplaced by previous guests. 2. Items tend to get broken or lost by guests, so the kitchen utensil and linen stock of this unit has since been brought back up to par with the standard of the unit, as when it was first made available to guests. 3. The choice of very high-quality portable beach chairs for this condo is much appreciated by previous guests and was never before an issue; lower-cost beach chairs break more easily and aren't so comfortable on the beach. 4. Setar is the only major internet service provider on the island, thus also for Oceania and unfortunately the internet service can fail sometimes; this service is however beyond our control. 5. We provide to our guest a certain amount of paper towels, toilet paper and garbage bags, and upon request of our guest we always replenish these free of charge from our on-site stock (which is the only on-site stock at Oceania!); the other mentioned guest consumption items are not provided by us but are sometimes left behind by previous guests, which we of course do not replenish. In general, after check-in we try to contact our guests at least once during the early part of their stay (which we did), and not to bother our guests with calls every day, whereas we remain available 24/7 to be called by our guests for any possible oversight; we lament that you have opted not to take advantage of this opportunity, as we could have easily and quickly resolved all the mentioned 'minor things' to further improve your stay in this condo. Alan

Recommended for:

We will return!!

Guest: Neal Crawford
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/13/10

We had great vacation and loved the P415 (Premium Two-bedroom) condo at Oceania! Thank you, Alan, for the very professional service. We will return!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/29/09 Review Submitted: 11/29/09

WONDERFUL CONDO/COMPLEX Just returned from Condo 11/21/09- 11/27/09 and can't say enough what a fantastic stay we had. My husband and 2 children 10 and 13 yrs had so much fun we can't wait to return. The Oceania Complex is wonderful from the 2 beautiful pools, view, gym, business office to the workers at the resort-very friendly. There is gated access with a 24 hour parking attendant which was funny because the place was not even remotely crowded. Compare this with the condos just down the beach! Eagle beach is the most beautiful beach in Aruba. We stayed in Palm beach years ago and will never go back- wall to wall tourists. The Condo is top quality and practically brand new. Beds and furnishing were wonderful. Rental management was very accomodating and helpful too. Will definately stay again in the future!

Owner response:Thank you for this great review! It really highlights the most important aspects of staying with us at the Oceania resort, and we thank you also for your appreciation of our usual hospitality towards our guests. We look forward to being your host once again in the furture, anytime you wish to visit Aruba!

Recommended for:

Oceania Aurba - Review

Guest: Auss (London, England)
Date of Stay: 08/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/28/09

Aug-2009 Stayed in a two bedroom flat ( condo ) in the palm building and thought it was superb. The flat had two spacious bedrooms with plenty of storage, two bathrooms, a large kitchen / living room area and everything that you would want. The pool was good with plenty of sun beds plus two more pools in the phase II area. There is easy access to the beautiful Eagle beach across the road. The beach is quiet in comparison to the hotel high rise area but you could still get jet skis and various surf rides. The only thing missing was a cool box that could be carried to the beach plus there is no nearby shop unless you are willing to go up the track behind the complex and brave the dual carriageway. There are some great but pricey restaurants within walking distance including one on the beach although we were not impressed with the neighbouring Tulip. The water park is behind the complex and only a few minutes walk albeit down a dirt track. I think Oceania is ideally located between Orangestad and the hotel area with good bus access or about a $10 taxi ride to both. You can pay for everything in dollars but can still end up getting florins in your change at a less than favourable exchange rate. I would thoroughly recommend Oceania for great accomodation and a quiet beach. If you want a lively beach and night life on your door step then you would need to go to the high rise hotel area.

Owner response:Thank you for your nice review of your stay with us, and for taking your time to share your vacation experience with others. It's all about location, location, location!; good service; and top notch condos. We look forward to seeing you soon back in Aruba! Alan.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Guest: Karen Warren (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 07/18/09

This unit was absolutely fantastic. The beds were great, as was the rest of the furniture in the place. We enjoyed the balcony view each evening and being able to watch our kids in the swimming pool. It definitely had a quieter feel than the high rise hotels.

Owner response:Thanks again for another great review of our condos. The relaxing ambience of this resort and the ideal setting of this condo are once again highlighted. Hope to see you back soon! Alan.

Recommended for:

Fabulous trip

Guest: Samrap (West Chester, PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

We just returned on July 3rd, 2009. This was our first time renting a condo instead of staying at a hotel and loved the experience. The unit was spacious, clean and very comfortable. The pictures do not do justice to the place. The sunset from our balcony was breathtaking. The beach was clean and peaceful. The condo is conveniently located to nearby supermarkets and restaurants and close to downtown and the high rise hotels. We rented a car but the bus stop was directly in front of the building. Alan was wonderful and helped with all of our questions. We have two teenagers, ages 17 and 15 who also loved all the amenities, especially the flat screen TV in their room! This was our fourth visit to Aruba and would definitely stay here again.

Owner response:Thank you for this very nice review of this premum condo, and I'm glad that I was of some help to further improve your vacation experience! The owner of this condo has gone beyond the usual to provide the unit with top quality furniture and amenties, so I'm happy that his efforts are much appreciated. The location of the resort is surely unquestionable. We look forward to being your host again, whenever your future travels bring you back to Aruba! Alan.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Wonderful Experience

Guest: Sat & Ann (West Chester PA, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

Rented this Unit from June 27 thru July 3rd. Spacious, quiet, peaceful. Beach across the street, pool out front. Nice breeze all day long. Safe and secure. Rented a car, so groceries, shopping, site seeing was on my time. Sunset view from the balcony is worth it...grab a cold one and chill out. Unit had beach chairs which I placed in the truck and drove over to the beach...yes I am that lazy. But it gave me options when we stopped at other beaches. Alan is the best...was there to greet us, had done the shopping we asked, arranged a car rental and is only a phone call away. Will do this again. PS. This was our fourth trip to Aruba and the other three times were in hi-rise hotels. The kids thought they might miss the ambiance of the hotels but agreed later that this was way better.

Owner response:Another great review; thanks for the great comments and praising words! It becomes more and more obvious that the location of this resort, and the setting of this particular condo is what makes the guests feel and home, and be able to relax and enjoy. And being so close to all activities, restaurants and the (more crowded) high-rise hotel areas, you actually don't miss out on anything if you don't want to! "We treat all our guests as special guests" is our slogan, and I'm glad you appreciate our service too. Alan.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful Condo/Wonderful Time

Guest: Arnold K. (McLean, Virginia USA)
Date of Stay: 06/14/09 Review Submitted: 06/23/09

We subscribe entirely to the laudatory reviews above. The condo was spacious, nicely equipped, and well-appointed. The surroundings were nicely landscaped, and -- like the three pools -- well maintained The view from the balcony was just as beautiful as was advertised. And the beach is literally right across the street. On the key question of if I knew then what I know now, would I rent this condo, the answer is: "Yes, without hesitation."

Owner response:Thanks a lot for the remarkable review and we're happy another guest really enjoyed their stay, like all other previous guests. Important is the note that the view is exactly as described and provided in the pictures. We do not enhance the pictures, or use pictures from other locations of Aruba to promote this location or our units; the actual pictures and views at this resort say more than a thousand words! Alan.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/02/09

Great place, Great location. This unit was perfect for our family. The pool was beautiful and pefect for our young son to play in the shallow end. The beach is directly across the street and couldn't be nicer. Would be nice if there were beach chairs but most units do provide these to carry across to the beach. Very close to major hotels and restaurants yet allows you the privacy to enjoy time with your family. We will return. Much better than fighting the crowds for a beach chair at a hotel.

Owner response:Eagle Beach is undoubtedly the best beach in Aruba, specifically when it comes to relaxation and non-crowdy environment. And yet all beach activities, good restaurants and nightlife are generally within walking distance or 5 minute drive. Thank you for the execellent review. Alan.

Recommended for:

Awesome condo-awesome service

Guest: mary n. (WI)
Date of Stay: 12/31/08 Review Submitted: 01/08/09

Just returned from a week at the Oceania with our 3 adult (20's) children. Loved every part of this experience! Having rented many beach condos throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic, this is by far the most beautiful and spacious one to date. Loved the layout of the unit. Each bedroom is very private. Great kitchen and lanai. Beautiful views. Location on Eagle beach was premiere and relaxing. Easy stroll to a couple bar/restaurants with outdoor seating. Although I never felt the need for it, security was very diligent (frequently walking the grounds, and manning the gated entrance) and friendly (always willing to call a cab). I had frequent email communications with Alan prior to our visit. His service and management is superior to any I've incurred elsewhere. He even made sure to offer the option of groceries in our fridge since we were arriving on a holiday and the stores were closed. His welcome gift of champagne to ring in the new year was a nice touch, as well as calling within an hour of our arrival to make sure all was satisfactory. Very professional and responsive. Didn't try it out but there's also a new waterpark right behind the condo. Took a 1/2 day Jeep tour with De Palm Tours. Rough ride, but a fun adventure and nice way to see the other side of the island. Reserved it at the Costa Linda resort nearby and then De Palm picked us up at our condo. The culmination of the week was the Old Man and the Sea Restaurant. Reserve the gazebo on the water. Unbelievable food, wine and atmosphere!!! Worth the $30 cab ride! The Oceania is a very neat, well maintained quiet place to get away. If we return to Aruba, we definitely want to stay here again!!

Owner response:Thanks for yet another excellent review! I did not expect these kinds of exciting and encouraging comments, because we just do our best to make our guests feel at home, whilst being far away from home. I'm also glad you liked the new restaurant I recommended, because I recently enjoyed a wonderful dinner there too. Oceania resort is defintely the place to be in Aruba, if you want to be on the beach, close to all main tourist activities and establishments, but yet is all privacy, tranquility and luxury. Hope to see you here once more, and thanks again! Alan.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Oceania - Aurba Vacation

Guest: Spedo (US)
Date of Stay: 11/02/08 Review Submitted: 11/11/08

The Oceania Condo Resort is a great location on Eagle Beach. The condo was nicely furnished. The manager of the property and all of the staff were pleasant and prompt. There is alot of construction going on in and around the complex which may be disruptive to those sensitive to noise. There is a water park being built directly behind the Oceania which will be great for kids but not so great for those who like quiet time. The grounds on the inside of the gate were nicely maintained. However, the grounds surrounding the gate were overgrown and there was no clear path across the street to the beach. The real estate management and all the people of the Island were genuinely kind and friendly. The locals like to hang out on Sundays in front of the Oceania on the strip in front of the beach. Alot of celebration and picnicing takes place. If you get the opportunity, rent a four-wheel drive vehicle and visit the other side of the Island. It is the most gorgeous sceanery on the planet.

Owner response:Thanks for this nice review. I'm happy to inform that the closest construction works of the second phase of the Oceania resort (which is about 150 yards away) as well as the waterpark being built just behind the complex, will be completed by February 2009; even though at this moment the limited noise is already unnoticeable when you're in the unit, by that time there will be no construction noise hinder whatsoever. Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condomiums are destined for those that seek tranquility, privacy and luxury right on the beach, and that is what is generally provided to our guests. Mind you, all beaches of Aruba are public beaches; by state ordinance there are no private beaches on the island (even at the major hotels) and indeed, locals use the beaches mostly on Sundays. You should join them some day and enjoy the local ambience! And further, as you have noted, the northern part of island which is only accessible with a four-wheel drive, is undoubtedly a must-see for all visitors. Thanks again, also for your praising words on our service, and I look forward to seeing you once again at Oceania! Alan.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

This condo is perfect

Guest: Sue M. (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/15/08 Review Submitted: 05/09/08

My husband and I and our two boys (15 and 12) stayed in this condo over spring break (mid-March 2008) and were very pleased with not only the condo and the grounds, but the management of the unit, which I'll get to in a minute. The pictures of this condo do not do it justice. This is a very well-appointed, elegant unit. The view is wonderful from the balcony, which runs along the entire living area and master bedroom. My husband and I made sure we were back home each evening so we could enjoy a glass of wine on the balcony as the sun set over the water. The grounds are lovely, and the boys had fun trying to catch the iguanas and native Aruban whiptails (which are beautiful turquoise lizards) as they sunned themselves. The beach is literally a one-minute walk across the street, and there's also a very nice pool area that the boys loved. You won't miss not being in the 'high-rise' area, which is busy and has a lot of traffic comparatively, even if you plan to gamble at the casinos. We liked the fact that our condo was peaceful and quiet, yet we could get to the casinos and shopping in about 5 minutes' drive time. You will need a car to get around the island and to the many fabulous restaurants which management can recommend. Speaking of management, Alan Riley is wonderful. He called us periodically to make sure everything was okay, and when we couldn't get the safe in our closet opened, he sent a repair person over right away to fix it. The bed in the master is a very comfortable king, and you can see the ocean from the bed. The boys slept in twins and enjoyed the big flat screen TV in their room. There's also flat screens in the living area and master. I didn't try the boys' shower, but ours was wonderful, room enough for two if you're in a hurry. We didn't cook much, just ate breakfast and sometimes lunch, but the kitchen is very nice and has everything you'd need to prepare a big meal. An elevator is nearby, but not too close. You don't hear anyone coming and going. When you book a place you haven't seen, you always wonder what you're getting yourself into. We were extremely pleased with the condo and Alan, and highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Aruba.

Owner response:Thanks for the execellent review! We are pleased to see yet another very satisfied guest taking her time to share her family's wonderful experience during their stay in one of our condos. No more words left to say.... Alan.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.