Wonderful Vacation Spot!!!!!

Guest: Billanne (Vandergrift, PA )
Date of Stay: 12/28/08 Review Submitted: 01/24/09

We went to Aruba for our anniversary on December 28 and stayed for 7 Beautiful days! I found this condo on vacationrentals.com and called Cindy asking for more information. She was so helpful and answered all my questions, which were alot. We usually stay in timeshares so this was something new for us. I had a good feeling about the place just through talking to her and the pictures she shared with us. The grounds were very clean and the guards at the gate were very helpful. The swimming pool was very inviting and relaxing. She had beach towels and chairs for us. You can take the chaise louge chairs to the beach which was very nice! The place we stayed was the 2 bedroom which was more space then we needed but was nice. The water is delicious so you didn't need to buy bottle water. We enjoyed our table and chairs on the balcony. We ate out and cooked in. The 2 grocery stores we went to were Ling & Sons and Super Foods. Super Foods had the better prices but Ling & Sons had more choices. I recommend LePetit just 2 blocks down from our place, we walked to it. The service and food Great! (check out Tonys' art) We also ate at Smokey Joes, Alfredos and Matthews. We walked to Matthews in Eagle Beach and Smokey Joes which is about 1 mile to Palm beach. (We are walkers.) The view from our place was BEAUTIFUL!!!! We went snorkeling at Baby Beach, Malmok Beach and Arashi Beach. We didn't make it to Captain Rodger and Boca Grand to snorkel but next time we will. We rented a car for the whole week which was good for us. We drove to The Natural Bridge, Seroe Colorado Lighthouse and California Lighthouse. We had so much fun exploring Aruba!! We went to Palm Beach to check out the highrise resorts just to make sure where we want to stay next time. You can start at the Holiday Inn or the other end of Palm Beach. We started at the Divi Phoenix resort and walked all along the ocean and saw all the resorts and what they offer, I think it was about a mile walk. We realized that we stayed at the BEST place for us and will be going back. The best kept secret is the little phone/internet booth inside the shopping area at the Alhambra Casino behind Dunkin Donuts. We didn't take a computer or phone so this was good for us. We were in the middle of everything which was good, we could go one way to Oranjestad, Palm Beach, San Cruz and San Nicolasa. We will be visiting again soon.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Awesome Property

Guest: Chad A.
Date of Stay: 11/26/11 Review Submitted: 12/18/11

The property was everything written in the description and the pictures give an exact depiction of the layout. The views are unbelievable and Eagle beach is simply spectacular. The unit was clean and well maintained. There were very few people in the complex and on the this section of Eagle beach, which we loved. If you need a large crowd of people it is about a 5 minute walk away along the beach.The manager was responsive and available. We highly recommend the property!

Recommended for:

Great Location! Great Place! Great Time!

Guest: Kim and Brian from Indiana (Indianapolis, IN)
Date of Stay: 10/22/11 Review Submitted: 11/04/11

We just returned from our stay in Aruba - October 22 -30, 2011. I did a lot of searching before we chose this location. It was a good decision. We rented the unit as a one bedroom, two bath with laundry facilities. It was very large. The kitchen was nicely equipped. The balconies had a great view of the beach and pool. It was low season in Aruba when we visited so we had our choice of any one of the four fabulous pools at Oceania - and did not even have to share! The roof top terrace and hot tub were great. Don't be fooled by those who say it is "too windy" to enjoy. We loved it. Cindy, the owner, was easy to work with during the initial questions and contract part. Judy, the property manager, was very responsive to any questions we had during our stay. All and all, a great stay. Thanks Cindy and Judy.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Amazing location

Guest: stephanie8449 (Lenexa KS)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 10/18/11

The complex and unit were great. Everything was very clean and well maintained. The complex is very quiet and the beach is amazing. It was very quiet and never crowded. The pools were beautiful and we were often the only ones using them. We especially loved the roof top terrace. We had 10 people in the unit and were never on top of each other -- it was huge!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great location Great amenities

Guest: felipe m.
Date of Stay: 06/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

We searched for many properties for our first stay in Aruba, from some of the hotels, to homes and condos. After much research we came across this property, and were pleased beyond expectations. The property had an incredible view of the ocean from 2 of the 3 rooms, and the amenities of the property was more than complete. There were all the normal appliances, washer/dryer, Flat panel TVs in all rooms, a music system, barbeque, beach chairs, Wireless internet, on and on. The only thing you have to do is add food, liquor and your vacation is complete. The grounds of the complex are well maintained, and security makes sure that you are safe. Having an electronic pushbutton for the entry doors makes it even easier not having to worry about keys. The property is steps away from fantastic Eagle Beach, and the bus stops right outside the property so you can get to all the tourist attractions very easily. We did not rent a car during our stay because we had a larger party(Aruba only allows 5 maximum per taxi), so many times we had to take 2 taxis. But because the property is so welcoming we really only left to go to the grocery or for dinner at a restaurant. For parties of 5 or less a rental car would be recommended. The terrace is incredible with views up and down the coast, and a fun jacuzzi for those late evenings. There is a management company who was very responsive, and took care of all our requests in a timely manner. This property has made this one of the most relaxing vacations we have had.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great place!

Guest: Andy (Stoneham, MA)
Date of Stay: 06/22/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

Enjoyed a week at the end of June. Great beach. Easy to catch a 5 minute bus ride to High Rise area and restaurants. Condo was very comfortable and the entire Oceania resort was immaculately kept. Highly recommend.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

View Vs. Interior

Guest: The British Columbia 6 (Vancouver BC)
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 10/28/10

We rented the condo from October 16-23, 2010. Our initial contact and subsequent communications with the owner (Cindy) were handled in a professional manner and all our questions were answered in a timely fashion. We arrived on the 16th after a short flight from Miami. When we first got into the condo we actually thought that we were in the wrong unit. The pictures are not representative of the actual size or furnishings that are in the condo. It also should be noted that the penthouse is not the one in the picture with the rounded balcony, but the one next to it. It has three small balconies across the front that are not connected. But the VIEWS are amazing! We (all 6 of us) just stood on the balcony for about 5 minutes just staring at the white sand beach and the azure blue water!! Absolutely beautiful!!! It also should be noted that there were several small things either broken or not functioning in the condo that should be attended to. i.e broken dining room chair, one side of the toaster doesn't work, blender is broken, dryer doesn't turn on properly, ironing board needs a new cover. While these are minor issues if nobody says anything how will the owner know? We did mention them to the property manager and hopefully they will be fixed for the next vacationers. The really big thing for us, was the beds. They really do need to be replaced. We all woke up with sore backs. We loved having a sound system in the unit that was compatible with our i phones and i pods (which we always travel with). The kitchen was fairly well equipped, but please put in a can opener. We also thought that we would have a much larger BBQ, but made do with what was there. As there were 6 of us, it was a consideration. The internet was not always working, but you could go down to the clubhouse and get on. Public transportation is right across the road, so that was handy, but we rented a car anyways - just for convenience. Having free local calls is a great bonus as roaming rates in Aruba are high for foreign cell phones. The rooftop deck with hot tub was very nice. The furniture up there was just freshly painted with new upholstery. Under the stars in the hot tub was a relaxing way to end our days. All in all it was a wonderful holiday, but we don't think that when we return we would rent the condo again. We think that we would rent a house as they are available for the same amount of money and have more privacy.

Owner response:Hello, Donna: Thank you for pointing out several things that need to be updated. We have replaced the toaster, the blender etc. The three ocean view balconies are not connected. It shows on our pictures and on our website. The roof top terrace is the big round outdoor space. I am sorry that you are confused. Thank you for the input. We will continue to improve our properties and make it more comfortable for our guests. Cindy

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

Best Location First Class Service for Fun Vacation

Guest: Sue Gunaldull (-)
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

We rented this lovely penthouse condominium, Oceania Luxury Penthouse number 522 E, for the week of June 20 - 28, 2009. I found it under vrbo.com. We found it to be the best choice we could have possibly made in Aruba, and I believe that any of the Oceania rentals would be a good deal. We dislike loud and crowded beaches, and Eagle beach is quiet, and there are very few people there. It is one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen, and we have been to many wonderful spots around the world. The water is not good for snorkeling, but there are no waves. There are other beaches on the island where people go to snorkel, but it is not the best place to go if you are looking for fabulous snorkeling spots. There are plenty of huts for everyone on the beach, and you do not need water shoes. Turtle eggs were hatching when we were there if you were patient enough to wait to see them emerge. The condo is conveniently located across two very narrow roads which one must walk across, but that is really no problem. Traffic moves slowly, and people are considerate. The property is gated so one must learn the code to enter, which means no one can access the pool or grounds unless authorized. The condo itself is beautiful. The best part is the three decks with marvelous views. Each bedroom is spacious, and there are plenty of towels both for beach and bath. There are three thermostats so we could set our preferences for cold at night. People are nice there; security is tight and guards are courteous and careful. The grounds are meticulously cared for, and there is no noise, just beautiful plants and palms with lovely iguanas. Also, the zero entry swimming pool at the condo is beautiful, clean, and well taken care of. There are several other pools on the other side of this condo which will also be part of the complex soon, and more condos to be completed. That means there will be several large, wonderful pools to use in the future. The elevators work quickly and efficiently. If you email the owner, Cindy, she promptly responds and is helpful with any questions you may have. We had a wonderful, memorable vacation and plan to return to Oceania sometime soon. If you are looking for excitement and activity, this is not the place for you. But, if you are beach lovers who want a clean, quiet, beautiful setting, you can not go wrong here. Aruba is truly one happy island, as they advertise.

Recommended for:

Even more beautiful than the pictures!

Guest: Sherry42 (Havertown, PA)
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

Just got back from a week staying in this Penthouse condo with my husband and my brother and his wife. We loved that there were two master bedrooms -- no one got shorted! We each had a large bedroom with our own balconies with table and chairs. The place is huge!! The rooftop deck was the best - we spent cocktail hour up there watching the boats and at night it was so nice you could sleep up there. We checked out some of the hotels and timeshares, and this place was better by ten times.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Amazing Experience

Guest: JasonNY (New York, NY / USA)
Date of Stay: 04/10/10 Review Submitted: 04/21/10

From the moment I walked in the door, I was blown away. The place is huge, very well-decorated, and clearly designed for comfort and convenience. The bathrooms are luxurious, the bed gave me one of the most peaceful sleeps I've had in a long time (it could have just been that I really needed a vacation!), and I appreciated the ipod docking station in the bedroom. The kitchen is modern and beautiful, and better than my newly renovated kitchen at home! Whereas I expected the walls to be covered with cheezy artwork, I actually found myself sitting back and admiring the paintings on the walls. And of course, you cannot underestimate the convenience of having a washer/dryer in the apartment! Oh and the private rooftop terrace is just ridiculous. The place is also stocked with beach towels and beach chairs, and is right in front of a relatively quiet, uncrowded area of the beach, so getting your perfect set up on the beach is relaxing instead of stressful. Of course, for those who want to hang out by the pool, there is actually sand underneath the lounge chairs. This place is really perfect for any kind of traveller of any age. I went with a group of friends, but I would definitely come back some day with my family, or for a couples retreat. Aruba itself is amazing. The restaurants are incredible (the Screaming Eagle, right next door, is incredible! You must go there), and the weather was perfect. Before the first day of our trip was over, I turned to my friends and told them that I already knew that I would come back. I can't wait to call myself a repeat customer.

Owner response:Hello, Jason: Thank you for the nice remark for our penthouse. Nothing makes me happier to learn that you enjoyed celebrating your birthday with your friends at our penthouse. I hope you will visit Aruba very soon. Thank you. Cindy

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.