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We spent a five days after Thanksgiving in Aruba. The last time we were on the island was in 2018 and we stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Aruba. That was a great stay, but we decided to try out some other hotels this time. The first two nights we spent at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort. I was drawn to this hotel due to its private island that is inhabited by flamingos and iguanas. The resort is nice, overall, but it’s location leave a bit to be desired and feels a little overdeveloped.
Anthony’s Take: Service at this hotel leaves a lot to be desired. The staff is definitely on island time and I largely felt that elite status with Marriott Bonvoy® did not get you much of anything at this hotel. I found the private island to be a fun addition and like that the hotel also offers multiple pools, a casino, and lots of space between the two halves of the property known as the Renaissance Ocean Suites and the adults-only Renaissance Marina Hotel.
Booking
I booked an Island Suite, 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King, Sofa bed using Marriott Bonvoy® points on Marriott.com for 186,800 plus $162 for the resort fee and tax over the two nights we spent here. The suite would have cost around $989 including taxes and a $69 resort fee per night. I felt that using points worked well here as I would not pay around $1,000 a night for a hotel of this quality. It’s a shame that Marriott does not waive resort fees for its elite members like Hyatt does for its Globalists.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
We took a taxi to the hotel from Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) to the hotel. It took around 15 minutes for the almost three-mile ride and cost $30. When we left, we went to the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino and went back to the airport from there a few days later.
Location
The hotel is split into two sections known as the Renaissance Ocean Suites and the adults-only Renaissance Marina Hotel. One is for families and the second is adults only. Adults can use the facilities in both halves and they are split with a main road between them. The area is very developed with lots of stores, restaurants, and multiple casinos nearby.
As mentioned, there are two parts to the hotel.
We were staying in the side that allowed families (as that is where suites were available).
Check-in is located on the left side of the lobby. There is not clear signage, but the counter on the left is for elite members. We were all waiting in one line and it took around 30 minutes to get keys.
The lobby is smaller here, but was not too crowded.
There was a good amount of seating here. We were dropped off in the other section first and did the check in there. The suite was not ready until around 4:30 PM and we waited on the other side.
The check-in on the adult side.
The lobby is much larger than the family side.
I liked the open feel of the adult side better. A Starbucks was greatly appreciated. There was also one on the other side. Just note that if you want an iced drink, be prepared to have it in a paper cup as the island banned single use plastics.
An escalator leads up to the lobby here.
The area was decorated for Christmas.
There is a small shopping mall also found here.
We had lunch while we waited for our room along with a ginger ale and an espresso martini.
I had a poké bowl.
My husband had the octopus.
Having to wait for a room never makes me happy especially when it is pushed past the published check-in time. The agent told me nothing about the resort fee. I was told there were no upgrades, but I was granted a 2:00 PM late checkout when I requested it. Resort fees are just money grabs, but at least the private island made it feel a little more worth paying.
We took the elevator up to our room. It’s also easy to take the stairs.
Hallways were clean and well kept.
Island Suite, 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King, Sofa bed (2429)
There are 556 rooms and suites at the hotel.
The suite opens with a bedroom to the left. It held a king-sized bed and two nightstands.
A TV was mounted on the wall across from the bed. There was also space for luggage and a wardrobe here.
The wardrobe held two robes.
The bathroom was next to the bedroom. It offered two sinks, a toilet, and a glassed-in shower.
A bar of AVEDA soap was on the counter. AVEDA is the brand standard for Renaissance hotels.
The bathroom was not large, but the toilet was spaced enough from the shower.
A neon sign hung over the toilet.
The glassed-in shower was a good size with adequate water temperature and pressure.
AVEDA shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were mounted to the shower wall.
A cabinet near the door held additional toiletries and towels.
Mouthwash, lotion, and other amenities were found here.
A small kitchenette was near the bathroom.
It had a microwave, sink, and refrigerator.
The refrigerator was empty and ready for guest use.
A coffeemaker, coffee, mugs, condiments, and utensils were on the counter above the refrigerator.
The living room area was around the corner. It held a couch, chair, and a few tables.
Another chair was near the balcony.
A dining table and two chairs were to the left.
A welcome amenity was on the table. It was packed in a bag. I took out the contents for a photo. Fruit and some chocolate dipping sauces were inside. We did not eat these as we were unsure how long they were left unrefrigerated. I guess the thought was good, but it was a waste.
A closet in the living room held the safe, an iron, and an ironing board as well as an extra blanket.
The balcony held a small table and chairs.
Not a bad view.
Public Areas & Amenities
There was a small beach as well as a pool near the Renaissance Ocean Suites and an adults-only pool at the Renaissance Marina Hotel. There were also two casinos, shops, restaurants, a spa, a business center, and a fitness center for guest use.
The beach on the Renaissance Ocean Suites side offered lots of chairs and cabanas.
Beach chess was nearby.
The pool was larger on the Renaissance Ocean Suites side.
There was also a jacuzzi there.
The adults-only pool at the Renaissance Marina Hotel offered good views.
The main casino was on the Renaissance Marina Hotel side.
The fitness center was on the smaller side, but adequate.
There was a good amount of cardio equipement.
The fitness center was empty when we visited.
Towels and water were provided.
A small business center was located inside of the fitness center.
The spa was located within the shopping mall.
The biggest draw for me to stay at this property was the private Renaissance Island. I wrote about my experience feeding flamingos and iguanas there. It’s a nice space and the boat ride justifies the resort fee (this is something you hardly ever hear me say about these fees).
The marina near the Renaissance Ocean Suites offers frequent, complimentary boat rides.
They were militant about checking room keys and wristbands to access the boats.
The Renaissance Island was split into two sections: one for adults and the other for families.
The adults side known as Flamingo Beach was beautiful.
This is where I first encountered the flamingos. Machines sell food for the birds and iguanas.
They were used to people and quite docile.
Cabanas were available to rent. I wanted one, but they were all reserved.
The boardwalk led to the Iguana Beach side (for families).
The iguanas were found here. They were also tame.
I enjoyed feeding them as well.
Some pelicans took over the trees.
The family side known as Iguana Beach was larger.
The boat rides were fun.
Overall Impression: The Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort is a decent choice, but the service and elite benefits are rather lacking. I enjoyed the private island with its flamingos and iguanas. If not for that, the hotel would have scored a little poorer as the location is in a crowded area that feels overdeveloped.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award every year after my card renewal month that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Learn more. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit here. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
