Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the booking process once I decide to rent a unit?

Once you let us know by email or phone that you want to book, we will send you an electronic contract to sign. Once you sign, it will automatically be sent to us for signature. We will both get copies of the signed contract, as a pdf, when finished. Full payment is due within 3 business days and then your name is added to the confirmation per the required Marriott form.

Within a few days of payment , we will send you the Marriott confirmation which you can print and bring with you to Aruba or just show it on your phone. Check out our Booking a Unit page for more info.

What is the check-in process?

Show your confirmation to the front desk. Just like at any Marriott they check you in by name and they give you your card key. You will give them a credit card for any incidental charges including the daily fee payable to Marriott at check out (fees for various size rooms listed on contract).

Is there internet access?

There is free wi-fi in all of the rooms, throughout both resorts, the pools, and even the beach.

What floor and room number will I have?

The floor and room number are not assigned until arrival. Every unit is identical, but no owner owns a particular unit. High or low floors can be requested, but are not guaranteed.

Is the view guaranteed?

The view category is guaranteed, but your location can vary.

The names of the categories only differentiate between locations within the resort so Ocean View does not guarantee an ocean view although most units will have one. And Garden View doesn’t mean you only see a garden as most see pools and some ocean. Note that both the Lighthouse tower and Compass tower both have two sides to the buildings while the Spyglass towers only face in to the pools.

At the Surf Club there are 14 floors and there are no rooms on a first floor. They start on 2.

In the Marriott Surf Club, Ocean View can be located in the Compass Tower where the main entrance, lobby, and Market Place are located. It also houses the fitness center and children's game room. Ocean View can also be in the Spyglass Tower, which is the building furthest back and parallel to the ocean. It can be any floor 4-16.

OceanSide is an upgraded view that will put you in the Lighthouse Tower, the front building closest to the beach.

The 24 direct Oceanfront units are in this same building, directly facing the ocean (this building is getting a total overhaul July - Dec 2025.

Garden View can be the first two floors in the Compass Tower and the Spyglass Tower back building. It can also be the other Spyglass tower which is the side building perpendicular to the beach, across from the Compass Tower. The entirety of this side building is a Garden View category so any floor above 4 will automatically give you an ocean view when on the balcony. You also have pool & lazy river views.

To see a visual, here's a map from Marriott's site:

Resort map

At the Ocean Club there are just two categories: Ocean view and Oceanfront. The 12 direct Oceanfront units are in the two very front ends of the U shaped building.

All the other units are called Ocean View as a category, but the lower floors 1-2 most likely will not have much of an ocean view. It is just the designation Marriott uses to distinguish location within the resort. There are 6 floors at the Ocean Club. See the picture for a visual.

What are the sleeping arrangements at the Surf or Ocean Club?

Studio (lockoff): Queen bed + Queen sleeper sofa in same room. Sleeps 4. (Ocean Club has King bed)
1 Bedroom: Private Master bedroom with King bed + Queen sleeper sofa in living room. Door to bathroom from living room and master bedroom. Sleeps 4.
2 Bedroom: Private Master bedroom with King bed + Queen sleeper sofa in living room. Door to bathroom from living room and master bedroom + Studio (see above) with a door that can be locked or left open. Sleeps 8.
3 Bedroom: Private Master bedroom with King bed + Queen sleeper sofa in living room. Second bedroom has two queen beds and the Studio is double the size with a King bed and another queen sleeper sofa and is way off to the side of the unit, with its own entrance. That room is the only one that does not have an ocean view, but rather an island view. You see the tops of the homes of Aruba for miles around and is actually pretty cool! Every bedroom has a private bathroom and balcony. Just have to add that this unit has a Full laundry room with storage space for the Lazy River floats. Sleeps 12. (No 3 Bedrooms at Ocean Club)

The Ocean club has a King bed in the Studio (lockoff) and the 2nd Bedroom.

How much will travel insurance cost?

This one is easy. Just go to travelsafe.com, put in your total cost divided among the number of people traveling and you will get an automatic quote.

Is my deposit refundable?

The short answer is "No". The long answer is that we will make every effort to re-rent the timeshare and will give you back the amount we were able to rent it for minus 15%. We usually can, but no guarantees. But most important, Travel Insurance will give you a 100% refund for any illness or death in the family.

How can I avoid the 3% credit card fee?

You can send a personal check, use Zelle, Venmo, Wire, or Direct Deposit.

When do I get my Marriott confirmation?

When we receive payment, it will be emailed to you WITHIN 3-10 DAYS. Just show it to the front desk at arrival.

How do I know this reservation is legitimate?

You can check out our VRBO page for reviews from past customers. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page. We can also give you referrals upon request. We prefer to speak to all of our clients on the phone at least once, which will help us get to know each other. Our phone number is on the VRBO page and in our email signature. You can also call the Marriott Aruba Surf or Ocean club and ask to speak to the front desk. He/she will be able to vouch for Robin Gran or Aruba We Go. If that person doesn't know us, ask for a manager. If you still have questions, let us know!

What is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel?

I recommend taking a taxi as it is only a 15-20 minute ride for a flat rate of $32. Taxis are waiting at the airport and all drivers know the Marriott.

Should I rent a car?

There is no reason to rent a car for the week unless you just like to have it around or have a carseat. The Marriott is walking distance to many restaurants and activities and it is easy to take a taxi if you want to go further away to eat. Every restaurant will ask you if you need a taxi when they bring you the bill. They call for you so it is waiting for you and not the other way around! If you take a guided tour, they will pick you up at your hotel to make it easy for you.

To get groceries, you can also take a taxi as they are used to that. The large grocery store, Super Foods, is 5 min. by car and less than $10 each way. I also offer a coupon code for free grocery delivery so you can order online before you even leave home.

If you are traveling with small children and are bringing your carseat, you can put the carseat in the taxi to and from the airport, but if you plan to leave the Marriott a lot, you might want to have a car so you can install the carseat once for the week.

If you choose to rent a car there are many choices right there at the airport like Europocar, Hertz, Avis, Budget and there are several also off the airport road. They pick you up to take you to their off site location. You can also rent a car for a day or two at the Marriott if you choose to tour the island but don't want a car for your whole stay. So really, car rental for a day or a week is just a personal choice but not a necessity. If you do have a car it is good to know parking is free with a free parking permit from the front desk.

What is the booking process once I decide to rent a unit? | What is the check-in process? | Is there wifi and wired internet? | What floor and room number will I have? | Is the view guaranteed? | What are the sleeping arrangements at the Surf or Ocean Club? | How much will travel insurance cost? | Is my deposit refundable? | How can I avoid the 3% credit card fee? | When do I get my Marriott confirmation? | How do I know this reservation is legitimate? | What is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel? | Should I rent a car?