Definitely disapointed with the Westin. Here's a short review:

The Bad:

Construction view and noise.

Ripped and/or stained sheets, even after being changed.

No cold water in bathroom

Non-existant and/or unfriendly service from staff when contacting them about problems during the stay and then about erroneous charges when checking out. They say you need to speak with someone else, and they'll call you back but never do. Wasted hours of my vacation trying to track down and/or find the right people to speak with. Horrible.

No service at pool or beach, need to get up yourself to get drinks and then they still charge you 17% service fee.

Never got a palapa since we never got up early enough.

Casino is tiny

No free kayaks, snorkels, etc. as per their advertisements

No jacuzzi's as per their advertisements


The Good:

Great location
Comfortable bed
Clean room
Helpful concierge/made all restaurant reservations w/ a smile
Terrace restaurant-great lunches and drinks

Fantastic restaurants a cab ride away:
Papaimento
Madame Jeanettes
Aqua Grill
Beach restaurant at the Hyatt
Ruinas del Mar at the Hyatt (food ok but great /friendly service and beautiful)
Flying Fishbone was just OK, very cramped but a cool idea.

Snorkeling at Baby beach is great, but the beach isn't the prettiest; there's an oil refinery right there and it's quite a long ride there.

Enjoy Aruba, it's gorgeous!!

My husband and I stayed at the Westin for our first trip to Aruba from 8/22/07 through 8/27/07. Overall, it was a great stay and we really loved the island. We are looking forward to a return trip someday but we will not likely stay at the Westin...not because it was terrible, but because there are nicer / better places to stay.

Here are the good points:
-the people at the Westin (and all over the island) are extremely friendly and always willing to help;
-the beach was beautiful;
-the hotel itself was modern looking and clean; our room even had an LG plasma TV on the wall;
-the breakfast buffet was delicious and had a lot to choose from including an omelet station and made to order Belgian waffles;
-Starbucks coffee can be made right in your room for the first cup of the morning;
-there are several food choices right at the hotel including Blossoms (Asian; we ate there and it was very good) and Pago Pago (steak);
-there are beautiful birds around the pool area and sometimes, the staff will take them out of their cages to allow the guests to pose for pictures with them;
-a Hertz is located right in the hotel; we rented a very small car which was less than luxurious but it served our needs ($32/day); it was very easy to drive around the island and see all the sights including the California Lighthouse, the Alto Vista Chapel, and the Natural Bridge (get a shaved ice there!); we also drove to Baby Beach 3x which was great (stopped at Subway for sandwiches for lunch);

Here are the bad points:
-our room smelled musty/moldy (although it was clean and the bed was very comfortable; we surmised that the room may have once been a smoking room);
-the sink and bathtub were cracked and need to be replaced; the bathroom just looked old and tired;
-there was some construction being done in the area which woke us up very early some days;
-there are definitely not enough palapas on the beach; you had to reserve one by 8am each day and you really need one due to the strength of the sun (there were, however, enough lounge chairs around the pool, some with a bit of shade);
-the pool could use an overhaul; it was cracked all over and could have been a little cleaner;
-the pool bar was extremely expensive (a beer and mudslide cost $15);
-food at the hotel was very good but expensive (although, food everywhere on the island seemed expensive);

If we book another trip to Aruba, we will likely stay at the Hyatt which was just refurbished and is very beautiful. In the meanwhile, here is a list of the other restaurants we ate at, all of which were excellent:
-Flying Fishbone (restaurant on the beach with tables in the water to dip your feet in);
-Ruinas del Mar at the Hyatt (you can sit on the water's edge and watch the black swans);
-Salt & Pepper (tapas and sangria); you can also stop at The Sopranos Piano Bar while you are there;
-Le Petit Cafe (cook your own steaks on hot rocks);

Have a great trip!

I always stay at the Westin when I go to Port Lucaya, Bahamas and it is an amazing experience everytime, so I didn't hesitate to book my stay in Aruba at the Westin. I learned my lesson however to research all hotels at my desitnation before booking. Almost EVERY other hotel in Aruba is a better choice than the Westin. Everything about the Westin hotel is just average: the casino is small and the people are not friendly; the pool is average, the building looks old and unattractive, the "ocean view" rooms mean you can see the ocean if you lean all the way over the ledge, and the restaurants are expensive without the taste. (there are tons of restaurants NOT associated with hotels..I suggest them!) I walked through many of the other hotels on the island, and I recommend any of them to the Westin, esp. the Marriott or the Hyatt. The Occidental is an all inclusive resort and it looked great as well. Also, the Radisson and the Renassaince (not on the beach, but right in town..pretty nice.) Until the Westin upgrades it's property, it cannot compete with the numerous other resorts on the island. I do not recommend this hotel at all. 2 stars...not 4.

Last Visit:
August 2007

I just got back from my trip in Aruba. I stayed at the Westin Aruba and it was 5 stars on everything. There were certainly NO mold or mildew or other odors of any kind, and I have sensitive sinuses.

I noticed some of the other reviews were when this hotel was Wyndham not Westin. It became a Westin in December 2006 (just a side note as that does make a difference, thus some transitional idiosyncracies). I'm sorry that someone had difficulty during a transitional time, but that certainly is not the standard/norm.

This property was recently rennovated. The rooms are wonderful with 80% of them having a view of the ocean. The non-smoking atmosphere is a winner as well. I had a problem with my shower spigot and it was fixed within minutes of my call. Laundry services and housekeeping were great.

From the moment I walked into the Westin the atmosphere was one that was warm, welcoming, relaxing and the whole experience was one of botanical rejuvenation, that I hated to leave. The fresh lemon water rejuvenation stand greets you at the main lobby entrance, earth tones around the lobby with relaxing sitting areas where you can read, relax and socialize. This serenity continues with the botanical floral arrangements adding glorious color soothing your soul, and that is just the lobby! Oh, and the lobby bar offers live piano music.

The attendants go out of their way to provide first class personal attention; everyone went out of their way to make sure the guest was provided for and content. Every time I walked by an employee whether it was the front desk, the laundry or housekeeper, or pool attendants each and everyone of them said "hello and how can I help you?" "Are you enjoying your stay?"

The restaurants are 5 star. Blossoms gives you either Tappenyaki, Chinese or Sushi Bar with a tropical feel. The entertainment in the Royal Cabaret was tops! The comedy hour following was good as well. If you love formal dining with top notch seafood and steak, then Pago Pago is the one for you. The Westin's Azull seaside restaurant provides Romantic dinners on Monday nights (for couples). Azull also offers a BBQ another night. The Westin management hosts a Limbo and Managers cocktail time for guests to enjoy. The Terrace Room restaurant is tranquil with the relaxation of being in a picturesque outdoor atmosphere; but you may want to start your day with a buffet breakfast at Bon Bini, or the Terrace for breakfast off the menu.

The spa treatments and workout room are state of the art with more equipment on order. The pool and grounds are well maintained and the landscaping is tranquil and serene. The Bird Garden, gracing the walk way around the pool area, put me in my glory, animal lover and naturalist that I am. The board walk allows you the tranquil walks in the evening where you can take in the local area along the sea. Within walking distance is snorkeling, sailing, jetski, parasailing and much more.

I strongly urge you to take an island tour your first day to get a feel for the island and all it has to offer. Aruba is rich in culture and history, another passion of mine.

From check-in to check-out I had no problem with charges, billing or courtesy.

I hope you enjoy your trip!