I booked a 5-night stay at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort through Orbitz, paying a total of $5,890 (including airfare). I specifically chose the Oceanfront View, Ocean Suites Tower. However, upon arrival, I was very disappointed to find out that the room did not include the all-inclusive option, something that was not made clear during the booking process. This meant we had to pay separately for every meal and every drink, which added significantly to the overall cost.
In addition, the hotel charges a $70 per night resort fee, which supposedly covers access to their private island and the boat transfer. The island itself is pretty, with turquoise water and some flamingos wandering around, but beach access is extremely limited. It feels more like a man-made pool surrounded by rocks rather than a natural Caribbean beach. The view is beautiful, no doubt, but you need to be prepared to spend heavily if you want to enjoy your time here. Prices for food and drinks are very high.
My biggest warning is about booking through Orbitz: please double-check every line before you purchase. The way the options are presented can be misleading, and you may not realize what is (and is not) included until it’s too late.
Overall, this trip ended up costing much more than expected, and the experience did not live up to the price tag. For what we paid, I would have expected far better clarity, transparency, and value.