Has anyone ever stayed at the Aruba Beach Club or know anything anything about it? Someone in our town is looking to sell a week of her timeshare and we are considering it. We like to just relax on the beach during the day but we were wondering if there are any restaurants and grocery stores we can walk to. Thinking of not renting a car. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Don't know anything about that particular timeshare, but how much are they asking for it??? Many or most t/s can be had for basically nothing on Ebay/Tug/Redweek, etc. Check around to see how much you can get the same t/s for elsewhere before you buy.

Hit the link below. They even have a message board on their web site.

http://www.arubabeachclub.net/index.php

Check TA as well.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-...each_Aruba.html

Thanks for the good advice Carol. I think I was a little unclear in my wording. I meant she just wants someone to buy a week by paying the maintenance fee for her week next March not buy to own. She pays $950 a week in fees and is willing to allow us to use it for $850.

OK, sorry for my misunderstanding your post.

I sent you a private message. ABC is right on the beach, near to some nice restaurants and the Alhambra Casino and the casino shops.

Supermarket shopping is not far off - too far to walk it.

Ling & Sons (IGA) is probably the best market, also not far is Kong Hing and Super Foods.

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Ling & Sons

Check the links from the pm for more detailed information on dining, etc.

Bus service is excellent - the L10, 10A & 10B lines all pass ABC and will take you to town and the high rise area and most dining, you may need a rental if you wish to tour the island. Fare is US$2.30 p.p. one way.
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Also Endless Vacations offer TS rentals and with the AARP program include a 35% discount.
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Endless Vacations

You should rent first before buying to be sure this is what you really want.

Thank you very much for the info! We have never been to Aruba but have always wanted to go. We bought the week from her. We booked flights on jet blue direct from JFK for $790 for 2 tickets which I thought was pretty reasonable. We were a little hesitant since we will be in St Maarten for 2 in Feb but hey you only live once! Thanks again for the info and helping us decide to book the trip!

Glad to help. First time visitors should book a desert tour, it's a full day of sun & fun.
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Pick up the free "stuff" at the airport arrivals from Divi and from Little Switzerland - there is no obligation.
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This country offers US pre-clearance - TSA, Immigrations & Customs is on the island so you do not have to do it upon arrival in New York. Weekend departures are busy due to timeshare visitors leaving.

You will fill out a form prior to arrival and Aruba Immigration will give you a portion of that form to keep and surrender upon departure - keep it safe with your passport.

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It is advised that passengers arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure to ensure enough time to check-in with your airline and clear customs.
You will clear U.S. Customs in Aruba, not the United States. As an added convenience for passengers to the United States and/or Puerto Rico, Aruba has an agreement with the United States government to provide the services of the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). When passengers clear these procedures in Aruba, passengers are not required to clear them again at their final destination in the U.S.
1. Check-in with your airline in the U.S. Airline Terminal. Have your passport ready to show the Airline Agent. It is not necessary to show the Agent your airline ticket/E-Ticket – the Ticket Agent only needs to see your passport to check you in. After the ticket agent confirms your reservation and seat assignment, you receive your Boarding Pass and “U.S. Customs Form” (one form per family). The Agent will take your luggage and put them on a conveyer belt. Note: This is NOT the last time you will see your luggage (see #7).
2. Proceed outside to the Departure Building (left when facing the Departure Terminal).
3. Outside the Departure Terminal, an Aruban Inspector will check your boarding pass and passport.
4. Inside the Departure Building, proceed to the booth where you clear Aruban Immigration. The Agent will check your passport and boarding pass. Here you will turn in the stub of your Tourist Card that you received upon arrival.
5. Proceed to Aruba’s X-ray security.
6. Pass through an area of Duty-Free shops and food eateries. As there are tables and chairs in this area, you may want to fill out the “U.S. Customs Form” here.
7. Enter the “Baggage Claim Area”. Retrieve the luggage that you checked at the Airline Ticket Counter. There are free luggage carts in this area. Note: The “U.S. Customs Form” must be filled out BEFORE you leave the Baggage Claim area.
8. With luggage, proceed to the next room to the U.S. Immigration and Customs booth. The U.S. Agent will check your passport and boarding pass and take the “U.S. Customs Form”.
9. In the next room, place your luggage on the conveyer belt. You may/or may not have your luggage inspected. At this point, you will not see your luggage again until you arrive in the U.S.
10. Next area is U.S. X-ray security.
11. Take the escalator/elevator upstairs to the gate departure area

Thanks for the extremely helpful info Bobcat. We were not aware of this procedure exiting Aruba. Is it better to check a bag? We usually just do carry on

We do check bags. The procedure is not all that complicated for retrieval of checked bags - they have them all set aside by airline - you simply find them and continue thru the USA process - then give them back to the airline employees waiting for them and they handle the rest.

The lines will be long on Saturdays and Sundays.

There are shops after the Aruban portion of the inspection and also shops after the USA portion so you will have the opportunity to make purchases if you wish.

I forgot to mention you did ask about grocery stores - there is a small mart in the Alhambra Casino complex, opposite the ABC where you can get some basic items but of course the larger market will offer more selections and lower costs. Ling & Sons (the big market) is one of the few places that give change in local currency, you can use it or turn it in to their customer service desk for US.

Thanks again for all your help. We will be traveling on a Saturday so we will allow extra time.

The small grocery store will probably be fine for us. We are only looking for water, crackers, cheese and wine and maybe a few snacks.

Thanks again!

You will like the ABC. I own at the sister resort Casa del Mar. This is a nice area of Aruba. Check out aruba-bb forum and trip adviser.

Did you go yet? We are going Feb 1st. We own a timeshare at Divi Links. I love Aruba. I am going to trade in 2015 for Barbados. I am trying to find info on Divi timeshares for Barbados. There are 2. You got a GREAT price out of JFK for Aruba. $790 for 2 is awesome!!! I fly out of EWR. (United.) Paid much more even back in June.

Divi offers two locations on Barbados -

Southwinds in St. Lawrence gap on both sides of the Gap Rd, and on the beach section, loads of dining & entertainment options within walking distance, long beach front.

Heritage in St. James - small property with very limited on site services, narrow beach front, no pool on site. Good if you like things very quiet and low key.

Dianne24 we haven't gone yet, we are going in March. We own 2 weeks at Divi Little Bay in St Maarten. We are hoping to visit Divi in Aruba while we are there.