My husband and I traveled to Aruba for the 1st time over Thanksgiving break with our two young children, ages 4 and 2. We stayed 10 days at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. We were uncertain about the accommodations, but were pleasantly surprised.

We stayed in a 1 bedroom, with 2 full baths, sitting area, dining area, full kitchen and washer/dryer. We had flat screen TV's in the family room and bedroom. Plus, the DVD player which the kids enjoyed. The surround sound in the family room made a positive experience.

We had a covered balcony w/table and chairs overlooking the golf course. The room was very clean and we were impressed with the maid service. Daily cleaning, even the patio floor was mopped each day. We could literally sit on the ground and eat there w/o concern. The maid service was very detailed and thorough, especially with our 2 children, it was nice to come back to a clean room. The room was obviously new, which we appreciated. Loved the Aruba Aloe Lotion they provided in the room. This was especially nice after spending time outside in the sun.

(The only negative about the bedroom was the bed - it was on a metal frame and the headboard creaked, making noises every time when you would turn/move around. It wasn't that solid of a frame.)

We enjoyed the pool and our son enjoyed the slide. It wasn't noisy or too busy. We could relax and enjoy ourselves. The beach was walking distance and offered plenty of space for us to enjoy. The hotel offered many activities, for those who wanted to take advantage.

We ate at the club house, which offered a nice view. The time was dusk, so the mosquitos/no seeum bugs were biting so probably not a good idea to eat outdoors.

We had a rental vehicle for our entire stay, which was a positive. We explored the island and enjoyed all of the panoramic views of the island with many photo opportunities. The island is flat and easy to get around. Highly recommend getting a rental to explore.

Our favorite was Baby Beach, south on the island. The man made reef offered snorkeling and the clean, clear water was great to swim w/the kids. The depth was maybe 2-5 feet, so it was like swimming in a private ocean pool. Many of the local tropical fish would venture away from the reef area and would swim out next to you.

BEWARE of the pelicans overhead, as they often dived into the water for fish. Baby Beach had a small vending area, bathroom, and lounge chair rentals, as well as cabana rentals. It's a definite must. You can rent a car or take a taxi.

The island offered many types of beaches, w/various water activities to suit your personal taste for adventure.

The shopping is nice as well as the restaurant offerings. We cooked in half of the time, since the kids are simple eaters. We went to the local grocery store, which was just 1-2 miles away. The options in the store is limited compared to the US, but we were able to get the basics for the kids.

The water out of the tap was good. Aruba has a desolinization plant on the island so the water is clean and clear. The stores don't offer too many bottled water options like the US, as they use what's in the tap.

We splurged one night and at at L.G. Steakhouse located in the Renaissance Hotel 2nd floor. The food was fantastic and the kids enjoyed the more sophisticated preparation from the "kids menu" offerings.

The Italian restaurant at the marina was good as well, w/a beautiful view at sunset.

The hotel offered time share, but was not pushy about having a meeting. We appreciated their laid back approach.

We would agree the price for golfing was a bit steep, but the course was beautiful and difficult.

We met some people who were staying in the older section (Divi Dutch Village) and they commented their rooms were older and more run down.

Overall, we recommend the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. We can only speak to our experience there and would travel back their in the future.