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03-05-2014 , 08:05 AM
Any 2014 poker in Aruba updates? I'm thinking about going later this year and ideally would like to stay near where the current best place to play is.
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04-01-2014 , 12:16 PM
Was in Aruba 3 weeks ago. Played at Excelsior (Holiday Inn) one night. There were 3 tables: one 4-8 NLHE and two 2-5 NL. The NL played very loose pasive but there wasn't too much money on the table. If there had been it would've been one of the best games I've ever played. Rake was low IIRC.
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04-02-2014 , 08:03 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Plastic
Any 2014 poker in Aruba updates? I'm thinking about going later this year and ideally would like to stay near where the current best place to play is.
PPC Poker Tour, PPC Aruba World Championship runs from October 15-21, 2014 at the Radisson Aruba Resort. ppcpokertour.com

Features a $2,200 Main Event, $200,000 Guarantee event. Last year around 90 runners, this year I'm told it's growing to 200 meaning the prize pool should be around $400,000. Few pros last year including Joe Serock, but they satellited allot of players in so field was very soft. Pokernews covered the event as well.

They also plenty of satellites to get in the Main Event. Very well run and group out of South Florida. I'll definitely be going again.

Series in the Radisson ballroom and cash games were held in the casino poker room. Sicks games, 7 tables a night, mostly 2/5, 1- 5/10 and a 5/5 PLO which was juicy.
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08-05-2014 , 10:34 PM
Do any of the poker rooms offer room rates for players?
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08-22-2014 , 10:02 AM
Went to Aruba in July. Stayed at the Radisson. For anyone who went to the old UB tournaments in the mid 2000's, the resort and island are basically unchanged.

Sadly, the poker scene seems pretty mediocre. The Radisson typically had one table of 2-5NL running from 10pm-3am or so. The style of play is incredibly passive, shallow stacks. It's not uncommon to see over half of the table see a flop.

There were a couple good players both nights that I played but mostly it was just bad recreational players. There's just not enough money on the table to make it a super compelling game, but it's beatable. About half of the bad players typically have the table minimum or so ($100) in front of them.

I heard that there are games sometimes at Holiday Inn or Occidental (I think) but both times I went over there there was nothing going on. I am pretty sure that there is no poker running anywhere on the island during the day or even early evening.

I can't really say I'd recommend Aruba for the poker. It is a good place to go if you are looking to unplug and lay on the beach for 8 hours a day.
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08-23-2014 , 11:55 AM
Thanks for the report. Seems like it's truly a vacation spot, not a poker vacation spot as you mentioned.
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08-23-2014 , 05:30 PM
I go to aruba every year.

Poker at all hotels on island never ever ever starts before 7pm. I'm fine w spending day in sun or enjoying island, then playing every night 9pm-2am


Poker is always dead off tourist season.
I always go either May or nov(not high season) & between the 3 hotels ( radisson, holiday inn, occidental) there are normally 5-8 games running @ 10pm. The hotel w most action seems to change every year, but I've never had problem finding 2/5 game.
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08-28-2014 , 07:31 PM
Here's info from the PPC website on the Aruba World Championship at the Radisson from Oct. 15-21st.

They announced already 60 players have won seats into the $2200 Main Event and 100 winners overall.

I'm guessing they will have north 200 in the Main. Saving up and hoping to make the trip at least for a vacation. Love Aruba!

http://www.ppcpokertour.com/ppc-arub...mpionship.html
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09-10-2014 , 10:22 AM
I'm going next week. These trip reports aren't encouraging.

That 10+2 rake seems impossible to beat
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09-10-2014 , 10:25 AM
What hotel has the best tourneys and how many runners do they get?
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09-11-2014 , 03:56 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rawl316
I'm going next week. These trip reports aren't encouraging.

That 10+2 rake seems impossible to beat
10+2 is quite beatable if the game at the Occidental is as good as it was when I was there. Gotta play very Taggish though.

The rake at tournaments was too confusing to figure out due to the multitudes of rebuys and add-ons. But at the same Occidental, they usually got around 20-30 entries. I wouldn't be surprised if the rake was even worse than in cash games after the whole add-on business though.
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09-11-2014 , 12:19 PM
Can anyone tell me what to expect to pay for room rates in Aruba? Given the gist of the threads on Aruba, it doesn't seem like they get enough poker action to warrant giving poker rates for their rooms.

Have miles for the airfare, just need to know the room rates for Radisson, Holiday Inn and Occidental.

Thanks in advance.
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09-12-2014 , 10:30 AM
I always stay at the Hyatt. We are around 300 a night
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09-15-2014 , 03:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rawl316
I always stay at the Hyatt. We are around 300 a night
Thank you for the info.
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09-16-2014 , 07:30 AM
Obviously depends on the season. Dec-April more expensive.

Cheapest- for a reason- holiday inn
Nicest- Hyatt. No poker but the 3 hotels w poker short walk.
Occidental. Mandatory all inclusive- great if you drink a lot. Restaurants good.
Radisson- redone about 5 years ago. 4 star like occidental
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09-16-2014 , 07:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveP502
Obviously depends on the season. Dec-April more expensive.

Cheapest- for a reason- holiday inn
Nicest- Hyatt. No poker but the 3 hotels w poker short walk.
Occidental. Mandatory all inclusive- great if you drink a lot. Restaurants good.
Radisson- redone about 5 years ago. 4 star like occidental
Thank you! I don't drink so, given your recommendations, I'll go with the Hyatt!
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09-24-2014 , 01:02 PM
PPC Aruba World Championship coming up at the Radisson October 15-21.

Over 80 are satellited in the $2200 Main Event from what I'm told. $200K gtd.
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07-19-2015 , 05:47 PM
I just came back from Aruba last week. Didn't play any poker but the Radisson is now a Hilton. They were taking down the Radisson sign outside the buildings on July 15.
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07-23-2015 , 11:03 PM
Where are the best NL cash games now (2/5 or larger) ? I played at Holiday Inn a few years ago...is that still the best place for cash? Thanks!
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12-21-2015 , 11:17 AM
bumb

hi guys,

anyone been out there lately and played some PLO or knows which places offer PLO (5/5)?!
thanks in advance
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08-26-2016 , 02:52 PM
Don't play at the holiday inn excelsior. They have a scam to cheat tourists, dealers working with locals. This happened to me on Wed...

Been sitting for two hours got dealt AA, slow played and called a 15 raise pre, 4 players, flop was K86 rainbow, first player raises 55, player 2 folds, player 3 calls, I went all in for 300, the two remaining players started talking Papiamento, player 1 folds her KJ(that she showed me after the hand and said something like you would have beat me), the last player calls right away, turn 7, river 7, I show my AA getting ready to collect and he turns over 45. Are you kidding me? No one calls a $300 all in with a gut shot straight draw. This player knew what he was doing. Also he was sitting right next to the dealer in the 10 spot and showed up early to get it.

Similar situations have happened to me the last 2 times I have played there. Each time I was 90% and a local sucked out. Each time with KK or AA going all in on the flop.

I complained to the hotel manager and he said the casino is owned by a different company.

I called the guy out saying how could you make that call? What were you thinking. Neither him not the dealer would even look at me. I continued to ask and they wouldn't even turn their heads.

Last edited by Rapini; 08-26-2016 at 05:08 PM. Reason: merge
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08-26-2016 , 05:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DangerousD
Similar situations have happened to me the last 2 times I have played there. Each time I was 90% and a local sucked out. Each time with KK or AA going all in on the flop.
It's almost as if variance exists in poker.

I moved your other thread to BBV so that your story could be exposed to the light of truth, so we'll allow you to continue discussion there if you'd care to provide evidence of cheating. Please do not post here again about it. Thanks.
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08-28-2016 , 01:15 PM
I don't think they are running scams at holiday inn excelsior. Most of the people there are looking to play limit and never raise pre or play NL for the promotions. Haven't seen any predatory soft play.
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07-06-2017 , 09:35 PM
Sitting in my room at holiday inn contemplating playing. There's 1 table running and it does seem sketchy. Last night it was 6 or 7 locals speaking native language and a couple tourists so there was no way I was sitting. Tonight the table is full and theres more spots but the whole room seems like it could be collusion city with the floor/dealers and the cards look like they should have been changed a few weeks ago which leaves card marking a strong possibility.

The Hilton room seemed more organized but last night it was one table with 4 locals waiting around until 2 gringos sat down and then the game started.

I don't think I'll play but im going to check the games one more time to see if a second table started. Keep in mind this is not the busy season so I'm sure it gets better but in my opinion you're taking a much higher risk than in the US (obviously) ... However people saying to take a cab back, im not sure why. Theres a ton of people out and about shopping and eating outside at all the local resturants until very late. Seems pretty safe.
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10-31-2017 , 05:58 AM
Hey guys, going to be in Aruba next month. Just wondering what the latest is, and where the Best (most?) cash game action is. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
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