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NFT: Any recommendations on things to do and see in Aruba?

bigblue1124 : 9/1/2014 7:27 am
My wife and I are going later this month and was hoping some here could give suggestions on thing to do and local restaurants?

Also is it worth getting a rental car for the trip? We are staying at the Ritz so I know they have car service but really not big on relying on someone else to shuttle us around. Also with dining do not want to rely on the resort being it will cost around 45.00 bucks for a simple pot of coffee in the morning.

Thanks for any suggestion you can send my way.
1st  
Nick from Goa : 9/1/2014 7:28 am : link
make sure your passport hasn't expired
We both renewed ours for the trip  
bigblue1124 : 9/1/2014 7:32 am : link
Damn expensive to
If  
LCBD325 : 9/1/2014 7:41 am : link
If you are going to rent a car rent a jeep. I have not been there in ten years but when we went you could drive around on the beach and see the sites on the entire island. There was also a restaurant in a lighthouse. I forget what the name was. Food was good, the view was awesome. Have fun.
You can hang with Grey Pilgrim ....  
Beer Man : 9/1/2014 8:41 am : link
I hear he'll be down their travelling alone
ceilings  
gtt350 : 9/1/2014 9:01 am : link
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go to El Gaucho  
phil fromphilly : 9/1/2014 9:32 am : link
Best steak I have ever had. I ate every bite of a 32 ounce rib eye it was so good.
Definitely rent a Jeep  
Upstate_Giants_fan : 9/1/2014 9:40 am : link
Preferably one with a/c. Explore the windward undeveloped side of the island.
Pack a picnic lunch and got to Baby Beach - it's a great spot.
Tranquilo is supposed to be the best for snorkeling - only takes a small group. Aruba is not the best island for snorkeling, bit it's ok.
Wherever you go, bring plenty of water and be liberal with the sun lotion. Because of the winds, you don't realize how HOT the sun is. Very easy to get a bad burn.

www.aruba-bb.com is a very helpful site.
It includes sections with general Q&A, trip reports, and restaurant reviews

Enjoy



On the car question...  
UAGiant : 9/1/2014 10:03 am : link
Personally, I would say there's no reason to get a car. The island is small and there is not much to see outside of the areas that are easily accessible by shuttle. You aren't running on your time, but there shouldn't be much of a hustle to get anywhere anyways.

Also, if you are unfamiliar with international road signs - its a bit confusing to drive down there (especially with the other tourist who have never seen the signs before and think a double red x means cut off everyone making a 4 lane change to get to a KFC).
I've heard good things about the beaches  
Jim in Fairfax : 9/1/2014 2:50 pm : link
.
Recommendations  
BobbyJohnson_4thand17 : 9/1/2014 3:59 pm : link
Try the jeep safari where you drive around in caravan of jeeps while they take you around the island, including to caves with prehistoric drawings.

The reviews are hit or miss, but I highly recommend a restaurant called "Old Man and the Sea." We had an amazing dinner on the beach there. Next door is the "Flying Fishbone" and it was nice but we preferred Old Man.

Lastly, we stayed at the Divi and got NYC stations and the NFL Network in our rooms.
I enjoyed "Barefoot" restaurant  
spike : 9/1/2014 5:19 pm : link
where you can watch the sunset on the beach, the food is excellent.

It's close to the airport so you will need a short drive or cab ride
Also  
spike : 9/1/2014 5:20 pm : link
Wacky Wahoo is a fantastic seafood restaurant with fresh fish. Its a 10 min walk from the tourist strip or a short cab ride.

I recommend getting a reservation before you arrive, or you might have to wait 1-2 hours!
Dunkin Donuts steps from your hotel, opened a few years ago  
daBBWC : 9/1/2014 9:50 pm : link
Plenty of restuarants to walk to. If you're there to relax on the beach, no need for a car unless you want to explore the island. Check out the Old Cunucu House. Great place for dinner and a half mile walk from the hotel. Book early because, as the name says, its in an old small house.

Also, as stated earlier, El Gaucho is a must!
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