Hello BBI,
Looking for some recommendations for a vacation resort for two in Aruba. Anyone got any tips? It's been a hell of a year for me and her and we need to get away. Would love to use BBI's knowledge to improve the much needed time on the beach that we are looking for. FYI, no judgement but our youngest is 15 so we would prefer less of a family resort. Thanks in advance BBI.
I loved Aruba. Is your brother cheap? It’s an island near SA of course it’s a little more.
The island was great. Water warm and people friendly. Dinner: madam Jeanette’s. Island tour do a private one. You can see the whole island in one day without all the bull crap of a whole group.
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Had a trip there last month. He said he won’t be back. It was one overpriced tourist trap after another. Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe came to about 95 bucks. If your into cigars, you should go to the Royal Plaza, they have La Casa Del Habano there, but be warned, the prices he told me were more then you could get from Europe, in some cases double.
I loved Aruba. Is your brother cheap? It’s an island near SA of course it’s a little more.
The island was great. Water warm and people friendly. Dinner: madam Jeanette’s. Island tour do a private one. You can see the whole island in one day without all the bull crap of a whole group.
Cheapest man I know...other than myself.
He learned from me : )
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who the hell goes to aruba to eat at the hard rock cafe???
also the pirate ship day cruise thing is great. Very cheap, all beer and mixed drinks included as well as lunch, snorkeling, rope swing, it was a blast
LMAO
bet he also goes to Olive GArden in Times Square
There is no Four Seasons in Aruba
El Gaucho used to be great, but i'm told new ownership has ruined it
2 - Aruba is great in my opinion. It’s not the “prettiest” island foliage wise because it’s essentially a desert but the beaches are great, tons to do, and insanely safe.
3 - as I mentioned above very safe.
4 - You will likely stay in palm beach - or at least I would recommend doing so. Not sure your price range but the Hyatt and Marriott are both real nice hotels. There are two all inclusives up by Hyatt if that is your thing. The restaurants are all good in Aruba tho and since you can walk to them (see safe above) I would only recommend the all inclusive if you are really going to drink a lot.
5 - it’s a hike of a cab ride but flying fish is really worth it. I would make reservations now for the sand tables at sunset as they go fast.
6 - I would avoid the renaissance. It’s in the downtown and has it’s own island but imo the palm beach hotels are cooler.
7 - there are a ton of tiki bars on beach in palm beach and a couple of cool sports bars depending on when you are going.
It is a short drive to Palm Beach which is more crowded but has more nightlife. Manchebo is only 72 rooms, so it's never crowded and your don't have to "put towels out"at 6am to get a palapas for the day... They serve you food and drink on the beach and have 2 for 1 happy hours every day with top shelf liquor ,not the battery acid they serve at the low end resorts... I promise you will not be disappointed!
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and I am not a fan of Aruba. I stayed at the Four Seasons when I was there so it is not as if I was going cheap. I doubt I would go back.
There is no Four Seasons in Aruba
Lol. Killer advice on this thread so far.
Overall, I didn’t live Aruba like others do. But I would go back eventually. Just felt a little souless and while the beaches are nice, there are better ones in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
I rented a jeep and drove around the island (whoever said sun screen +1.). I don't burn, but I burned that day driving around the island with the top off the jeep. with the breeze you don't feel the sun but I guess being closer to the equator the sun is much hotter and the breeze can be deceiving.
Went scuba diving. No cert required. I took a 30 minute lesson in the hotel pool (not sure that's the safest thing in the world, but it was fun, we dove around a wreck not far from the coast).
beach sand is coral (or something like that), not like most east coast beaches so the sand doesn't get hot.
Also went horeseback riding on the beach. it was fun.
Snorkeling wasn't great compared to Hawaii or other places we've snorkeled, but still fun.
I'd definitely go again (been twice) - once on a work "president's club" trip which was different because everything was paid for.
The lowrise section with the Divi golf, manchebo etc is much more laid back and chill.
The highrise resort/casino section is a little busier with a much more active night life.
We did a lot of walking. Always felt safe and help to walk of our food.
I haven't had a bad meal yet in Aruba. Highlight of last year was Pure Ocean at the Divi Tamarin ( high rise section). Was not expecting much, just walked up sat outside on/near the beach with great food and amazing service.
Always very windy which usually is good because it is usually very warm.
Have Fun
I second the Madame Jeannette's reco above, and I'll add that if you like spice, they have it. Also, make sure you try the papaya hot sauce (again, if you like spicy food) - Mrs. Dunk and I actually ordered a liter of the papaya sauce after we got back to the US because the little bottle we bought in the airport only lasted us a couple of weeks.
Another tried and true traditional Aruba restaurant is Papiamento - it's one of those places that you almost have to hit, though I'd say that the wine list is more impressive than the food.
If you're into some more creative culinary takes, try White Modern Cuisine - it's got a little bit of a Wylie Dufresne vibe, the food is awesome, and the ambiance (though mostly empty when we went) was fantastic.
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and I am not a fan of Aruba. I stayed at the Four Seasons when I was there so it is not as if I was going cheap. I doubt I would go back.
There is no Four Seasons in Aruba
I meant the Ritz. It is next door to the Marriott.
the restaurants outside of my resort are great. you cant go wrong with Aruba. for me, its just a guaranteed good time.
we stayed at the stellas marriott which was perfect
Relaxing is the plan. It's been an insanely stressful year and we are looking to hit the beach and basically shut it down. Thanks for the tip. It does seem like there are a lot of good options.
Very stressful year for us, too. We're going to Aruba (for the first time) in August. Staying in a studio at the Playa Linda.
We went to the Riviera Maya (Mexico) last June for 8 days and -- I shit you not -- it rained for the entire first 7 days. Absolutely miserable experience. We were just looking at pictures from the trip last night and were getting pissed off just thinking about it.
So after that travel debacle, and with the stressful year we've had so far, my wife said we're going somewhere it won't rain this time. And Aruba it is.
So ridiculous. That sucks.
I would have been fine had it rained on and off, or if it rained for two or three days then turned nice. Hey, shit happens, it's summer on the coast. But 7 goddamned days and nights of non-stop rain when you spent all that money (and time off from work) for a nice vacation. Just sucked beyond belief.
My personal take on Aruba is its a desert island with a nice stretch of beach and some Dutch culture laid ontop of it. The beaches are pretty, but extremely windy and you just torch laying out in the sun. It is safe and there are good food options that permit you to leave your resort without thinking about it (unlike most other islands), but I never had anything there that really stuck with me.
Maybe this is just a personal preference, but I enjoyed a number of islands infinitely more. Coupled with the fact Aruba is not a cheap island, I would still look at what else is out there before you set anything in stone.
I realize this is not what was asked for, but do look at St Lucia and Antigua. Comparable price range and both gorgeous islands with a lot of unique geography, food and culture.
I kind of see Aruba as the defacto island if you have time off in peak hurricane season and want assurances of nothing going wrong. I'm obviously bias, but that's the only major appeal I see of it.
I haven't had a bad meal yet in Aruba. Highlight of last year was Pure Ocean at the Divi Tamarin ( high rise section).
Oops Pure Ocean was at the Divi Phoenix not Tamarin
To the poster who said it sucks, I think you are confused, as there is no Four Seasons on Aruba.
Restaurants to hit:
Papiamento, Madame Jeanette, Screaming Eagle, Zuzuro (you must order the pasta made in a flaming wheel of parmesan), Azia.