Stumped

Planning for a honeymoon- we are beach people and we keep hearing that the wind is bad in Aruba and that the bugs are bad in T&C?! Any advice or other destinations would be great!

vc

The wind is fabulous on Aruba. Unless you are paranoid about your hair blowing around or about wearing hats there's nothing to be troubled by with the wind. It keeps you cool on an otherwise hot sunny day, and it certainly keeps the bugs away.<BR><BR>It also makes for an exciting ride when parasailing.<BR><BR>,vc

Karen

I found the wind much stronger on Aruba than one gets on a "bad hair day." That wind was strong, constant and made the blowing sand sting and hurt! But that does, I understand, depend on the season with the Winter into Spring being the strongest. Those divi divi trees grow sideways because of the relentless wind - other places they grow tall and scrawny. I didn't think that the no see 'em or skeeters were worse in the TCI than anywhere else. In fact, there are gentle tradewinds that keep 'em at bay too depending on your location. At least you can use bug repellent. What do you use as a wind repellent? We tried buiding windbreaks out of chairs and towels and still wound up covered with sand in every nook and cranny! 'twasn't pleasant!

tivertonhouse

It's not the wind, blowing sand or the bugs that'll get you in ARUBA. In our view (sure to get guff),it's the unrelenting hordes of downmarket package tourists on an arid, scrufty and comparatively charmless island akin to 'Dedham or Far Rockaway South'.For beach honeymoons, Anguilla, Belize, Puerto Rico, Barbuda, Jamaica and Cuba are far more interesting and romantic beachcomber choices.

gary

Go to Aruba to get sand blasted. They ought to set up a paint stripping factory there. All you would have to do is lay the pieces out on the beach!!

Karen

Now I am no defender of Aruba since it is on off the bottom of my list but surly you can be a bit kinder to those who adore and are looking for the kind of vacation Aruba offers. I guess there is such a huge big difference between Aruba and the TCI that didn't hit me when I posted orginally ... and that they offer very different kinds of vacations - wind and bugs aside.

Stumped

Thanks for all of your help! All I want is the truth, not to be miserable once I get there. I think Aruba is definitely out for us! DR was another potential destination, but I heard that you really have to worry about the citizens outside of the resort b/c of crime and poverty. Any insight?

gracie

To Stumped: <BR>Here's my opinion. I've been to Aruba more than most of the posters in this thread. I've been going to Aruba every year for the past 5 years (always in September or October) and find it extremely relaxing everytime. Of course, for me it's a light trip because I only have to make a 30 minute flight off from Caracas and Presto! I'm on an beautiful island with gorgeous beaches, good food and great perfume shopping stores. I can't say much about the people in Aruba..they're not particularly friendly nor too unfriendly. The wind issue is not that big a deal if you travel in the months of Sep or Oct. Sure, there you'll have some moderate windbursts but they're not constant and therefore nothing excrutiatingly uncomfortable. I would say that sometimes the wind is a blessing because it keeps you cool. remember that the sand is so white that you get sunburned in a split second.<BR>I haven't been to any other islands in the Caribbean lately except for Punta Cana (DR) last November. Of course the beaches in Punta Cana don't even come close to those in Aruba. <BR>I'm sure there are other beautiful islands in the Caribbean..I guess it just annoys me to hear people being so drastic about Aruba. Have fun wherever you go.<BR>

Lotty

Aruba is great. The wind was not 'sandblasting'! Me thinks that Karen is just against Aruba and basing everything on a one-time visit. Yes, there is wind but it sure feels good. You are very close to the equator and without any wind you would fry in that tropical sun.

Topper

Top

ana

You should really reconsider Aruba for a Honeymoon. It is a wonderful island. The wind in NOT a problem - yes, it does blow but it is a warm (heavy breeze) and you never get sweaty hot on the beach. It is a great relief to have a "fan" blowing on you when the temp. is 84 degrees. We have travel to most of the islands in the Carribean - and Aruba wins all the way! Go and enjoy!

Sally

Agree with Ana's and other positive opinions on Aruba - we have been 4 times and always enjoyed it. We never found the wind a problem, on the contrary - it keeps you nice and cool (not too cool though!). The beaches are great! So don't listen to all the negatives.

wind

I really liked having the "sea breeze" in Aruba. Remember, it's going to be HOT and the sun is going to be STRONG. I think Aruba's great for a honeymoon. There are a lot of out of the way beaches you can visit away from the "tourist strip" and the restaurants are outstanding. Try the Flying Fishbone. You eat on the beach with your feet buried in the sand. VERY ROMANTIC.