Courtney_Krietzburg

My husband and I arrived at Palm beach, Aruba, earlier today. We are staying at the Holiday Inn. We are on this trip because we have some friends that are staying next-door at the Marriott.

This just isn't what we were expecting. American franchises everywhere, restaurants, shopping malls etc..it's way too touristy and Americanized. I thought that, being we are 15 miles from Venezuela, It would be different.

We are in our late 30s and have our three-year-old little girl with us. We want to be immersed in the culture and eat the local dishes. I'm sad to not see a guy on the side of the road chopping coconuts or a little dive place I can walk to for coffee.

Are we out of luck. We can take public transportation to find the little gems we are looking for.

Thanks!

Wanderlust addict

WWK

Unfortunately, you've gone to the wrong island if you want real culture and less high-end shopping. Aruba is all about catering to the masses. That can be good ( wide variety of restaurants, excellent health care) or bad ( traffic, constant cruise ship crowds) depending on your perspective.

The Holiday Inn is one of the most commercial and Americanized hotels on the island. I know it's more budget-friendly, but The Radisson, Marriott, and Bucuti might give you a completely different feel for the island.

Here are a few places we've tried over the years while vacationing with my inlaws, who wouldn't dream of going anywhere else!

EDUARDO BEACH SHACK- Great juice bar, smoothies. Near Playa Linda on Palm Beach

BEACH BAR- also near Playa Linda for drinks on the beach, nice setting.

LINDA'S DUTCH PANCAKES AND PIZZA- This is about a mile from The Holiday Inn. I only went once, but really loved it. You might want to take a cab since I'm not sure the bus goes there.

EL GAUCHO- Amazing steakhouse in town.

MADAME JEANETTE- Excellent dishes, well-prepared. Beautiful desserts, a very popular restaurant.

EAGLE BEACH- One of the top beaches in the world, way less populated than Palm Beach. You could take a bus or cab there from The Holiday Inn.

Lastly, just wanted to mention that last November, we talked a cab driver into taking us to his favorite barbecue joint, which was way out of town, toward an industrial section near the airport. It was absolutely amazing, but I don't have the name! Maybe you can find it if you ask!

Courtney_Krietzburg

Thank you! Yes, as soon as we arrived we realize this is not the island for us. But, we picked it because we have friends staying here and they suggested this place. With living in Las Vegas and I from San Diego so we are definitely not impressed by shopping and expensive restaurants.

Tomorrow we will rent a couple of bikes and try to do some exploring. We actually walked to Eagle beach today. It was a hike with the stroller! Thank you for your suggestions and please keep them coming!

Courtney_Krietzburg

Also, everything is very pricey! We are not used to this. If you go off of Palm beach will be find some more reasonable restaurants? I'm looking for a little hole in the wall where some dude cooks local food for construction workers or even a food truck.

WWK

I'm surprised that you're finding it so pricey. I think every fast food chain here has a replica in Aruba! There's even a FIVE GUYS across the street from The Radisson Hotel. And SMOKEY JOE'S across from The Hyatt, has very good ( and I think pretty reasonable) barbecue.

If there are food trucks, we've never gone to them. Closest we came to a hole in the wall was the barbecue joint I mentioned far from the hotel area. I'm not sure how to find that again.

You might ask the concierge at the hotel for some local suggestions? Whatever you do, skip the BUNGALOE BAR close to The Radisson. Weak drinks, horrible food, but seems to get recommended endlessly and I don't know why!

And, even though it's FAR coming from Vegas/San Diego, if you get back to the Caribbean and are looking or local culture try: Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad.

suze

What you describe is exactly how Aruba has always been described to me. And why I've never been interested in the island.

I am sorry for your disappointment though. Hopefully you can find some more out of the way and interesting things.

Courtney_Krietzburg

Thanks!

I'm looking at how far Arashi Beach is and if we can take the bus. It looks more our style.

I haven't been to any of the islands you suggested. But, Puerto Rico, a couple of Islands in Bahamas, Dominican Republic. We love playa Del Carmen, Mexico and have gone two times. We have also been to Belize, traveled around cost rica too.

The next trip, but I plan myself, I will look into those islands for sure!

Courtney_Krietzburg

And I have to add, it's difficult being the kind of travelers we are. Talk to my friends and that way we have been there always surprised that maybe we didn't like it when they loved it. But, we like to be out of the norm. That is why I go on vacation! Experience something that I cannot experience at home and that includes a Five guys

Odin

Several years ago, we had the opportunity to go to Aruba and stayed at the Holiday Inn. Before going, I knew very little about the island, but I did know it was Americanised, very flat, dry and arid and commercialised. We still went knowing this and had a great time. We rented a car and explored the island, went scuba diving, snorkelled at Malmok Beach, ate in some great restaurants which served local food (eg Marina Pirata which was recommended by a local, had barracuda, still has good reviews). The beaches are great, went horseriding to a natural swimming pool on the inaccessible part of the island. There are some interesting buildings in Oranjestad.

Every island has their own culture if you look for it, even the commercialised ones. Rent a car and go exploring.

WWK

I completely understand why you wouldn't want to go to FIVE GUYS. Just using it as an example of reasonably priced food. Take the advice from the poster above and rent a car to explore if you can. Who knows what you may find when you get off the beaten track!

BTW, we loved Playa Del Carmen, too. Which makes me think you'd love Negril or Treasure Beach, both in Jamaica.

genio67

Aruba is very geared for tourist and Palm Beach was probably built for tourist, so that is the last place to find anything remotely close to local culture. YOu mentioned you have a 3 year old, so go to the Donkey Sanctuary, Philips Animal Garden, explore Arikok National Park and just going to those areas will give you a better view of the local areas of the island. Oranjestad is not worth visiting in my opinion. Despite the pretty buildings, its just a bunch of shops for cruise passengers.

You should also post on Trip Advisor. The Aruba "experts" are very helpful and will give you more ideas for eating, exploring and even where to find some food trucks...they do have them in Aruba.

I have been to Aruba a few times for the reliable weather and beautiful beaches but Palm Beach is not at all appealing to me...so get out and explore!

genio67

Also, Gasparito in Noord is a very nice restaurant, away from the tourist scene (but you will obviously find tourist eating there). They had some nice local dishes that we enjoyed. If you don't want to drive you can take a cab there from your hotel.

Courtney_Krietzburg

Thanks everyone! We borrowed bikes today and had a tasty and pretty inexpensive lunch! Went to hard rock and took a left. Past stop light. Ate at a place a local suggested. It was near a place called sextasy and maybe called palm beach refreshments. I had a whole snapper much also came with some sides. The menu wasn't even in English and it was hand written on a piece of paper. Score! Place was crazy crowded in the wiki only Americans! $25 for fish, 2 drinks and two beers.

Last night we ate at the pelican nest, the restaurant on the pier. It was also surprisingly delicious! We are a huge fan of ceviche so I had that plus some seafood that was wrapped in foil. A lovely dinner. It is growing on us here

tom42

Glad it's growing on you but didn't you even do a modicum of research prior to booking this trip?

diann24

I think they went to Whacky Wahoo's. A great little place that has wonderful food.

I have not been on here awhile. Aruba has more repeat visitors then any other island. The people are the most friendly of any other islands we have visited. I love Aruba but I am so opposite then Courtney. I love the Starbucks Coffee and the fact I can get a Dunkin Doughnuts coffee.