Can anyone help me in finding a hotel in Aruba that is on or very close to the beach that is not too expensive? Plus how is the restaurants, very expensive?

When are you going? If you are going on the off-season which is from mid-April till December 15, the rates of the hotel are reduced. You have a lot of choices in the low-rise hotel section that's on your budget. Go to http://www.visitaruba.com/wheretostay/index.html

That's a tough one--look into the Sunshine Villas--Apts. or just into B&B's, apartments in Aruba by using Google--typing Aruba, Apartments etc. Go to Where2Stay.com and see listings and travelers reviews on top by each hotel listing if that is available. One of the least expensive hotels I have seen are the Sonesta Hotel downtown at the Mall with a shuttle to their beautiful private island. Some restaurants downtown are definitely cheaper.

I think the Divi Dutch Village in the low-rise hotel section would fit your budget. It is very close to the beach. Some apts. there are also cheap to rent like the Sunset Blvd. Studio which I think you can rent for $450-500/wk. It's 100 feet away from the beach. The restaurants nearby the hotel section are definitely expensive so we always go to downtown Oranjestad for cheaper food. There's also a lot of fastfood restaurants there.

The Best Western was right on what my group considered the best beach we saw on Aruba. Sorry I can't think of the beach name right now. Price should be reasonable if they havn't torn it down and built a Taj Mahal.

The Best Western Manchebo Beach is indeed on the best stretch of sand in Aruba, and it is reasonably priced. However, I don't think you can get it for less than $100, even in the off-season. If you can stretch your budget just a little, it might be worth it. We thought this hotel was an outstanding value.<BR>