My husband and I are planning a trip to Aruba for July 1st-9th. We've never been to Aruba but wondered whether we will be content to stay there eight nights/nine days or will begin to get restless. I thought it might be nice to island hop to Curacao or even over to Venezuela. Is this possible? Has anyone ever done this? Is the best way to do this by ferry or air? What is the cost? How far is it between Aruba and Curacao or Aruba and Venezuela? Thanks!

We have vacationed in Aruba eight times and we never get bored! We also have traveled to many other islands but this is our favorite. <BR>DePalm Tours offers a 4 hour ssiling trip to the coast of Venezuela on a 70 ft. race catamaran called the &quot;Cat People&quot;-normally 9:30 to 1:30 on Tues. Thurs and Friday. <BR>They also offer a one day tour to Curacao or Bonaire on certain days and must have a 48 hour advance notice. This is a full day tour including airfare, fully narrated tour and free time. Costs about $250 each.<BR>We have not been on any of these excursions-- I have a Tours and Activities sheet I carried back from our trip last month. <BR>We did stay in Curacao one day while on our RC cruise 4 years ago and it was a very nice island with pastel buildings and friendly people. The Sea Aquarium Park in Curacao has a great beach and activities are offered.<BR>There are a lot of activities offered in Aruba--watersports, land rover tours to sights, horseback riding, dinner cruises, nighttime trips to favorite &quot;watering holes&quot;, snorkling to the german ship wreck, Atlantis and Seaworld Explorer, really nice golf course at Tierra Del Sol etc.

For inter-island flights you could check out ALM Airlines (Netherlands Antillean Airlines).

We went to Aruba last October and flew to Bonaire and Curacao. We were told going to Venezuela would not be that great of an idea cause it was not real safe. Flights to Curacao is not that far and there is lots to do there. We just went to the airport that day and got tickets for the flight -- both flights are in small planes that seat 12 people the most.

Thanks for all the responses. Aja, do you happen to remember how much it cost for a round-trip flight to Curacao from Aruba?

It was around $75 -- you'll love Curacao.

Becca, when we checked in December, the roundtrip flight was $300 from Aruba ot Curacao.<BR><BR>Venezuala still has travel warnings from the state department because of political unrest.

I checked on Venezuela, too, and due to the travel warnings, I have ruled that out. If flights to Curacao are $300 per person, then I will stay in Aruba the entire eight nights. If they are $75 per person, though, I might look into staying there a night or two just for a change of scenery. Does anyone else have any knowledge about the cost of round-trip flights from Aruba to Curacao? Is there anyway I could check on this ahead of time?

The $75 was a one-way cause then we flew to Bonair and then back to Aruba. If you can you should see Curacao.

I am going to Curacao for my honeymoon in early May. We are flying Dutch Caribbean Airlines from Aruba to Curacao (they have a web site) and the cost was about $65/ each one way. I have heard many, many wonderful things about Curacao so I chose it over Aruba. I recommend not going to Venezuela also due to travel warnings. Have fun!

Maureen - You sound like an expert about Aruba. Looking at the ABC islands, that looks the best.

This is a once in a life time trip to an island in October. Do you recommend Aruba? My birthday is October 18th and in 2004, I will be 50. My one dream is to be on an island @ 50. But with hurricanes, that puts a damper on it.

Have you been to Aruba in Oct? Do you suggest a better place. If so please let me know the best web site to book.

Thank you for your help

When I went to Aruba in October I turned 41 there. It was a great time. Make sure to go to Carlos and Charlies -- its definatley a fun place, especially if you are there during Halloween. As I mentioned before, we went late October thru early November and it only rained once and that only lasted for about an hour. We also flew to Bonaire and Curacao. I personally liked Curacao much better then Bonaire.