Aruba vs. Ft. Lauderdale
 

I know I'm probably comparing apples to oranges but would like to know how Aruba compares to Ft. Lauderdale? Been to Ft.Lauderdale and had a great time. Now we are considering Aruba the end of October. Any thoughts..

I've been to many FL beaches.
Have spent a week in November on Aruba for the past two years.
Although the beaches in FL are nice, they do not compare to Palm, Eagle, Baby or Catalina Beach in Aruba. The sand is white & soft, the water turquoise & blue.
Things in Aruba go at a slower pace. The people are incredibly friendly. It is easy to get around in Aruba, once you get used to their round abouts. ;)
There are several excellent restaurants to choose from on Aruba. The ABC Jeep tour was awesome. It will give you a good feel for the island. There are many sailing/snorkeling excursions to choose from. The end of October is still low season, so you should be able to find a good deal. Check out www.aruba4u.com. We used them last year and were very pleased.

Baby Beach is gorgeous but there are (thank goodness) no hotels there.

I like Ft. Lauderdale much better than Aruba.

Personally, I don't think the beaches on the east coast of Florida are all that great. Aruba's beaches are more like the ones on Florida's gulf coast -- white sand, turquoise water. I think if you liked Ft. Lauderdale you will like Aruba.

Aruba & Ft. Lauderdale are very different in terms of the types of vacationers they attract. It depends on what you are looking for. If you like the nightlife, singles and generally younger people, then maybe Ft. Lauderdale would be the better choice. However, if you are looking for a more laid back, classy type island with more upscale type dining, then maybe it is Aruba. Don't get me wrong, you can find fun, inexpensive restaurants, but this is more of a family or couples type island. what ever you choose, I'm sure you will have fun.