Wanderlust

I am going to Aruba for 6 days and 5 nights, and I am looking for a hotel close/on the beach, low rise, clean with nice rooms and a good base to do some sight seeing and exploring. I have been reading very good things about Bacuti, but it seems like a couples/honeymoon resort..I am going with my 20 something girl friend and we don't want to be around couples all the time.The Mill seems like a fun place, though I hear it's popular with the gay crowd...which doesn't bother me they usually have great taste ;-)....the Manchebo looks kind of boring,staid, but it is on the beach and cheaper than Bacuti.<BR><BR>Is it worth the extra money to stay ON the beach?Is the dine around pass any good?<BR><BR>HEEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!<BR><BR>W ander Lost<BR>

pjb73

They are all good in their own ways. My husband and I just came back from staying at the Bucuti last week. We picked the Bucuti because we were taking our second honeymoon so we wanted someplace nice and quiet. That is definitely what we got. In fact, it was almost too quiet. But because it caters to the European crowd and is quiet, topless bathing is allowed. I even tried it and it was fun teasing my husband! The Bucuti is nicer than Manchebo, with the Manchebo being a little more run down, but the Manchebo looked ok and a lot of the rooms faced the beach, which would be great. If money is an issue, the Mill looked much better in person than one would be led to believe based on the low price. <BR><BR>We took in the all day jeep tour, a trip to Orangestad, a taxi ride up to the high rise hotels, snorkeling on de Palm island, etc, so being directly on the beach is only an advantage if saving money is not an issue. Out of 7 days, we were probably on the beach only 3 or 4, and we could have easily walked from the mill if we had stayed there. <BR><BR>The activities and the beach are different between the low rise and the high rise. There are a lot of concessions and things to do on the high rise beaches and the water is a lot calmer for swimming. The tide is stronger on the low rise and it gets deeper faster so it might be more difficult for a non-swimmer or children. <BR><BR>My advice would be to stay at the Mill and if you are interested in topless sunbathing, take the taxi to the Bucuti/Manchebo beach for a day or two. You definitely need to try Gilligan's outdoor restaurant at the Radisson. It's fantastic for eating an inexpensive sandwich and fries and watching the sunset on the beach.

Cookie

HELLO??!!! Why would anyone urge you to stay at the MILL!!!?? The place is a dump and it is NOT on the beach!!<BR>Choose the Manchebo or Buscuti - or other cheaper places (Holiday Inn . .. .Tamarijn). Most hotels are rather quiet - all activiteis geared towards sun-bathing not partying. Go downtown for a younger crowd and bars. The low-rise area offers a far superior beach (NOT dangerous in any way) and is closer to town. Spend $200 for a weekly car rental and you can swim or eat anywhere you want. The dine-around can be a savings if you don't know all the restaurants.<BR>I wouldn't stay at the MILL unless I was desperate - it looked really tacky and unclean to me...and you would have to walk a long way to the beach.

Laura

There is really only 1 Def. NO!!! plases and that is the Bushiri.. the rest people can argue for or against.. like I would personally never sat at teh Holiday in, but for others it is their economically way to visit aruba... but the bushiri... no way!

Sue

Cookie,<BR>have you ever stayed at the Mil or is this just hearsay?

chazz

We stayed at the Manchebo and loved it. The room had been remodeled and the property was not rundown. Staff was plentiful and helpful. Beach in front of the Manchebo and Bucuti is the best on the island. One downside is that the pools at both these places are very basic, but not crowded due to small number of rooms.<BR>Guests at The Mill use a slice of beach at the Wyndham - not great, but just a short walk across the road. We walked past The Mill and it appeared to be in good condition.<BR>Our only reget was that we didn't pay $15/night extra for an oceanfront room at the Manchebo. Ours had a view of a wall.<BR>Many restaurants in every price range - from Wendy's to gourmet. Easy to get around by bus, taxi, or rental car.<BR><BR><BR>

Joyce

I agree with an Above Poster. The only hotel I would not stay in is the Bushiri. I did not inspect the Mill, but a friend did and she said it was nice and a great value for the $$.<BR>We stayed at the Tam and Loved it.<BR>Manchebo had a nice beach. I also liked the Aruba Grand.

Joyce

Actually you asked for low-rise.<BR>Manchebo or Bucuti for EP.<BR>Divi or Tam for AI.<BR>Mill or Amsterdam Manor if off beach is ok with you.

sap

I would recommend the Amsterdam Manor. It's not directly on the beach, but it's pretty damn close. You walk across a road and there you are, just as close as staying in a high rise that's on the beach. I liked having the fridge in the room. I also liked being midway between the downtown and the "hotel/casino strip".