HELP ARUBA
 

I'm looking for things to do in ARUBA. Leaving on 9/20 to 9/27/03. We're very active people. Is there motor scooters, good snokling boats up for just about anything FUN. Do we need a jeep for a week or a couple days?
Thanks,
Linda

My husband and I love Aruba...it is a great safe place to travel. We used the public bus system to go back and forth into town and rented a little Suzki Samari to get about town. We picked up a map and had a blast touring the island on our own. We even hooked up with other couples doing the same. We loved Carlos and Charlie's for night outs. There's a Blackbeard's restaruant that's wonderful. A must see is Baby Beach. Snorkeling is good on the island that you need to take a ferry too. It's cheap to get across. We walked a lot of the places. We stayed at the La Cabana and it was wonderful. Enjoy!

Try a jeep safari - it's lots of fun! Suzuki should feature one of those safari's in a commercial - it's amazing where those suzuki's will go! We also did a snorkel trip will Jolly Pirates and they do a great job.

You can snorkel the wreck of a WW II German freighter which is visible from Palm beach. As for the jeep, a rental for 3 or 4 days should be plenty. When we were there a Dutch couple sold snorkeling trips right from the beach. If they are not still there I am sure others have followed! Enjoy!

Had a blast with 10 days in Aruba. We stayed 7 days at La Cabana on Palm and the final 3 days at Holiday Inn Sunspree. Like the low rise (Palm) best. Transportation was not a problem with the public bus or private jittneys picking you up. We did the Jeep Safari and loved it! Whoo! Whoo! You drive your own jeep and follow a guide a breakneck speeds over some very wild country. Afterwards, they took us to DePalm Island for lunch and snorkling. We also did a snorkle trip on a catamaran with three stops and a 5 star lunch. Believe me, they have plenty to do and if you book a tour with a lunch, you get a bargin. Golf is a real challange with the trade winds and is rather expensive. Looke for coupons and also shop the internet for bargins. Rental cars are available but we only needed one for 3 of the 10 days. Have fun. We certainly did.

Try the Kuku bus, its a party bus that picks you up at your hotel and tours several bars after a dinner. Also the Black Hog saloon has a party night that is great. The snorkle trip on the Jolly roger is great too. Our last trip we didn't rent a car but several times while walking to town people stopped to ask if we needed a ride. If you are into horseback riding, Rancho Notorious has some good trips to the natural sites. Arubans are very friendly and you will not want for anything. Email me if you have further questions, been there lots. [email protected]

We spent 5 nights in Aruba and I highly recommend renting a Jeep. One of the highlights of the trip was exploring the Arikok National Park (desert that covers roughly 20% of the island). You can tour caves (on your own), check out the Natural Bridge, pull the Jeep off at a remote beach and you'll have it to yourself...we came upon this rock formation and at the top there was literally a pool (Natural Pool) filled with tropical fish and luke warm water...we swam for an hour and enjoyed the beauty. Don't miss Baby Beach! You will have a blast. Enjoy Aruba! Just keep in mind that it is a flat, desert island with lots of cacti, goats and divi trees, beautiful beaches, good restaurants and plenty of activites to keep you busy.

There is so much to do on this fabulous island. We love the Mi Dushi snorkel tour - I beleive they are in some way affiliated with the Jolly Roger group as well. Harold was the skipper and he and the crew were just wonderful! I also agree with doing the Jeep Safari tours. There are many companies that offer it, your resort activities director can assist with reservations. IMO, the Tattoo evening cruise is so not worth it. Bad music, watered down drinks and a strange (not in a good way) mix of people. My first trip to Aruba was when I was 15 and I've gone almost every year since then and still fall in love with it every time! Enjoy!!

shelby & all,
Looking into Aruba for our 20 year wedding anniversary trip~next November, 2004.
We would be first time visitors.
Do you recommend Eagle, Palm or Manchebo Beach area? We love the water, will want to float in the sea & hang on the beach. I like the thought of the low-rise area, but have read that the water can be rough & not swimmable. Is this true?
Any thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Tricia - Here's my $.02 - Our timeshare is at Dutch Village (a Divi property on the lo-rise stretch). Personally, we prefer the laid back peace & quiet at that part of the island. We have stayed in the hi-rise area as well - it's just too crowded for our liking. The water by Dutch Village/Tamarijn/Divi is quite placid and if you want to just lie and float, you sure can. The rougher water is pretty much on the opposite side of the island, where the jeep tours go, by the Natural Bridge. Definitely NOT for swimming! If you have any specific questions about the properties I can certainly try to help. My parents are heading to Aruba Thanksgiving week to celebrate 36 years of marriage! Congrats and enjoy!!

Regarding Tricia's question: I would certainly recommend Eagle Beach. We have stayed there many times - we always stay at Bucuti, which is a wonderful, quiet, fairly small hotel with great service. We swam every day - no problem whatsoever with rough water! We also checked out Palm Beach - no comparison, mach busier and no sense of privacy at all. On Eagle Beach, esp. the area in front of Bucuti, you always feel alone because there is just so much room.

Carola ~
Thank you for the response!
You understood my question perfectly.
I have been reading about the Bucuti and it really looks like the perfect choice for us.
Thanks again! Tricia

Tricia, another idea similar to Bucuti is the Aruba Grand. We stayed at Bucuti last year and I agree that it's an incredible place. We loved the atmosphere and incredible service, but found the rooms, gym, and pool a bit lacking. We took a beachfront apartment at Aruba Grand and even though it's on Palm Beach, it was quiet and relaxing, very different from the atmosphere at the high rises, yet it's near the action if you want it. Plus having that apartment was fantastic. However, by the time you go to Bucuti in 2004, they should have their new beachfront king suites available.

Whew! Big topic!!

The waters around Aruba are so spectacular that I could see never getting off the beach. Aside from sun worshipping, swimming, snorkling, scuba diving, windsurfing and all the various and sundry other obvious pasttimes, there's always exploring the rugged northside of the island (aka, the Jeep tours).

You could also easily spend a day poking around in Oranjestad, strolling the streets, and shopping to your hearts content (not to mention dining in some very cool restaurants).

Of course there's the casinos if you're a gambler...

There's also a submarine that can take you down under -- great idea if you're not a scuba diver, you can see what they see without having to get wet or worry about certification courses! The same folks who run the sub trips also have a big catamaran that they use for day sailing along the Venezuelan coast.

Yep...lots to do...lots to do...

I have some pics and other opinions on this subject online:
http://www.tiogringo.com/aruba.html

Have fun!
Mark

Hey Tio Gringo!
Thanks for the link!
Really enjoyed your pictures & reading all about Aruba. Looks like we'll be choosing Eagle Beach.
Thanks again, Tricia