Janice

We will be in Aruba for the day and evening as a port of call 8AM to 11PM
on Good Friday 2000. What will still
be open for us to do?? I'm concerned
about shopping and restaurants, bars
and casinos for the nightlife and of
course will the beaches be open to
cruise passengers? I was hoping to
spend the day at the Manchebo Beach
and eat dinner at the French Steakhouse.
Please let me know so I can make
alternative plans while I still can.
Thanks.
Janice

June

Janice, go stright to the Hyat on your day in Aruba. Casino will be open as well as all their restaurant. They are all great. As a matter of fact My family and I will be there too this Good Friday! Enjoy!

Lee

Janice: Just about everything should be open.

Shopping is done in Oranjestad, the capital.

The Manchebo Beach is a resort, not a public "beach". The best beach area is Palm Beach which is farther up the coastline. Don't be discouraged, though. It's only a few miles north from Oranjestad and can easily be reached by bus or taxi. Aruba is only 19 miles long and six miles wide.

Palm Beach has many hotels, but we used to walk from hotel beach to hotel beach, have a drink and swim either in the pool or ocean and never were questioned. Take a bus and get off at the Hyatt, Marriott or wherever and just walk the beach. Dinner at just about any restaurant is good. I like the windmill, but it's pricey (they all are!).

The only issue will be changing clothes, but maybe your "contact", being June, will help out a bit. Buy her and hers a drink or something.

The "nightlife" as far as discos and such don't get going till after midnight, I believe.

Have fun!

April

To Lee: ALL beaches in Aruba are public beaches! Janice is fond of the Manchebo as she stayed there this past summer. But, I agree with you..Palm Beach is a nicer area with better beach and nicer hotels. But, not everyone prefers the hi-rise area and Manchebo and Bucuti are small laid back european style resorts.

karen

Hi Janice: We were in Aruba last year on one of their holidays. All the shops in town were closed however the hotel shops and restaurants for the most part were open.If you have the whole day in Aruba why don't you spend the morning at Manchebo Beach go back to the ship for lunch and a change and then up to the Holiday Inn and Hyatt area at Palm Beach, this area has lots of spots for drinks and dinner and its very pretty at sunset time. Its also very safe to walk the beach at night in this area and then you could pop into one of the casinos. We have walked from the Palm Beach area to Manchebo Beach area many times it is a lovely walk with only a slight break away from the beach just before Eagle Beach. There are alot of spots to get a cold drink. Don't let the closing of the downtown during Good Friday spoil your visit, it is the beaches which are really Aruba's claim to fame. If your also going to Curacao you'll have plenty of shopping available to you there.Karen