Opinion- Hawaii or Aruba??
Nov 3rd, 1999, 01:25 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Opinion- Hawaii or Aruba??
Help...
Me and hubby are planning a vacation next year for our anniversary and were considering Maui, Hawaii or Aruba?? Please advise as to which place is better??? We've never been to either islands...
We are looking for someplace fun and romantic.... (least expensive) Please advise..
Thx
Me and hubby are planning a vacation next year for our anniversary and were considering Maui, Hawaii or Aruba?? Please advise as to which place is better??? We've never been to either islands...
We are looking for someplace fun and romantic.... (least expensive) Please advise..
Thx
Nov 3rd, 1999, 06:37 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
My husband and I went to Aruba in the winter of 1998 and found it to be a very clean, quiet and safe island. The hotels along Palm Beach were beautiful and there is a lighted walkway connecting all of them which is lovely to walk along at night after a nice dinner. The lovliest hotel was the Hyatt with gorgeous waterfall pools and an open air lobby. Most of the hotels on Palm Beach were good and some had casinos and lounges with music although Aruba is not what you would call "lively" say like Acapulco.
I am leaving for Maui on Nov.22 - Dec 6 and will let you know how the islands compare price wise. Aruba was not cheap!!and I hear neither is Maui.
I am leaving for Maui on Nov.22 - Dec 6 and will let you know how the islands compare price wise. Aruba was not cheap!!and I hear neither is Maui.
Nov 3rd, 1999, 06:55 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hawaii and Aruba are at opposite extremes in many respects. I've been to both, many more times to HI, and I'd list pros/cons as follows:
HI pros: among the most beautiful islands in the world with lots of variability from active volcanoes to rain forests to beautiful beaches, etc. etc.
World class resorts and all manner of less expensive options.
Wide variety of excellent restaurants.
Very relaxed and friendly locals and visiting population.
Lots to do, several islands to choose from, reasonably priced inter-island flights.
Predictable weather in many of the popular spots on most islands.
HI cons: can be very expensive depending on what you choose to do, where you stay. Air is seldom cheap. Accommodations vary widely. Food is reasonable.
Safe, almost no poverty factor.
Aruba pros: extremely predictable weather (it's a desert island complete with cacti, sand dunes)
Very friendly islanders.
Very safe, good/stable island economy with no "Caribbean poverty factor"
Not too expensive.
Many decent lodging options with a few very nice places.
Casinos, if that's your thing.
Aruba cons: very small island.
Restaurant/lodging options more limited than in HI.
Very little vegetation. Flat, barren island.
Constant winds and fine sand beaches result in a near constant 'sandblasting effect' on your skin if you're up walking around. It's OK if you're in or at the water, but laying on the beach can be a little irritating on very windy days.
Overall: for a romantic getaway, you won't find a better destination than Hawaii if you can swing it financially.
Aruba is a very nice and relaxing/low stress vacation choice and most people find it a very satisfying experience. I love the desert, and Aruba appeals to me in a curious way for that reason. It's much less diverse and not nearly as beatiful as HI. It's got a lot going for it, but it's not in the same league as HI.
HI pros: among the most beautiful islands in the world with lots of variability from active volcanoes to rain forests to beautiful beaches, etc. etc.
World class resorts and all manner of less expensive options.
Wide variety of excellent restaurants.
Very relaxed and friendly locals and visiting population.
Lots to do, several islands to choose from, reasonably priced inter-island flights.
Predictable weather in many of the popular spots on most islands.
HI cons: can be very expensive depending on what you choose to do, where you stay. Air is seldom cheap. Accommodations vary widely. Food is reasonable.
Safe, almost no poverty factor.
Aruba pros: extremely predictable weather (it's a desert island complete with cacti, sand dunes)
Very friendly islanders.
Very safe, good/stable island economy with no "Caribbean poverty factor"
Not too expensive.
Many decent lodging options with a few very nice places.
Casinos, if that's your thing.
Aruba cons: very small island.
Restaurant/lodging options more limited than in HI.
Very little vegetation. Flat, barren island.
Constant winds and fine sand beaches result in a near constant 'sandblasting effect' on your skin if you're up walking around. It's OK if you're in or at the water, but laying on the beach can be a little irritating on very windy days.
Overall: for a romantic getaway, you won't find a better destination than Hawaii if you can swing it financially.
Aruba is a very nice and relaxing/low stress vacation choice and most people find it a very satisfying experience. I love the desert, and Aruba appeals to me in a curious way for that reason. It's much less diverse and not nearly as beatiful as HI. It's got a lot going for it, but it's not in the same league as HI.
Nov 4th, 1999, 12:11 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Agree with the above poster! However, regarding the "poverty" factor on Aruba: Although you won't find grinding poverty on the island I still felt that the neighborhoods I had to drive through were still rather rundown and somewhat dismal looking and I did NOT feel comfortable attempting to drive around the island at all, and I felt compelled to turn around and drive back to Palm Beach because of the "comfort" factor (and because I personally felt the scenery was DISMAL!) So, naturally, my choice for you would ALWAYS be Hawaii! You will feel EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE there -- I guarantee it!!
Nov 4th, 1999, 12:12 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Agree with the above poster! However, regarding the "poverty" factor on Aruba: Although you won't find grinding poverty on the island I still felt that the neighborhoods I had to drive through were still rather rundown and somewhat dismal looking and I did NOT feel comfortable attempting to drive around the island at all, and I felt compelled to turn around and drive back to Palm Beach because of the "comfort" factor (and because I personally felt the scenery was DISMAL!) So, naturally, my choice for you would ALWAYS be Hawaii! You will feel EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE there -- I guarantee it!!
Nov 4th, 1999, 10:13 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
To Bob: I try to be as open minded as possible when offering advice here, not knowing what biases others might have and what they consider 'nice' or 'beautiful' or distasteful, etc. So in one sense, I agree with you that travelling to the southeastern side of the island exposes a bit of the underbelly of Aruba. The reason I don't find it to be such a problem is that compared to many OTHER Caribbean islands I've been to, Aruba's 'underbelly' is like suburbia. My wife dropped a book of travelers checks on a side street, I recall, about 1993. Not one of the touristy areas. One of a group of local teen boys spotted it and ran after us to return it. I won't soon forget that kind of attitude, and it colors my view of Aruba. As you note, and I feel strongly (has been debated here before both ways) no place in the Caribbean can match Hawaii as a vacation destination (except in cost and proximity).
Nov 6th, 1999, 10:03 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi,
I second Cameron's opinion on all accounts. My husband and I have traveled to Maui and Kauai. Hawaii is our favorite destination. We prefer Kauai as it is not as commercial as Maui. It truly is the garden of paradise. Hawaii is expensive. Get ready to spend money. We love Aruba too. It comes in second place. It is much more affordable. Of all the Caribbean islands, it is by far the most laid back and has the least poverty. We rented a car and drove the entire island in a day. We felt no fear at all. For us, it was a wonderful, affordable getaway. Completely relaxing and a stressfree vacation. We are going back in March
to the Marriott. We stayed at the Marriott in Hawaii too. Thumbs up on the Marriott properties in both areas.
Good luck and have fun!
I second Cameron's opinion on all accounts. My husband and I have traveled to Maui and Kauai. Hawaii is our favorite destination. We prefer Kauai as it is not as commercial as Maui. It truly is the garden of paradise. Hawaii is expensive. Get ready to spend money. We love Aruba too. It comes in second place. It is much more affordable. Of all the Caribbean islands, it is by far the most laid back and has the least poverty. We rented a car and drove the entire island in a day. We felt no fear at all. For us, it was a wonderful, affordable getaway. Completely relaxing and a stressfree vacation. We are going back in March
to the Marriott. We stayed at the Marriott in Hawaii too. Thumbs up on the Marriott properties in both areas.
Good luck and have fun!
Jan 4th, 2000, 07:34 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm going to Hawaii for the first time, this year. However, last year we did the cheapest vacation I have ever done (Caribbean) - to Aruba. I want to say that we used Sun Vacations (or something like that).. anyway. We went in October, stayed at the Holiday Inn on Palm beach, and with roundtrip airfare and partial ocean view room (king bed), for 9 nights, the cost was about 900.00 each... not including food. Granted, travel times SUCKED.. plus a stop in Puerto Rico.. but other than that it was dirt cheap. The beaches are beautiful. The interior of the island is the desert (with mucho cactus!) that everyone talked about. I liked it. I loved the people there. So friendly. And I frankly felt completely safe.. and we drove all over the island (with a rental)... if you go to Aruba you MUST do the KUKU CANUKU bar-hopping bus tour (and dinner). It was the most fun! I can't recommend it enough. Too much fun.
Anyway, I'd go back to Aruba. The hotels along Palm beach are beautiful (the holiday inn was your oridinary holiday inn, but the beach was buttttttter!). The lighted boardwalk along the beach that connects all the hotels on Palm beach is really neat. The Hyatt is the most beautiful hotel on Palm beach. I'd stay there if you can afford it. Otherwise, stay at the H.I. and just mosey down to the Hyatt and swim in their pool and hang at the bar. (bring your own towel- non hotel). It is so beautiful. I'd do Aruba again, no doubt. The snorkling tours there are so much fun. We did 4 of them; all different. Each was totally worth it.
Anyway, I'd go back to Aruba. The hotels along Palm beach are beautiful (the holiday inn was your oridinary holiday inn, but the beach was buttttttter!). The lighted boardwalk along the beach that connects all the hotels on Palm beach is really neat. The Hyatt is the most beautiful hotel on Palm beach. I'd stay there if you can afford it. Otherwise, stay at the H.I. and just mosey down to the Hyatt and swim in their pool and hang at the bar. (bring your own towel- non hotel). It is so beautiful. I'd do Aruba again, no doubt. The snorkling tours there are so much fun. We did 4 of them; all different. Each was totally worth it.
Jan 5th, 2000, 10:02 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
1. To Jan:
Where will you be departing from Jan? If you are on the W. Coast it is much easier to get to Hawaii and the airfare is much cheaper.
You can save a lot by renting an apt. or condo. instead of staying in a hotel.
Frommers.com lists 'budget' accomodations which look pretty decent and their daily newsletter tells you about a lot of deals.
See my post of url's for more resources.
Keep us posted!
2. To Lisa:
lisa wrote:
"The Hyatt is the most beautiful hotel on Palm beach. I'd stay there if you can afford it. Otherwise, stay at the H.I. and just mosey down to the Hyatt and swim in their pool and hang at the bar. (bring your own towel- non hotel)."
They let you swim in their pool if you are not staying there??!!
Nice to see you enjoyed it so much.
Where will you be departing from Jan? If you are on the W. Coast it is much easier to get to Hawaii and the airfare is much cheaper.
You can save a lot by renting an apt. or condo. instead of staying in a hotel.
Frommers.com lists 'budget' accomodations which look pretty decent and their daily newsletter tells you about a lot of deals.
See my post of url's for more resources.
Keep us posted!
2. To Lisa:
lisa wrote:
"The Hyatt is the most beautiful hotel on Palm beach. I'd stay there if you can afford it. Otherwise, stay at the H.I. and just mosey down to the Hyatt and swim in their pool and hang at the bar. (bring your own towel- non hotel)."
They let you swim in their pool if you are not staying there??!!
Nice to see you enjoyed it so much.
Jan 5th, 2000, 01:26 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Noah,
Just chiming in here - I don't think most hotels actually check out who's around their pool; how would they, without annoying guests? But I've never had the nerve to swim at a hotel that I wasn't staying at! Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right to me. What do others out there think?
Just chiming in here - I don't think most hotels actually check out who's around their pool; how would they, without annoying guests? But I've never had the nerve to swim at a hotel that I wasn't staying at! Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right to me. What do others out there think?
Jan 5th, 2000, 02:08 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi...my husband is the General Manager of a Hyatt in Tampa..so I'm sort of smiling at this post. 
gt;
Your instincts are right, they would rather you not swim in their pool if you are not a guest. Depending on the hotel, chairs are at a premium (Hilton Head always and ours in season, off the top of my head). Most, but far from all non-guests would be sensitive to that I would think. And of course there's the expense of maintaining the pool area and towels there..staff that straigtens chairs, pick up cups, bring towels to bins etc. Obviously their cost of their wages comes from a room rate.
We are located on Tampa Bay and also have a dock. We had some families coming in on their boats during the summer when it's so hot, get out to use the pool, often bringing their own drinks off the boat and using hotel towels. That's unreasonable and a sign was posted at the dock which stemmed the tide somewhat.
All of the hotels have security that patrols the area on a regular basis, but in truth, if you aren't creating a commotion somehow, if you fit in appearance-wise with everyone else, the chances are slim that they would ever question you...unless someone spotted you walking in from the outside. And even then it'd be mild and always always always politely!
gt; Your instincts are right, they would rather you not swim in their pool if you are not a guest. Depending on the hotel, chairs are at a premium (Hilton Head always and ours in season, off the top of my head). Most, but far from all non-guests would be sensitive to that I would think. And of course there's the expense of maintaining the pool area and towels there..staff that straigtens chairs, pick up cups, bring towels to bins etc. Obviously their cost of their wages comes from a room rate.
We are located on Tampa Bay and also have a dock. We had some families coming in on their boats during the summer when it's so hot, get out to use the pool, often bringing their own drinks off the boat and using hotel towels. That's unreasonable and a sign was posted at the dock which stemmed the tide somewhat.
All of the hotels have security that patrols the area on a regular basis, but in truth, if you aren't creating a commotion somehow, if you fit in appearance-wise with everyone else, the chances are slim that they would ever question you...unless someone spotted you walking in from the outside. And even then it'd be mild and always always always politely!
Jan 6th, 2000, 07:12 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
My husband and I have both been to Hawaii (Maui and Kauai) and Aruba. We visited Hawaii 3 years ago for our honeymoon and Aruba last year.
We enjoyed Hawaii tremendously and it was worth the 12 hour flight. If you are interested in Maui, I would highly recommend the Hyatt. There is lots to do in Maui and it is incredibly beautiful.
Aruba on the other hand, was not as much of a pleasant trip for us. I was three months pregnant during our trip and since we are both not smokers, trying to find a casino or a dinner event that had any non-smoking accomodations was impossible. The island is not as pretty as Hawaii. The restaurants and shopping is wonderful. Be prepared to be stopped by many people trying to sell you timeshare.
If cost is not an issue, definitely go for Hawaii. Aruba is nice but I'm sure there are better destinations at the same price.
Good luck.
We enjoyed Hawaii tremendously and it was worth the 12 hour flight. If you are interested in Maui, I would highly recommend the Hyatt. There is lots to do in Maui and it is incredibly beautiful.
Aruba on the other hand, was not as much of a pleasant trip for us. I was three months pregnant during our trip and since we are both not smokers, trying to find a casino or a dinner event that had any non-smoking accomodations was impossible. The island is not as pretty as Hawaii. The restaurants and shopping is wonderful. Be prepared to be stopped by many people trying to sell you timeshare.
If cost is not an issue, definitely go for Hawaii. Aruba is nice but I'm sure there are better destinations at the same price.
Good luck.
