jennbaby--aruba question for you

hi there,

can you post the link to your aruba book?? i can't find it & i want to put together a list of restaurants, etc.. for my parents--they're going to aruba this weekend....


also--is there a duty free shop in the aruba airport???


thanks!!!

OMG they are SOOOO lucky, I am jealous!

Here it is, also the ladies here can suggest some restaurants that may not be on here. I am yet to try them all

Aruba!

Rent a Jeep:
NOT a car but a jeep!
I strongly recommend this. Aruba offers jeep tours but renting your own is your best bet! You get to tour the island at your OWN pace. The tour Is a full day and limits the time you want to spend.
You can also do a four wheel drive tour of the island if you do decide to do a tour.
Tour the Island:
Natural Bridge, Natural pool, (snorkel here, bring your own snorkeling stuff) old gold mine ruins, open air chapel (church), Build a rock & make a wish (you will see rock “formations” that people build & you and your honey build your own rocks & make a wish!) Baby Beach, simply beautiful & great snorkeling!! Also The Tunnel of Love caves. (Bats in here but they don’t bother you). And there is a beautiful Butterfly Farm near the Marriot.

Theres Tattoo dinner party cruise (we didnt care for) and the Kuku Kunuku bus!!

Restaurants:

EL GAUCHO (downtown) - primarily a steak house - the best you’ve ever had - if you want to go...make a reservation the FIRST day you get there...otherwise you may not get one. Or make one online before you leave at : http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/

CAFE BACI - at the Wyndham Hotel - cute place - good Italian - very inexpensive (as far as Aruba food goes)

PAGO PAGO – also at the Wyndham – delicious! Somewhat expensive

LE PETIT CAFE (downtown) - nice place to eat lunch outdoors on the sidewalk while shopping.

LA TRATORRIA IL FARO - at the base of the California Lighthouse - great Italian - reserve early -ask for patio dining at sunset. Best view of the island & very romantic!

BOONOONOONOOS - ( downtown) - Caribbean Food - very different menu - good

MADAME JANETTES’S – have not gone – but gets rave reviews from several people
I know..

CHALET SUISSE - along Eagle Beach near - go a bit early to avoid the crowds - great steak.

CHARLIE’s BAR (in San Nicolas) - MUST visit and see and have a drink -Food is OK not GREAT but it’s still worth the visit.

Blossoms-Inside the Wyndham-like Benihana but better! Food great & chef performs a great :”show”

Amazonia-Brazilian-All you can eat salad bar & meat. VERY good!

Also recommended:


The Flying Fishbone – wonderful ! seafood - located in Savaneta (on the way to San Nicholas) reserve a table EARLY & request water table.


Ruinas Del Mar - at the Hyatt Regency - ROMANTIC !!!! -outside under the stars - expensive -waterfalls, swans, candles...RESERVE EARLY!

Pavarotti - lots of people got sick from the food here!

Waterfront Crab House - not consistent - overpriced
In my opinion)
Twinkletones - - dinner show - -food not so good.

SUPERMARKETS: This is good for snacks or those with timeshares to cook in your room & save some $$! There are a few new ones on the main road out of town heading north - awesome selection - great meats!- beer and wine available at all I think. Fresh bakery too. Both are on the right side of the main road heading from town north. Prices are in Aruban money - almost double American.

WATER SPORTS & BEACHES:
Eagle Beach- Gentle waves - not much to see with snorkel - maybe an occasional fish. The high rise hotels are in the Palm Beach area - more congested - still a nice beach but not AS nice as Eagle (in my opinion).

A bit further north you will come upon beaches in the MALMOK area (not sure if there are signs)........Look for crusty coral edges overhanging the water with lots of pelicans hanging out. This is the BEST place for snorkeling. Water is not rough and there are tons of fish to see - swim along the barnacle wall along shore - you don’t have to go out deep at all.

The south end of the island is another trip........drive south on the main road through town and continue all the way into San Nicolas...find Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolas. Follow signs for Seroe Colorado and Baby Beach. At Baby Beach......you will see a small opening at the mouth of the lagoon where everyone is snorkeling. If you swim through the opening into the open waters...you will see more fish. The waters can sometimes be a bit rough here - so use caution. I was nervous here in the open and tended to stay right near the opening of the lagoon. I found the snorkeling most relaxing at MALMOK.

Other than Baby Beach...all of the beaches on the south and east side of the island and very rough and dangerous. DO NOT SWIM HERE!!! Drive out to Boca Grande and you will see miles of deserted beaches...park anywhere and wade in the waves but don’t try to go in swimming here - very bad undertow.

You can take a trip out to DE PALM island to snorkel and have lunch. The ferry runs from a pier a bit out of town. Follow the main road south from through town and watch for the Drive In screen on the left.......on the right side of the road near the screen...you will see the signs for the DePalm Island ferry. I think it runs every 1/2 hour or so. There is a small restaurant and bar on the island....bathrooms......tables...lounges. Bring frozen peas to feed the giant blue parrot fish. Nice snorkeling here too. Try to go when there is NO cruise ship in town...so it will be less crowded. Trips to this place are sold all over as a package but it is cheaper to just go yourself.

CASINOS: La Cabana (separate building -all lit up and at the Crystal Casino downtown at the Sonesta . We have had good winning luck at the Crystal Casino. We also like the casino at the Radisson, the Wyndham & the Allegro & the Allahambra!

YOU MUST GO VISIT THE HYATT AT NIGHT AND SEE THE LANDSCAPING AND POOL AREA...IT IS BEAUTIFUL!

SHOPPING: For the largest selection of cheap souvenirs...PORT OF CALL market place right next to the Cruise Ship terminal - a small mall with a few good some shops. for local art - and figurines. Lots to choose from downtown for shopping - great prices on perfume and jewelry (some). Fun just to window shop too.

TRANSPORTATION - We always rent a JEEP for about $300 per week. We like to drive around and explore.

We rent from TOP DRIVE
You see them right when you come out of the airport across the street!

There is a very good bus system which runs the length of the island and is cheap but I am not sure how frequently the buses run. There are LOTS of sights you can’t get to by bus. Cabs are reasonable but can add up if you use them every day and night.

Any more questions ask away!

EL GAUCHO YUMMY!!!!

Betty your avatar is soo fun!!!

I'm not jen but hope this helps. My review:


So, after a lot of honeymoon research we ended up goong to Aruba and we were so happy we did. We LOVED it. My review base don 1-10.

Liberty Travel, Suzanne Hogan- 7. I really liked working w/ Suzanne (very sweet) and she even called us back to save $$ when airfare dropped AFTER we had already booked it BUT we were very dissaponted when we got to the hotel. After a lot of opinions we booked Radisson. All balcony rooms, on the beach etc.. When we got there we had to pay a lot of extra $$ to upgrade to an ocean view room b/c it said standard on our reservations. Standard means basement, LOL!!!!! DH was not happy with that.

Radisson Aruba- 10. After much arguing at the front desk and after more $$ we got the room of our dreams. Radisson is totally worth the extra $$ but MAKE SURE IT SAYS OCEAN VIEW ON YOUR VOUCHER before leaving to Aruba. I actually think all the hotels are very nice but Radisson is more tropical and beautiful. Great food too.

Amercian Airlines, 10. Great Flight, great service.

Food:
El Gaucho, 7.5- You need to make reservations. DH and I are BIG TIME meat eaters here in NY so we were really looking forward to this famous restaurant and it was a little disappointing. Neither one of us were blown away by the meat. It was good just not great. Very expensive. We won’t go back if and when we go back to Aruba. $50 pp

Laguna Restaurant, 10. Soooooooooooooooooo good. Great seafood. We had the red Snapper and it was delicious. $40 pp

Amazonia, 10. Best steak house in Aruba IMO. DH and I loved it. It is more expensive than El Gaucho but worth it. It is a Brazilian Churrasqueria so it’s fun too. Make reservations. A must go. $60 pp

Sylvia’s house, 3. Gross!! Don’t go. It’s in town so chances are you won’t but it was part of our dinner package with the Kukoo Kunuku.

Carlos N Charlies- 6. O.K Mexican Food. Not my favorite but edible.

Activities:

Jungle Tour, 10!!! DH and I loved it. It is an all day jeep tour and you get to see most of the island. DH drove the jeep so he loved it. You get VERY dirty so wear old clothes. You Snorkel too so wear sunscreen. We booked through DePalm tours. $65 pp

Sunset Sail, 10. Also through DePalm tours. What could be better then watching the sunset on a Catamaran with open bar and your new hubby……………..NOTHING!!!!!!! Do it!!!!!! $35 pp.

Kukuu Kunuku, 9. Bar hopping in a colorful bus was fun. You hit 3 separate bars and you get 1 free drink at each. A lot of fun. $65 pp.

Mexican Night at Carlos N Charlies, 10. Soooo much fun. Like your in Cancun on Sping Break. $60 pp.


I know I’m forgetting something but I hope this helps some. Overall it is a very relaxing and peaceful place for a honeymoon. DH and I really enjoyed ourselves and met great couples in the process. I recommend it.

We also got massages at Indulgence by the Sea Spa. I LOVED it.

thanks girls!!!!!!!!

Just got back from Aruba & loved it!
DH and I are torn in opinions of El Gaucho- I loved it, he was disappointed.

There's a new place called Simply Fish in the Marriott hotel. They seat you right on the ocean and the food is out of this WORLD! Depending on where your parents are staying, it's easy to walk to. Same atmosphere as Flying Fishbone, but easier to get to & nicer IMO.

The Texas-Brazilian places are all delicious! The food there is marinated to perfection (all over Aruba)

There's also Tuscany in the Marriott as well, great Italian food- very nice atmosphere.

Hope that helps

MV, me & my DH will try Simply Fish when we go in May.

Thanks

You bet- as soon as I fire up the scanner, I'll show you the pictures- who doesn't love looking at Aruba I want to go back, NOW!

The menu is limited, but oh so delicious!

OK bet, I wanna see!!!!

May we go back for 1 yr anniv, I wish it was now

PICS PICS!!!!

Oh man, it's so hard being home in the cold.. and I'm still tan (well, tan for me- freckles ) I'll get hubby to scan some pics tonight- so I can relive last week over and over again

Start scanning MV!

Kris me too, I LOVE Aruba, people ask us 'You're going there again?!' , we say yep!

I want to see the pics too, Aruba FANATIC here as well!!

Stace I felt so bad you can't go this weekend, here's

Thanks Jenn, it was a good lesson I learned though--don't wait to book for friends since flights go up and down--Gary and I are still taking the week off together, and we need it so badly. We are going up to Mohegan overnight though so I am looking forward to that, although it is NO Aruba!