2 More Aruba Questions

For those of you that have been there or are going there do you think 8 days is enough or would you recommend 10? Also how much do you think I should allow for spending money. I know it really depends on the couple. We want to spend a lot of time relaxing maybe do 2 to 3 activities and go out to really nice dinners every night.
I am having a hard time deciding everything because money is an issue and I just dont know how to spend it.
I am not sure whether to go with a room that is more affordable or stay for less time or do less activities? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks guys

I think 8 days there is plenty, although I could stay for a year and not be satisfied!
As for money, it depends on where you stay and where you will have dinner each night. Will you shop there? As for activitires, if you rent a jeep and go scuba diving, if you snorkel & bring your own gear, this is free....oh and horseback riding on the beach costs as well as the party bus & dinner cruise...it all depends on you as a couple and what you like to do.

my opinion.....

we did jeep tour, scuba diving, and rented a jeep for a day...otherwise we relaxed at the pool or beach....

we easily spent $100 a night on dinner.....not much on breakfast...maybe $50 on lunch and drinks throughout the day....

we stayed at the Radisson and got the middle room...we saved by getting partial ocean view...and honestly it was beautiful...we weren't really in the room much...unless it was late at night and then the view didn't matter much...we saved $100 or so a night doing that....

we only stayed Sunday to Sunday...ofcourse I would have loved to stay longer, but I wouldn't say it was 'necessary'...8 would have been perfect probably...if you can't swing it, don't feel like you need 10 b/c the flight is short...so you have part of those days.

My husband doesn't get paid time off...so every day mattered to us, but I wouldn't say we skimped on our honeymoon at all......

oh and we did a 'honeymoon delight' massage/scrub etc... one day!($350)

any other questions feel free to e-mail me too.

oh and for anyone interested in the Aruba Radisson, here is a mini movie clip of the rooms, pool etc:

Radisson Aruba

I went from a Monday to the following Tuesday and that was plenty, but like the other girls I could have stayed longer...but it was my honeymoon!

We brought $2500 in spending money and came home with $1500. We did win some money in the casinos (hubby won $450 one night!). We didn't spend $100 a night for dinners but we did go out every night for dinner spending about $70 max. Some money on breakfast and lunches here and there as well. We snorkeled and rented jet skis and did the booze bus (definitely do the Kukoo Kunuko bus!) but we did a lot of relaxing on the beach and by the pool. We didn't tour the island and do a ton of activities though either...that will be our next trip in November next year since we bought a time share!!

Any questions, please ask!

stacedz, I wanted to buy a time share, but he wasn't into it! If you haven't booked yet, have you considered an all inclusive? We stayed at the Divi, with all breakfasts, lunches and dinners included - any drink you want all day long and also brick oven pizza and grilled sandwiches all day, plus the ability to use the resort, the Tam next door. I think it cost us 4500 for 8 nights with airfare. If not, for spending money, I would say also at least 100 each night for dinner (once or twice it was 60 or 70). Jet skis are like 55$, the party bus was $110 for both, sunset sail was 50$ for both, snorkel trip was 110$ for both, and I think that's it. the all inclusive also included a dinner at another resort on the sand by the ocean, it was great. I would say if not doing the all inclusive, about 2000$ would safely cover it, you would probably have 3 or 4 hundred left over, but you don't want to cut it that close. Also, I'm not taking into consideration if you like to gamble, we went to the casino about 4 nights, and lost unfortunately!
edited to say that I think that 8 days is plenty, and better than 7, because you kind of lose that first and last day to travelling.

We went for 10 days and I thought that was perfect. I personally would have felt that 7-8 wasn't enough, but I always want more! We stayed in an all-inclusive place so we didn't pay for most breakfast/lunch(well, we payed in the overall price, but when you go all-inclusive it doesn't seem like you pay!) We did go out to dinner probably 3 nights and ate at the restaurants @ our hotel(Allegro Aruba.) We went horse back riding(which we got free for sitting through a time share talk for an hour, all hotels have these, you can get different activities for free!) We also went on a jeep tour and the kuko bus(definately do that!!)
Good luck!!

Jennbaby

That link didn't work

I really have to recommend you eat at the Flying Fish Bone! The food is great and the atmosphere fantastic! You are literally sitting at a table in the sand by the water's edge. Everyone takes off their shoes. It's not a real dressy place but not a casual one either. This has to be my favorite resturant of all times! Make sure you get a reservation for sunset. Views are spactacular!

Oh yeah~ we spent 5 days there for our HM and it was too short!

Kelly

here is the link

copy & paste & click here, try both.
Views of the Radisson Aruba rooms & facilities:

http://www.hotelview.com/cobrand/default.asp

http://www.hotelview.com/cobrand/default.asp

we are doing 8 days in 2 weeks!!!! Can't wait! We haven't decided how much spending $$ we are bringing. We do have breakfasts included and a $200 food/beverage credit at the Radisson, so that helps. I definitely want to do the jeep tour and the kuku kunuku bus, and maybe a sunset cruise or dinner on the beach. Maybe go snorkeling. We plan to play it by ear.

I do know that if you go on the kuku kunuku website, you can make a reservation online and save some $$.