aruba

---

Posted by LR5883

ok, I don't want to cause any problems but I am really confused. Are you saying all the low rise hotels are across the street from the beach? There are plenty of low-rise hotels that are directly on the beach.

---

No. Not all, but most. Make sure when you book it, it says on beach and not ocean front. the strip of low rises near the high rise are all across the street , the low rise all the way at the beginning of the strip up by the mall are on the beach, very far from the high rise and the restaurants like aqua grill, sunset grill, le dome, suisse chalet, amazonia, la trattoria by the lighthouse, Le Petit, smokey joes, there are so many restaurants too many to list that are in the high rise area. the 2 french ones are on the low rise area but not near the low rise beach area. If you rent a jeep you will be fine. taxis are expensive and too far too walk to, too. Plus to really see the island you need to tour it on your own, I highly rec it. Either way low or high Aruba is beautiful.

thanks for clarifying! We actually already booked..we're staying at the bucuti which is on the beach, I think it actually has a private beach. We looked at the low-rises in this area which are on the beach, I guess I didn't realize that so many were not.

I cannot *wait* for our HM!!

---

Posted by LR5883

thanks for clarifying! We actually already booked..we're staying at the bucuti which is on the beach, I think it actually has a private beach. We looked at the low-rises in this area which are on the beach, I guess I didn't realize that so many were not.

I cannot *wait* for our HM!!

---

Oh yea, Bucuti its right next to that casino- alahambra , the divi all inclusive and the dunkin donuts- where you have to try the guava donuts. It is really nice over there, very quiet and you are all the way up not far at all from the mall, carlos n charlies ( but it was a dump when we went, they were doing construction on that street), you are not near the high rise at all. oh and at that divi resort- you can walk to it too, if you like to get your film developed and cheap - it cost 6.99 no tax and they develop them in 20 minutes!!!! Im impatient and b/c it was our HM I wanted to make sure ALL of my pictures came out before we got home and then its too late. It is beautiful where you are staying! Very private too!!!

---

Posted by LR5883

thanks for clarifying! We actually already booked..we're staying at the bucuti which is on the beach, I think it actually has a private beach. We looked at the low-rises in this area which are on the beach, I guess I didn't realize that so many were not.

I cannot *wait* for our HM!!

---

i was looking into the bucuti - it looks/sounds great.... can you FM your package info.. i emailed a TA from beachbum, but would love an honest opinion and all your details on your HM..

thanks..

---

Posted by girlygrl33


Oh yea, Bucuti its right next to that casino- alahambra , the divi all inclusive and the dunkin donuts- where you have to try the guava donuts. It is really nice over there, very quiet and you are all the way up not far at all from the mall, carlos n charlies ( but it was a dump when we went, they were doing construction on that street), you are not near the high rise at all. oh and at that divi resort- you can walk to it too, if you like to get your film developed and cheap - it cost 6.99 no tax and they develop them in 20 minutes!!!! Im impatient and b/c it was our HM I wanted to make sure ALL of my pictures came out before we got home and then its too late. It is beautiful where you are staying! Very private too!!!

---

and thanks for the film developing tip!

My DH and i stayed at the Tamarijn All Inclusive resort on our honeymoon because we wanted similar things to you guys. When I say that the majority of the Tam's rooms are just steps away from the water, I'm not kidding. The sister resort, the Divi is just down the beach and we liked that we could use both facilities, but we prefered ours. Our room was on the second floor so we had a great time watching the sun set each night on our balcony. We were also on the side closer to the water activities hut and rarely had trouble getting snorkel equipement.

The activities the resorts host are worth a try. My DH and I LOVED a guided bike-snorkel-bike tour we went on. This was done by their 'Fun Leaders' and it was great. Since DH and i are cyclists we also loved that fact that the Tam had bikes to borrow with locks. We took them deep into Oranjsted, to the Aruba Aloe factory (we NEEDED that place), and to the California Lighthouse. Navigating Aruba's roads was safe and easy--even I wasn't nervous riding w/o a helmet and I'm typically the bicycle safety queen.

The food at the Tam wasn't fabulous, but it wasn't terrible either. There is enough variety that I was able to find something to eat at each meal. We actually only ate outside of our resort only 1 time, and that was at the 'Newlywed dinner' on the beach...at the High Rise sister resort. lol They also have a snack shack that's open almost all the time and has a lot of 'safe' foods.

We LOVED aruba for various reasons. My only advice. Bring, wear and reapply your sunscreen!

We stayed at the Divi All Inclusive and I would definitely do it again!
The only part that I didnt like were the rooms need some updating but we arent picky that way and the beach couldnt be beat!
I used tripadvisor.com to do research.

Hi ladies!!
Quick question.. ok prolly not quick answers...
We will be going to a TA but just wanted to get an idea...

What I want from a hotel in aruba is... great pool, nice bar (or close )... fun stuff (casino,shopping.. not like water or sightseeing).. i want to lay by beach/pool lots... and thats about it... what is the best one... wyndham? radisson?

TIA

---

Posted by futrmrsblt

Hi ladies!!
Quick question.. ok prolly not quick answers...
We will be going to a TA but just wanted to get an idea...

What I want from a hotel in aruba is... great pool, nice bar (or close )... fun stuff (casino,shopping.. not like water or sightseeing).. i want to lay by beach/pool lots... and thats about it... what is the best one... wyndham? radisson?

TIA

---

At the Marriott I think you can pay $ to reserve a Palapa, so you don't have to wake up super-early to get one. The low rise area has less crowded beaches, but probably not those beautiful pools like at the Radisson. the wyndham pool was very pretty, but the radisson's pool was amazing...

---

Posted by pigs222seal

I am staying at the wyndham which I hear has a beautiful pool. If you plan on laying out on the beach, I hear that you have to get up real early just to get a chair.

---

The beach right in front of the Wyndham is very narrow, so that's probably true, but if you don't mind plopping just your towel down, there is a large expanse of beach with no hotels between the Wyndham nad the Phoenix, where you will have plenty of room to spread out.

---

Posted by ShortBride

---

Posted by futrmrsblt

Hi ladies!!
Quick question.. ok prolly not quick answers...
We will be going to a TA but just wanted to get an idea...

What I want from a hotel in aruba is... great pool, nice bar (or close )... fun stuff (casino,shopping.. not like water or sightseeing).. i want to lay by beach/pool lots... and thats about it... what is the best one... wyndham? radisson?

TIA

---

At the Marriott I think you can pay $ to reserve a Palapa, so you don't have to wake up super-early to get one. The low rise area has less crowded beaches, but probably not those beautiful pools like at the Radisson. the wyndham pool was very pretty, but the radisson's pool was amazing...

---

so between the two radissons pool wins out but not by much? (pools more imporatnt then beach to me.. id walk on a beach but lay out/swim by a pool).. ( i hate animals in the ocean!! haha... thats my own weirdness!)
Ive looked at both online.. thanks.. ill def look into both..
thanks so much... if anyone has any more aruba info please give me anything you can!!
thanks so much ladies

---

so between the two radissons pool wins out but not by much? (pools more imporatnt then beach to me.. id walk on a beach but lay out/swim by a pool).. ( i hate animals in the ocean!! haha... thats my own weirdness!)
Ive looked at both online.. thanks.. ill def look into both..
thanks so much... if anyone has any more aruba info please give me anything you can!!
thanks so much ladies

---

If you really like pools, I would go with the Radisson or the Hyatt, haven't seen the Marriott's pool.

I am like you too where I would never go into the ocean for fear of creepy crawlies but honestly, in Aruba....the ocean was superb.

The sand is packed down so it feels like your walking on a flat surface ...no shells to scratch you...DEF. no seaweed at all.....and the waster was super warm...and believe me, I hate cold ocean water but I was in the ocean more on my HM than my husband was!

Try it out and you'll see what Im talking about.

hi ladies...

any recommendations on outside dining.. i am def going to go to the fishbone - looks great.. i think i might go to MooMba one night (crazy place - happy hour/live music) or divi... we are planning to go to VERY nice restaurants maybe 2 nights.. and then go to casual outside rest. the other nights...

thought i would check with you all - you have the bst advice.. THANKS

I wish I could help but even though we wanted to eat outside, we were getting so bit up by mosquitos that was elected to find indoor restaurants.

The only place we sat outside to eat was at Texas DeBrasil and it was a cool night w/o bugs. Food's great too but its not on the water or anything.