Aruba honeymooners (and others who've been) - JENNBABY, this means you! :-)

I need advice! DH and I keep changing our vacation plans and Aruba's the latest possibility. Can someone give me some good places to stay, perhaps some that are all-inclusive? Or is that even worthwhile?

A friend of mine stayed at a placed called Tamarijin Aruba Beach Resort...anyone know anything about this one??

Also, if anyone knows of any packages that would be valid for early March, I'd love to hear them. This travel planning is getting WAY to stressful and we need to make a decision SOON.

Thanks!!

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.

I saw Tamarijn and it looked O.K.

You lucky dogs!!

I stayed at a few places, and our favorite was the Radisson.

If you want all inclusive, the Allegro offers it. It's very nice. Other places also, but not many.

I use In & Out Travel, they always get us the best prices & most for our $, we used them 2 times so far & I always compare & they are the best, and most knwoledgeable about places from what I see.


We are in the process of booking our wedding anniversary trip with them, and possibly a trip for Thanksgiving weekend now.

I also posted more about Aruba on Newlywed board. go look.

Alison, that is where Keith and I went for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Wyndham and opted for an all-inclusive package. I posted a review after the wedding. If you can't find it, email me. You haven't emailed me in a while anyway

Becky FM!

we are going to Aruba for our honeymoon. We are going to stay at the Whyndam-All Inclusive.

My father is paying for the honeymoon, as our wedding gift, so we opted to go all inclusive, since we are so used to traveling that way. I love to have all the food and drinks I want, without having to manage money on our honeymoon! i

I can't wait to go! I am so excited!

Radisson Radisson Radisson!!!!

I don't recommend all-inclusive, unless they have a dine around program. There are too many FANTASTIC restaurants to eat at, and the island is very safe so there is no need to trap yourself at the resort. JMO

I don't recommend all inclusive either, not in Aruba

edited to say I also stayed at tHe Wyndham for our HM, I sent you FM. Radisson is much nicer, IMO.

Don't do all inclusive, too many good places to eat and definitely book early. Flights go way up and down by the day, that is why we aren't using our timeshare this weekend in Aruba! BOOK EARLY!