HM question-Aruba.

Would you do an all inclusive hotel or not? Is it worth it or will we want to eat other places in Aruba?
Thx!

it's probably still worth it if you're big drinkers

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Posted by jmgoncal

We're doing it - both because we like to drink AND because we don't want to have to worry about breakfast and lunch. We'll probably wind up going out to dinner a lot anyway (there's at least 5 restaurants in aruba I want to try and we're only there for 9 nights!). We're staying at the Occidental.

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This is also our reasoning about a all-inclusive. We're staying at the Riu

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Posted by jmgoncal

We're doing it - both because we like to drink AND because we don't want to have to worry about breakfast and lunch. We'll probably wind up going out to dinner a lot anyway (there's at least 5 restaurants in aruba I want to try and we're only there for 9 nights!). We're staying at the Occidental.

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This is the main reason we are going to do an all inclusive.. I think that in itself makes it worth it!

You will want to eat other places.
However, depending on how long ur staying, an all inclusive will also be ur best bet. Food gets expensive, and if ur like me... the booze will cost more than the food.

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Posted by Jenyc21

All inclusive! We did that a few yrs ago at the occidental in aruba! LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!! Amazing!! You can always opt out for the dinner and go somewhere else, but breakfast , lunch lots of beverages, pool or beachside? Nothing like it :)

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We're booked for the Occidental this year! Any suggestions???

Nothing specific, other than if you're a dunkin donuts drinker, they have a dunkin donuts tiki hut on the beach, nothing like an iced coffee in ARUBA!!
The weather is just incredible. Just WEAR SUNSCREEN!! OMG I got such a bad wind burn, cause the sun is so strong, and it's windy on top of that. So do not go in the sun without it. I was sorry I was only wearing SPF15, and I didn;t keep applying!!!

The staff there is amazing! Very attentive.

I remember one of the nights we were there, the hotel put on a sunset tiki beach party! Live band, food, drinks, that was so much fun!!!
We didn't venture too too much, just relaxed, drank and relaxed some more :) hehehe. Although the one thing i would suggest you do if you can, is take one of the excursions up to the light house! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
If I think of anything else, I will let you know. When are you going?

we are doing an all inclusive.....

it was between the Hyatt (not all inclusive) and the Riu (all inclusive) and the price difference was about 600.....we figured we would spend 600 alone on breakfast, a lunch here or there and drinks (even waters and sodas are expensive!!!!!!!!) We still plan on going out to eat most nights for dinner, but its nice to know we can stay there if we want to for free......for that small a price, it didn't pay to NOT get the all inclusive

The surrounding areas are extremely expensive. We went into the town to get some goodies, swiss chocolate, and cheese (they are famous for their edam cheese) and it was REALLY expensive but SOOO good

We are not doing all inclusive. We thought about this for a while, one of my favorite things is trying new foods and restaurants and my list of restaurants I want to visit in Aruba is long. so all inclusive would not be worth it for us. I just dont see myself eating in the same place twice when I will be there for only a week.

it definitely paid for us to stay at the riu. we had breakfast and lunch there everyday and drinks were great too!
plus a few dinners, so it was a good idea for us at least.

We are staying at the Occidental in Aruba. When FH & I go away we tend to eat A LOT lol and sometimes we are big drinkers too... so I think it's definitely worth it. We booked through a travel agent and we got a honeymoon special- 1 night is free and also they throw in a couples massage in our room and a dinner on the beach.

I have a good friend who tends to not eat whenever we go on vacation- maybe just a granola bar all day until dinner. If you are like her then the all inclusive might not be worth it lol.

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Posted by Jenyc21

Nothing specific, other than if you're a dunkin donuts drinker, they have a dunkin donuts tiki hut on the beach, nothing like an iced coffee in ARUBA!!
The weather is just incredible. Just WEAR SUNSCREEN!! OMG I got such a bad wind burn, cause the sun is so strong, and it's windy on top of that. So do not go in the sun without it. I was sorry I was only wearing SPF15, and I didn;t keep applying!!!

The staff there is amazing! Very attentive.

I remember one of the nights we were there, the hotel put on a sunset tiki beach party! Live band, food, drinks, that was so much fun!!!
We didn't venture too too much, just relaxed, drank and relaxed some more :) hehehe. Although the one thing i would suggest you do if you can, is take one of the excursions up to the light house! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
If I think of anything else, I will let you know. When are you going?

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I'm SOOOO glad to hear that!! I read a few bad reviews online and I was worrying that maybe we made a bad decision.

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Posted by Lady12

We are not doing all inclusive. We thought about this for a while, one of my favorite things is trying new foods and restaurants and my list of restaurants I want to visit in Aruba is long. so all inclusive would not be worth it for us. I just dont see myself eating in the same place twice when I will be there for only a week.

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Same here. Just realized we are getting married on the same day and both going to Aruba!