| Tips and photos of Aruba tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Aruba locals. Map |
 | Aruba Tourist Traps | Tips 21 - 30 of 30 |  |
Watch out for the cheaper rental car companies. They often give you older cars that aren't all that comfortable. Try to stay with the big names, such as Hertz, Budget, Alamo, and any other name that you've seen in the states or Europe Leave a Comment
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We had suprisingly good sucess barganing prices with most of the independant vendors (and even some of the shops) when purchasing goods. Don't expect to bargan the price at the grocery store or even the high end jewelry stores, but a lot of the stores will bargan with you to make a sale. There is a lot of competition between shop to sell tourist type goods and in general, they are open to dealing.
Don't shop around too much looking for the "perfect" Aruba souvenier for someone. Most of the items are comparable throughout the shops. Leave a Comment
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We took a tour from De Palms Tours which included the Natural Bridge. What they didnt tell us until we arrived at the site was that on Sept 2, 2005 the Natural Bridge collapsed. Thats right, it doesnt exist anymore and is a pile of rocks. There is however, a smaller version of the Natural Bridge to the left of the pile of rumble.
The smaller version of the Natural Bridge is still quite pretty, it just is difficult to get down there if you wish to go underneathe it. If this is what you wish to do, make sure you have sneakers as it looked rocky.
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the small mini mall outside the cruise ship. very expensive. Leave a Comment
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 Tangos on a dimly lit
stage by amapola66
We were at Tangos 'Argentinian' bar and grill, supposedly one of the 'V.I.P.' restaurants on the island.
If you know your food and wine - DO NOT GO THERE. The food, wine and ambience were a total let down, it was so bad, we laughed about it throughout.
Located in the high rise hotel area, Tangos pitches itself as an 'Argentinian Steakhouse and Seafood Grill'. There was only ONE fish available (the 'daily special' that seemed to be the daily special every day and everywhere whose name eludes me, but I will try to remember).
The terrible wine that I rejected, was on the menu at $28 a bottle no less. The 'special show' promised on the telephone when booking consisted of three very short tangos, albeit performed to a high standard by some highly trained dancers, it lasted around 6 minutes and there was no stage lighting etc..(as you can see by the rather dak photo here!)
The food was extremely average, the child menu offered nuggets (I kid you not!) and my left foot is more Argentinian!. They also forgot the Small Person's ice cream. However, KB enjoyed his enormous steak.
This place that offers meringue dance lessons, salsa and a 'genuine Argentinian atmosphere' (ho ho) was a total disappointment. After the 'show' we were entertained by a karaoki style cabaret singer from across the street who seranaded us with the very Latin 'California Dreamin' among other such traditional mediocre tourist pap.
An evening in the nearby Dunkin' Doughnuts would have been a more exciting option.
The bill was large. The waiter knowingly apologetic and I can safely say, we will never go there again!
Take some earplugs.
If you're going for the seafood, take your own dinner.
Take your own wine.
Eat before you go.
Don't go there !
Cuba's Cookin, in town.
But please dress up a little, the atmosphere there deserves it. Leave a Comment
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 by silasm
If you agree to get your hair done you must agree on a complete 100% top price not an approximate. And ask HOW Long it will take...it can take hours for some people!
Go to a shop in the hotel. Do not get your hair done on the beach. Leave a Comment
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 by BusTraveler
CAUTION: The Natural Pool is a good place to visit but it is NOT easy to get too. Jeeps are prohibited in the Arikok National Park (where the pool is located) thus you will have to find alternate ways to get there, hiking being one of them. If you go, be prepared to walk. Leave a Comment
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Okay! Perhaps a beach with wall-to-wall loungers isn't your idea of Hell... yes, you may like to pay through the nose for your food and drink...
However, this is a trap for many of us!
We had just arrived by cat (The 'Pelican'); we had 40 minutes to kill before our 'bus picked us up to tour the island! The beach was crowded. The local hotel, behind the beach, was cool. The shops in the hotel and the food places possibly linked to the hotel were expensive ---okay, not for us but for locals. We were the tourists with lots of dollars to donate---and it felt like it!
We bought nothing!
One good thing though....the hotel toilets were okay.
Take your own food and drink or else be prepared to shed many dollars!
Ask a taxi driver!
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Totally hokey and clearly catering to tourists, but with the right attitude, Mama and the rest of the Kukukunuku crew will show you a good time. The party bus is a bright multi-colored school bus decorated with what looks like every option from the party store if you were to throw a luau-themed party. The bus will pick you up at your hotel and the party begins with a trip to the north end where you will have a champagne toast at the light house at sunset. From there, you head to a local restaurant (which either used to be, or is, someone's home) for dinner and drinks. You are then taken to 3 different bars on the island, with tickets or chips to "purchase" your drinks. The bars are very, very local and dingy, but there is a DJ at each one and...plenty of drinks.
I do not generally take part in activities geared toward tourists and would not have chosen to take this "tour" except that my friends thought it would be a hoot. It sure was. We had a really, really fun time, but I think that's mainly due to the fact that we decided to go all out and have fun no matter what. The bus was crowded, but most of the couples/groups were not that out-going and much more reserved than we were (I was with a loud group of 6 from NYC). Regardless, we had a blast and managed to get everyone else on the bus loosened up. The bars we went to were not great, but had music to dance and sing to, which is what a silly bunch of girls like us wanted to do. Drinks were ok, perhaps a little watered down. All in all, a fun time if you are willing to "bring the party" with you!
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We'd signed on for a day trip frm our ship, the 'Star Princess', anr this trip included this factory.
The museum will take you 5 minutes; the factory tour 20 minutes and the shopping to buy the stuff bit takes an eternity!
Would you pay good money to tour a local factory wherever you live?
If you're not wanted to buy lots of Aloe Vera then I suggest that yo hire a taxi and make your own way to the other sites!
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