Top Aruba hotels
Sponsored Links
Aruba is touted as having near perfect weather but they do get rain, the day we flew in it had rained the entire day. For the 5 days we were there, it rained every day, never enough to ruin your trip, but enough that I needed an umbrella at least one of the days. The rain tends to come in quickly and go quickly, October-January is when they get the most rain, an average of 18 inches per year.
Although sanddunes on Aruba are rather small and have crystaline white sand, some people seem to think they are only to be crossed by Jeeps & other vehicle types. Apart that this is absolutely illegal due to the fragile nature of these small nature miracles on the island, the best way to enjoy them is by foot. There's plenty of "parking" space on the flat surroundings and it is far more enjoyable going in by foot, even taking your shoes of to have a nice natural massage...have fun!
As a fair skinned individual I can say, based on very painful personal experience, that if you have ever been known to get a sunburn, you will definitely get one in Aruba unless you take the necessary precautions and follow all sunblock directions religiously.Knowing my tendency to resemble boiled crustaceans after any extended solar exposure I arrived in Aruba with a giant economy sized tube of maximum strength waterproof sunblock. While the gorgeous sunshine dispells any thought that a burn is not possible, the famous winds of Aruba keep one cool enough to minimize emerging burning sensations. Due to repeated and generous applications of sunblock I avoided burning until I went snorkeling. I thought I was doing everything right- I even wore a long t-shirt over my swimsuit. But I learned my defenses were inadequate when I tore myself away from the amazing display of fish and coral to use...
We traveled here for a nice, relaxing vacation only to have someone break into our hotel room and steal most of our belongings. The hotel staff was not receptive and accused of us lying. They notified the Police, who took it upon themselves to harass us for our entire stay and accusing us of lying. They would show up at the room at all hours, come in and check the drawers and safe to make sure we had not stashed the items and jewelry reported stolen in them. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant experience and I will never, ever go back. I don't even take a cruise that makes a stop there and if I ever decide to do a cruise with an Aruba stop, I will make sure I am booked for a massage or some sort of activity onboard and not disembark and set foot on this island. HATE It!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the return flight, the staff seemed somewhat happier, and it was more enjoyable due to a shorter flying time (8 1/2 hrs). and some herbal sleepers to knock us out so we didn't have to suffer!They still managed to forget our veggy meals (booked ahead) & had originally seated me & the Small Person in different rows (had also confirmed seating arrangements before flight). We took our own food this time!The plane was totally overbooked & they tried a VERY hard sell to get us to stay in Aruba for longer. Originally delighted we were ready to accept when they let it slip that they couldn't promise to get my sister back from Amsterdam for the last leg of her journey. We declined as we felt we wanted to get the return 'dreadful journey from hell' over with & were tired having already flown from Venezuela that morning.Onflight food was still totally disgusting. Veggy breakfast consisted of a...
This was THE worst long haul (10 hr) flight I have ever had the misfortune to experience. I know most airline food is inedible but this was just plain disgusting. The staff were unbelievably rude, they did not serve enough drinks of any kind & it took us 3 hours to find out we were supposed to help ourselves from a trolley at the back of the the plane.The only snacks available were small bags of salted minature crackers (we ate loads). Being so hungry, on trying to order some chocolate from their mag for for THREE hours, a 'hostess' eventually barked at us 'haven't you got your legs, there are some chocolates open at the back of the plane'. 'Ah ok' we said (stunned, I mean, how were we supposed to know!) Making our way to get some of the said delights, she retorted 'You're too late it's all gone now'. The childrens 'Activity Pack' is a joke. (Some 3D glasses - hmm for what exactly?) a...
If you decide to go offroading around 'tunnel of love'...be careful...we were going to pass the tunnel of love until we heard a loud shot..followed by some more...then i saw a small sign warning that it is a live firing range for the army and enter at your own risk...we quickly turned back!
You may well be forgiven for picturing Aruba as the idyllic Caribbean paradise, and indeed it is, but there is a hidden dangerous side to the sea and surf of Aruba that most people don't see.At the North of the island there are incredibly dangerous currents. We sat in the jeep and watched as the sea approached from two if not three different directions and turned to tumultuous waves that crashed together as the currents met.I also watched a couple of men as they came here to fish, stayed twenty minutes or so, then walked away.Do not swim, fish, windsurf, or do anything else water related at this part of the island.
Two types of snakes are indiginous to Aruba - the rattlesnake and another non-poisonous small snake.However, in recent years other types of snakes have been getting into the country in deliveries of sand and cement. In particular the boa constrictor is a snake that's causing a lot of worry to the Aruban government as they cause a lot of damage to animals by strangling them. The government is working really hard to eradicate these stowaway snakes.
Aruba is known as the windy island, and when you get there you will quickly realise that this is no casual accident. The wind is strong and constant. Most of the time this is very welcome indeed as it is so hot all the time that you need the cooling breeze.There are, however, one or two real downsides to the strong wind.One is that you don't realise you are getting sunburned, as you feel pretty cool all the time.The second is that you may be ( as I was) hit by a sunbed on the beach. There was I, sitting up watching the brown pelicans dive for fish, when suddenly.....whack!.....the back of my sunbed blew forward and hit me headlong in the side of my face, cheek, ear. I got a nice little bruise there too.One other thing I learned about the wind from chatting to locals - Aruba is not in the hurricane belt, but when there is a hurrticane locally it sucks all the air from Aruba and this...
Bucuti Beach resort Oranjestad Oranjestad
1170 Opinions
Bucuti Beach Resort Aruba
2 Reviews and 1170 Opinions We were greeted with not just one but two glasses of champagne while we checked in, which we thought...
Caribbean Palm Village Resort Noord
147 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Aruba attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Aruba sightseeing.
Q: i need some help to choose a hotel in aruba.it should be a romantic place ,close to the sea. thanks M
A: Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is the only Aruba hotel with honeymoon suites, I would say thats romantic. Other places would be: Bucuti Beach Resort - for...
Read 4 Replies
Sponsored Links
