Aruba 🇦🇼 - One Happy Island! Let's Explore!
1/ Where to Stay: Hotel Hopping in Paradise!
For my week-long Aruba adventure, I split my time between two amazing spots: the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino and the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino! Why? Well, the Hilton is smack-dab in the heart of Palm Beach – the ultimate hub for dining, nightlife, and all the American-style fun you can handle. Plus, it's super close to the beaches! But the Renaissance? It boasts its own private island where you can mingle with flamingos! So, naturally, I had to experience both! 😂
Quick Hotel Reviews:
- Hilton: A bit older overall, but definitely more spacious than the Renaissance. The bathrooms are HUGE, the balconies are amazing, and breakfast is a serious feast (especially if you pay the extra $8 for the full menu – trust me, it's worth it!). However, be warned: they seem to nickel and dime you for everything. Want a prime palapa spot on the beach? That's $35 and you have to book 24 hours in advance. Same goes for the pool cabanas, even if you're a Hilton Diamond member! 😑 The good news? Tons of pools, though most are shallow for kids. No jacuzzi or hot tub, though. 🤭
- Renaissance: Sleek, modern, and chic! The crowd definitely has a "ready to party" vibe. The rooms are a bit smaller, but feel more contemporary with the cool "river" design inside the hotel. There's a Starbucks right in the lobby, plus elevators, escalators, and stairs. The shopping mall is insane with brands like LV, Rolex, Gucci, Prada, and Ferrogamo...I felt like I was strolling through Las Vegas! 😄 The Renaissance also has an infinity pool (a luxury the Hilton lacks!) with AMAZING views of the bay. Perfect for those Insta-worthy shots! 😍
Price-wise, both are comparable, ranging from around $800-$1,000/night during peak seasons like Christmas, New Year's, or Spring Break.
2/ Beach Bliss: From Palm Beach to Baby Beach! 🏖
I explored Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Baby Beach, Arashi Beach, and Hadicurari Beach, and my absolute FAVORITE was Baby Beach! The water is the most incredible, clear turquoise I've ever seen, the sand is pure white and powdery, and the calm waters make it perfect for swimming all day long! 😪 It's also a fantastic spot for snorkeling.
Palm Beach, where the Hilton is, is about a 40-minute drive from Baby Beach. Palm Beach is also gorgeous with lots of bars, souvenir shops, sunscreen vendors, and ice cream stands! 🍦 🍨
Eagle Beach is pretty busy, and the water isn't quite as vibrant as Palm Beach or Baby Beach. BUT, it's home to the famous Divi Tree, so tons of tourists flock there for photos 🤳🏻. There's also a super cute beachfront bar called Passions that's perfect for sunset cocktails 🌅.
3/ Foodie Adventures: From Dutch to Mexican! 🍽
Aruba doesn't seem to have a huge Asian population, so I didn't find many Asian restaurants besides Bowls in Palm Beach, which serves ramen and wonton soup. It was okay, nothing amazing.
Prepare for a TON of Italian 🇮🇹, American 🇺🇸, and Mexican 🇲🇽 restaurants! Prices are on the higher side since they import most of their food and supplies. Aruba isn't as budget-friendly as Mexico or other Caribbean islands. Many restaurants automatically add a "service charge," which is basically a tip, but I usually tipped extra anyway!
Restaurant Highlights:
- Lola: Amazing Mexican food! I went on Taco Tuesday, so it was pretty affordable. Definitely skip the lobster rolls (they're a letdown 😂), but everything else is delicious!
- Sunset Grille (Hilton): They offer a stunning sunset dinner for two! The setup is romantic, the food is fantastic, and you get pampered with 2-3 servers per table! 👍🏻
- Azzuro: This Italian restaurant makes spaghetti in a giant cheese pot right in front of you! It's a cool experience, and the food is decent. The portions are small, so order extra! 🤣 The sunset views are on point, too.
- Lucy's: Serves Mexican, American, and seafood. Tasty food, great bay views, and a casual vibe. There were even two dogs sleeping inside, just like at a Vietnamese beer garden! So cute! 😂😂
4/ Outdoor Adventures: Exploring the Island!
I checked out a few spots, but the Natural Bridge was a major letdown. In photos, it looks super cool, but in reality, it's just a big rock with a small indentation where water flows underneath! Kind of comical 😜.
Natural Pool... Let me tell you, hiking over sharp, slippery rocks to get there was intense! From the parking lot, it's a 45-minute hike EACH WAY across a desert-like landscape with sharp rocks, steep hills, and NO ONE around! 😳 I seriously thought we were lost! So, if you're going on a self-guided adventure like we did, bring PLENTY of water, sunscreen, and proper shoes!
Gold Mill Ruins: These are ancient ruins built from stone 🪨. The exterior is beautiful and has a mysterious, ancient vibe. It's right next to the Natural Bridge, so it's easy to find.
Snorkeling: Baby Beach is an ideal place for snorkeling! Bring a life jacket (just in case you get swept out too far by the current like I did! 😩😱 Had to be rescued!), and invest in good snorkeling gear to avoid leaks. If you're well-prepared, you could spend all day snorkeling in Aruba 🇦🇼 and still not see everything! The underwater world is incredible!
Butterfly Farm: Located near Palm Beach, the entry fee is <$20. They offer tours explaining the different butterfly species, which ones are native to Aruba, and the butterfly lifecycle. Kids (especially girls) will love it!
5/ Flamingos: The Pink Highlight!
This was definitely my favorite part! 😍 The resort brought these flamingos here to attract tourists. There are two ways to see them: buy a day pass for $125/person/visit, or stay at the resort and get unlimited access to the island for free. If two people buy a day pass, it's $250, and you might not even be able to get tickets if the resort is full!
A boat takes guests to and from the island every 15 minutes. The island is small, about a 10 minute boat ride from the hotel, and divided into two sections: one for families with children, and one for adults only. The flamingos are on the adult side, along with some pigeons and iguanas. Despite its small size, the island feels intimate and luxurious, not crowded or chaotic 😆. They provide towels, palapas, paddleboards, and other free recreational equipment. There are around 10 flamingos in various shades of white, pink, and salmon. They're very gentle and friendly. I recommend going early to feed them – you'll get to interact with them more. Once they're full, they wander off to drink water and take naps 🥰🥰🥰. Don't forget to bring quarters to buy food from the vending machine! Taking photos around the island will keep you busy! 😂 It's so picturesque! There's only one bar that sells food and drinks. The food is delicious and fresh, the drinks are tasty, and the prices are reasonable.
6/ Costs: Is Aruba Worth It?
This is what everyone asks me! How much does a week in Aruba cost? I think it's around $5,000-$10,000 for two people, including airfare, hotels, food, activities, and car rental. We spent about $11,000-$12,000 on this trip because we flew first class and it was Christmas, so the hotels were nearly $1,000/night! If you travel during the off-season and stay at a hotel that isn't right in the center or an Airbnb, you can save a lot.
Should you go to Aruba? Absolutely! My husband has traveled to over 30 countries and islands 🏝 large and small, but Aruba is still his favorite! 🥇
If you have more questions, comment below! I'll try to answer them all. Thanks everyone! 😍
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