aruba

Visiting Aruba had been a dream for a long time. My husband and I finally made it there for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We had an amazing time and found everything to be simply magical. While the travel from the United States can be expensive, we found it to be totally worth it, and once on the island many activities are super affordable.

Where to Stay

  • Aruba is known for its all-inclusive resorts. We visited a few around Noord and they are AMAZING and have some fabulous night life nearby. However, they are definitely a pricier option for lodging on the island. 

  • The whole island is pretty safe and easy to navigate, so we chose to stay in a simple AirBnb in Oranjestad. There are tons of AirBnb’s and private lodgings on the island for low prices, and many of them are quite nice and have many amenities. We loved staying closer to Oranjestad, the capital, because we were so close to some of the best food on the island as well as amazing uncrowded beaches.

What to do

  • Aruba is full of so many activities. Because the island is small, we could easily get to everything we wanted to do during a one-week visit. One of our absolute favorites was De Palm Island! A ticket purchase includes all-inclusive food and drink, as well as many activities. We spent time snorkeling and saw so many of the most colorful fish we have ever seen (more so than snorkeling in Hawaii!). The food and drinks were good and easy to get to, chairs and hammocks are provided (you just need to stake out a spot). You can pay extra for additional activities, but in my opinion none of them are really worth it. Enjoy waterslides, observe flamingoes, and join in on an afternoon salsa dancing class - all included with your ticket!

  • We rented a car for the duration of our stay, and driving and navigating were very simple. We visited the Arikok National Park with our own car and saw some of the beaches and the Quadriki Cave. You need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to go off-roading and visit the Conchi Natural Pools - we hope to do this if we visit again (you can book a tour or reserve off-road vehicles at several places around the island).

  • The nightlife around Noord is unbelievable. The Paseo Herencia Mall and surrounding area contains many upscale shops, bars, and restaurants. We drove through in the early afternoon and most things were closed and almost no one was out. When we visited again after dark the place was thriving! I value my sleep schedule too much to have stayed there all night, but it looked like most of the businesses were open until early morning. 

  • Rent some chairs and an umbrella and spend a day at the beach! If they’re not provided at your lodging, the Surfside Beach Bar near Oranjestad has rentals along super calm waters. We spent a day there, rentals for two chairs and an umbrella was only $15! They also will serve food and drinks out on the beach, and have good happy hour specials. 

  • The Renaissance Mall and Aruba Flea Market are other fun areas to do some shopping! Sadly the Renaissance Mall was under construction during our visit and we could only see part of it, but the bright colors were beautiful. 

  • We found the beaches around Oranjestad to be nicer than near the resorts in Noord. The water was more calm and clar, and was shallow much further out into the water. It was also very unbusy and felt like we had found some “secret” spots where the locals visit. We spent time at Surfside Beach and Druif Beach. 

  • We also visited the Butterfly Farm and could have spent half the day there had it not been so hot! They have hundreds of butterflies and offer free tours in English and Spanish.

  • Baby Beach is considered to be one of the best beaches in the world and was a great place to explore and do a bit of snorkeling. The water is very shallow, calm, and warm. There is a lot of space to spread out, both on the beach and in the water. 

  • We got the BEST couples massage in a private outdoor cabana at Spa del Sol in the Manchebo resort. It was very affordable, and upon request they provided a beach pass for the remainder of the day which allowed us to use the palapas, and order food and drink from the resort. This was an AMAZING day and I want to go back to Aruba just to visit this spa again. 

  • We didn’t do it, but there is also a floating massage cabana off the coast of Oranjestad. You might see it as you drive around, but it definitely looks like a unique experience if you’re looking for something different! 

  • We picked up groceries from the Super Food Plaza. It definitely felt like where the tourists shop, but I understand why and was not sad that I experienced it. It feels like the Ikea of grocery stores. Everything felt nice, clean, and was laid out in a way that just made sense. Be sure to bring a quarter for your cart as well as your own grocery bags. 

  • The California Lighthouse was just a short stop for us, but it’s atop a large hill that allows you to see across much of the island. If you have time, it’s worth driving up to the lighthouse just to get a view of the area.

Things to eat 

  • We follow Google user reviews for almost everything we eat, especially when traveling. Some of the top rated restaurants on the island were right on the beach in Oranjestad, one of the best being the Barefoot Restaurant, which we visited the night of our anniversary. I recommend making a reservation and timing it so you will be eating during sunset. The food was great and the staff were amazing. 

  • When eating in Aruba, I learned that they don’t want to rush you, and typically didn’t bring the check until I asked for it. I found myself trying to flag down our servers after meals had ended. They also bring the POS system to your table when paying with credit card rather than walking off with your card like we do in most restaurants in the United States. 

  • Pinchos Bar and Grill is another unique restaurant, situated on a dock that extends out into the water. I recommend making a reservation and timing your visit during sunset. It can be windy out there, so dress accordingly (I lost a floppy hat to the ocean when it got blown off my head without warning). 

  • The Dutch Pancakehouse appeared to be a popular place for breakfast and we waited at least 30 minutes to get a table - they do not accept reservations. The menu offers giant pancakes, topped with almost anything you could imagine. If you can get a table, it’s worth the visit!

Other things to know

  • I bought a little waterproof fanny pack to carry around valuables (phone, car key, ID, credit card, etc) so I didn’t have to leave it in the car or unattended on the beach. It was great and I used it a lot. 

  • Having a waterproof pouch for a phone or camera is definitely worth it, especially if snorkeling at De Palm Island. You can purchase one there, or find one for much cheaper online or pick one up at a store before heading out to the island. 

  • I like to be prepared for anything, so I had goggles and an inflatable raft in the car pretty much at all times. You’re never far from water, so you might want to hold onto some supplies in case you find a great spot to jump in! 

  • The street signs are mostly self-explanatory with a bit of context, but I found this guide after we came back that would have been helpful to have ahead of time.

  • The airport in Aruba when you leave to return to the United States is interesting. It’s fabulous that you can go through US customs in Aruba and not have to do this upon arrival stateside, but it really does take a long time and they don’t have a great system to handle the amount of traffic going through the airport. It really did take us almost three hours from arrival at the airport to arrival at our gate (traveling on a Wednesday and with NO checked baggage). Be sure to allow plenty of time and be prepared to spend some time standing outside in the heat.

Much of the population of the island at any time are tourists, so the entire island really feels like a vacation resort. We found everyone to be very nice and friendly. Although there are visitors from all over the world and staff speak multiple languages, everyone spoke to us in English and navigating the island on our own was very easy. I highly recommend a visit to Aruba and I very much hope to go again!