A Little Bit About Aruba
Aruba, also known as: “One Happy Island”, is one of the Caribbean islands located in the South Caribbean and belongs to the Netherlands. The official language spoken in Aruba are Dutch, Papiamento, English, and Spanish, however; Dutch and Papiamento are their primary languages and it’s one of the best places you can travel to. Aruba is one of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), and is a relatively small island to explore. The major airport you’ll fly into is the Queen Beatrix International Airport. Now that we know a little more about Aruba, read on for my Aruba itinerary.
Disclosure: This blog post has affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you. These are my own personal suggestions based on products I love and use. The full disclosure can be found here.
An interesting fact about Aruba is that the climate is great to travel to almost any time of the year because it is south of the hurricane belt so no hurricane season. This means perfectly sunny days, gorgeous beaches, turquoise water, with little to no chance of rain. I love to plan ahead so I used this site to help put together my Aruba travel guide. The flight to Aruba itself wasn’t too long clocking in at about 4 hours 45 minutes from NYC. If you’re flying in from the west coast allot for more travel time.
About Aruba Continued…
Things to keep in mind: Aruba is a VERY popular destination. If you can, the best time (and in my opinion the best way) is to try and take your vacation when it isn’t high season. I booked my trip in September which is considered a slower time on the island and the best option for my travel experience. A bonus to going in the off season is a much quieter and peaceful experience. Another bonus is scoring a great deal on both my flight and hotel due to off peak prices.
FYI, Aruba is one of the more expensive islands so prepare well for this. The official currency of the country is the Aruban Florin, but United States (US) currency is widely accepted as well as major credit cards or debit cards on the island of Aruba. In retrospect, it is probably easier to just use U.S. dollars.
Where to Stay in Aruba
There’s a plethora of hotel options to stay at while on the island suitable for anyone’s budget. I stayed at the Eagle Aruba Resort & Casino which is not only a great place, but a great option if you’re looking to be close to the beach. The customer service was impeccable as well as the amenities included and I had a good time.
The room I stayed in had spacious accommodations, a kitchen equipped with a fridge, microwave, and stove if you’d like to prepare your own meals; private balcony, pools, a swim up pool bar, and live entertainment. (Check my Pinterest story on Aruba here). Aruba has plenty of all inclusive resorts, and luxury resorts if you’d prefer to stay in one.
The resort also provides beach towels free of charge; simply sign out one with your name and room number (There is a fee if you lose the towel so be careful). The hotel is centrally located; a quick walk from the hotel would take you to the supermarket as well as within walking distance to other major hotels and restaurants nearby.
Transportation in Aruba
The bus stop to get into town was also close by so public transportation was pretty accessible. The bus system was awesome in Aruba, super clean, ran on time, and it runs late. The island has bus maps with schedules to follow which makes it easy and convenient. Plus at $2.60 one way it’s super cheap. Similar to NYC with the Metrocard, the Aruba bus system has their own version; so purchasing and adding money towards your fare is really easy.
The bus is slower though it travels all over the island. If that doesn’t convince you, local taxis are available on the island as well. Taxis can add up, so why not blend in like a local? In my opinion it makes for a more authentic experience and the easiest way you get to really take in the island.
Whichever route you decide definitely plan your time accordingly! Some days I took the bus, but most days I took a taxi out of convenience. There’s also car rentals available. Here’s one of my travel tips: I became friends with one of my taxi drivers, and he actually became my personal taxi for the remainder of the trip which was really helpful.
Where to Eat in Aruba
Breakfast
Those of you who have followed me for awhile know food is my thing! So naturally I couldn’t wait to sample all of the seafood and yummy noms on the island. For breakfast, I mostly ate at the breakfast buffet located at my hotel called Double Down Sports Bar & Grill (they have a daily buffet breakfast for $12.50).
On days I switched things up, I went to breakfast at Diana’s Pancake Place and Dutch Pancake House; both places specialize in Dutch-style pancakes and Poffertjes (silver dollar pancakes). If you’re in the mood for something familiar, there’s a Dunkin Donuts right on the hotel property.
Lunch|Dinner
For lunch and dinner I tried quite a few different places located either on the property, in town, or included with the excursions. Uncle Tony’s Pizza (located on the property) was one as well as The West Deck (absolutely delicious and one of my favs), Red Fish (also very good for fresh seafood), Driftwood (one of the best restaurants), Arashi Beach Shack, Pelican Nest Seafood Grill (part of the excursion and very good), The Old Fisherman, Moomba Beach, and Big Mama’s Grill (San Nicolas).
Pro tip: During my visit, Aruba restaurant week was ongoing which for some places meant 3 course pre-fixe meals for affordable prices downtown Oranjestad. A good idea is to try to research beforehand to see if it’s going on the time you’ll be there.
Hack for Dinner in Aruba
As promised in my social media sneak preview, the hack for Passions on the Beach is a 3 course pre-fixe meal for 2 for $130 including a bottle of wine. Passions did not participate in restaurant week, however in my opinion this deal cannot be beat. When you factor in the ambiance of the restaurant, a beach side view, live entertainment, and a delicious meal, it’s well worth the price. Keep in mind this deal might not be offered all the time so call ahead to verify.
Honorable mention is Zeerovers. Though I didn’t get a chance to dine there, I was told by a local personally that it’s a place you should definitely check out to taste local food during your Aruba vacation. I can say with all honesty I really enjoyed pretty much every restaurant on the island, salute to the chefs!
For more blog posts like this, subscribe below for updates.
Exploring in Aruba
Most people think of Aruba as a honeymoon location, a cruise ships stop, a place for family vacation, or for older people. However, there is a surge of younger people traveling to the island. In fact, I’ve come across people who love Aruba so much they mentioned it was their 4th or 5th time going! I know I will definitely return at some point.
This first visit I went with my mom as our annual trip together and we both had a blast. Aruba offers nightlife options as well, so don’t think you can’t go with your girlfriends or guy friends and not have fun. Check out some of the neighboring hotels, casinos, clubs, or lounges and hit the dance floor! I personally enjoyed South Beach Aruba, and the Hard Rock Cafe which has live entertainment.
A great way to learn about Aruba and its history is to attend the Bon Bini Festival which takes place every Tuesday. It’s very reasonably priced and interactive. Plus you can get authentic cuisine courtesy of the locals. Funny story, I was actually pulled up to dance during the festival. My mom who thought she was recording actually wasn’t so I don’t have it on video lol. If you’re looking for a free way to explore the island catch the Aruba streetcar/trolley (you can hop on and off at any time and it’s a nice slow ride).
Things to Do in Aruba
I love all things water and warm weather, so I took the Sunset Cruise & Seaside Dinner offered through Viator. This cruise offers light refreshments, spectacular ocean views, and a bar on board if you plan to opt out of the dinner. Plus pretty much everyone dances on the ship. I also booked the Aruba Island Tour, this tour picks you up directly from the hotel as long as it’s centrally located. The tour makes stops to the Aloe Vera Factory (which has awesome lotions, soaps, and deodorants to purchase), Casibari Rock Formation, Natural Bridge at Arikok National Park, Alto Vista Chapel, the California Lighthouse, and even some of the residences in the neighborhood.
If you love nature and wildlife, try the Half-Day Animal Sanctuary Tour. This tour takes you to the Aruba Ostrich Farm, Donkey Sanctuary, and Philips Animal Garden where you’ll have the opportunity to support the sanctuaries, feed the animals, and learn about the wildlife. Shopping is also abundant in Aruba; check out Paseo Herencia, Palm Beach Plaza Mall, or Renaissance Mall.
Aruba Continued…
If you aren’t much of a shopping person, you can always go kite surfing, go to a full-service spa, horseback riding, swim in an outdoor pool or natural pool, play water sports, go scuba diving in the Caribbean sea to see the marine life, take a jeep tour, visit the butterfly farm, drive through the entire island, go to Stellaris casino at Aruba Marriott Resort (there’s other casino options too), or visit one of the beautiful beaches and just take in the sun since it’s a tropical climate.
The first time I went to Aruba I did not have enough time to visit Flamingo Beach. If you’d like to go, you can either stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort or purchase a day pass which will take you to Renaissance Island. Although I was not able to do this, I have heard it’s one of the best experiences.
Places to Go in Aruba
Last but definitely not least if you aren’t in a rush, one of the important things I would highly suggest is taking a mini day trip to San Nicolas for the culture and history alone. It’s very easy to get there, it’s about a 45 minute drive. The taxi man I befriended took me there and back.
In addition, San Nicolas also has Baby Beach which is one of the best beaches besides Eagle Beach. What makes Baby Beach special (aside from the breathtaking view), is that the water is so shallow, that you can venture far into the water and still touch the bottom. Of course always exercise caution and be safe. That being said, San Nicolas is worth taking the time out to visit.
Final Thoughts
Well, that concludes my trip to Aruba. I hope this blog post was helpful and piqued your interest in visiting and has given you peace of mind in planning your next trip. FYI: Aruba is a hot destination, make sure you have a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect and block out the sun!
Thank you guys so much for reading please comment below, and subscribe here. I’m on most social media, so let’s be friends! Click the icons located on the right side (desktop), and the bottom of the screen (mobile) to find me. If you’d like to share, click the icons located at the beginning of the blog post. Email me here if you’d like to collaborate: Lenore@thenittygrittytravelot.com.
Found this blog post helpful? Any support is greatly appreciated 🙂
Buy me a coffeeNeed More Suggestions on Cool Things to Do in Aruba? Check This Out:
Blog Disclaimer
Disclosure: This blog post has affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at NO additional cost to you. These are my own personal suggestions based on products I love and use. The full disclosure can be found here.
This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Like it? Pin it!
