Recommendations for Aruba

[JimJam]

Thanks Jim!

You're Welcome!!!

PM me if you have any specific questions, I'll be more than happy to answer, and don't forget to post after you get back!!

 

[Missdirected]

Thanks for your imput! And by the way, how do you say hello in their language?

Papiamanpo means hello in American English. Sorry, if I offended anyone by saying American. It is incorrect to say American, my bad. People really do like to argue on this board.

Chez Mathilda, Que Pasa, and Madame Jeanette's are the restaurants we loved. Madame Jeanettes is a bit far out, but worth it, the cab fare waw $12 for the three of us (we stayed at the Renaissance Ocean Suites). Chez Mathilda was a romantic restaurant, in my opionion, my bf and sister took me there for my birthday, this past Halloween. While at Que Pasa we ran into a lot of the locals. We ended up having dinner at the bar as the barkeep was really great to chat with and some of the locals were sat there. Do NOT go to the Indian - it was horrible. We were going back to Que Pasa for lunch and found them to be closed so we ended up in the Indian next door ;(

Anway, I'm off. Have a super wonderful vacation

 

[JimJam]

Papiamanpo means hello in American English. Sorry, if I offended anyone by saying American. It is incorrect to say American, my bad. People really do like to argue on this board...

Papiamanpo means hello in American English??

Must be a Florida thing.

"Papiamanpo" to everyone in Florida!!!

 

[Damselfish]

I think Aruba is a perfectly fine place for a vanilla beach vacation. Easy to get to, nice beaches, plenty of hotel choices, restaurants, casinos, shopping, watersports and some worthwhile sightseeing. It definitely feels very Americanized. I didn't dive at the time I was there, snorkeled a lot. I wouldn't go there now to dive, but I'd dive if I was there.
From what I know I'm sure I'd skip Red Sail.

 

[mike_s]

Thanks for your imput! And by the way, how do you say hello in their language?

Ah... This is the only word in their local native tounge that I remmember... I think it's Bon Bini.

Anway... don't let the negative media coverage get you down about Aruba. We went and "loved it". There is plenty to do, but the island isn't full of "attractions" to visit like Orlando is. You have to be able enjoy yourself there at whatever you are doing.

Renting a jeep and bouncing around the trails of the north side of the island is lots of fun. The beaches are great, the food is great.

Lots of shoping there, but it's all typical "cruise boat shopping". NOthing there that you can't buy at home. The jewelry shops though are very good and cheaper than home, in my opinion. But they are still "cruise boat" shopper jewelry stores. The same ones you see on every island.

Diving is good, but I wouldn't call it great. But it sure beats diving in a quarry thats for sure. The Antilla wreck is the better of the wreck dives. As for dive operators they are all decent with the exception of Mermaid and Red Sail. Red Sail's complaints are mostly that its a "cattle boat" operation. Mermaid watersports though is a whole other story. there have been reports of improper "touching" of women by the owner/operator there and also excessive credit card charges that weren't what you signed for on the island after you get back home. Definately avoid them.

Pelican, Unique Watersports, and Dive Aruba (with Clive) all get excellent reviews.

-Mike

 

[Missdirected]

Papiamanpo means hello in American English??

Must be a Florida thing.

"Papiamanpo" to everyone in Florida!!!

Ooops. On the above - I am sure everyone but Jim knows what I meant. I agree with Mike, Clive is great. He is closed on Sunday’s, which is the reason we didn't dive with him. My sister was doing Discover Scuba so we preferred someone that would stay her buddy the entire trip and Sunday was a planned dive day for us.

 

[Scuba-Steve525]

Will do. Any other recommendations....restaurants, night life, sights, etc.??

 

[drdiver1952]

Old Cunucu House on Palm Beach. Really good Aruban food and an excellent wine list. In a beautiful old colonial house.

I loved Aruba. The diving is quite good. Red Sail I wouldn't recommend as an operator. I'd recommend Dive Aruba, Native Divers, or Unique Sports

 

[Allison Finch]

It's not a matter of whether the natives are friendly or not, it is a matter of boycotting due to the government actively obstructing the investigation of a young girl's murder. If an economic hit is what it takes to make a government aware of cooperating with such an investigation, so be it.....

There are just too many other (and better) places to dive.

 

[JRScuba]

I find this statement extremely offensive. Having spent 4 years of my youth in the service, left my 4 yo son for a tour overseas so you can say this garbage. Maybe since this is VETERANS DAY you should look back and see how many men and woman gave their lives for you to get on this board and say that and also LIVE in this country. Isn't it wonderful to be in a FREE land and say what is on your mind. It is appears to me that you have never been to another country and seen how they live. We may not do things right all the time but it is the best country this world has ever seen. Watch Midnight Express for starters, true story.

I'm sure the more I go on the less you will understand what I'm talking about.

I AM PROUND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

Your Welcome.

P.S.People don't like to argue on this board or any other for that matter.
It's just that, at times, they do not like what " SOME " people say.