Aruba One Happy Island
Did you know, that Aloe Vera marked Aruba’s first source of welfare? Also, two thirds of the island was covered in aloe plants in the 1920s!
Aruba the A of the ABC islands is a very popular destination and after visiting for a weekend, I can understand why it is “One Happy Island”. Our flight was a short three and a half hours from the Hartsfield Jackson International airport to the beautiful Beatrix International airport. On arrival, we were greeted by a young lady who gave us a Divi branded bag with coupons for restaurants, attractions and of course the Divi hotels. This meant we were definitely shopping. We were then greeted by a very pleasant immigration officer who seemed genuinely happy we were visiting his home. Our customs experience was even more delightful as there was no wait which meant we would be having lunch on the beach.
Once we were in the arrivals area, we were met by the De Palm tours representative for our transfer to the hotel. The drive was approximately 30 minutes with a little bit of traffic once we arrived near the capital city, Oranjestad. After we passed the capital city, there was less traffic with a very scenic drive with views of the beautiful water, waiting for us to dive in, so how can one not be happy in Aruba.
Our first impression of Aruba was definitely a delightful/ insightful one. Tourism is important to Aruba and everyone seemed to be aware of that. Every person we encountered was genuinely happy to see us and wished us a great time on the island.
Our first night was at the Marriott Stellar and Casino, located on the Palm Beach area. Lovely property, great for families and also anyone who wants to do a bit of gambling. The property has beautiful landscaping and it definitely has the island feel to it.
Once we were settled in our rooms, we followed the music to the pool bar where it was certainly jamming. Lunch was ordered while we listened to the sweet sound of the saxophone. We thought that the saxophonist was the best we had heard and then we realized who/that we were listening to. Kim Waters, the world-renowned saxophonist just happened to be on vacation at the Marriott and decided to jam with the house band. What a treat. It was a lovely afternoon with great music, good food and loads of fun. Our first day in Aruba was going better than planned. We spent hours by the pool bar, as it was happy hour and the drinks were just flowing. We ended the first day, sipping on Aruba Ariba, the most popular cocktail on the island, it’s also very delicious. We watched the stunning/ spectacular sunset, on beautiful Palm Beach, and enjoyed the warm turquoise waters.
Aruba Aloe
Our second day started with us lounging on the beach and then we got, what we call itchy foot, so we decided to rent a car and explore the island. This is highly recommended as you can see and do so much more. (Tip: Reserve the car online it will be cheaper, do not walk up to the desk and try to rent a car) The island does not get in so it is very dry with cactus, and an abundance of aloe vera and lots of goats. Aruba Aloe is considered one of the only aloe companies in the world that grows, harvest and manufacture on site. Aruba Aloe/It is also one of the oldest aloe companies in the world and one of the first to produce cosmetics based on the aloe vera gel. Aruba Aloe was definitely on every corner and if you missed a store, you can visit the Aloe Vera museum. (Yes, there is an Aloe Vera museum). Driving around was quite interesting, we drove through San Nicholas and found the only Anglican church in Aruba. We marked the spot to return for Sunday worship.
The Palm Beach area is the perfect place to enjoy great food, entertainment and shopping. Night life is definitely 5. in Aruba
Aruba, beautiful island with great beaches and nightly entertainment, and if you would like to do something different with your family, I recommend De Palm Island. De Palm Island is Aruba's only all-inclusive destination, great for families, groups, family reunions and school outings. Searching for a…. If you are looking for a romantic getaway, that may not be the place for you, however you may be able to find a quiet corner on the beach to relax. Fantastic for families as there is so much to do to keep everyone busy, and what I was certainly impressed by was the abundance of lifeguards on duty and plenty of monitors by the water slides. Parents can feel comfortable that there are more eyes checking on their kids for safety purposes.
A short thirty minutes’ drive from the Palm Beach area then to followed by a short 8 minutes ferry ride to De Palm Island. Great family fun adventure. The island provides a water slide, snorkeling, sea trekking, face painting, hair braiding, and a full-service spa. Breakfast and lunch and snacks are all included in your package. A small beach area, lots of cabanas on a first come first serve basis. The staff on duty also organize other activities like beach volleyball, card games and you may just find a partner to share a game of dominoes. There are also lockers available for rent in the event case your party would like to go swimming or snorkeling.
Full day and half day passes to enjoy the De Palm Island facilities are available for purchase.
Overall great for the entire family!!!
Dine Around
With over thirty restaurants to choose from, your dining options are endless for your dining options and it is easy to visit one every night. Aruba’s gastronomic offerings reflect a combination of the cultural diversity/ different cultural influences on the island. From Latin, Dutch, to Indonesian, the small island is definitely a powerhouse in the kitchen, with the many different spices used. I highly recommend “the dine around” program during your visit. It is certainly cost-effective way to dine at many different restaurants. You can purchase the three nights, five- and seven-nights options. Your “dine around” programs cover a three course meal for two persons, or you can purchase for as many persons as desired. Many of the restaurants provides a special menu or can you can choose from the regular. Some restaurants may have an additional surcharge for items not included in “the dine around” menu. Overall it is an excellent and very economical way to dine.
To sum it up, we had a fantastic trip with warm hospitable people who all seem to be very happy on a very happy island. From arrival to departure, everything was superb. To top it off, you clear USA Customs and Immigration in Aruba, making your arrival back in/ to the US hassle free.