Aruba Review i did it all!

[FcapAcap]

Let me start off by saying that Aruba is the nicest place that i've ever been to. The beach the weather the nightlife everything is perfect. Aruba is broken into two spots the town- this is where the ship will dock and the beach area- a short 10 min cab ride away. The town has all the bars and shops and the beach has a nice mix of resturaunts, shops and the nicest beaches in the world.

I stayed at the playa linda resort ( beach area) for 10 days. I checked out every hotel on the Beach and i really thought the Hyatt was the nicest. It had the nicest pool, and just beautiful grounds, great places to eat, rare birds in cages ect. If I was on a ship I would want to go there for the day. Hyatt also has a resturant with great faitias and a casino. The Hilton was also nice but its the last hotel on the beach and I just thought it was too far away. Another Casino is also on the beach near the hilton - small but its a casino. If your at the beach area you can walk to all the places along the beach- I took cabs or the bus to everywhere in town and had no problems. The cabs there are all mercades and BMW'S which i though was cool but cost about the same as cabs here in America

 

Resturants: We went to many places to eat but two are a must while in Aruba! The First is the Texas de Brazil http://texasdebrazil.com/index2.php

This is on the beach side and right across from the Playa Linda. Its one of those Brazilian BBQ places where the waitor comes with various meats on the stick! Steak Chicken Turkey sauage ribs ect.. I've been too many of these and this one was by far the best. Also had a great soup and salad and sides bar included. I enjoyed it So much so that I made sure we visted ther other locations when we were in Miami and Orlando on later trips. Cost was about $100- $110 for my wife and I tip included. I recommend that you sit outside and enjoy the great weather. Sign up on their web site and get money saving coupons. Skip desert and head to the ice Cream shop right next door for some great ice cream.

 

The next resturant was El Gaucho Steak House and its in town near the port. Because of its reputation in Aruba, You need reservations or you won't get a table and Dress nice. One of the best steaks i've ever had. I thought it was better than Mortons, Delmonicos and all the other top end steak houses and it only cost around $100-$120 tip included

 

Hair braids: We started the week with my wife getting her hair braided. There are many women up and down the beach which wil do this. They charged us $2 a braid and my wife had a total of 105 done, Her Whole Head -but I talked the ladies down to about $120 Bucks. This took my wife about 2-3 hours!

 

Tours and Fun: Note : I consider all these must do's while in Aruba please do as many as you can you will not regret.

 

Aruba fun park: This located inbetween the town and the beach- you pass it on the way to the beach is a Great place for kids in Aruba and Also Home of a great time for Adults THE BLACK HOG SALOON BASH

If you just want to go for the kids it has go-carts, mini golf, batting cages paddle boats, and an arcade. The Black Hog Saloon Bash is a party unlike anything else. So much fun It includes an All you can eat BBQ, ribs, chicken, corn, Hamburgers, fries, cole slaw. And all you can drink draft beer and soft drinks. I got wasted! Sang , danced, played drunken muscial chairs What a great time. Then the gang of Harleys ride into the saloon! Need reservations

 

Jolly Pirates: http://jollypirates.com/tours.htm This is a great day adventure. Met at the Moomba beach pier at the Marriott early in the morning. If you want to go snorkleing or just get fun and sun this is for you. You leave on a Pirate ship looking boat. You get Liquor a Nice little lunch and Lots of snokleing you also get to swing off the boat on a rope. The kids on the boat all loved this but my wife was too scared so she just stayed on the boat and laid out to get some sun. Bring a waterproof camera to thake pics of the fish and sunken ships!

 

Tatoo Party Boat: http://www.arubaadventures.com/tattoo/ Get Tattooed. Three decks of fun await you: Deck #1 - Wild on the dance floor Deck #2 - Refueling stations - great food and potent beverages Deck #3 - Cool off and escape the madness and relax with your lover beneath the stars

Another Great time. Got wasted. Tokens for drinks are bought before you get on the ship- buy many. They have shows a DJ, contests and You Dance and drink all night then once again swing off the rope or go down the water slide right into the water. My wife and i got wasted and entered a sex postion contest- do as many positions(clothes on in front of everyone) in one minute. We had the place rockin and were the best but they gave the prize to a 80 year old man and his wife even though everyone knew we won. Hey lots of people bought us drinks after wards so it was worth it!

 

Kunkoo Kunuku: http://www.kukookunuku.com/ 6pm -12 am Greatest time in Aruba I heard about this tour from E! wild on Aruba. I had the most fun on this tour but my wife was embarrased. I just think I drink alot and like to have fun. First off they pick u up in the kunkoo kunuku Horn blazing music playing every one yelling. You start off with a toast at the lighthouse which is on the end of aruba overlooking the water Beautiful! Then the party begins You fist stop off at some richy dudes house

wher its set up for all to eat. You get a great dinner and then are offered merchandice. BUY THE KUNKOO KUNUKU CUP this can be refilled at the bars - you get two drinks at each bar. With this cup you will get more out of the drinks. Then when you leave the house get ready for the crazy. Bar hopping! Little dive bars everywhere, Dancing on the floor on the bar, The Limbo All i know is that At one point I lost my pants so all the other guys on the bus took theirs off . People puking everywhere. OH man What a great time. Met a lot of nice couples that probaly think i'm nuts. But we about 25 stong on the bus had the time of our life.

 

Abc xtreme Safari tour: http://www.abc-aruba.com/ This is what the ad said

Experience the thrill of fun & adventure on our half day ABC's Xtreme Safari; discover the hidden treasures of Aruba only accessible by our custom designed 12 passengers Land Rover Defender jeeps!

 

This will not be a typical city tour; you're about to be chauffeured to the wild side of Aruba. Climb in, buckle up, but most of all, enjoy! Why take the chance of extreme driving on unfamiliar roads? Let our professional drivers show you an extremely GOOD TIME!

Click here for more information.

 

Truth: a must do what a rush , but i was scared **** for my life. Oh my God I'm a manly man and i almost cried. First off it was my wife I and one other lady in the landrover with the tour guide driving . We went over rock, cliffs, mountains climed and went down places i never thought a Jeep could go. We go thrown around took a beating, I prayed to God a million times as i was almost sure we would flip or go down a mountain. Our tour guide took humor in it . But truth be told it was FUN and we saw all the great natural wonders on ARUBA -the Black Stone Beach, Twin Bridges, The Breathing Stones, Eyes of God, Arikok National Park, Small Aruba, Natural Bridge, the Ruins of Bushiribana and snorkeling at the famous Natural Pool! Could you get me in one of those Land Rovers again- Never Oh yeah we also stopped at the ostrich farm my wife got to feed them and i got chased by one. Also part of the tour.

 

Carlos and Charlie's Shopping tour: Once again they pick you up in a bus and you go into town - near the port- If you are getting off a ship don't do this tour go shopping yourself and then go to C & C's. If your staying on the beach side do this. You go on a guided shopping tour then meet back at C&C's for a BBQ lunch of either Shrimp, Ribs, Chicken or a combo. followed by some shots. The shoping near the port is great 2 big malls with some designer shops as well as the usual t shirt trinket shops. My wife and i went into Hilfiger Aruba and got a Hilfiger Aruba Beach Towel and Shirt.

 

The White Tiger: Don't Know its still there but aruba was home to a white tiger I know there was some political things going on so it might not still be there- its in the shoping area and has a huge home. Just ask where it is must be 5 min trom the dock. For $25 i got to take my picture with the tiger- and i mean with the tiger. In the cage- i got to pet it- was huge and i was nervous- once again i had to go alone because my wife was too scared.

 

 

I hope this helped some people out

:cool:

[mii]

Hi there: I will be in Aruba this coming May on a cruise and was wondering about the Dutch Gouda cheese. As I understand you can pick it up at local grocery stores but was wondering if the shoips around the pier also have it. Done alot of searching on this board and all I can find is buying through grocery stores is the only place. Since you stayed for 10 days maybe you might remember if you can get it elsewhere.

 

By the way your review was most helpful. Thanks

 

marilyn

[Maryandi]

Sounds like the place for you !! Good time , thanks for the review , Mar

[Coolmama_1]

WOW! You sure did it all! Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for the info.

[Crystalcat]

Thanks for your review. It sounds like fun. Where did this tour stop? (I don't think it hits all of the usual places in Aruba).

 

Thanks!!!:D

[Crystalcat]

Sorry, I got all excited and and posted my response before reading your whole review.

 

New question - did you have any kids - say around 10 - on your tour?

 

Thanks!

 

Cathy

[luvdasea]

I was wondering about the abc tour also...is it safe for kids or will they be scared to death!!??:eek: (We're going anyway whether they like it or not)

[FcapAcap]

Kids would probally love the ABC tour. they will get to snorkle at the natural pool and feed the ostrich and hold the huge eggs. They most likely won't be scared- as they say kids sometimes are too young and inexperienced to be scared. Just take note that its going to be a very bumpy ride and you do get thrown around a bit so that may bother the kids.

[luvdasea]

:) Sounds like fun to me! After reading yor review, I feel like I have to try everything else in Aruba again (and leave the kids at home!:D)

[AZPam]

So, were you really that scared? Because I am a big chicken! I showed my DH your review and of course now he wants to do the jeep tour. Should I stay behind and just shop? I HATE roller coasters by the way!

[FcapAcap]

Its bumpy and i was scared, but you can't miss it. Please don't Go shopping, You'll see all the beautiful, natural sights of Aruba during this tour. The AbC Jeep tour will give you the best pictures of your trip to Aruba and you'll have fun!

[CruiseGoer2107]

I was wondering about the Kukoo-Kunuku tour that you took....what were the ages of the people on the bus? Me and my boyfriend and family want to go....Me and my boyfriend are 22, two sisters 25 and 18, friend of the sisters 17, and my mom 48. Are those okay age ranges you think? Also, how strict are they on the drinking age? My sisters friend will be 18 two weeks AFTER our cruise...thanks for the info!!

[Carolrd]

Just an fyi, there is no Hilton in Aruba (as yet) The last resort in the high rise area is Marriott. And the hotel with the "small casino" is the Holiday Inn which is just before the Marriott.

 

You must have been there awhile ago, because the Natural Bridge has collapsed. ( I believe last September) and the Tiger (her name was Tessa) died a couple of years ago.

 

For anyone that would like more information on Aruba, you can go any of these websites, all have information, as well as message boards,

 

http://www.aruba-bb.com

http://www.aruba-travelguide.com

http://www.visitaruba.com

 

Aruba is by far the best island I have ever been to. I own a timeshare there and have visited many, many times. The people are the greatest, and the food is fabulous. Most people that visit Aruba, always return many many times. You will see that by visiting anyone of the message boards on the sites I posted above. I hope you all enjoy Aruba as much as I do.

 

 

 

Carol