Essential Info When Traveling to Aruba

Like any international destination, there are a few things that you should definitely know before you plan your vacation to Aruba. Having traveled there numerous times with our two small children, along with our extended family, we have discovered the essentials that you should know before you travel.

USEFULL INFORMATION

• The Aruban Florin is Aruba's official currency, and is divided into 100 cents. It is also possible to pay with U.S. dollars in Aruba.
• The official language is Dutch since Aruba is a Dutch colony. However, the locals speak, write and read Spanish, English, Dutch and Papiamento fluently.
• Electricity in Aruba is 110A.C. and cars drive on the right.
  

AIRPORT INFORMATION

• Aruba's airport is the Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). This popular destination is serviced by American Airlines, KLM, Continental, Delta, TWA, United Airlines, US Airways as well as several charter companies.
• Aruba is an international destination. When traveling with your kids, make sure you pack everything necessary for a smooth airport experience: passports, ID, snacks, games, headphones.
• Foreign & International drivers licenses accepted. Free parking throughout the island. Cars, jeeps, bicycles and scooters may be rented at the airport and major hotels. In Aruba, everyone drives on the right side of the road

WEATHER

• Average temperature in Aruba in the summer is 85°F and in the winter 81°F. The island has no hurricane season.
• The temperature difference between June and December or midnight and noon is rarely more than four degrees either side of 82F. A dependable cooling trade wind blows from the east, and fewer than 22 inches of rain fall anywhere on the island during a year.
  
  

Amazing Aruba Activities

One incredible highlight in Aruba is windsurfing which we have now done a couple of times. In front of the Marriott Hotel is one of the world’s best windsurfing locations. The shallow and warm waters make it an ideal location for kids and adults to learn. For the more advanced, rentals are convenient and selections are great. I’ve been told that it’s better to rent than to own your own equipment here because the winds vary and you can switch out your sail to go with the wind and your ability. The kids love it and apprehensive adults are always pleasantly surprised by how fun it is, especially if you manage to get up! Even if all you do is sit on the beach under a palapa and watch, it’s fun. Also, this is a photographers dream location. The colorful boats and sails make for amazing pictures.

After windsurfing, pack up a picnic lunch and drive (or walk, but it’s a hike) to one of the local beaches. There is one located right by the shipwreck where the snorkeling is amazing. We saw all kinds of fish, including starfish and it cost us nothing! Also, a great place for sea shells.

Speaking of snorkeling, “Baby Beach” on the other end of the island is really the best snorkeling. If you have a rental car, don’t miss it! You can rent snorkel equipment there and they have minimal snacks and beverages for sale.

Other favorite’s over the years, but didn’t make it this year:

Flying Fishbone: http://www.flyingfishbone.com/. By far, the most romantic restaurant we have ever dined at. Eat barefoot at a gourmet setting in the sand right at the water’s edge. A live saxophonist has always been there when we have gone. Every element is simple and elegant and the service is outstanding. Ask for Karen and tell her The Paige’s say “hi” if you go!
Screaming Eagle – give short description and link (be sure to reserve “dinner in bed”…seriously!).


“The Lighthouse”

http://www.aruba-latrattoria.com/ (officially named La Trattoria el Faro Blanco Restaurant) - Isolated at the top of a hill on the island's northernmost tip, this popular restaurant affords unbeatable vistas. Sitting atop the ridge near the lighthouse, a 360-degree scan takes in the expansive sea, windswept sand dunes, an emerald golf course, and the California Lighthouse. Just steps from the much-photographed beacon, the restaurant's original structure (which has since expanded) once housed the local lighthouse keeper, and the interior dining rooms retain a residential coziness. Seating on the terrace features unobstructed views of the sea. The fare covers a full range of Italian cuisine, with a good helping of Neapolitan specialties.

Warm and Welcoming Arubans

Aruba is truly a magical island! The people are so kind, genuine and hospitable. With the Dutch influence the island is very clean…much more so than any other Caribbean island I have experienced. The more time I spend here, the more I appreciate the many beautiful aspects of the island.

Friendly? The Arubans themselves may be their country's best advertisements. Long secure in a solid economy with good education, housing and health care, the island's population of about 100,000 regard tourists as welcome guests. Even the national anthem celebrates a high regard for hospitality. The line "Grandeza di bo pueblo ta su gran cordialidad" translates as "The greatness of our people is their great cordiality" -- and thousands of past visitors would agree.

The native Aruban is a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, and Arawak Indian ancestry -- and so is his unofficial language, Papiamento. Dutch is the official language, but every Aruban child studies English and Spanish from the age of l0 and most residents speak it well.

As you explore, as you get to know Aruba, you'll soon begin to notice the smiling faces everywhere. Real smiles. Gracious smiles. Sheer-joy of living smiles. Aruba, as any traveler here will tell you, must surely be among the most welcoming places on earth.

Maybe it's the Dutch tradition of hospitality, maybe it's the long and prosperous history of the island, maybe it's the year-round warmth of the sunshine and the fresh breezes of the trade winds. Whatever it is, it's absolutely true: Aruba is a genuinely happy place to be. And the people who live here, in the cities, in the towns, in the countryside, are genuinely happy to be sharing it with you.

You see, not only is this an island where happiness lives -- in Aruba, there's so much happiness to spare, we want to be sure you take some of it back home with you.

Birthday and July 4th in Aruba!

We were fortunate to be in Aruba to celebrate my son’s 10 year birthday. He loved it! We went to De Palm Island with some friends that we met in Aruba and did a Sea Trek Adventure (20 feet deep)…unbelievable! The remainder of the day on the island was spent on the water slides and snorkeling with the Parrot Fish. Our driver for De Palm Tours was a character…played Bob Marley and quoted him sporadically throughout the ride. He dedicated “Don’t Worry, Be Happy" to Justin.

We got back to the hotel at the end of the day and it started to pour rain (good luck we’re sure!), changed quick and met up with our local Aruba friends, Deirdre and Pierre, and their 10 year old girls for dinner at Texas de Brazil …famous for over 50 types of seasonal meats, brought it from all over the world. The restaurant has a vibrant Brazilian atmosphere, with food and guests to match. The salad bar and bread alone make a meal, but be sure to save your appetite for the kabobs and just a hint…the local favorite, Argentinean Lamb comes out at the end so save up…the best comes last! In the middle of our meal, the lights went out and the kids thought everyone was going to sing happy birthday, but it turned out to be a blackout on the entire island (a lightning bolt hit the power plant)! The staff were great and we all sang to Justin and his friend Caitlin in the dark. Justin gave us reports on the weather periodically, but thank goodness his prediction that there was a “hurricane off the coast” was not accurate and fortunately Aruba is out of the hurricane belt! We decided that the restaurant was really the best place to be and sat back and enjoyed the candlelight and good company! Finally, we adventured home in the rain and the girls stayed for a sleepover. We had no lights or power until we woke the next morning thinking maybe it was all a dream. What a day!!!

The next day was the 4^th of July and our final day. Justin and I went SCUBA diving (my early birthday present…we both opted for “experiences” this year…very Le Rêve of us…), then we all met at the pool for some Latin dancing, Watermelon eating contest (adults) and Jello eating (kids). I’m proud to say that nobody in our family won! We joined our new friends for Baby Back Ribs at Smokey Joes (which has a festive atmosphere and incredible food) and an amazing surprise fireworks display…so cool! Thank you Aruba for the show! Dillon fell asleep on a bench with his cool “police officer” shades on after the fireworks and Justin and I took a final walk on the beach with the festive Caribbean music in the background from Moomba (a casual yet lively outdoor patio) and a swim in the Caribbean under the “almost” full moon. Oh what a night and what a trip! We are counting our blessings as we head home and back to work.

We’re back home from Aruba into the real world, but feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. I’m thrilled to have our new friends and I still talk with Ellen daily…after seeing the results her family gets from a product called Isagenix, I’ve decided to embark on the Isagenix journey myself to shed the vacation “chub”. So far, so good. I wish I had known about it before vacation. Check out Ellen’s site at http://www.cleanandleanbody.com/. If you want to follow us at home in Southern California blog at http://www.southerncalifornialuxurytravel.blogspot.com/t.com. 8ink3sv5bz

It's Great to be back in Aruba!!

We arrived in Aruba on Father’s Day via American Airlines on the red-eye from LAX – Miami – Aruba and arrived in the afternoon, unpacked and took our traditional dive into the Carribean at Sunset. We then met up with our annual Aruba friends, The Cooks at one of our favorite restaurants, Simply Fish at the Marriott. The beach dining allows for a swim, rinse in the shower, throw on a wrap and enjoy a fine-dining experience on the sand. It’s also a favorite for the kids…when they are finished and you are still enjoying your dinner, they can play on the beach in sight. The best of all worlds come together on this evening experience. The Chilean Sea Bass with Papaya cous-cous and grilled vegetables is a must!

Day Two – Morning walk on the beach and swim in the ocean. Meet with your personal concierge to arrange your week, then go shopping in downtown Oranjestad. Find souvenirs and be sure to make a stop at some of the jewelry stores (duty-free). We have found the jewelry to be approximately 20 – 30% less expensive with excellent quality. We had lunch at Iguana Joes http://www.iguanajoesaruba.com/, then did our grocery shopping for the next couple of weeks at Ling and Sons…the best place to get groceries at a reasonable rate rather than in the hotel markets. We finished off the day with a swim in the lazy river at our property, The Marriott Aruba Surf Club. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/auaac-marriotts-aruba-surf-club

Day Three – A run on the beach and swim in the warm Caribbean is the perfect start to the day! Enjoy a day at the pool and beach and for the adventuresome soul…give the inner tubing or banana boat a try. Enjoy mingling on the beach with people from all over the world. For a casual and excellent ambiance for dinner, walk down the beach to Azzurro http://www.azzurroaruba.com/ …the best pasta in town…try the spaghetti mixed in a natural bowl made of parmesean cheese…lit on fire the flavors are infused into the pasta with marinara sause…DELICIOUS!

Day Four – Windsurfing....snorkeling…picnic on the beach…OK off to bed so I can get rested for this! I'll keep you posted on what else we have been up to soon!!

Off to Aruba

For the next two weeks, the Paige's, Mike, Taya, Justin, and Dillon, will be escaping the every day routine of Laguna Niguel, and enjoying the beautiful shores of Aruba. Their summer trip to Aruba has become a family tradition, and though they are traveling alone this summer, in previous years the rest of their extended family has come as well.

With Mike and Taya's experience as an event coordinators, you can bet the trip will be anything but boring. During their stay they will be checking out the local hot spots, trying out the various water activities, and site-seeing throughout the island. As they travel, they will send their highlights, in order to provide a first-hand travel guide for anyone wanting to create a truly wonderful family vacation in Aruba.

If you have any questions or other Aruba experiences, email us at info@lereveoc.com.