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Aruba is a tiny little island that sits 18 miles off the north coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean sea. It’s just 20 miles long and 6 miles wide and is one of the things that gives credence to the notion that good things come in small packages.
Don’t believe me? Well, here are just six reasons that should you should visit Aruba:
The Weather:
Although just about all Caribbean islands can claim to have fantastic weather, Aruba still has them all beat. You see, Aruba has a ‘party piece’ that few other Caribbean islands can match – it almost never gets hurricanes. Aruba sits so far south in the Caribbean sea that it sits outside the generally accepted ‘hurricane zone’. So, while you take your chances with the weather when visiting the rest of the Caribbean between June and November, with Aruba you’re almost certain to have blue skies and still seas.
Beautiful Beaches
Aruba’s best known beach is Palm Beach on the west coast of the island, but this can get a bit crowded – it’s where most of the big hotels are located. Luckily there are plenty more beaches where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy some tranquil Caribbean scenery. Our two favourites are Eagle Beach (just to the south of Palm Beach) and Baby Beach on the southeastern corner of the island. Both beaches are considerably less crowded than Palm Beach, both have beautiful fine sand and both have great swimming conditions.
At weekends, especially on Sundays, just about all the beaches on Aruba get that much busier as the locals take a well deserved break and join in the fun, but you’ll still find plenty of space to relax and enjoy the sun.
Accommodation
Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club – Living Area
For such a small island, Aruba has an excellent selection of accommodation for most budgets and for most needs.
For those looking for a touch of luxury, the recently opened Ritz-Carlton Aruba would be a great choice. One step down on the luxury scale is the Hyatt Regency Aruba and if you’re looking for an all-inclusive option the Riu Palace Aruba is a good place to start.
As well as all the great regular resorts, those travelling with children or as a larger group, should probably consider two of Marriott’s offerings – Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club and Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club. Both offer rooms ranging from standard hotel rooms to larger units with 2 to 3 bedrooms, full kitchens and private living areas. These options can be more economical than purchasing multiple rooms at a regular resort and the private kitchens can help keep the costs of feeding the family down to a manageable sum.
Dining
Simply Fish – Sunset View Palm beach Aruba
Aruba has a little bit of everything so it won’t be hard to find something that suits your taste.
If you’re in the Palm Beach area (which most people usually are) and are looking for a sunset dinner on the beach then Simply Fish is one of the better options around. For fine dining combined with a beautiful beach scene the Flying Fishbone is a ‘must’ – just make sure you make a reservation in advance because it’s extremely popular. Another fine dining option that’s long been a favourite is Madame Janette. Once again reservations are highly recommended and be sure to use Google maps to check the best way to get there – it can be tricky to find at night!
Scuba Diving
Sunken plane – Aruba South Coast
If you’ve ever thought about trying out scuba diving but just haven’t got round to it then this is the place to do it. I’m not sure I’ve come across an easier place to dive. While most dive charters offer dives on the west and south coasts of the island, the west coast is the one to learn on while the south coast will be more fun for the experienced diver. The west coast has the magic combination of calm waters, negligible currents and dives sites with plenty to see. From shallow reef dives with plentiful sea life to dives on WWII wrecks (The Antilla) you’re not going to get bored! Add to that the fact that the waters can be so warm that a wetsuit is surplus to requirements and you have the perfect location to learn to dive.
The People
I’ve left this ’till last but it’s probably the most important reason why Aruba is such a great destination to visit.
The island has branded itself “One Happy Island” and, while a lot of places like to call themselves all sorts of wonderful things, Aruba actually lives up to this moniker. The people on the island are remarkably friendly and always seem to have a smile when you meet them – its what can really make a difference on vacation. I’ve visited quite a few places around the world and, while many have beaches and hotels as beautiful (even more beautiful) than Aruba, few have been able to match the friendliness of the locals – and I love that.
