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Moderator
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,743
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Most all reservations can be made once you arrive on the island. I made a reservation in advance for Passions because they are only open Thursday through Sunday (I think they are extending to Wednesay in October) and wanted a specific time. Madame Janette and the Flying Fishbone are probably the two most popular restaurants on the island so definitely make reservations in advance for those.
Some dinner info:
Less expensive dinners?
http://www.aruba.com/forum/f12/suggestions-family-four-31558/
http://www.aruba.com/forum/f7/family-food-question-32148/#post115045
There are four outdoor restaurants across from the Hyatt, down the road a piece and across the street from the Hyatt. More affordable are Casa Tua (Italian), and Salt & Pepper.
Also close by are Smokey Joe's (ribs) and Tomatoe Charlie's (pizza).
I am sure a Marine like yourself would be interested in at least one good steak dinner!  Check out these threads and websites:
LG Smith's through Marriot purchase a dinner certificate for 2 for $109 (4 course dinner & non-alcoholic beverage) https://gifts.marriott.com/
El Gaucho's pricing
Amazonia Churrascaria http://www.amazonia-aruba.com/
Texas del Brazil http://www.texasdebrazil.com/
Some other good info on dinners:
Suggest your FAV Restaurant and Bars
best Italian
Also see http://www.restaurantsaruba.com/topten.html There are links to the restaurant's menus with pricing. The Screaming Eagle and Flying Fishbone are going to be very expensive and the FFB is an expensive taxi ride if you do not have a car.
http://www.arubawatersportcenter.com/pricelist_WS.htm Use this pricelist as a "guide" for what it will cost for jet-ski and parasailing. There are vendors all along Palm Beach and their prices are pretty competitive.
Our family just recently took the helicopter tour for the first time, this is from my review:
"Dh and I always wanted to take the helicopter tour, but had a tough time justifying the expense. This year we decide to bite the bullet and in lieu of exchanging gifts for our wedding anniversary, do the helicopter tour instead. Thursday morning was our helicopter tour of the island.
There is only one operator on the island,Aruba Heli Tours. We decided to reserve the first tour of the day at 10 a.m. in order to have the rest of the day at the beach.
Christian was our pilot and tour guide. We felt it was well worth the extra money for the island tour versus the beach tour. The island tour begins at the helipad at the marina in Oranjestad. We headed north and saw Druif, Eagle, Palm Beach, Malmok, Arashi and beyond. We out over the wreck of the Antilla for a very unique view. From there it was on around the lighthouse and Tierra del Sol Country Club with all of it's palatial homes, flying along the northeast coast all the way up to the Aruba Drag Raceway Park.
Christian then took us back towards the west coast with a view of the refinery, heading back northward over the barrier islands towards to Oranjestad over Savaneta and past the airport, finally land back in Oranjestad. The color of the water during this portion of the flight was just as breathtaking as it is over Palm Beach.
Through 17 visits to Aruba, this ranks in the top 3 excursions we have taken. The other 2 being Tranquilo and the Kini Kini ATV tour."
Admitedly, it is very expensive, $130 per person for the island tour and $85 per person for the beach tour. In my mind, the tour of the entire island is a much much better value.
Photo below was taken during the island heliopter tour of Mike's Reef. The dock at the very top of the photo is the one used by Tranquilo for snorkelers to cross over the reef.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric and Jen
Oh man that restaurant sounds good. So how much do you usually spend on food out there? Has anyone ever been Parasailing out there? I would like to do that but im not to sure. I was thinking about riding the jet skis too. I was reading on here that the helicopter tour is really good too. Anyone been on that one. So how much is this kind of stuff too? Do you have to reserve any of these activity's and if so how much in advance should you sign up?
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