Most upscale casino? Which has the best atmosphere?

[ieatbugs]

Hi guys,

I'm going to Aruba the second week of september. I have never been to a casino and would like to go for the experience and atmosphere. I will likely play a few games once just for fun. I am not a big gambler and do not wish to spend much money.

I DO want to get dressed up all fancy and have a swanky experience. Where is the best casino for this?

Thanks!

[Andrea J.]

swanky experience......i have been in every aruba casino and none i would describe as "swanky".

maybe the marriott or the riu would be the closest to your requirements....


maybe 2 out of 100 are fancily dressed.
not sure if i would even say fancy.
probably fewer.

Hi guys,

I'm going to Aruba the second week of september. I have never been to a casino and would like to go for the experience and atmosphere. I will likely play a few games once just for fun. I am not a big gambler and do not wish to spend much money.

I DO want to get dressed up all fancy and have a swanky experience. Where is the best casino for this?

Thanks!

[Arubalisa]

I DO want to get dressed up all fancy and have a swanky experience. Where is the best casino for this?

Thanks!

I would agree with Andrea, I think those days, in Aruba at least, are pretty much gone forever. The Riu requires men to wear long pants at their ala carte restaurants, so that may be your best shot.

I would dare to say though that there is more to the casino experience than it being "upscale".

Everyone's opinions can be subjective, based upon whether they win or not. Example...I recently went to the Alhambra Casino. It was the first time I had entered a casino in Aruba for over 10 years. I was playing with some free credits I had received.

#1 FREE credit certainly enhanced the experience
#2 player representative was very friendly and smiling
#3 sat at the table and a waiter immediately approached for a drink order
#4 started winning
#5 Gin came with a bug in the drink , a fellow player called the waiter over and he placed it quickly, with a smile and a fresh drink
#6 continued to win
#7 walked away with my winnings

There was no glitz or glam, I was wearing one of the plain old sun dresses I always wear in Aruba, dh was wearing his traditional twill shorts and collared shirt.

Walking out with my winnings, I was feeling pretty swanky and we had a fun experience.

[ieatbugs]

Ahh, see, you can really tell my only exposure to casinos is from TV now ;D

Maybe you can suggest another nighttime activity that would be more appropriate for getting all dressed up and going out somewhere swanky?

I work in a super casual industry (video games) and don't get to do things like that often but I would love to on my vacation

I would agree with Andrea, I think those days, in Aruba at least, are pretty much gone forever. The Riu requires men to wear long pants at their ala carte restaurants, so that may be your best shot.

I would dare to say though that there is more to the casino experience than it being "upscale".

Everyone's opinions can be subjective, based upon whether they win or not. Example...I recently went to the Alhambra Casino. It was the first time I had entered a casino in Aruba for over 10 years. I was playing with some free credits I had received.

#1 FREE credit certainly enhanced the experience
#2 player representative was very friendly and smiling
#3 sat at the table and a waiter immediately approached for a drink order
#4 started winning
#5 Gin came with a bug in the drink , a fellow player called the waiter over and he placed it quickly, with a smile and a fresh drink
#6 continued to win
#7 walked away with my winnings

There was no glitz or glam, I was wearing one of the plain old sun dresses I always wear in Aruba, dh was wearing his traditional twill shorts and collared shirt.

Walking out with my winnings, I was feeling pretty swanky and we had a fun experience.

[Arubalisa]

I am going to word my response as carefully as I can.

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations for Aruba?

You can get dressed up in Aruba, but men do not wear suits or generally even jackets. Well maybe occasionally I will see men who fly business class wearing a sports jacket, maybe they will wear a jacket to a fine dining restaurant like Windows on Aruba?

For the most part though, Aruba is casual. "Resort casual" off the top of my head-
For men- khakis/twill pants pants with a collared shirt. Knit or woven shirts (polos) with a collar. Woven are generally cooler, they breath Many Aruban men wear long denim pants when out to dinner.
For ladies - sun dresses, skirts and blouses, sweaters. Dress capris or nice pants. No sneakers, no shorts, no denim, no t-shirts. Tank tops should be dressy.

The dressed up and swanky atmosphere you are looking for may be found else where like 4 Season or Ritz Resorts.

The atmosphere you describe is what we found at the Ocean Club/Atlantis on Paradise Island. Dinners there at their fining dining restaurant would easily run $300 without wine. I would feel naked if I did not dress to the nines at their restaurants. BTW, worth every penny.

[ieatbugs]

Unrealistic expectations because I asked if it was possible to have an upscale evening experience one night? I'm not really sure that's fair. I've got beach and resort activities planned for all of my daytime and other evenings.

I am going to word my response as carefully as I can.

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations for Aruba?

You can get dressed up in Aruba, but men do not wear suits or generally even jackets. Well maybe occasionally I will see men who fly business class wearing a sports jacket, maybe they will wear a jacket to a fine dining restaurant like Windows on Aruba?

For the most part though, Aruba is casual. "Resort casual" off the top of my head-
For men- khakis/twill pants pants with a collared shirt. Knit or woven shirts (polos) with a collar. Woven are generally cooler, they breath Many Aruban men wear long denim pants when out to dinner.
For ladies - sun dresses, skirts and blouses, sweaters. Dress capris or nice pants. No sneakers, no shorts, no denim, no t-shirts. Tank tops should be dressy.

The dressed up and swanky atmosphere you are looking for may be found else where like 4 Season or Ritz Resorts.

The atmosphere you describe is what we found at the Ocean Club/Atlantis on Paradise Island. Dinners there at their fining dining restaurant would easily run $300 without wine. I would feel naked if I did not dress to the nines at their restaurants. BTW, worth every penny.

[Arubalisa]

I was meerly trying to be realistic.

I have no idea what your daytime activities are, you inquired about nightime.

I hate to see people return from Aruba and say,

"No one told me."

More often than not, they come back and tell forum members, "why did you not tell me?"

If you went to Aruba looking for a "fancy... a swanky experience" and did not find it and were not told in advance, you would be mad. Rightfully so.

At least now you know what to expect.

I am sorry for being honest in what we have found in our past 21 trips to the island over the past 17 years.

Perhaps PM forum member ~Amy~® and she could suggest an evening of activities to meet your needs.

Sorry for just trying to be realistic and honest.

Unrealistic expectations because I asked if it was possible to have an upscale evening experience one night? I'm not really sure that's fair. I've got beach and resort activities planned for all of my daytime and other evenings.

[ieatbugs]

I simply asked for a recommendation for a single nighttime activity.


However, I am surprised at the tone of your comment from a forum moderator. "I am sorry for being honest in what we have found in our past 21 trips to the island over the past 17 years." This kind of sarcastic reply is not necessary.

I was meerly trying to be realistic.

I have no idea what your daytime activities are, you inquired about nightime.

I hate to see people return from Aruba and say,

"No one told me."

More often than not, they come back and tell forum members, "why did you not tell me?"

If you went to Aruba looking for a "fancy... a swanky experience" and did not find it and were not told in advance, you would be mad. Rightfully so.

At least now you know what to expect.

I am sorry for being honest in what we have found in our past 21 trips to the island over the past 17 years.

Perhaps PM forum member ~Amy~® and she could suggest an evening of activities to meet your needs.

Sorry for just trying to be realistic and honest.

[Arubalisa]

I am very sorry that you feel I was being sarcastic. I am meerly being realistic based upon my experiences in Aruba over the years.

May I suggest some fine dining experiences?

http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/fine%20dining.html

A few restaurants off the top of my head

2 Fools and a Bull
Azull
Barefoot Restaurant
Carte Blanche Restaurant
Flying Fishbone
Footprints Beach Grill
L.G. Smith's Steak & Chop House
La Playa Torchlight Dinner
Madame Janette
Marandi
Pago Pago
Papiamento Restaurant
Papillon Restaurant
Passions on the Beach
Ruinas del Mar
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Screaming Eagle
Sunset Grille
Ventanas del Mar
White Modern Cuisine
Windows on Aruba

[jpsphr]

I would agree with Lisa. Our most upscale dining experience in Aruba was Carte Blanche, probably followed closely by Papiamento and White Modern Cuisine. In all of the aforementioned venues, dress is "resort casual." Even in Ruth's Chris in the Marriott which is less satisfying than those mentioned but more traditionally "upscale" in terms of clientele is generally devoid of men in jackets.

As to Casino's - I find the Crystal Palace in the Marriott Renaissance to most closely resemble a Las Vegas Casino in appearance. If you stay in the High Rise area, you'll probably like Marriott Stellaris or Riu.

Not that I need to defend our esteemed moderator, but I do believe, after many years on this board, that she was indeed trying to be both realistic and helpful.

Enjoy your stay. It is a wonderful island.