Where to stay

[risa1818]

Now that I have secured the Manchebo for the wedding, I haven't decided where to stay yet! I have been relying on Tripadvisor to give me some reviews on places but just unsure. I am torn between staying in the high rise section so we can be closer to things or going to the low rise section where the beach is less crowded?

We have an upgrade for the Hyatt so we originally thought we might stay there. The only thing is, not sure if we want to stay there the entire time or move to another resort after the wedding. I originally thought maybe we should move over to the Bucuti or somewhere after. To stay in the more expensive hotels the entire time would be a lot, so I thought maybe we could split our time between an expensive one and non expensive one. I read some great reviews about The Radisson and we thought maybe we would go there some of the time.

Any input on ideas or would be much appreciated!! Thanks

[Andrea J.]

check out some timeshares up on palm beach
riu
occidental
playa linda

and if you can spend any part of your time at the bucuti, that would be magnificent

[Arubalisa]

Eagle/ Manchebo/Druif Beaches vs. Palm Beach? Otherwise known as low rise vs high rise.

The high rise resorts are located on Palm Beach. The low rise resorts are located on Eagle/ Manchebo/Druif Beaches. There are some pretty drastic differences between the areas.

Eagle/ Manchebo/Druif Beaches can have some waves, at other times it will be dead calm and lake like. Water all over the island is blue, warm and refreshing. From Eagle Beach to Druif Beach, you will find wide, long and very white beaches. Because of its width and length it will be less crowded than Palm Beach. There is less boat activity, so the water is clearer. Thought admittedly, there are other islands such as the Bahamas which do have clearer water. The water clarity in Aruba varies from day to day but as divers I can say it is rarely "perfect".

Aruba is a windy island with average tradewinds of 17 mph. A positive of Palm Beach is that it is less windy here because the wind is blocked by most of the resort's buildings. Palm Beach is also long and white, but narrower and the resorts are larger. The beach here is more crowded, but in my mind, crowding is relative. If you grew up at the Jersey shore like I did, Palm Beach will not be that bad. Overall the area is much more congested in comparison to Eagle Beach. Street side along Palm Beach there is a number of restaurants, shops and bars. If activities are a must have within walking distance you will have everything you need right in the Palm Beach area. Within walking distance on Palm Beach you will also find seven casinos at the following resorts- Marriott Stellaris, Holiday Inn SunSpree, Hyatt, Occidental, Radisson, Riu and Westin.

Palm Beach also is the only location for four star resorts. At this time there are no five star resorts on the island. Four star resorts include the Marriott Stellaris, Hyatt Regency, Radisson, Riu All Inclusive and Westin.

For quiet, less crowds, wider beaches then Eagle/ Manchebo/Druif Beaches would be your choice. If you were staying here without an all inclusive package, a rental car would most likely be a good idea. This will give you transportation to dinner each evening as well as shopping trips into downtown Oranjestad and a day of driving around the island and doing some sightseeing.

Each has its trade-offs, besides your budget, imo a HUGE factor, you would just need to decide what your priorities are:
Where?
- Low rise = quiet beach, laid back resorts
- High rise = watersports, casinos and much much more including shopping and multiple restaurants within walking distance

As I am sure you know since you already booked your wedding on the island, no matter where you stay, for relaxation, blue waters, great beaches and great weather, Aruba is a terrific choice.

[risa1818]

Wow thanks Arubalisa! Great information and very helpful

Thanks for the suggestions too Andrea, maybe we should look into a timeshare rental for the week we are there..might be more economical.

[photosbyjulia]

You've chosen the most beautiful beach on Aruba to get married on and the Hyatt is where I would want to stay as you will be in the exact center of Palm Beach. The Tara Suites at the Bucuti are also wonderful. I think they have a No kids policy there.

[Arubalisa]

Correct, the Bucuti will no longer permit guests under the age of 18.

"Starting December 23, 2010: While Bucuti has always had a highly restrictive policy regarding children, and only a handful of rooms accommodated one child, we will no longer accommodate children 18 and under in any room category."

[ibizz-aruba]

The Hyatt is gr8