1st Time in Aruba

[dq1974]

So I have been back for 1 week as of today and I already miss it. I'm so itching to run down to the nearest travel agency and book a trip back next year. My wife and I loved every minute of our time in Aruba. We stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Resort marina tower (all-inclusive). We landed around 5 pm on Sunday evening (July 31st) and immediately went straight to dinner at one of the restaurants in the resort since our flight was 5 hours from Toronto and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We didn't do much the rest of the night since we spent all day travelling, just sat at the lobby bar and enjoyed some Balashi chill.

The next day we spent the day out on the private island. It was so relaxing!! I loved how I could go to the bar and grab a bucket of Balashi on ice and take it back to my lounge chair. None of this tiny glass of beer that they give you at most all-inclusive resorts out there. In the evening we ate at the outdoor restaurant at the ocean suites section of the resort. It was BBQ night so we decided we should try it.

Day 2 we decided to stay around the hotel pool. After breakfast we walked around the downtown area and popped into a few shops. Once we were back at the hotel we went down to the pool for swim/sun/food & drinks. I noticed that there was a heli-pad when we were walking around earlier in the morning so I inquired about a helicopter tour at our concierge desk. Decided that since we were in Aruba it would be cool to take a tour so we booked it for the following day. That evening we ate at L.G. Smith steakhouse and spent some time in the Crystal Casino. We received some free play cards from L.G. Smiths and the resort when we checked in. For those wondering....we didn't win anything.

Day 3 was an exciting day! We started by taking the helicopter beach tour at 10:15 am. I can't believe the view from the air. We got some awesome pics!! Next time we're in Aruba we're probably going to do the full island tour. I'm kicking myself now for not doing it in the first place. When the helicopter tour was over we had breakfast at the hotel and decided to take the bus up to the high rise area to look around. Popped into a couple of shops up there and then walked along the beach back towards our hotel until we couldn't walk any further. Got back to the street and took the bus back to the resort. We decided to eat at L.G. Smiths again and then just walked around the area before we retired in the lobby bar for some drinks.

Day 4 was a fun day. I had previously come on the forum to get some suggestions regarding an island tour. A couple of people had mentioned Private Island tours by Cerry so I did some digging on other sites and decided to send him an email. I had set up a 3 hour tour with Cerry for this day and he didn't disappoint. My wife and I loved the private tour!! Cerry was very informative and very personable. We decided to leave it up to him on where we should go on the island. Our favorite place was the natural bridge. We got some great pictures! It was nice to see some of the neighbourhoods also. Cerry dropped us off back at the hotel and we decided to spend the rest of the day at the private island.

Day 5 was spent at the private island. Just relaxing since we only had 2 days left in paradise.

Day 6 we started out by shopping. Bought some souvenirs at some of the stands along the marina. Checked out some of the jewelry stores. Picked something up for the wife and myself (couldn't resist). Had breakfast and got back on the boat for some more fun in the sun at the private island. Came back at the end of the day and had the seafood buffet at one of the restaurants at the resort. We decided to go back the the casino again to try our luck........No such luck. Went and had some more drinks and called it a night.

Day 7 was the worst day......we had to leave. Our flight was at 5 pm so we had some time to kill. We had breakfast and finished packing. Checked out but before I did I pre-ordered some drinks at the lobby bar so we didn't go without while waiting for the bus to pick us up at 3:30 pm. Bus came, picked us up, home we went.
Next time we come to Aruba we might want to rent a place instead of staying at a resort. We also will be taking the helicopter island tour and calling Cerry to tour the rest of the island. I'm also hoping that I can recruit some of friends to join us. I know they will love it as much as we did.

[Andrea J.]

thanks!!

dear son and i are taking the helitour this coming week sometime.

:-)

[dq1974]

We loved the heli-tour......It was awesome to see Aruba from the air. You'll get some great pictures.....We're still trying to figure out which one we want to blow up and put on our wall here at home.

[danadog56]

glad you had a great time....it is always so awful the day you know you have to come home....then you are on the plane wishing you were coming to aruba instead of leaving....the good thing about it all is that you can always go back !!!!!

[DANNYO]

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us.Leaving is the hardest part of any vacation.Planning the next one is even better.

[serene56]

Thanks for the review.


what stops you from heading to the travel agency?


I didnt even leave yet and making plans on what week I want next year/

[dq1974]

Wish it were that easy.....I'd be down there in a heartbeat.