Dave and Jodie are in Aruba

[DaveNJodie]

Finally here after a 12+ hour day of traveling. Flew USAir and we were not impressed. No movie or radio. $15 charge for first checked bag. $2 for a can of soda or a water, $1 for a tea, $5 - $7 for a snack and $7 for a beer. Nice to be nickeled and dimed all day.

Check-in at the Renaissance Suites was great and front desk was extremely pleasant and helpful even though they were very busy. New balcony door is great as is the flat screen TV. The pool is nicely resurfaced and the boat launch area within the Renaissance Marina came out great.

As is our family tradition, we went straight to the room to change into bathing suits and hit the pool where we watched a gorgeous sunset. After a quick swim we walked over to Iguana Joe's for dinner. Kids loved the mac'n'cheese and plantains and adults enjoyed mahi mahi fajitas, steak fajitas, and ribs.

As were are all wiped out from a long day, we are hitting the sack. I'll keep you posted as the trip goes on (but only after the sun goes down). Off to Renaissance Island tomorrow for some swimming and snorkeling.

Dave and Jodie

[Liz - Aruba Lover]

Sounds like your off to a good start on your vacation. Enjoy!

[qlaval]

HI Dave, Hi Jodie

Thanks for the update at the Renaissance.
Will be on the lookout for your daily trip reports.

Enjoy your vacation!

Pierre

[DANNYO]

Wow,thats a long flight,glad you are there,have a great vacation.

[cindyo]

Ah, dave and jodie, thanks for that update...it sounds exactly like our first day ! Have a blast, and thanks for the info on the rooms. Nice to see the new TV's there. keep us posted, we will live thru you !!!!

[Arubalisa]

Just looked and with a temperature of 86 degrees and with a beautiful day like today I am sure you are all at the beach. Enjoy! We will be living vicariously through your reports as the week progresses.

[huffdaddy]

Jodie,

Looking forward to your posts. We just got back from the Renaissance after three awesome weeks. I am in withdrawal already and can't wait for next year. Your posts will keep me sane and dreaming about our next visit. Keep them coming!

[danadog56]

Dave amd Jodie,
Have wonderful time.....forget about USAir for the time being and concentrate on relaxing and de-stressing.....
I am like huffdaddy and still in withdrawl and envious of all now enjoying the island.....we live vicariously through each other, so keep us posted on how your vacation is going....and of course, Have a Wonderful Time !!!!!!

[DaveNJodie]

Saturday...ate at the breakfast buffet next to the Renaissance Suites pool restaurant - food was excellent with made to order omellettes, pastries, smoked salmon, dutch potatos, bacon, sausage, etc. Children are half price which made this reasonable. Lathered up with lotion and headed to the private island. Gorgeous as always with no visible damage from the storm in October. There was very little wind on Saturday and the snorkeling was outstanding. We snorkeling outside of the breakers and the visibility was fantastic. Had lunch at the restaurant on the island which was very good (and still reasonable). Kids all had red snapper fish fingers with fries, salad and a soda (for $6) and adults had the chicken satay (skewers with a peanut sauce), and the broiled red snapper sandwich. Around 2pm we headed back to the pool at the Ren Suites and watched football while in the water at the pool bar while the kids played. Watched the sunset from the pool and then had the concierge book a reservation for El Gauchos. No problem with short notice as the island appears very quiet right now. Dinner was excellent as always and the El Gaucho steak is still one of the best we've ever had. All seven of us had the same steak with my girls splitting one. For those who check the menu on the internet, be aware that prices have gone up (the steak was about $7 more than advertised on the website). Speaking of prices, none of the cab drivers are sticking to the rate sheet which was posted on the forum. No one would take us from the airport to the Renaissance for less than $20 and the other family we are traveling with was charged extra for heavy bags - not cool.

Sunday - we ate at the hotel's breakfast buffet again and then walked downtown to do some shopping at the cruise ship stands. The girls bought a few trinkets and then we took the bus down to the weekend flea market just before the low rise hotels. We bought a few more souveneers and took the bus back downtown. As we stepped off the bus it started pouring and rained until about 3pm. We had PB&J sandwiches in the room and watched TV for a while. The rain cleared around 3pm and we went down to the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Again watched some football from the pool and had a casual dinner at SBarro (about $25.00 for a 18" pizza). We listened to the live music outside the Waterfront Crabhouse for a while and then went to bed.

Monday...the sun is out and we're heading to the private island after a bowl of cereal in the room...we'll keep you updated.

Dave and Jodie

[cindyo]

Thanks for the report...I can picture your vacation "step by step"....cindy