RONNIE

We just returned, a few hours ago, from our vacation in Aruba, which we dedicated a large amount of time to looking at properties and land. We have been planning to buy a home or land and build a home.
We did not buy this time because we were really taken back with the condition of
Aruba this time! We have been going to Aruba for 25 years...and know the Island well. But this time I have to say...Aruba was filthy. We were shocked. Beer bottles and debris were all over the island. Even floating in the water at Baby beach. Everywhere. AND...the downtown area was dingy and SO MANY stores are empty! This trip, Aruba lost some of it's charm. We were very upset to see this. We heard the goverment ran out of money and this week, the entire Island is shutting down for a strike on Tuesday. Which means things will be even dirtier.
Tourism is there number 1 income. If they don't paint and spruce up the downtown areas, no one will want to shop there. We didn't.
The 'red light district' in San Nicolis advertises now and has an entire page in the daily local paper that is eye popping!!! They even supply transportation to the 'sexual experience' of your choice.
The condo and time share building has gotten out of control. People were complaining that they are sitting 6 " from each other on eagle beach! There are construction sites everywhere. eyesores. What happened to the quiant clean colorful Aruba?
And the worst....the homeless area...behind mainstreet has gotten huge. We could not believe the amount of men and women sitting against the buildings smoking crack IN PLAIN DAYLIGHT as you drove by. There had to be at least 25 of them along the block. And in the night, they hang out in the public parking lots by the casinos downtown and approach you asking for money as you walk to your car. very creepy. The police ignore them because they have no where to put them.
My bubble is shattered. Aruba has lost some of it's charm for us. And by the way...some of the homeowners we met were selling because they needed to get better healthcare. They said the healthcare is horrible! Especially emergency care. (and if you plan on retiring there, as we did, this is a big concern)
So we decided to sit back and watch what happens in the next couple years with the country before we buy. We hope it can handle all this developing, but with all this developing, it's not Aruba-one happy island anymore. It's one crowded island.

DANNYO

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lou&nay

Can anyone second this review? This thread sounds like Aruba is becoming Jamaica.

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Lou&Nay: Will visit on our honeymoon 9/2008

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RONNIE

Honestly everyone, we love Aruba sooooo much and have been planning to buy there all year. We researched ALL available properties and set up all our realtor and private listing appts. in advance. We were very very excited about owning a home there for ourselves and children to use whenever we wanted.
BUT>>>>we noticed the filth immediatley while driving to our hotel!! We have been vacationing here for 25 years...we know the island! Town was very dingy, lots and lots of empty stores, garbage and liter and beer bottles around the island..(we never even saw a paper cup before!)
We have been home a few hours now, and we miss Aruba. BUT...we will not buy in Aruba if these conditions do not improve.
1- garbage and liter
2- homeless area behind main street is horrible and gross and creepy.
3- excessive building EVERYWHERE> so many GIANT condos and timeshares buildings going up, the coastline has lost it's appeal. GREED HAS TAKEN OVER BY THE BUILDERS.
YOU WILL BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN EAGLE BEACH, PALM BEACH. NOT TO MENTION THE HUGE MALLS AND PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE ALSO NEAR COMPLETION ACROSS FROM THE HIGH RISES. YUK
Returned without buying a home for these reasons a few hours ago.
bummed

ltdpt

We also just returned last night, and found it to be pretty much as we remembered it from last year. there was a LITTLE more trash along side some of the roads where the locals had just spent Easter Holiday on the beaches. This was our 8th trip and will always go back. We were down town both during the day and night and didn't see any of this. The ads in the papers were as always for the yap yum girls and such. There was an ad for a private tour of the red light district, but nothing that hasn't been there before. We have a time share on Palm Beach and found it spotless and the same as last year. We did notice some empty buildings with alot of new constructon going on for new condo's and housing being sold preconstruction. The new Mall across from the Holiday Inn is open and beautiful and all the stores were open and full of people. Aruba is a very beautiful island and the people are like no where else friendly. My wife and I never felt threatened or unsafe no matter what time we walked downtown or from the casino's both downtown and at the highrises wheather walking on the streets or the beach. We were never approched by anyone, well except for the damn people trying to get you to take a time share tour!!! Everyone has the right to their opinions and this is ours! We love aruba and look forward to next year!

supertramp

its good to see the diffrent views on aruba now i am thinking of moving their but not for some time yet got to start somewer but right and all the posts from ppl saying the litter and homeless problem is good that you are getting a honest and un bias oppinion it has certanly made me think i might need to consider some other options allthough i hope this is not the case and the problems ppl have stated get sorted out

can't stay away

Going next week, and this doesn't sound positive Curious to hear from others, since this is really the first bad report, other than the strike itself

Kteacher

We have also been traveling to Aruba for the past 15 year and considered eventually buying a home there. I completely agree with many things posted for example: the building is out of control (the size of the Rui Resort and the Marriott buildings are ridiculous,) the beaches at "Eagle Beach" are so overcrowded I would never vacation in that area (people are sitting right on top of each other by the Hyatt, La Cabanna, Playa Linda etc.) Downtown is looking a bit dingy lately and the island "feel" is almost gone with all of the chain restaurants and overcrowded areas. I will be there in three weeks and will observe what I have just read.

I also wrote a response quite a while ago about the changes happening on the island and some people responded with a remark that "you have to change with the times." I would agree with that if the changes were for the better, not the worse. I remember when you could go to the concierge and make a dinner reservation for that evening, now you must make your plans from home months in advance to ensure a table in most restaurants. The airfare rates are also out of control lately.

Of course, different strokes for different folks, but when people start looking into other less crowded islands, it is because they want what Aruba offered a long time ago, that is why they went to Aruba in the first place.

Kteacher

We have also been traveling to Aruba for the past 15 year and considered eventually buying a home there. I completely agree with many things posted for example: the building is out of control (the size of the Rui Resort and the Marriott buildings are ridiculous,) the beaches at "Eagle Beach" are so overcrowded I would never vacation in that area (people are sitting right on top of each other by the Hyatt, La Cabanna, Playa Linda etc.) Downtown is looking a bit dingy lately and the island "feel" is almost gone with all of the chain restaurants and overcrowded areas. I will be there in three weeks and will observe what I have just read.

I also wrote a response quite a while ago about the changes happening on the island and some people responded with a remark that "you have to change with the times." I would agree with that if the changes were for the better, not the worse. I remember when you could go to the concierge and make a dinner reservation for that evening, now you must make your plans from home months in advance to ensure a table in most restaurants. The airfare rates are also out of control lately.

Of course, different strokes for different folks, but when people start looking into other less crowded islands, it is because they want what Aruba offered a long time ago, that is why they went to Aruba in the first place.