Aruba has changed......

[MARDAN1865]

We Love Aruba !
I had to start off with the truth.
Now my first hand story.
Me and my wife first visited Aruba in 2000, it was quaint very friendly and CLEAN.
Our most recent trip in April of 2008 was an eyeopener ! First off, the downtown area closes at 6pm sharp ! On our first visit we stayed downtown until they kicked us out, or the last bus to our palm beach hotel left. Now with the beautiful mall/open plaza directly across from the hotels on palm beach i am guessing alot of the downtown shop owners are not seeing the crowds later in the evening as it once did.
Second, our ride from the airport to the palm beach hotel area was a shock ! It was dirty along the roadway, the grass and fields were high and unkept everywhere, and the quaint little traffic circles were unpainted and the fountains in the center in disrepair WHAT A RIDE !
Our trip was a time warp ride as in 2000 there was maybe 2 cattamaran operators, 1 tube ride and a banna tube ride plus a parasailing boat THATS IT !!
NOW, WoooooW ...the waterway in front of our resort is sooo crowded with tubing boats, cattamarans, multiple parasailing operators and other water activity company operators it really took away from the islands uniqueness.
It seemed like in 8 years time, the entire world heard about, and wanted to experience Aruba which I can not blame them.
My personal opinion, the islands tourism/development department gave way to big business, being the huge developers wanting a piece of the tourism dollar.
Once again i reiterate, WE LOVE ARUBA and will most likely keep returning, the people are the friendliest anywhere, the weather is the best anywhere, and we love it.
We even considered purchasing a new home and living there during the New York winter months. But now we are reconsidering our options on a winter retreat.
I am in no way beating down the island as it is a true paradise on earth, BUT pleease some one in power on the island has to realize what I have seen, as i am sure they themselves are aware and take action to perserve the islands natural beauty or the future of tourism will surely diminish along with the islands beauty.
It was the happiest day of 2008 arriving in Aruba that sunny morning, only to feel heartbroken to see what has happened in such a short span of time. What does 8 years from now hold ? Only the decision makers on the island hold that answer, along with the tourism industry and the future of this paradise.

[~Amy~®]

We've been visiting Aruba since 1996. But since we go every year the changes have been more gradual to us. I can only imagine if, after that first trip in '96, we didn't go back to Aruba again until this year - I'm sure my eyes would be popping open over the changes!

You are correct with your observations of Palm Beach - used to be a couple of snorkel tours and that was it - now there are a ton of boats everywhere and it looks very congested compared to the way it did years ago.

Welcome to "progress".

[Bill]

We've been visiting Aruba since 1996. But since we go every year the changes have been more gradual to us. I can only imagine if, after that first trip in '96, we didn't go back to Aruba again until this year - I'm sure my eyes would be popping open over the changes!

You are correct with your observations of Palm Beach - used to be a couple of snorkel tours and that was it - now there are a ton of boats everywhere and it looks very congested compared to the way it did years ago.

Welcome to "progress".

Couldn't of said it any better. Still love the Island!

[Schnauzerjoy]

And as a general observation:

It is not Aruba that drives these changes....It is "us".

If there is no demand from foreigners, there would be very little supply.
Why has Aruba been Americanized?
Well because "we" go to McDonald's instead of Nos Cunucu.
"We" want to do active water sports instead of lying on a deserted beach.
"We" stay at the huge hotels instead of the small local appartment complex inland.
Etc. etc. etc.

I was just in Florida for the first time in years and had the same experience as you had in Aruba. Everything has changed and grown.

But that doesn't necessary make it worse when all is weighed in, that is a matter of personal preference, and to me Aruba is as close to Paradise as you can get. It has good and bad sides, but the good bar far outweighs the bad.

[rob o]

And as a general observation:

It is not Aruba that drives these changes....It is "us".

If there is no demand from foreigners, there would be very little supply.
Why has Aruba been Americanized?
Well because "we" go to McDonald's instead of Nos Cunucu.
"We" want to do active water sports instead of lying on a deserted beach.
"We" stay at the huge hotels instead of the small local appartment complex inland.
Etc. etc. etc.

.....to me Aruba is as close to Paradise as you can get. It has good and bad sides, but the good bar far outweighs the bad.

I very much agree.

For those that choose to not return.....Yogi Berra said it best as to why he doesn't go someplace: "Nobody ever goes there anymore, it's too crowded"!

We'll be there in April!

[~Amy~®]

And as a general observation:

It is not Aruba that drives these changes....It is "us".

If there is no demand from foreigners, there would be very little supply.
Why has Aruba been Americanized?
Well because "we" go to McDonald's instead of Nos Cunucu.
"We" want to do active water sports instead of lying on a deserted beach.
"We" stay at the huge hotels instead of the small local appartment complex inland.
Etc. etc. etc.

Alot of people want/like those things.....but my husband and I don't.

I DO go to Nos Cunucu; I don't need water sports (I enjoy swimming); and I DO NOT stay in large hotels (hate 'em) - we stay at small, Dutch, family-owned hotel on Eagle Beach.

But as you said, it's all personal preference and apparently I am in the minority. As they say, build it and they will come.....

We still love the island (we have made so many friends there over the years) and at least we still have a small hotel and a quiet beach to return to that we love. If Eagle Beach were ever to turn into a Palm Beach though.....that would be the end of our Aruba trips.

[ANTHONY]

If you think thier are ghanges from 96 and 2000 try 1987. We have been going every year for 3 weeks since 87 in feb. The changes are too many to mention.the powers to be should wake up soon . I will leave you with this thought, if everyone went to thier room at the same time and flushed thier toliets what do you think would happen? You want to talk infrastructure. You do not want to rent a car anymore the congestion is unreal and parking is impossible.

[Cosmo]

Change is inevidable, on the positive side the Economy in Aruba is good. We alternate stays from the High Rises to an inland Condo. Each vacation is different, all are great.

[Mr. Ratt]

For better or for worse, this too my friends, is the face of progress.

*Sigh*

It couldn't last forever. Eventually more and more people catch on to the reason we have those wonderful little smiles in the middle of winter, thinking of the approaching days when we can sit on the beach in paradise. I personally only found out about Aruba because it was where my (at that time) new partner, now incredible wife, went for her yearly retreat. This will be her 15th year, my 9th.
My point is, until the last few years the place has been something of a well-kept "secret". Not so much anymore. And that will obviously bring growth. In more ways than one. As for the undesirable element, no matter where you are, no matter where they are from, they are going to show up to take advantage of whoever, whatever and whenever they can. And unfortunately, they seem to think that tourists are easy targets. And sadly, because we're so relaxed on vacation our guard slips a bit. Leading to bad situations.

I digress here.

Changes are going to happen because, well, governments and countries and people need to grow and change, and unless we're citizens of that particular country, we don't have a heck of a lot of say, no matter how we may feel. Yes, we can "cause" changes by not visiting and affecting the economy, but the truth is, if we stop going, someone else will take up the slack.

We all need somewhere to relax, recharge and just turn off the world, and for my money, Aruba's the place to do it.

Okay, I'll get down from the soap-box now... who's next?

Mr. Ratt
www.heyoka-healing.com

[SanNic44]

Amy,

Don't give up the ship! I mean island. You can always come here to Savaneta where there are a couple of small beaches and sometimes not another soul all day. On the weekend local people are there but the rest of them time very few and far between.

Just bring you own cooler.

44