We love Aruba - we own a timeshare there - we're going next summer (skipped it this summer opting for Spain - not sure - but I'm pretty sure I think Aruba wins by 5 millions points). Anyway - we're thinking 2 weeks in the Caribbean next summer -one at Marriott timeshare in Aruba. Our second week could be st. Kitts, st. John, blah blah.

Or is could be Curacao which certainly would be easiest. Question - how similar are they? Is it as windy in Curacao? How are the restaurants?

thank you so much.
Ellen

Went to Curacao a few years ago. Would go back, but, it has a different feel than Aruba. Great history and buildings, good shopping. Can't remember the wind. Beaches not as nice. Fewer iguanas. They still eat them. We stayed at Breezes so didn't eat out. Seaquarium was cool.
Also went to St. Kitts a couple of years ago. Very different. Marriot is beautiful and everything else was "old" Caribbean. Hot sand, only one calm beach. Not known for service there and business owners complain that it is hard to get good help. Beautiful island and worth a trip to Nevis while there. Casino at Marriot and beach bars at Timothy Beach.
Walt

"Vacation is what you make of it, take from it and what you leave behind."

Curacao is different from Aruba in that it has more industry. There are some decent hotels but the beaches are little cuts between the rocks. Good shopping, decent restaurants, and just as windy as Aruba. Ocean is a bit choppy as the island is tilted slightly more than Aruba so the waves roll up the coast more than Aruba.

I love Aruba and call it home half the year, but Spain (dare I say) beats Aruba. I have some Spain photos and all on my blog. Need to scan more photos in because most of the time I was using film during those trips before I got a better digital unit. Anyway...

44

Aruba's Novelist in Residence (sometimes)
http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com/

Went to St. Kitts Marriott and Aruba this summer. Aruba wins.
We are thinking about going to Spain next summer. I am going
to Aruba in August with my sisters. We are staying at the Surf Club. St. Kitts Marriott is good. Wonderful casino. The food
is ok, where Aruba's food is great. The island seems to be old
world. St. Kitt's airport seems to be alot like Aruba,which is good.

All 3 offer something different. Curacao has amazing snorkeling and more beaches to explore than either Aruba or St. Kitts. The people are friendly and realize that they are competing with Aruba for tourist $$. You will not find a row of hotels like the Palm Beach strip on Curacao and a rental car is necessary to get to the many great restaurants on the island.
St Kitts is another special place. Not so many beaches to explore with fewer snorkeling options. The people are the friendliest we have encountered in the Caribbean. Also has wonderful restaurants.
We adore all 3, but Aruba is starting to feel a bit crowded and more like Florida than the Caribbean.

Hi, we did 7 days in Aruba followed by 3 days in Curacao in March-April and found a lot of differences - most that have been expressed above but I wanted to agree/elaborate:

Aruba - better beaches but much more commercialized/tourist vibe.

Curacao - we found there to be more foreign tourists which we enjoyed but it may not be for everyone - we felt a little out of place on an excursion and a bar where everyone was Dutch but luckily we made friends fast.

Aruba is much more windy but the weather was perfect in both places.

I so loved the Curacao downtown/waterfront area though with the movable bridge.

My boyfriend says scuba diving was better in Curacao or at least different - less shore dives or something technical.

I've also been to St. Thomas and St. John and would definitely reccomend St. John if you can find reasonable accomodations.

Enjoy your trip!

Can't wait for fun in the sun!

We too found most tourists were Dutch.

No matter what kind of diving, it IS better in Curacao than Aruba. I "think" you mean, more shore dives. Divers like them because they are less expensive.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18
Christmas & New Years Aboard the Queen Mary 2

We too plan on going to Curacao while we are down in September. Are flights from Aruba to Curacao relatively cheap? What airline should we look for? We also heard the nightlife is possibly more lively and would like any suggestions.

Thanks.

how to fly to Curacao ?

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18
Christmas & New Years Aboard the Queen Mary 2

thanks!