First time to Aruba

Amit · 05-12-2008, 02:53 PM

Hi Guys,

Our first time to a Carribean island and we decided on Aruba. We are staying at the renaissance. So we are really looking forward to this trip. I had few questions for everyone. Hopefully you guys can help me out...We have decided on a 4 night stay.

I was reading up on the visa reqs and was a bit confusing. I am a citizen, but my wife holds a green card. I had read that green card holders don't need a visa...Can someone confirm this for me?

I was going to do one of those safari tours, but decided on doing this without a tour. If I rent a 4x4, can I accomplish the major (natural pool/bridge, etc) in a day. Should I have a regular car for all other days purposes to go restaurants, etc? Or is it easy to get around?

And last, do we need to take like snorkel equip, etc with us? Or do you know if the hotel provides any of that?

I know its lot, but hoping you guys can help me out....Thanks in advance..

TomFrederick · 05-12-2008, 06:08 PM

http://www.aruba.com/about/entryrequirements.php
Please go to that Site to see what is required for a person with a green card. Every country is different and sometimes requirements are different for a person with a green card and depends what country that person has a Passport from. Please go to that site as would not what her to not get entry.
That site has a E-mail address that you could send to Aruba to get an Offical response.
Also talk to your airlines to see what is needed to get on the plane. Airlines can turn people away without proper ID. Does she have a Passport from her country? Don't want to scare you but have seen airlines turn people away traveling out of the country if they don't have the proper paperwork.
I have made many trips overseas and don't know any answers for a person with a green card.
http://www.arubatourism.com/arubaand...egalities.html
Here is another site you can read that states what people with green cards need in addition to their green card.
That site states:
"4. A resident of the USA (non USA citizens) for whom NO visa-requirements are applicable for Aruba must have: a valid passport and
- A re-entry permit
- An Alien Registration Card (Green Card);
5. A resident of the USA (non USA citizens) for whom visa-requirements are applicable for Aruba must travel either with:
- A valid national passport (provided with a visa for Aruba) or
- A U.S. government issued refugee passport
- A valid national passport and a re-entry permit (provided with a visa for Aruba)
- A valid national passport and an Alien Registration Card (Green Card).

Amit · 05-13-2008, 10:47 AM

Thanks Tom. Appreciate the response.

She does have a GC and a National passport. I am going to get the visas anyways, just to be on the safe side.

DaveNJodie · 05-13-2008, 12:01 PM

I have stayed at the Renaissance a number of times and you picked a great hotel. You are staying downtown, within walking distance to a great deal of shopping and restaurants, and you probably don't need a rental car, especially for your relatively short visit.

You should absolutely take the boat ride to the private island - one of the best features of the Renaissance hotel. The snorkeling at the island is fantastic. The hotel does rent snorkeling equipment on the island on a daily or weekly basis. We normally bring our own gear but we have also used the rental equipment and had no problems. The restaurant on the island is also reasonably priced.

Great restaurants within walking distance to your hotel include El Gaucho for steak and Old Fisherman for seafood. Igauna Joe's is fun for drinks, bar type food and people watching. Have fun!!!

Dave

pkornnh · 05-13-2008, 12:39 PM

Can you easily get to the other side of the man made reefs in front of the lagoon? It is unclear from all of the satellite photo's and pictures from others. We are staying at the Marriott Surf club and it would be worth the price if we can get in some good leisurely snorkeling there.

serene56 · 05-13-2008, 02:09 PM

amit: Since you never been to aruba-- how did you come to decided on the ren for your stay?

Amit · 05-13-2008, 04:13 PM

Dave: Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, we are tree huggers so our choices for restaurants are limited on the island. Maybe, instead of a car rental, we might rent a scooter to go around locally. I will rent the 4x4 for one day for sightseeing.

Serene: Just did some research via google / trip advisor. I didn't want to spend too much money. I had marriott points and spg points. So my choices were limited, either Marriott Stellaris or Ren...Or the Westin. I didn't want to Stellaris because of the construction, just wasn't up for seeing a crane as part of my view on the island. I see enough of that in nyc. At that point, it was between Westin or Ren and that was a no brainer. The private island did the trick.

serene56 · 05-13-2008, 04:48 PM

thanks for your reply- I was curious to how people decide what hotels they want to stay at considering they never been.

If I didnt have the help I did-- i think i would have picked the Mill for the price.

Amit · 05-13-2008, 05:06 PM

I looked at all the major hotels in the area as well, but I also liked bucuti a lot. I thought the property and rooms were really nice for the price.

cindyo · 05-13-2008, 05:37 PM

Rennaissance all the way !!! Island is the best............We'e owners for 11 years.........would have it no other way, cindy

05-12-2008, 02:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Amit Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14	First time to Aruba Hi Guys, Our first time to a Carribean island and we decided on Aruba. We are staying at the renaissance. So we are really looking forward to this trip. I had few questions for everyone. Hopefully you guys can help me out...We have decided on a 4 night stay. I was reading up on the visa reqs and was a bit confusing. I am a citizen, but my wife holds a green card. I had read that green card holders don't need a visa...Can someone confirm this for me? I was going to do one of those safari tours, but decided on doing this without a tour. If I rent a 4x4, can I accomplish the major (natural pool/bridge, etc) in a day. Should I have a regular car for all other days purposes to go restaurants, etc? Or is it easy to get around? And last, do we need to take like snorkel equip, etc with us? Or do you know if the hotel provides any of that? I know its lot, but hoping you guys can help me out....Thanks in advance..

05-12-2008, 06:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
TomFrederick Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 234	http://www.aruba.com/about/entryrequirements.php Please go to that Site to see what is required for a person with a green card. Every country is different and sometimes requirements are different for a person with a green card and depends what country that person has a Passport from. Please go to that site as would not what her to not get entry. That site has a E-mail address that you could send to Aruba to get an Offical response. Also talk to your airlines to see what is needed to get on the plane. Airlines can turn people away without proper ID. Does she have a Passport from her country? Don't want to scare you but have seen airlines turn people away traveling out of the country if they don't have the proper paperwork. I have made many trips overseas and don't know any answers for a person with a green card. http://www.arubatourism.com/arubaand...egalities.html Here is another site you can read that states what people with green cards need in addition to their green card. That site states: "4. A resident of the USA (non USA citizens) for whom NO visa-requirements are applicable for Aruba must have: a valid passport and - A re-entry permit - An Alien Registration Card (Green Card); 5. A resident of the USA (non USA citizens) for whom visa-requirements are applicable for Aruba must travel either with: - A valid national passport (provided with a visa for Aruba) or - A U.S. government issued refugee passport - A valid national passport and a re-entry permit (provided with a visa for Aruba) - A valid national passport and an Alien Registration Card (Green Card). Last edited by TomFrederick; 05-13-2008 at 09:34 AM.

05-13-2008, 12:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
DaveNJodie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Renaissance Island Baby Beach Age: 42 Posts: 127	I have stayed at the Renaissance a number of times and you picked a great hotel. You are staying downtown, within walking distance to a great deal of shopping and restaurants, and you probably don't need a rental car, especially for your relatively short visit. You should absolutely take the boat ride to the private island - one of the best features of the Renaissance hotel. The snorkeling at the island is fantastic. The hotel does rent snorkeling equipment on the island on a daily or weekly basis. We normally bring our own gear but we have also used the rental equipment and had no problems. The restaurant on the island is also reasonably priced. Great restaurants within walking distance to your hotel include El Gaucho for steak and Old Fisherman for seafood. Igauna Joe's is fun for drinks, bar type food and people watching. Have fun!!! Dave __________________ See you in Aruba!!! Next Aruba trip in

05-13-2008, 12:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
pkornnh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Beach The Pool The Balcony The Water Posts: 145	Can you easily get to the other side of the man made reefs in front of the lagoon? It is unclear from all of the satellite photo's and pictures from others. We are staying at the Marriott Surf club and it would be worth the price if we can get in some good leisurely snorkeling there. __________________ Have Fun, Pete __________________________________________________ We will be in Aruba in

05-13-2008, 05:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
cindyo Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Reniassance Island Old Man and the Sea Restaurant Posts: 3,249 Images: 72	*Rennaissance all the way !!! Island is the best............We'e owners for 11 years.........would have it no other way, cindy* __________________ Cindyo Family at Rennaissance Island April 2009 Next Aruba trip in \ 13th visit Dec 2009 14th visit April 2010

05-13-2008, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Amit Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14	Thanks Tom. Appreciate the response. She does have a GC and a National passport. I am going to get the visas anyways, just to be on the safe side.

05-13-2008, 02:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
serene56 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 190	amit: Since you never been to aruba-- how did you come to decided on the ren for your stay?

05-13-2008, 04:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Amit Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14	Dave: Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, we are tree huggers so our choices for restaurants are limited on the island. Maybe, instead of a car rental, we might rent a scooter to go around locally. I will rent the 4x4 for one day for sightseeing. Serene: Just did some research via google / trip advisor. I didn't want to spend too much money. I had marriott points and spg points. So my choices were limited, either Marriott Stellaris or Ren...Or the Westin. I didn't want to Stellaris because of the construction, just wasn't up for seeing a crane as part of my view on the island. I see enough of that in nyc. At that point, it was between Westin or Ren and that was a no brainer. The private island did the trick.

05-13-2008, 04:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
serene56 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 190	thanks for your reply- I was curious to how people decide what hotels they want to stay at considering they never been. If I didnt have the help I did-- i think i would have picked the Mill for the price.

05-13-2008, 05:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Amit Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14	I looked at all the major hotels in the area as well, but I also liked bucuti a lot. I thought the property and rooms were really nice for the price.