my husband and I will be going to aruba with my 14 year old daughter and my 16 year old son aug 14-18 we are staying at the tamarijn.
Anyone who can give us any advice about the tam or what to see in aruba would be a great help. Thanks so much

rent a car....take yourselves to el guacho restaurant downtown....drive to the lighthouse..visit the beaches...walk up and down palm beach hit the casinos and stores ...enjoy being out every night

Browse through the posts on these boards and you will find a wealth of information and everything you need to know.

Skip El Gaucho,a lot better than that tourist rip off. Examples,ie, Chalet Suiss,Smokey Joes,Madam Janette,Sole Mare,Ventanas del mar,Papiamento ,etc.

try the aruba safari jeep tour, you will see all the wonderful places in aruba and you also take in de palm island for lunch and snorkeling. i did this with my parents and we had such a great bonding experince.

We are leaving 5/8/for our 4th stay at the Tam. It's great you 'll love it. So much to do and see-really depends on what you and your family like. Horse back riding, ATV's jet skis, jeep tours, scuba and snorkeling trips etc. Really it just depends on what you like-but there is a conceirge at the Tam who is very helpful(just dont get sucked into the timeshare 2 hr ordeal) He will push it on you everyday-but can book evertything for you and give more ideas. Hope this helps!! Have a great vacation-You'll never want to come back.

Linda, for the time you guys are going to be there, I wouldn't try to fit everything and anything into 4-5 days & nights of course.

Renting a vehicle of some sort would be my first recommendation. (WITH A/C)! Depending on what you know about your teens likes and dislikes, you could rent a 4X4 jeep and go exploring the island for a half or full day.
Some teems may have no particular interest in spending time doing this, diff. strokes as you know. Only you and your hubby know what the kids like and dislike.

I would definately go up to the Holiday Inn about 9 AM or about and do the many water sports there. Banana Boat rides, Tube riding, Parasailing and more. The beach welcomes the public and the ocean there has no waves, so swimming for a while would be OK with a full stomach that they probably got at the Tam.s breakfast buffet. Up from the Tam. a ways is, La Cabana Resort. You can double up or go single on jet skis there.

There's not much of interest in shopping downtown for teens and your time is very precious to be spent doing that.
As I mentioned there is a lot more but your time is limited to squeeze it all in and trying to do that would be a treatment instead of a treat.

If your not locked in to food at the Tam. for your stay "Tony Romas" has great "baby back" ribs. They fall off the bones.

for Italian try Solamare. Call for resv's.
Chic. or Veal parm. and their Pasta Fasulli soup is fabulous.
There's plenty of room here for many other suggestions so I'll bow out leaving you with what I tried with my teen Grand Sons and Daughters, to name a few.

I envy you being able to take your teens with you on vacation. Also I truly admire you bringing them with you as well. I never heard of Aruba when my first borns were teens. My first trip to A. was in the early 1980's when mine we married by then.
Make great memories, take a lot of pictures, videos if possible along with still shots anf you then can relive this wonderful island over and over when you coem home.
Have a safe wonderful vacation and start your next trip to Aruba soon. R.C.

My wife and I have literally just returned from our 6th vacation together at the Tamarijn, and I can't say enough good things about the place. It was her 12th time there, and we were married there two years ago.
We are always treated with warmth and genuine friendship by the staff, it's always like coming home when we arrive, and it's always really difficult to leave. Possibly some of the nicest people we have ever known. Yes, they treat everyone well, but sometimes you get a little closer. Just real nice folks.

Activities? If it's your choice, the horseback riding on the island is, or can be, incredible. I would recommend La Ponderosa. The guides are great (ask for Patrick or Pedro), the horses are well treated and taken care of, and the first drink after the ride is on the house!

There's a lot to do on the island. Just take a look at the flyers in the lobby, evenings are getting better at the Tamarijn. They used to be a bit sleepy, but things are picking up, entertainment of some sort every night on the Cunucu Terrace. And when the show's over the DJ keeps things happening. (psst, request Amy's Arms and tell him Michael from Toronto sent you)

Have a great time in Aruba, there is nowhere like it, seriously.

Stayed last July for 2 weeks our first time too! Loved it so much we are returning with a small group of 11 to the Tam this July for 2 weeks again.........

1st you'll love the people that work there at the Tam. you'll LOVE it there. no way to exactly describe it.You have to experence it for your self. and start planning your next trip there after day 1. Only I say, rent a JEEP to get you where ever you want to get to. Explore....Have a great time...