Will be in Aruba 1st time next month for 1-week. Need info on must see and do's. How is the Discover Tour with DePalm Tours? Is it necessary to rent car, if so who has best rates. Should we use transfers with DePalm Tours or take taxi. How is LaCabana Resorts? Looking for good seafood restaurants, any suggestions. Any info appreciated. Thanks

What to see...lets see, nothing but the beach...really....I mean there's places like california lite house, butterfly farm, aloe factory, if you need to see something. Renting car, yes...cab fares are 10.00 each way just about everywhere. No on the transfers. Just get your luggage and find a cab. You will be stopping at every hotel along the way and it will be real aggrevating when all you want to do is get to your hotel. Get a cab outside, they are plentiful. Restaurants...flying fishbone, madame jeannettes, ...read the cusine part of this site. ANYWAY...you will love the island, have a blast !

Being that this is your first trip to paradise, you may want to consider using the transfer as you will then get info on the DePalm orientation meeting usually held the morning after you arrive. At this meeting you wil have the opportunity to book different island excursions at reduced pricing. Also since this is your first visit I would suggest you take one of the island tours to get the general overview of the island sights.

We do not use the transfer and op for a taxi. I beleive current price is $17 plus $2 per bag in excess of one per person.

We also do not rent a car as the public bus system is readily accessible. Think it currently is $2.10 round trip to Oranjestad.

Although we have never rented a car I have heard very favorable comments regarding Hans at Tropic. Do beleive you would need to reserve in advance of your arrival.

Enjoy your time in paradise.

Thank you for the information.

I think any of the 3 - 4 hour tours offered are a good way of getting an overview of the island. You will get to see the highlights.

Then next year when you return to Aruba and venture out on your own, you will know what you are looking at and have a "general" idea of where you are on the island.

I know it worked for us 12 years ago and 15 visits later.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18

We love renting a car while we are in Aruba. Right before you exit the doors of the airport, there's a stand that hands out "Little Switzerland" red and while shopping bags filled with brochures and coupons that will list a lot of attractions. There are also little stands where you can rent a cell phone.

As soon as you go through the doors outside, you'll cross a little street in the airport (small street) and all of the car rental places are right there - one next to the other. It's so easy to drive to all of the hotels - just one straight road.

Some of the places you can go to by yourself without taking a tour:

The supermarket

Baby Beach (with a cooler packed with drinks and snacks you bought at the supermarket) - stop at Charlie's Bar in St. Nichols on your way home for a great late lunch.

Flying Fishbone for dinner at sunset (expensive taxi ride, but you'll have a car).

A morning trip to the California Lighthouse, the chapel, and stop for a swim at Arashi Beach (with snacks and drinks in your cooler) - no facilities here. On the way back you can stop at all of the little beaches to see if you want to return for a longer trip. Stop for a late lunch at Moomba beach bar on the way back (between Marriott Surf Club and Holiday Inn - you can park your car behind Moomba's) There are restrooms at Moomba's. Have lunch under the trees, feet in the sand, swim and take a walk on Palm beach. Buy some costume jewelry at Beauty and the Beast on Moomba's property.

You can take morning trips to the Aloe Farm or Butterfly Farm, Balashi, and back to your resort to spend the afternoon on the beach.

You can drive the Ostrich Farm or Donkey Sanctuary.

Take a morning trip downtown to shop - lots of parking at the seaport marina - shop, have lunch at one of the restaurants on the second floor of the outdoor mall overlooking the cruise ship area. - the a quick drive back to your hotel to swim.

We also like spending a morning and having lunch at havana beach bar on Surfside beach.

For dinners, you can drive to a lot of restuarants - Madame Janette's, Marandi's, Marina Pirata, Papiemento, Gasparito -- the list goes on and on.

You can drive to the Marriott Casino at night (or day) if you like casinos - lots of other ones too.

We like being on the beach A LOT! So each trip we pick a couple of places to take day trips to, and spend most of our time on the beach - don't try to do everything on your first trip - you'll be back!

These are just a few things to do - there are many more.

We will be visiting ARuba next February for the 10th time, and we still love it. A bus tour of the island to get your bearings and see the highlights may be a good idea....we also like the sunset sail on the Mi Dushi.....snorkeling trips are available if you enjoy that sport.....we use the taxi to get to our place from the airport....to cart back groceries from the supermarket...other than that we use the bus service to get around...downtown, out to dinner etc. It is very user friendly and inexpensive. Have a great trip.