Hello-
We will br traveling to Aruba in a few weeks, with our son who is 21 months. We are staying at the Westin, how far is it to walk in to town, do We need to bring a car seat, or can he sit on our Lap. Do they have buses or just cabs? What places are kid friendly to eat at?
Jen

Every restaurant on the island is kid friendly. We would never keep a child on a lap, but if you take a bus or cab you will go crazy dragging the car seat around with you. None of the major hotels are near town except the Renissance. The bus goes back and forth for $2. round trip and they are very clean. Hope this helps.

they have buses, buses not air conditioned and it is a little bit of a bumpy ride but ride to town ok, you just have to make sure of the bus schedule.

>>> "how far is it to walk in to town,"
---- Too far.
>>> "do We need to bring a car seat, or can he sit on our Lap."
---- Car seat not required. Can sit on lap. >>> "Do they have buses or just cabs?"
---- Have both. Cabs reasonable going to town.
>>> What places are kid friendly to eat at?"
---- Just about all.

to far to walk to town,do not need a car seat he can sit in your lap,they have buses and cabs it is much better to rent a car at the airport then you can come and go as you like a car rental for a week is $160.00, you can spent more than that using cabs, back and forth to the airport by cab is going to cost you $40.00.

It is too far to do any walking from the Westin to downtown. However, the Westin is in the high rise section of hotels and they have a very nice walkway that borders the beach and you can walk from hotel to hotel.
There are no rules in Aruba about car seats, use your own common sense. There are cabs and buses. The bus system is very good and you can catch it outside of your hotel. Cabs are available all over. Most places are kid friendly but are you looking for expensive or inexpensive?

JENNIFER,

CAB FARE FROM YOUR HOTEL TO DOWNTOWN IS $10, ONE WAY. YOU REALLY WON'T NEED TO GO THERE. THE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE WESTIN HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. CAB FARE TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT IS $20, ONE WAY. IF YOU NEED TO GO DOWNTOWN,THE BUS SYSTEM WORKS WELL AND ROUND TRIPS TO DOWNTOWN ARE $2 / PERSON. YOU WILL FIND IT TO FEEL VERY SAFE. THEY PICK UP RIGHT NEAR THE FRONT OF YOUR HOTEL. I ACTUALLY LIKE THE BUS TRIP BECAUSE IT STOPS A FEW TIMES AND I'M NEVER IN SO MUCH OF A HURRY THAT I DON'T LIKE THE EXTRA TIME TO TAKE IN THE SCENERY. CAR SEATS AREN'T REQUIRED IN ANY OF THE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, BUT AN UMBRELLA TYPE STROLLER IS PROBABLY WORTH TAKING.

THE CONSTRUCTION NEXT DOOR IS PRESENTLY INTERUPTING THE BEACH SIDEWALK, BUT YOU SHOULD MAKE A POINT TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE AND TAKE A WALK IN FRONT OF THE OTHER HOTELS TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF YOUR CHILD LIKES THE PARROTS AT THE WESTIN, TAKE HIM / HER TO THE RADISSON LOBBY, ALONG WITH YOUR CAMERA, BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON AND VICTOR WILL TAKE YOUR PICTURE WITH A FEW OF HIS COLORFUL BIRDS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT CMAKS3@MSN.COM. WE GO TO ARUBA EVERY WINTER AND JUST GOT BACK LAST WEEK.

HAVE FUN, YOUR'RE GOING TO LIKE IT THERE !

The Westin is toooo far to walk to town.
Unless you rather a taxi (which is not to cheap) you should really consider a rental car. We have been to Aruba three times, and on the second day of our first trip we decided that a rental is the best way to go.
Unlike some other islands, you DO want to go out and see the rest of the island, it is safe and the people are very kind and helpful. If you decide to get out, you can just call the front desk, or go down to the concierge, they will give you all the info you need. The rental company will pick you up and bring you to your car, 4x4, etc.
Enjoy
Tom R

Rent a car. And like there is Junk food restaurants like you americans like