Talk me into Aruba!

[brindles01]

I'm searching for a destination for our family to visit in November. At that time our kids will be almost 5 and 18 months. I've never been terribly interested in Aruba for a few reasons: I've heard it's windy (sand in my face doesn't sound fun), Americanized, and I picture huge highrises one after another along the beach (think Daytona Beach) BUT, our needs have changed with children... the days of a cozy little beach hotel and barhopping the local tiki huts are gone. Even though I'm not a fan of the huge hotels with casinos, etc., those hotels have the entertainment, and other kids, that my kids will most enjoy. A few specific questions to help push me towards Aruba:
1) what is the water like on Palm/Eagle beaches -- is it big surfing waves, or does the water quietly lap the shore?
2) are those areas one huge resort after another, or is there some local flavor mingled along the beach as well? Can we walk along the beach to other restaurants, beach bars, etc.
3) How is the wind?
4) Will I see a McDonald's? I can handle seeing one, but if I won't be thrilled if I pass a McDonald's, WalMart and Home Depot on the way from the airport to the hotel -- I want to feel like I'm in the Caribbean, not suburban America!
5) How is the snorkeling?
6) After reading my concerns, if you think we'd enjoy Aruba which resort would you recommend -- Hyatt, Radisson or Marriott?

THANK YOU!

[cpjones]

brindles01... Get ready for about a dozen responses.... all of us on this board are passionate about Aruba. Lemme try to answer your questions.
1.The water on Palm and Eagle beaches is gentle without surf or large waves. It gently laps the shores....
2. The resorts on either beach do not sit on top of each other and the walking to other resorts and bars/restaurants is easy. Google Earth will give you a nice feel for the island. Low Rise is just north of Oranjestad and High Rise just north of that.
3. The wind is generally 10-15 mph and just enough to cool you down. You will get an occasional burst of sand in certain areas of the island - but not often.
4. There are McD's on the island as well as Wendy's and Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell and etc.... but they are not over running the other restaurants. No Home Depot, Walmart or the like on the way from the airport.
5. Snorkling - said to be exceptional.
6. The Marriott on Palm Beach generally seems to have a very crowded beach and is at the far north end of Palm Beach. The Radisson and the Hyatt are at the mid point of Palm Beach and both have (I"m told) excellent Kid's Clubs. The accomodations for each of these hotels is supurb and offer easy walking to restaurants and shops. Neither of these hotels is a 'Mega Resort" with only about 360 +/- rooms for each.

You will love Aruba...!

[danadog56]

My turn...
The high rises although not where I stay, have a lot of kid friendly things to do, as well as kiddie pools, so the kids will have a blast !!
The resorts are close to a lot of places to eat that do not just cater to adults.....
Even though it can be windy, as stated above, it is not that bad and with the heat the wind is a necessity !!!! If you stay at any of the hotels they have beach chairs which keeps you from laying on the sand and pretty much negates the sand problem. I go to Aruba every year in November and have never felt the wind to be a problem. Been in May and felt the wind worse then, but that may have been a fluke...
If you prefer , there are several all inclusives, many of the senior members can recommend the Tamarijan (sorry bad spelling) which has many pools as well as a lot to eat, so you don't have to worry about getting the kids dressed to go out if you would rather not.....
The best part is that those little tiki huts you referred to,,,,most of the hotels have pool bars, so you can play with the kids and have a drink occasionally and then you won't feel like you are missing out on anything.
I could go on for several more hours, but once again as previously stated you will have many more suggestions.....
JUST GO AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT......I PROMISE !!!!!

[Andrea J.]

4) Will I see a McDonald's? I can handle seeing one, but if I won't be thrilled if I pass a McDonald's, WalMart and Home Depot on the way from the airport to the hotel -- I want to feel like I'm in the Caribbean, not suburban America!
yup you will see a mcdonalds, a pizza hut, dunkin donuts, tgifridays, tony romas.
if you enter any of these establishments (in particular mcdonalds) you will see that the majority of customers are Aruban citizens.

5) How is the snorkeling?
the snorkeling is good a few good snorkel (shore) excursions and a few accessible by boat. we like the shore snorkel spots (malmok, arashi, mangel halto and baby beach.)
6) After reading my concerns, if you think we'd enjoy Aruba which resort would you recommend -- Hyatt, Radisson or Marriott?
if you are looking for less high rise, less hustle and bustle...........those are the places to avoid. (marriott, hyatt, hoilday inn, radisson, westin)

stick with the lo rise area........... rent a timeshare or go to the tamarijn, the divi, the amsterdam manor.....all nice and relaxed.

i recommend that your first visit..........go with the tamarijn...lots of kids, all inclusive, every room oceanfront........plenty of beach area, kids activities, good food, basic hotel room but a really nice property.
andrea

THANK YOU!

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by brindles01

I've never been terribly interested in Aruba for a few reasons: I've heard it's windy (sand in my face doesn't sound fun),

This can be true at especially windy times of the year such as June, but mostly depends on where you stay since all hotels are on the leeward side of the island and the hotel buildings for the most part block you on the beach from the wind coming across the island.

November weather
Average high temperature 90 F.
Average low temperature 78 F.
Average temperature 82 F.
Average water temperature 83 F.
Average rainfall 3.10 inches (20.3 inches annual)
Average windspeed 13 mph

Rain falls mainly in the form of brief showers particularly overnight and early in the a.m.

Even though I'm not a fan of the huge hotels with casinos, etc., those hotels have the entertainment, and other kids, that my kids will most enjoy.

As a primer, the large resorts are along Palm Beach and the smaller more intimate resorts are located along Eagle/Druif Beaches.
The large resorts on Palm Beach: Marriott, Hyatt and Radisson all have "kid's clubs" for which there is a charge. Imho, expensive. Radisson's Kid's Club

1) what is the water like on Palm/Eagle beaches -- is it big surfing waves, or does the water quietly lap the shore?

Palm Beach calm

Eagle/Druif Beach- sometimes calm, sometimes waves

2) are those areas one huge resort after another, or is there some local flavor mingled along the beach as well? Can we walk along the beach to other restaurants, beach bars, etc.

Yes, you can walk the beach. All beaches in Aruba are public.

Along Palm Beach there are two bars, not assoiciated with resorts, which come to mind, Bugaloe and MoomBa which may have the flavor you are looking for. The downside, they are in the "huge resort" area.
High rise area http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.5731617&lon=-70.0455236&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=2

Eagle Beach has a couple of "beach bars" however they are associated with the resorts.

3) How is the wind?

November-
Average windspeed 13 mph

4) Will I see a McDonald's? I can handle seeing one, but if I won't be thrilled if I pass a McDonald's, WalMart and Home Depot on the way from the airport to the hotel -- I want to feel like I'm in the Caribbean, not suburban America!

YES! All kinds of America fast food. The Arubans love it!

5) How is the snorkeling?

If you have snorkeled elsewhere you may be let down. With that said you can get "wet" and still see enough "critters" to pass a couple of mornings. As a diver, I would say Aruba is more well known for her shipwrecks.

6) After reading my concerns, if you think we'd enjoy Aruba which resort would you recommend -- Hyatt, Radisson or Marriott? THANK YOU!

No matter how you look at it, compared to a "cozy little beach hotel", they ARE going to be "Americanized, ... picture huge highrises one after another along the beach (think Daytona Beach)".
Marriot Properties (Resort, Vacation Clubs: Ocean Club and Surf Club) http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.5793607&lon=-70.0434315&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

Hyatt http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.571...18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Radisson http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.568...18&l=0&m=a&v=2

The Radisson was our favorite resort before we adopted our daughter. And as you have experienced, needs change. Now we have found that an all inclusive better fits our needs. Kids stay and eat free at the Tamarijn.

We enjoy the Tamarijn resort very much. There are some tradeoffs from Palm Beach such as no guarantee of "calm water", but there is nothing like an oceanfront room. Especially if you have kids and need acess to the room for naps and want to stay on the beach or quick potty visits without having to use the public restroom or take the elevator. Also, maybe, that would be a good compromise for you to still get a little bit of that Caribbean feel. Their sister resort is the Divi, a little more upscale some say, but either one you have use of the facilities at both. The kid's club is at the "Tam" only.


Some of their buildings at the end of the resort are very very quiet. http://www.arubabound.com/accommo/tamarijn_map.jpg The beach here is sandy, but in full disclosure, you will have a view of the port. Again, a tradeoff. Speaking from experience the resort also has a great kid's club and staff. Any kid's club staff who jumps in the pool to play with the kids is okay in my book! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y67ZrQmOfNM

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by Andrea J.

4) yup you will see a mcdonalds, a pizza hut, dunkin donuts, tgifridays, tony romas.
if you enter any of these establishments (in particular mcdonalds) you will see that the majority of customers are Aruban citizens.

i recommend that your first visit..........go with the tamarijn...lots of kids, all inclusive, every room oceanfront........plenty of beach area, kids activities, good food, basic hotel room but a really nice property.
andrea

THANK YOU!

Originally Posted by Arubalisa

YES! All kinds of America fast food. The Arubans love it!

We enjoy the Tamarijn resort very much.

LOL, -- full disclosure--in case anyone thinks Andrea and I compared notes before I posted, my internet connection had a brain fart and I had to wait to submit my post. Lesson learned , copy your post before you click submit.

[SanNic44]

For photos and answers to many of your questions, surf through my blog that is part of my signature. I have some hotels, restaurants, local sights etc. there.

Enjoy it.

[kent]

My vote would be to stay at the Marriott Surf Club. They have a water slide, kiddie pools, lazy river and in November, it won't be that busy. The rooms have washer and dryer with a full kitchen and there are tons of places that are walking distance. E-mail me at kentgerber@adamswells.com and I will send some pics. Kent

[Edronenburg]

Hi:

Just a few words from me. Andrea J. and Arubalisa are by and far our most highly informative advisors and friends to all on the site. Of course, the other correspondents all give wonderful, helpful hints as well.

I guess to sum it all up; Aruba, you will find, is what we all consider "Paradise" and you; your wife and kids will just love it. Go and enjoy.

[cindyo]

I recommend Renaissance Suites, located downtown, Private island for little ones is great....nice boat ride over, never a fight for a chair...read on...