Just got back from 5 nights at the Renaissance. I am planning my wedding on their private island this summer. The private island is really unique but the people on this board are correct about the airport noise there. The airport is directly across from the island and its pretty noisy from 2 - 4:30 ish especially. I found the hotel itself was nice but I am very glad that we will all be staying at the Marriot instead when we return for the wedding. We stayed in the ocean suites and the bed was very nice but the pull out couch wasn't so comfy. Plus it was noisy if you are facing the street and on a low floor. We visited the other side of the hotel as well and although I loved the martini bar, I thought it would be loud if we had been staying there.

A few places we ate were Pincho's which I highly recommend. Very nice ambiance and good food. We also ate at Moomba's which is a cool beach bar with so-so food. On our last night we went to LG Smith's steakhouse and were disappointed that they didn't have Argentinaian beef but USDA instead. We weren't too impressed with their food there especially for the prices.

I loved Aruba and can't wait to go back. I appreciated everyone's help on this board and found all of your recommendations great.

My only negative comment is the service charge that most places tack onto the food bills.... what is that about? As a former waitress I would really feel more comfortable tipping my own server and knowing they get the money.

One of my pet peeves as well.

15% is, as you define, "tacked" on your bill.
It doesn't even go to your immediate servers!! It is a service charge for all the servers and kitchen help as well. I've even read it once that it also is used for breakage etc. or in reality anything the owners want to use it for.
Thats plain out cheating the waitress/waiter than waits tables.
4% or less goes to your immediate server.
So that $125.00 dinner (approx) you spent at LG Smith you actually helped the owners pay for their expenses and they reaped 11%, more or less from the service charge in addition to the meals profit!!
When anyone leaves an additional amount other than the 15%, as far as I have ever known, no ones truly knows where and how that extra tip is dispersed. At the extreme least, it should rightfully go directly to whom you are extra tipping!

Several restaurants do not apply the 15% and several have dropped it BUT what happens to what the customer leaves???
Bet it does not go directly to your servers.
Anyway, it wont change and just may increase soon.

There are those who have the mind set of, Whats the difference, I'm on vacation!
I have 4 close relatives depending on their tips to live and they do well from them. Sorry for ranting, it just hits a sore spot that touches home so to speak.
Very sad for the waitstaff being taken advantage of this way. Good waitstaff positions in Aruba are hard to come by therefore its slim pickings for new applicants. The ones working these positions take what they can get or have to move on.
When you get on the island call, Madamm Jennetts restaurant and ask for outside seating under the stars. Its romantic and has nice music etc. Very highly recommended by most folks here.

Great steak at ElGauchos but kinda noisy and rushy.
More expensive but fabulous is at the Radisson's Sunset Grill with a lot better atmosphere and ambience.

Hoping everything goes well for you and your new man. Have a great time with much luck in Aruba to both of you. R.C.

The tip is distributed to the entire cooking, waitress staff so they each recieve minimun amount of your tip.