I am so glad i found this forum I've read many of the things in here and I made up a rough draft schedule. This is a first time trip for me and my husband, we are in our late 20's. We would like a romantic relaxed time, with a dash of partying Please help me fine tune this vacation if you have any advice. I don't know if these places are too far apart from each other, good, bad, etc.

Also can anyone suggest Mexican Cuisine? Seems like the only place called Charlies was closed?

Aruba Vacation

Monday
Arrive, Check Into Hyatt
Relax and Explore Resort: Casino, Pool, Beach, etc

Tuesday

10:00 am – Relax Pool/Beach, Bring Water Floats Out
3:30-5:30 pm – Lunch and Drinks: Iguana Joes Happy Hour Caribbean Atmosphere
6:00 pm – Dinner at Blossoms (Chinese Cuisine)
9:00 pm - Senor Frogs Bar and Club – Party!

Wednesday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Reserve Umbrella
4:00-6:30 - Okeanos Spa Private Cove Massage for
Two, Champagne, Fruit
8:00 – Dinner at Passions Restaurant (Seafood Cuisine)

Thursday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Bring Water Floats Out
2:00 pm – Kayaking Aruba Watersport Center
6:00 - Dinner at Madame Janettes Restaurant
(French Cuisine)

Friday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Reserve Umbrella
4:30 pm – Dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
7:00 pm - Palm Pleasure Sunset Sailboat around Island

Saturday

10:00 am – Relax at Pool/Beach
1:00 pm – Lunch at Pinchos Grill and Bar
(Carribean Cuisine)
6:00 pm – Dinner Flying Fishbone Restaurant
(Seafood Cuisine)
10:00pm - Mambo Jambo Bar


Sunday

10:00 am - Sunday Brunch at Hyatt Resort
4:00 pm - Rancho La Ponderosa Horseback Riding
7:00 pm – Dinner at Moomba Beach and Bar Restaurant
(Casual Outdoor Palapa Dining)

Monday

Departure

Wow! That is a very well thought out plan. My best advice is although I have been to the island just 2 times but quickly learned that the best thing to do is go with the flow. Although I agree that it is good to have some idea of where to eat & have reservations made if need be, for I am a planner by nature, it won't feel like a vacation if you are going by an itinerary. Just relax, have fun and remember that it is "One Happy Island" for a reason. You are going to love it!

Melissa

yea you are right. i just want to have a plan "just in case" we are sitting around twiddling our thumbs for some reason. i am an amateur vacationer, this being my first real vacation. but by all means, if my belly is full, and i feel like laying around being relaxed instead of whatever i planned, i will just do what i feel lol. there are so many neat places mentioned here, that i feel overwhelmed i want to do all of them!! hehe.

I hear ya completely! My husband and I are the same age as you and we went last August for our honeymoon. He had not been to the island before. But we would talk the night before as to what we wanted to do the next day, when we needed to wake up and then if we didn't stick entirely to that plan, (since we got hopelessly lost driving around one day & found the Casibari Rock Formation by accident) oh well. You are going to have a great time and that island will completely take over you mind, you will never want to leave! I actually started to tear up in the airport while we were waiting to leave! This forum is a great resource for the island, I am always learning something new.

Melissa

You sure are a planner garden girl. FYI Passsions is not open on Wednesday. They are open Thurs-Sun. I see that you have Mambo Jambo for Saturday at 10 pm. It would be more lively at Mambo's if you went on Wednesday as they have live music then starting at 10 pm. I also see that you have MoomBa's on Sunday. That's a good night to go as they have live music.Though if eating there, I haven't heard many good reports on their food or service. Oh, and Pincho's is not open for lunch. They open at 5 p.m. Just change a few things around and your'll all set.

3 weeks in Aruba Dec. 16, '08 - Jan. 9, '09
Aruba since 1985

I agree about the Moomba Beach Bar. The food is not top notch, but the drinks are good and the atmosphere is great! The main bar is soooo cool. Large thatched"roof" and a huge beer bottle chandelier-if I remember correctly-I did enjoy a few drinks there while waiting for Hurricane Felix to descend upon the island last September!

Melissa

oh thank you!! i will make the needed changes. that's awesome info because i really have no idea.

Gardengirl,

You say you want a romantic, relaxed good time. Well, you picked the right island and you have a good plan. As 109 and all above have mentioned: go with the flow. Also, you're at the Hyatt. I used to stay there and loved it. Don't miss the Sunday Brunch if you love to eat (which I do and do frequently). That Sunday Brunch is top notch; I graze there for 2 1/2 hours until they throw me out (they don't actually throw me out, I made that up). Eat less the night before and go a little early, about 10AM maybe, before it gets more crowded.

Pincho's is also awesome, view of the harbor and sunset there is good as anywhere.

Leave time for the two of you. Walk on the beach in the evening. Check out the stars. Go to the drive-in movie just for kicks. That kind of thing. Only suggestions.

And then... post a report with lots of photos!

Saludos!

44

Aruba's Novelist in Residence (sometimes)
http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com/

ok i edited it, hopefully that works a lil better

Aruba Vacation

Monday

Arrive, Check Into Hyatt
Relax and Explore Resort: Casino, Pool, Beach, etc

Tuesday

9:00 am – Breakfast at Ruinas Del Mar (Hyatt)
10:00 am – Relax Pool/Beach, Bring Water Floats Out
3:30-5:30 pm – Late lunch and Drinks: Iguana Joes Happy Hour – Caribbean Atmosphere
6:00 pm – Dinner at Blossoms (Chinese Cuisine)
9:00 pm - Senor Frogs Bar and Club – Party!

Wednesday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Reserve Umbrella
12:00 pm – Quick lunch somewhere
4:00-6:30 - Okeanos Spa Private Cove Massage for Two, Champagne, Fruit
8:00 – Dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
10:00 – Mambo Jambo Bar – Live Music


Thursday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Bring Water Floats Out
12:00 pm – Quick lunch somewhere
2:00 pm – Kayaking Aruba Watersport Center
6:00 - Dinner at Madame Janettes Restaurant (French Cuisine)
8:30 – Evening relaxing: walking on beach, pool dip, etc.


Friday

10:00 am – Relax on Beach, Reserve Umbrella
1:00 pm – Quick lunch somewhere
4:30 pm – Dinner at Passions Restaurant (Seafood Cuisine)
7:00 pm - Palm Pleasure Sunset Sailboat around Island

Saturday

10:00 am – Relax at Pool/Beach
1:00 pm – Quick lunch somewhere
6:00 pm – Dinner Flying Fishbone Restaurant (Seafood Cuisine)
9:00m - Relax in the evening, pool dip, walk on beach



Sunday

10:00 am - Sunday Brunch at Hyatt Resort
4:00 pm - Rancho La Ponderosa Horseback Riding
6:30 pm – Dinner at Pinchos (Carribean Cuisine)
9:00 pm –Moomba Beach and Bar for drinks – Live Music

Monday

Departure

uh oh i realized i dont have any shopping in there whats a girl to do?!

i am totally OVERPLANNING THIS WHOLE THING lol!!!!! ok well its just funny. im sure ill have a good time no matter what i do