Guys or Gals,
My wife and I are planning on visiting Aruba the week of 2/2/03.
We havn't traveled much in the our 38 years together and are looking to make this a special trip.
Just browsing through airline fares and AI resorts makes me think
that this is going to be pretty expensive.
Airfare seems to be over 2K (from NY) and a 7 day seems to be at least 2K as well. Anybody got any tips?
I donn't want to sound like a piker but having just retired (and the market being in the dumper), it dosen't hurt to ask!
Thanks
Mike

You're looking at one the most expensive times of the year to visit. If you can hold off till at least mid April you'll get a better deal.
If you must go in February, check air/hotel packages rather than pricing them out separately.

Forgot to add. Try MCM Tours, they specialize in Aruba and have an excellent reputation.
www.mcmtours.com

Mike - I agree with Linda - February is prime season and the most expensive time to go on vacation on the Islands. Also, if you are picking the week that most of the kids are on school vacation, that is THE most expensive week. Call your travel agent and ask for an air/hotel package. You can do all inclusive if that is your preference but Aruba has such fine restaurants, you may want to just do air and hotel. You can get a full breakfast in the morning if you want for about $7-10, a light lunch on the beach, then a really nice dinner (without drinks for $50 for the two of you. Really fancy dining will cost you $75-$100.If you want very reasonable accomodations - clean and very well maintained, you can try The Mill resort. It is very nice but less expensive because it is not right on the beach but only a short walk away (5 minutes). Book your trip and enjoy your visit to Aruba. Once you go, you will go back again....

Mike,

In terms of accommodations, you may get great prices from Costco warehouse (www.costco.com)

We bought our package (just accommodation) from them. 8days/7 nights cost us $1,100.00 at Radisson. We will be given $200.00 for food and drinks we we check-in. La Cabana is only $260.00 for 5 days. I think these prices are effective until 12/16/02, so they rates may change a bit after that. You can also buy tickets from them, if you find the fare reasonable.

If not, keep searching expedia.com, travelocity.com, orbitz.com, or even websites of major airlines.

As mentioned by others earlier, the time you are going is the peak season for carib. travel, so you may save a lot of money traveling in late April.

Best of luck.

P.S.

You will have to buy membership ($ 45/year) if you decide to buy a package from costco

you already have some good advise.
let me add, you are going at an expensive season to one of the expensive islands.

Meals are going to get you!!!
take packages air and hotel.
Try AA or continental airlines for vacation packages with food.
I was disappointed to see every item icluding fruits so so expensive. Plan it well in advance-save money on hotel rooms and flight and spend on two excellent dinners with your wife

you will love the island.

Last September, my husband & I stayed at the Wyndham for 7 nights, including airfare, r/t transfers, breakfast buffet and $100 food & beverage credit for $1,109 per person. We booked our trip through MCM Tours. (1-800-64-ARUBA). The above prices were several hundred dollars less than Liberty Travel quoted us.

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Lacabana this July with the all-inclusive package and airfair the total price was $1,300 per person!!! We booked thru Liberty Travel. The beach was beautiful and the food was fantastic. We stayed in a 1 bedroom delux suite which was very nice. Highly recommend the LaCabana!!!
At those prices you can still try some of the highly recommended restrauants on the island! Have a great trip!!!

... Also, la cabana suites have a kitchen, so you can save a lot of money by avaioding eating out, which is quite expensive. It is kids' paradise, but I think it is not crowded when schools are in session.

The best advise to give is to keep shopping. My trip was less than $800 total including airfare for 6 nights at the Radisson. And since it's your anniversary, go with either Radisson, Hyatt or the Aruba Grand.