1st and last night Dinner?

[schexc]

Like Walt, we have nothing set in stone. By the time we arrive, travel to the condo and minimally unpack, grocery shop and settle, we're pretty beat. By then we've been up since 3:00 AM and it's now 8:00 PM. We're both satisfied with wine and cheese for the bride and vodka on the rocks for me. Night before departure day it is more of the same. Final packing and then a happy hour on the beach or perhaps dinner somewhere on the beach. We usually call it an earlier night, as we have to close down the condo and head to the airport by late morning, early afternoon the following day.

[flpctc]

Love this topic Thanks Andrea. I haven't made many trips to Aruba to have any traditions but love hearing about those who have.
I will definitely try some of those places shared here, maybe All of them.

[ArubaAce]

If I arrive by noon, 1pm, I usually stop bye The West Deck from the airport for lunch. Then dinner is usually casual. Whenever I stood at La Cabana, I used to walk over to the other resort and get a Pizza from Pizza Bob but they are no longer there. This year I will probably settle for Sbarro when I stay at La Cabana or I will just get a burger at Islander Grill. I don't really like to go out to dinner the first night after a long day of traveling, getting up early..

[phrogg108]

We are Local-Store-for-the-1st-meal kind of people. Gotta get my Balashi levels evened out right from the start! Last meal has typically been Bugaloe for breakfast and ... wait for it... Local Store for lunch, depending on what flight out we have had. Not sure what we will do this year. Oh wait, yes I do.

This is a great topic! I love seeing everyone's traditions!

[Tuckahoe]

Exhausted from getting up at 3:30 am our first night is always the bar at Ruth Chris at the Marriott. It’s just so easy as we’re next door in the Ocean Club. The bartender knows exactly what we’re eating and drinking and pretty much calls the order for us as soon as we sit- Grey Goose martinis, rib eye steak on the bone and a wedge salad. Mike and I are so predictable.
Our last night has always been Smokey Joe’s but the last two times, most recently this past Sunday, have been terrible. The ribs taste like they have been precooked days ahead and reheated for serving. So we’re looking to change that up to somewhere else in the Palm Beach area when we return in July. We may just end up at Ruth Chris again. There’s nothing wrong with having another martini and steak!

[hatteras]

We always have our first night dinner at Pizza Bob's. We are too tired after a long travel day, that usually begins with a 3am wake up, to venture far. We don't check in until around 5pm, so we drop off the luggage, grab some frozen concoctions at the bar, and sit on the beach until sunset. Then we make our way over to Pizza Bob's by Alhambra, stop in the convenience store for a few groceries, do a little unpacking at Costa Linda, and crash.

On the last day, we leave from Renaissance Ocean Suites. We usually have a late flight, so we have lunch at West Deck, and head to the airport to fight the crowds. I'm usually depressed at this point.

[Traceyd14]

Our first night is always appetizers at Pelican Pier. Our last night is never planned - that's the tradition, just take it easy the last day and see where the day takes us.

[Aruba4ever]

At this point we usually dine at the Divi Bar (at the Ritz) for our 1st and last meals of each trip.

[SueGardner]

After traveling from San Diego overnight we usually take a quick shower after checking in, put on flip flops, shorts and tees, and walk over to Bugaloe - dare not risk taking a nap as we would sleep right through! Just have to keep going. Has been our first stop for many years - roll on September.

[MajorMantle]

For the first night we like to dine on the beach - last few years it's been Matthews, but we've also done Ricardo's. For the last night we've been doing Chalet Suisse (if they're not on vacation) and many of the couples we know that stay at Costa Linda also dine at Chalet Suisse on the last night. When Chalet Suisse is closed for vacation, we've gone to Barefoot for our last dinner.